Aviation Discussion

[Butts]

Yep it is the same, where they are available the 'reward' flights seem to be those where the 'airfare' pre taxes and charges is maybe £1 or less*, so you spend a load of points to save a grand total of £1


*it is the same with using BA Avios on long haul, it's usually better value to pay a little more for Premium economy and upgrade to Business using points from there.

One good thing about Avios (at least from Scotland) there is a fixed fee of £60 return from Scotland when visiting European Cities via Heathrow. I paid this earlier this year to go to Luxembourg and back.

When BA used to run Loganair you could get a return that included 4 flights for only using minimal points. ie - If you went from BHX to Stornoway via Edinburgh and back it was not counted as 4 flights but 2.

With Flybe I will be doing a fair bit of "Island Hopping" in future

 

[ivanhoe]

Off to Malaysia/ Singapore next year. Is there much difference between
Malaysian Airlines/ Singapore Airlines/BA or is Emirates worth a shout? Appreciate experiences from regular travellers.

 

[flymo]

Off to Malaysia/ Singapore next year. Is there much difference between
Malaysian Airlines/ Singapore Airlines/BA or is Emirates worth a shout? Appreciate experiences from regular travellers.

Emirates is worth a shout I think, but purely if the price of a non-sop flight is prohibitive. The cabin service is quite good generally and the aircraft quite new. Dubai Airport is a bit of a zoo sometimes when connecting but otherwise not bad and very modern.

I've flown BA and SQ to/from the far east and also found them OK. SQ are not a patch on what they were in my opinion but I guess the same can be said for a lot of airlines as they change with the times. Then again as long as they get you from A to B in good shape and on time it will be a good experience I'm sure.

Never flown Malaysian Airlines (MH) so can't comment.

 

[Nym]

Off to Malaysia/ Singapore next year. Is there much difference between
Malaysian Airlines/ Singapore Airlines/BA or is Emirates worth a shout? Appreciate experiences from regular travellers.

Have you considered Air Asia X, they fly out from Gatwick to KL non-stop and are reasonably inexpensive (so I've been told)...

 

[ivanhoe]

Have you considered Air Asia X, they fly out from Gatwick to KL non-stop and are reasonably inexpensive (so I've been told)...

Thanks for this. I did not consider this possibility. I suspect in the end that my travel itinerary will somewhat dictate whether Air Asia is possible because I will either be entering KL and departing from Singapore or vice versa.

 

[starrymarkb]

Have you considered Air Asia X, they fly out from Gatwick to KL non-stop and are reasonably inexpensive (so I've been told)...

Not any more they don't - IIRC they canceled the route a year ago... Plus the difference between Air Asia and Emirates/Malaysian was often very small. Add Air Aisa's bag/meal/IFE fees and MH was often cheaper.. With long haul there are less costs to trim (fuel costs the same, crew must have an overnight stopover, can't get an extra sector per day by turning quickly)

 

[WestCoast]

Air Asia X was often undercut by Emirates and Qatar Airways on flights to the Far East from the London Area, offering fares below £600 return including all extras that you need on such a long flight(s) (e.g. food, baggage). At times, some of the European and Far Eastern airlines weren't all that much more expensive than them either.

In another bit of news, I've heard on PPrune (don't take as gospel) that Norwegian are happy with the performance of their new Gatwick base and are considering long-haul from there in future years. They offer a very nice product slightly above the easyJet experience; free Wi-Fi, new 737s with "Sky Interior", less sales pitches onboard.

 

[futureA]

The first fully painted Airbus A350 made its debut today. If all goes to plan, first flight could happen in as little as 4 weeks.

Take a look at those gorgeous wings designed and built in the UK:

 

[LE Greys]

The first fully painted Airbus A350 made its debut today. If all goes to plan, first flight could happen in as little as 4 weeks.

Take a look at those gorgeous wings designed and built in the UK:

Certainly looks the part! I wish I was a bit better with photo editing, I'd love to see that in BOAC colours.

 

[WestCoast]

I'm posting this message using the onboard WiFi from a Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737-800 enroute from Liverpool to Copenhagen. Lovely new aircraft with the airy Sky Interior and comfy leather seating. Friendly and super professional crew as well. Definitely a step up from easyJet, I think people flying with them from the new Gatwick base are going to be impressed.

Flying back on a BA 767 and A320 tomorrow.

