Aviation Discussion

[Bletchleyite]

Pitch... and the plastic. Oh and the airline generally.

Well, there is the latter, though I'd take them over Wizzair any day. The latter has such a tight seat pitch/seat thickness combination that I can't actually sit down at all, even painfully, in normal seats on the older aircraft[1], and cabin crews that seem mostly to have the kind of mannerisms and level of politeness that the old woman in the Soviet Government bread shop might have had.

Sleasy for me now where possible - they (and I hear Jet2, though I've never used them) are proof that the low-cost model doesn't have to make them rubbish.

[1] The advantage of this is that once I'm old/infirm enough not to be able to use the exit row, I won't be *able* to fly with this nasty airline at all.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Well, there is the latter, though I'd take them over Wizzair any day. The latter has such a tight seat pitch/seat thickness combination that I can't actually sit down at all, even painfully, in normal seats on the older aircraft[1], and cabin crews that seem mostly to have the kind of mannerisms and level of politeness that the old woman in the Soviet Government bread shop might have had.

Sleasy for me now where possible - they (and I hear Jet2, though I've never used them) are proof that the low-cost model doesn't have to make them rubbish.

[1] The advantage of this is that once I'm old/infirm enough not to be able to use the exit row, I won't be *able* to fly with this nasty airline at all.

Those are my preferences, although sometimes ryanair are unavoidable...

Jet2 are in my opinion the best budget airline, although they do come in more expensive than Ryanair and EasyJet i'd say the service is better. Planes are comfortable and staff are very friendly. It does help that I live in Leeds and they operate to plenty of places from Leeds!

 

[Techniquest]

Jet2 are brilliant, low cost done well. Comfortable seats, 737-800s, great crews, decent on-board catering (I'm going to miss the Lavazza on board with Ryanair, Jet2 use Starbucks), good network size, easy to use app and, perhaps best of all, none of the constant up-selling you get with Ryanair.

Jet2Holidays do really good package deals too, I'd recommend looking into their holidays. I only tried it with a 2 night stay last year on a short-notice trip to Cyprus (nearly paid that off now!) but it was a really good service. Very handy to have transfers included!

Not used easyJet in a long time, and I've never flown Wizz, although I haven't been persuaded yet. The colour scheme looks bizarre and it's an Airbus after all

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not used easyJet in a long time, and I've never flown Wizz, although I haven't been persuaded yet. The colour scheme looks bizarre and it's an Airbus after all

I must admit I prefer Airbus (bigger windows, slightly wider fuselage and quieter), but Wizzair are basically Ryanair but pink and purple and with a far greater attitude problem from top to bottom.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Jet2 are brilliant, low cost done well. Comfortable seats, 737-800s, great crews, decent on-board catering (I'm going to miss the Lavazza on board with Ryanair, Jet2 use Starbucks), good network size, easy to use app and, perhaps best of all, none of the constant up-selling you get with Ryanair.

Jet2Holidays do really good package deals too, I'd recommend looking into their holidays. I only tried it with a 2 night stay last year on a short-notice trip to Cyprus (nearly paid that off now!) but it was a really good service. Very handy to have transfers included!

I use them on their city breaks fairly regularly, done dusseldorf, berlin and karkow with them. All excellent, includes baggage for bringing back local beer and spirits too!

 

[cactustwirly]

Jet2 are brilliant, low cost done well. Comfortable seats, 737-800s, great crews, decent on-board catering (I'm going to miss the Lavazza on board with Ryanair, Jet2 use Starbucks), good network size, easy to use app and, perhaps best of all, none of the constant up-selling you get with Ryanair.

Jet2Holidays do really good package deals too, I'd recommend looking into their holidays. I only tried it with a 2 night stay last year on a short-notice trip to Cyprus (nearly paid that off now!) but it was a really good service. Very handy to have transfers included!

Not used easyJet in a long time, and I've never flown Wizz, although I haven't been persuaded yet. The colour scheme looks bizarre and it's an Airbus after all

Shame they don't use Gatwick!
But are they better than easyJet?
I'd say that easyJet are the best European LCC

 

[AM9]

Those are my preferences, although sometimes ryanair are unavoidable...

Jet2 are in my opinion the best budget airline, although they do come in more expensive than Ryanair and EasyJet i'd say the service is better. Planes are comfortable and staff are very friendly. It does help that I live in Leeds and they operate to plenty of places from Leeds!

