Plane Bashing

[WestCoast]

I'd probably put it as Ryanair < Flybe < Easyjet where the low costs are concerned. Flybe seem to be heading more in Ryanair's direction

Low cost airline means low cost to the firm, not necessarily low cost to the consumer. Flybe are sneaky devils when it comes to extra charges (especially trying to force you to pay certain seats!), but I've always thought they were pretty professional during the journey and the aircraft have more character than a run of the mill A319/B738. easyJet appear to be more transparent in their pricing, but they have there little catches too like the universal £9 admin fee and the scrum to board like Ryanair. easyJet have more seats crammed in their A319s than any other operator.

I can get to Manchester Airport pretty easily and I've got a large choice of low cost carriers; easyJet, Ryanair, Flybe, Jet2 and Monarch all have a base.

 

[starrymarkb]

Low cost airline means low cost to the firm, not necessarily low cost to the consumer. Flybe are sneaky devils when it comes to extra charges (especially trying to force you to pay certain seats!),

I can get to Manchester Airport pretty easily and I've got a large choice of low cost carriers; easyJet, Ryanair, Flybe, Jet2 and Monarch all have a base.

Exeter is Fortress Flybe, and with no competition they are not cheap! Plus in the last couple of months they've increased their fuel and card surcharges by about £10!

I also noticed that if you don't select and pay for a seat then expect groups to be scattered across the plane, even if it's near empty.

 

[flymo]

Just to add my 2p to the flights to Oz, I live in Hong Kong and have used Virgin to both Heathrow and to Sydney and I must say that they are no where near what they used to be and the service quality is patchy at best. The Heathrow - HK - Sydney flight is the same plane and has the same flight number all the way through VS200/VS201 but you will need to get off at HK and go through transit, go upstairs to departures then wait to get back on the plane again. This is usually an A340-600
The best flight I have had in a while was the Qantas flight which came up from Melbourne (QF29/QF30) before going on to Heathrow. Fab flight crew and cabin crew with good service too. That was an B747-400
I've done Singapore Airlines via SIN to Heathrow and found them OK but nothing special.
Most of the other flights have been direct with either Cathay, Air NZ or BA.
Also watch if you book a BA or a QF flight as they codeshare quite a bit and you may get offered a BA flight even if you book through Qantas and vice-versa.
One thing about Australia though, don't forget to declare any food you bring in.

 

[Ascot]

Going East I prefer flying from Birmingham (or wherever my closest at the time is) into Frankfurt/Munich in the evening then change onto a sleeper flight to Asia. It usually costs a little more than via Heathrow but I find it's worth it.


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[Techniquest]

Slowly I am learning a lot about aviation. It all seems so much more exciting than the UK rail scene at the moment. The excitement for Sunday's flight from MAN to DUB is building and I've got Cheshire Cat-style grins going on at the moment Yes it's bound to be another two runs on B738s, but I'm not too worried. Which reminds me:

What do bmibaby use on BHX > Belfast City? I'm guessing Airbus craft, but not sure if I've ever seen their fleet on that route before.

Whilst I was looking up those flights to the USA, admittedly I got tempted when I found a return from Heathrow to New York (Newark) for around £450 on Virgin, but what I thought was interesting was their Flying Club. It sounds quite interesting, and their website claims it's better than competitors' clubs. Anyone got any gen to share on that? I was going to sign up last night to be ready for booking the flights eventually, but decided against it.

Finally, big up BA for including a 23kg baggage allowance with the airfare. Much better than the so-called 'low-cost' airlines.

 

[trentside]

What do bmibaby use on BHX > Belfast City? I'm guessing Airbus craft, but not sure if I've ever seen their fleet on that route before.

They use 737 Classics (-300 / -500 Variations). It's all they've got in the fleet - I don't think they've ever operated anything else.

 

[Techniquest]

Cheers muchly!