 

[jon0844]

Wi-Fi on a plane is quite awesome isn't it? I used it on Scandinavian and it made the flight literally fly by. I had to pay for it (about £8) but it was a no-brainer for me, and I bet if easyJet or Ryanair introduced it, they'd find it an easy upsell.

Sadly, there were a few hiccups and I did lose the connection (well the plane did) a few times which was frustrating. It's a typical first world problem that we can now get Internet access on a plane, but then find it annoying when it goes down for a few minutes.

 

[starrymarkb]

I can see easyjet adding it at some point, they do seem to be pushing more upmarket. They have a new interior coming on the next batch of A320s which seems to be using the Lufthansa slimline seats

 

[radamfi]

Just looked at Norwegian's fares. What is the point in offering expensive fares from Gatwick to Amsterdam via Copenhagen or Stockholm when you can fly direct for half the price?

 

[WestCoast]

Just looked at Norwegian's fares. What is the point in offering expensive fares from Gatwick to Amsterdam via Copenhagen or Stockholm when you can fly direct for half the price?

Pretty much all the 'traditional' airlines offer similarly unusual and time consuming routeings. KLM sometimes offers me fares via Amsterdam on Birmingham to Scotland. It's additional revenue if someone does buy it. That's without mentioning corporate contracts. It's not something you see on say Ryanair because they don't offer connections at all.

 

[telstarbox]

Would some people use these indirect flights anyway to get the frequent flyer miles?

 

[starrymarkb]

Yes, or rather to get Status in the Frequent Flyer programme (which can mean automatic upgrades, lounge access etc)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The first fully painted Airbus A350 made its debut today. If all goes to plan, first flight could happen in as little as 4 weeks.

Take a look at those gorgeous wings designed and built in the UK:

The A350 was started for the first time on Sunday, and hopefully will be starting taxi tests today. (They found a software glitch so have been fixing over the last couple of days)

 

[jb]

Would some people use these indirect flights anyway to get the frequent flyer miles?

Doubtful on Norwegian. They do have a FF scheme but they are really a low-cost carrier - albeit a high-quality one, but unfortunately not one that is currently at all competitive in the UK-Norway market

I expect almost no-one takes the Norway-UK connecting flights, but it doesn't cost Norwegian anything to offer the itineraries I guess, and the odd person who does take them is shovelling lots of cash into Norwegian's coffers. Their flights, both between Oslo and the connecting airports and between the latter and the UK, are viable no matter what.

I just wish they'd move (some of their) "Oslo other airport" operations from Torp to Rygge. The former is the wrong side of the Oslofjord for me.

 

[WestCoast]

A bit of an eventful sector on Ryanair today (AGP - BHX), where the captain pushed back with people still in the aisle clambering for seats and space for their hand baggage. Following that, the Spanish crew were frantically trying to get all the families in the aisle seated. Then they had to start racing through the safety demo so the flight took-off on time. You could see them sweating, I felt for them a bit. Not a pleasant flight.

 

[starrymarkb]

The A350 has been Taxiing around Toulouse airport, and is doing acceleration and breaking tests in this video.

[youtube]z8m_Et5qXjM[/youtube]

 

[Butts]

Interesting programme on BBC 2 at the moment....

Flights and Fights : Inside Low Cost Airlines - 2100-2200.

Seems to feature Easyjet and Ryanair with Stelios and O'Leary.

Looks like Stelios has been enjoying to many kebabs and his "barnet" has gone.

Worth watching

 

[starrymarkb]

Stelios has already kicked off about the new Easyjet Airbus order - he doesn't want the airline to grow in the long term, he just wants a big dividend now..

 

[Butts]

Stelios has already kicked off about the new Easyjet Airbus order - he doesn't want the airline to grow in the long term, he just wants a big dividend now..

To match his enhanced girth no doubt

 

[telstarbox]

Various proposals have been submitted to the Airports Commission this week.

Heathrow propose a third runway at Heathrow and have put forward three ways this can be done:

Heathrow Airport has unveiled three options for a new runway, saying each one would be "quicker and cheaper" than plans for a rival hub airport.

The airport's submission to the Davies Commission, which is looking at raising airport capacity, outlines a runway to the north, north-west or south-west of the existing airport.

It says fewer people would be affected by noise than are currently.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23337754

Gatwick propose a "constellation" approach where Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted would each have two runways.