I'd agree with that. Late 2017, had a week in Madeira booked. Flights from Luton on Monarch all booked, - more legroom seats on the 07:00. Then they went bust. Agent offered Jet2 as alternative from Stanstead, around 09:00, - even managed to get the extra legroom seats. That was a result! Flight went fine, would use again. Shame about that irritating jingle from Jess Glynne's song 'Hold My Hand', still there's worse out there.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I'd agree with that. Late 2017, had a week in Madeira booked. Flights from Luton on Monarch all booked, - more legroom seats on the 07:00. Then they went bust. Agent offered Jet2 as alternative from Stanstead, around 09:00, - even managed to get the extra legroom seats. That was a result! Flight went fine, would use again. Shame about that irritating jingle from Jess Glynne's song 'Hold My Hand', still there's worse out there.

They seem to have gotten rid of that now! Certainly wasn't on my December flights to krakow, whereas it had been on previous winter city break flights. Fingers crossed as I agree!

 

[Crawley Ben]

Delta Airlines in partnership with Virgin Atlantic are to launch new flights between Gatwick & Boston/Gatwick & New York (JFK) starting in summer 2020 (no official date yet)

Didn't think I would be seeing Delta back at Gatwick again after they moved up to Heathrow, so this is some surprise (to me anyway)

https://www.businesstraveller.com/b...aunch-flights-from-gatwick-to-boston-and-jfk/

Transatlantic joint venture partners Delta and Virgin Atlantic have announced plans for new nonstop routes from Gatwick to Boston and New York JFK.

The flights are set to commence in summer 2020, and full schedules and fares will not be released until later this year. It’s also not clear whether the routes will be served by Delta or Virgin aircraft, or a mixture of the two.

Norwegian currently offers flights from Gatwick to both Boston and JFK, while British Airways serves the Gatwick-JFK route...

Cheers

Ben

 

[158756]

Delta Airlines in partnership with Virgin Atlantic are to launch new flights between Gatwick & Boston/Gatwick & New York (JFK) starting in summer 2020 (no official date yet)

Didn't think I would be seeing Delta back at Gatwick again after they moved up to Heathrow, so this is some surprise (to me anyway)

https://www.businesstraveller.com/b...aunch-flights-from-gatwick-to-boston-and-jfk/

Cheers

Ben

Does this replace Virgin's flights from Heathrow or Manchester?

 

[Crawley Ben]

Does this replace Virgin's flights from Heathrow or Manchester?

No idea, but I wouldn't have thought so in all honesty (unless someone knows otherwise).

Cheers

Ben

 

[Bald Rick]

BA are apparently launching their A350-1000s on routes from Heathrow to Toronto and Dubai in October.

 

[fowler9]

Only bad flight I had with Wizzair was in early February this year from Katowice to Liverpool. It was one of their older aircraft and I could not get comfortable. I was exhausted and wanted to sleep which didn't help.

 

[Techniquest]

Shame about that irritating jingle from Jess Glynne's song 'Hold My Hand', still there's worse out there.

That's what that song is! I keep hearing it at work, always puts me in the mood to fly Jet2!

I thought it had gone when I did Cyprus last year but it was back before I knew it. It is annoying, granted, but I also kinda like it weirdly!

 

[cactustwirly]

Flew with easyJet this morning (never again will I get a 6am flight!) on board one of their new A321Neos, was very impressed!
They also have leather seats instead of fabric seats as well!

 

[Techniquest]

Flew with easyJet this morning (never again will I get a 6am flight!) on board one of their new A321Neos, was very impressed!
They also have leather seats instead of fabric seats as well!

6am flights aren't that bad Makes the most of the day, especially now it's getting light at that time of day again. I can't wait to walk to work (I leave the house at 04:30 for a 5am start) in daylight again!

Leather seats on easyJet? That sounds interesting. It does ask questions:

1) Are they more comfortable than the fabric ones?

2) Which route did you fly? I'm mainly asking from curiosity but also because I'm thinking of flying easyJet later this year. Getting ideas together for a good route to choose currently.

3) Is the interior still heavily focused on orange?

 

[cactustwirly]

6am flights aren't that bad Makes the most of the day, especially now it's getting light at that time of day again. I can't wait to walk to work (I leave the house at 04:30 for a 5am start) in daylight again!

Leather seats on easyJet? That sounds interesting. It does ask questions:

1) Are they more comfortable than the fabric ones?

2) Which route did you fly? I'm mainly asking from curiosity but also because I'm thinking of flying easyJet later this year. Getting ideas together for a good route to choose currently.

3) Is the interior still heavily focused on orange?

I only had 2 hours sleep, because I had to get up at 3! I ended up crashing at 2pm in the hotel room!

Yes, they're very comfortable, but personally I think that leather is better than fabric.

It was Gatwick to Salzburg, at the end of the ski season, hence the A321, the flight was also very cheap.