 

[flymo]

What do bmibaby use on BHX > Belfast City? I'm guessing Airbus craft, but not sure if I've ever seen their fleet on that route before.

They use 737 Classics (-300 / -500 Variations). It's all they've got in the fleet - I don't think they've ever operated anything else.

Yep looks like 737-300s today

Courtesy of the ever helpfull flightstats, todays flights from BHX - BHD

View attachment 11183

what I thought was interesting was their Flying Club. It sounds quite interesting, and their website claims it's better than competitors' clubs. Anyone got any gen to share on that?

It used to be better than what it is now, it costs a lot more miles to redeem a flight. I've had a couple of 'free' flights but you still have to pay the departure taxes and surcharges. Actually I have just checked and I have just over 32,000 miles to spend but nothing to spend them on just now. They expire in August as I haven't flown Virgin in a few years.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Whilst I was looking up those flights to the USA, admittedly I got tempted when I found a return from Heathrow to New York (Newark) for around £450 on Virgin, but what I thought was interesting was their Flying Club. It sounds quite interesting, and their website claims it's better than competitors' clubs. Anyone got any gen to share on that? I was going to sign up last night to be ready for booking the flights eventually, but decided against it.

Finally, big up BA for including a 23kg baggage allowance with the airfare. Much better than the so-called 'low-cost' airlines.

It'll take you a long time to get enough flights to make Flying Club Silver status, especially if they're economy and even more especially if they're inflexible economy. There are two things to consider, reward miles and tier points. The latter are more elusive (you can't buy them) and they're what give you status and the perks.

My BA Silver status required several transatlantic flights in business or premium economy, topped up with bits and pieces economy flights in Europe and America. Fortunately I fly regularly for work, including EWR-LHR, so these do add up. Like BA, Virgin's would need several flights in a 12 month period.

Not sure about the reward miles - you can buy them with Tesco Clubcard points at a better rate than BA miles ("Avios"). Also, Avios are flawed in that there are restrictions to the flight dates you can choose, and you still have to pay the taxes (it wasn't always thus). Not sure if Virgin's Air Miles are better than this, they may well be. Flying Club isn't going to be worth it unless you plan lots of trips and keep to the same airline or its partners. You have nothing to lose though, you may as well sign up. If you're planning long haul, it is worth it.

I would say though, I do prefer BA's 23kg allowance, and no limit on hand luggage weight, and their better service. Virgin have a 6kg limit on hand luggage.

 

[Ascot]

Business class is most useful on night services as you can sleep easier. You might be better asking these on FlyerTalk too as some of the people are true warriors and can give better advise. Some have over 500,000 butts on seats miles since JAN12 which makes my 60,000 butt on seats since JAN12 pathetic.


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[Techniquest]

Thanks muchly guys, most appreciated. Lots to think about there then. Must say that 6kg hand baggage allowance is appaling, not even Ryanair's that mean!

500,000 miles on flights since January 2012? Good grief, that's madness. Gotta wonder how some people can afford it, unless it's just business travel. My air mileage since January is appalling, 406! Should be more like 1,000 by the end of May, which is a lot better sounding.

 

[Skymonster]

Have any of the Av-Geeks on here chosen a route (or even a whole trip) in order to bag an aircraft Type.

Silly question... :roll:

* 94 different aircraft types (e.g. 737, 747)
* 130 different variants (e.g. 737-300, 737-400, etc counted seperately)
* 892 different aircraft registrations
* 2262 flights (although 522 are flying myself on a PPL, so 1740 passenger flights)

No new types so far this year! :cry:

First time I ever did a trip to get a ride on new type was 16th May 1987 - British Midland Vickers Viscount East Midlands-Jersey, Aurigny BN Trislander Jersey-Guernsey-Jersey, and British Midland Douglas DC-9 Jersey-East Midlands. All in a day, just after I'd started working for British Midland!

Andy

PS: I have NO idea what class trains I've been on!