Gatwick has outlined its vision of a constellation of airports serving the South East, although Heathrow is expected to counter with plans to turn itself into the region's hub airport.
The Crawley-based airport responded to the Davies Commission's Airport Operational Models paper by arguing that the government should support the development of a network of three airports around London.
It claimed that Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow could collectively satisfy the need for greater aviation capacity in the South East.
Gatwick and Stansted would each be allowed to build a second runway under the proposals, with Gatwick to expand first, while Heathrow would remain a two-runway airport.
Stewart Wingate, chief executive at London Gatwick, said: "A two-runway Gatwick, as part of a constellation of three major airports surrounding London, is the best option to provide flexibility in addressing and industry whose only constant is change."

http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/south-east/94501-gatwick-and-heathrow-outline-rival-visions

Boris Johnson is backing a Thames Estuary airport:

The Mayor of London backed a new airport in the inner Thames Estuary which could open in 2029, as he attacked ministers for “sitting around like puddings” and doing “nothing” as rival cities abroad build vast airports in an attempt to win a greater slice of global trade.
Mr Johnson is submitting three proposals to a Government-appointed Airports Commission, although he suggested a development on the Isle of Grain would strike the best balance between economic benefits and reducing the negative effects of aviation on local communities and the environment.
The plans, to be submitted this week, also include transforming Stansted “out of all recognition” and a new airport built on an artificial island in the outer Thames Estuary off the Kent coast – a project dubbed “Boris Island” after it received early backing from the Mayor.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...Thames-Estuary-airport-easily-affordable.html

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Judging from the headline in the Standard last week, perhaps a good name for Boris Island might be Godwin International Airport...

 

[Butts]

Send the Bulldozers into Heathrow t'rrow as it's going to end up with another runway at a vastly inflated cost after all the prevarication (easy to say when you live in Falkirk )

 

[Butts]

Travelled from EDI to KOI and back on a Saab 340 - out on Tuesday and back today.

Although it's Flybe branded Aircraft Loganair is the carrier and hence free 20KG Hold Luggage with complimentary refreshments onboard. Got "7 C/D on way out and 2C/D" on way in to myself both exit seats.

What a pleasant Airport Kirkwall is, like most of those operated by " Highlands and Islands "

Nice smooth flight on the Saab

ps why does everyone jump into Taxis when "The Jet" bus is only £2.50 return - a bargain to the centre of Kirkwall.

 

[telstarbox]

Manston Airport (formerly Kent International) is to be sold along with Glasgow Prestwick, owned by the same company Infratil.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-24532999

A Kent airport is to be sold for £1, owners Infratil have announced.

Manston Airport is being bought by Ann Gloag who co-founded the Stagecoach Group.

New Zealand company Infratil announced in March last year its intention to sell its two UK airports, Glasgow Prestwick and Manston, near Ramsgate.

Roger Gale, Conservative MP for Thanet North, said: "We now have a company taking over the airport that recognises its potential."

In a statement, Infratil said the airport was being sold for a "cash consideration of £1, plus an adjustment for working capital variances and cash injected by Infratil".

This is expected to be about £350,000, Infratil said.

Ms Gloag said: "I am delighted to have purchased Manston Airport from Infratil as I believe there is real potential for growth that has not been fully captured."

London connection
A fast rail connection between London and Manston is "absolutely vital", Mr Gale said.

"I have said for 25 years now that the airport will never really succeed until we have a one-hour link from London to Manston. That is achievable and on track," he said.

Plans for a railway station and improved road access to the east Kent airport have already been drawn up.

The proposals, part of the Manston Green housing development, would see about 800 homes built and a parkway station on land east of the airport.

In July, Manston Airport revealed its 40-year vision as part of its submission to the government commission looking at airport expansion in the South East.

Between 2015 and 2025, Manston said it could be handling five million passengers a year and 400,000 tonnes of freight.

It also proposed becoming a principal "diversion" airport for Gatwick and Heathrow while new capacity is being built.

Mr Gale said: "I think this [the sale] is very good news for those employed at Manston."

 

[Matt Taylor]

It's been years since we said goodbye to Concorde already.:cry:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40172673@N03/sets/72157636905258816/

 

[Butts]

It's been years since we said goodbye to Concorde already.:cry:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40172673@N03/sets/72157636905258816/

Indeed BA001 is sadly missed.

Talk about going backwards , imagine if the latest trains came out travelling at half the speed of their predecessors.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Well, the S Stock has a lower maximum speed than the A Stock ( originally ) did...