 

[starrymarkb]

but what I thought was interesting was their Flying Club. It sounds quite interesting, and their website claims it's better than competitors' clubs.

I'm a member of BMI Diamond Club, Aegean Miles&Bonus (both Star Alliance), KLM Flying Blue (Skyteam) and BA Executive Club (Oneworld). So far I have the free 1000 starter miles from the BMI/Aegean and 350ish miles pending from my Delta flight from Bristol to Amsterdam (on KLM but booked through Delta). Alliance programs allow you to earn and redeem miles and status points when flying with other Alliance members - ie if I fly with Lufthansa then I earn Aegean miles which can also be spent on Scandinavian etc...

 

[Techniquest]

Interesting. More research required for sure. Like the idea of the Avios scheme mind, think I'll look into that first.

 

[starrymarkb]

Interesting. More research required for sure. Like the idea of the Avios scheme mind, think I'll look into that first.

You can link your Tesco/Shell/etc Avios (avios.com) with the BA Exec Club so you can pool the two...

 

[WestCoast]

I wouldn't get too excited about the frequent flyer clubs, most of them are only beneficial if you accrue a substantial number of miles, which isn't terribly easy if you're flying on the cheapest economy tickets and there isn't a miles promotion. It's not a case of one mile flown equals a mile in the account.

I'm a Blue Tier Aegean Airlines Miles&Bonus member, which is fast becoming a popular choice* for Star Alliance flyers around the world! BMI Diamond Club used to be popular like this, you'd have people with Star Alliance Gold Status who'd never flown on BMI! I also have a few points with Aer Lingus Gold Circle, myJet2, Flying Blue (KLM/Skyteam).

I am an Avios member for BA, collecting using Tesco Clubcard. They had a great promotion in February where £2.50 in Clubcard Vouchers bought you 1,000 Avios (normally it's 600). 9,000 Avios (+ £26 return) gets you a return flight in Zone 1 from any BA or Iberia served airport in the UK. However, the redemption on other airlines like Flybe or Aer Lingus is poor value, since the full taxes are payable.

*Unlike many members, I have actually flown on Aegean.

 

[Techniquest]

Looks like I'll be shopping at the competition's stores a lot to get my Clubcard vouchers up then! That £1 voucher in my wallet is sadly no use for the Avios scheme, and when I book those BA flights to the USA at least I'll have a benefit from it!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The Heathrow - HK - Sydney flight is the same plane and has the same flight number all the way through VS200/VS201 but you will need to get off at HK and go through transit, go upstairs to departures then wait to get back on the plane again.

Are there any flights at all where you can still stay on board during the stopovers these days?

 

[stut]

Are there any flights at all where you can still stay on board during the stopovers these days?

Not sure, actually. I've certainly seen it on the KLM stops in the Netherlands Antilles, and some Latin American routes (e.g. La Paz to Miami via Santa Cruz) but both of those were over 5 years ago now. Certainly none of the Kangaroo routes let you do it (and wouldn't you want the plane cleaned anyway?)

Perhaps some of the Scottish Highland "milk round" flights?

 

[starrymarkb]

Not sure, actually. I've certainly seen it on the KLM stops in the Netherlands Antilles, and some Latin American routes (e.g. La Paz to Miami via Santa Cruz) but both of those were over 5 years ago now. Certainly none of the Kangaroo routes let you do it (and wouldn't you want the plane cleaned anyway?)

Perhaps some of the Scottish Highland "milk round" flights?

Some of the Flybe routes to the Channel Islands route UK-Guernsey-Jersey-UK with a 15 min stop and passengers remaining on board..

 

[Ascot]

You have to change at Barra if you are flying through. Which is a pain since you need to re-clear manual security.


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[LE Greys]

I wouldn't get too excited about the frequent flyer clubs, most of them are only beneficial if you accrue a substantial number of miles, which isn't terribly easy if you're flying on the cheapest economy tickets and there isn't a miles promotion. It's not a case of one mile flown equals a mile in the account.

I'm a Blue Tier Aegean Airlines Miles&Bonus member, which is fast becoming a popular choice* for Star Alliance flyers around the world! BMI Diamond Club used to be popular like this, you'd have people with Star Alliance Gold Status who'd never flown on BMI! I also have a few points with Aer Lingus Gold Circle, myJet2, Flying Blue (KLM/Skyteam).

I am an Avios member for BA, collecting using Tesco Clubcard. They had a great promotion in February where £2.50 in Clubcard Vouchers bought you 1,000 Avios (normally it's 600). 9,000 Avios (+ £26 return) gets you a return flight in Zone 1 from any BA or Iberia served airport in the UK. However, the redemption on other airlines like Flybe or Aer Lingus is poor value, since the full taxes are payable.

*Unlike many members, I have actually flown on Aegean.

It took me four years of occasional use to get half a return to Geneva!

 

[Techniquest]

Just signed up for that Miles and Bonus scheme, could work out useful by the looks of it!

 

[WestCoast]

Just signed up for that Miles and Bonus scheme, could work out useful by the looks of it!

It is if you're flying any one of the 20 plus Star Alliance carriers; bmi (before they become part of BA), Lufthansa, Swiss, United, US Airways, Turkish, Singapore Airlines, TAP and so on.....
....although many of the lowest economy fares will accrue very few (if any) miles.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Certainly none of the Kangaroo routes let you do it (and wouldn't you want the plane cleaned anyway?)

They could always clean around the pax. like SWT do at Waterloo!

I'd personally want them to just bung the fuel in and get back in the air asap. Maybe one day before too long they'll have improved fuel consumption and aircraft capacity to the extent that you could do a non-stop between Heathrow and Sydney.

 

[Ascot]

Just signed up for that Miles and Bonus scheme, could work out useful by the looks of it!

I'm going to assume that you prefer to burn miles than collect status (in honesty status is only useful if you fly enough to get status). Aegean have one of the worst redemption rates on the network but have the best way to get status. Have a look at Lufthansa as they are good with redemptions but it's a bit more to get status. BA is the best way to get miles with all the Tesco giveaways they do and super AMEX offers.


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[Techniquest]

Cheers, I think I might start a new discussion about this shortly.

 

[LE Greys]

I'm going to assume that you prefer to burn miles than collect status (in honesty status is only useful if you fly enough to get status). Aegean have one of the worst redemption rates on the network but have the best way to get status. Have a look at Lufthansa as they are good with redemptions but it's a bit more to get status. BA is the best way to get miles with all the Tesco giveaways they do and super AMEX offers.


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Can you do that with a card that's in someone else's name?

 

[NY Yankee]

Has anyone taken Virgin Atlantic or British Airways? They seem to have the cheapest fares from New York to London. How was the experience?

It seems like the cheapest prices are in January. The lowest price I found was $914 (about 600 pounds) That's good, since I'm on break from law school around that time. I'm a little apprehensive about taking an 8 hour transatlantic flight. I'm concerned about plane crashes and terrorism.

I'm not 100% sure I'll do this trip, but if I do, I'll stay at the Palmers Lodge Hillspring Hostel.

 

[LE Greys]

It seems like the cheapest prices are in January. The lowest price I found was $914 (about 600 pounds) That's good, since I'm on break from law school around that time. I'm a little apprehensive about taking an 8 hour transatlantic flight. I'm concerned about plane crashes and terrorism.

I'm not 100% sure I'll do this trip, but if I do, I'll stay at the Palmers Lodge Hillspring Hostel.

When I was over there, it worked out cheaper to get the train to Boston and fly from there. I also do my level best to avoid flying directly into the US, because the pre-clearance proceedures can result in you being sent home for making a mistake on the form (although I had far more trouble getting back into Canada last time).

Also, from what I remember from New York traffic, you're taking a far bigger risk every time you cross the road.