The seats were black, but with orange stitching, and orange seat back pockets, there's also a stripe of orange underneath the overhead lockers.
It's still very easyJet, but looks very fresh and modern

 

[Bald Rick]

EZY haven’t been predominantly orange (on the inside) for a while now.

The A321-neos (5 delivered so far) are based at Gatwick, and normally do the longer trips in Europe with high demand - Malaga, Alicante, Canaries, Malta, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus etc. You can tell if it’s scheduled to be a 321 as you get row numbers above 31 on the seat plan.

There are a lot more A320-neos in the Easyjet fleet - about 22 now - and these can turn up almost anywhere; it’s a bit pot luck. Having said that the newer 320-ceos are still pretty good inside, no leather seats mind.

 

[Bletchleyite]

EZY haven’t been predominantly orange (on the inside) for a while now.

The A321-neos (5 delivered so far) are based at Gatwick, and normally do the longer trips in Europe with high demand - Malaga, Alicante, Canaries, Malta, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus etc. You can tell if it’s scheduled to be a 321 as you get row numbers above 31 on the seat plan.

There are a lot more A320-neos in the Easyjet fleet - about 22 now - and these can turn up almost anywhere; it’s a bit pot luck. Having said that the newer 320-ceos are still pretty good inside, no leather seats mind.

TBH I prefer fabric anyway, less slippy and sweaty. I do like the actual seats though. Up there with a certain German manufacturer I'm said to mention too often!

 

[LOL The Irony]

The A321-neos (5 delivered so far) are based at Gatwick, and normally do the longer trips in Europe with high demand - Malaga, Alicante, Canaries, Malta, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus etc.

I heard that they were going all 320 altough this was a while ago.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I heard that they were going all 320 altough this was a while ago.

They did get rid of the 321s but have since seen value in getting more.

I believe all the new aircraft are 320 or 321, the 319 is what is being abandoned over time due to the lower capacity.

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks for the feedback on easyJet, I need to look into trying them again as I seem to recall my last flight with them was 5 years ago.

What coffee do they serve on-board these days?

 

[cactustwirly]

Thanks for the feedback on easyJet, I need to look into trying them again as I seem to recall my last flight with them was 5 years ago.

What coffee do they serve on-board these days?

Idk, didn't look at the menu, looked like instant stuff though, so gave it a wide berth!
They need like an expresso machine in the galley tbh

 

[Bletchleyite]

Idk, didn't look at the menu, looked like instant stuff though, so gave it a wide berth!
They need like an expresso machine in the galley tbh

I think service would be too slow. The filter cups Ryanair use (and TPE) are probably the best option. Though I'm more of a tea drinker these days!

I have a feeling Sleasy use one of the microgrind instants, though I forget which one.

FWIW unlike Ryanair they let you take it on from the terminal as long as it's got a lid on.

 

[WestCoast]

I've flown around 15 times with Wizzair and never had a problem, in fact found their crews very professional if not super smiley (but that isn't unusual for any Central/Eastern European countries). If you fly their A321s pay extra for seat 12A it's got a huge amount of extra legroom but has a great window view too.

Other thing I especially like is that their bar is cheap compared to easyJet/Ryanair/BA, I think two large beers was about a fiver!

The ones I don't recommend are Vueling and Blue Air, the former has cancelled two flights on me (Luton - Zurich in 2016, Amsterdam - Manchester in 2017) at short notice and the latter is the true Soviet experience of customer service (pre-ordering a meal and not receiving it nor an apology or refund!). I don't think I've ever seen such a scruffy 737 or crew(!) on Blue Air.

Jet2 have come a long way - I remember flying them when they were first established maybe 2004/2005 on an ancient powerhouse 757 with seats falling apart. Seems they have a load of shiny 737s now!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've used Blue Air once and I found their website was atrocious but the actual service was decent, oddly.

 

[WestCoast]

I've used Blue Air once and I found their website was atrocious but the actual service was decent, oddly.

Agreed with the rubbish website. Having said that, they were alright from Liverpool to Rome even served us with sandwiches and cola bought in from Morrisons which was bizarre but my other experiences to/from Bucharest on their elderly 737-400s were rubbish. Mainly because I didn't get what I paid for and the crew just ignored it - their customer care didn't even respond to my complaint (probably never even got it through the dodgy website!). I wouldn't have been bothered but the ticket was not cheap (only airline flying direct to Bucharest from Northern England at the time).

 

[Bald Rick]

I heard that they were going all 320 altough this was a while ago.

They did get rid of the 321s but have since seen value in getting more.

I believe all the new aircraft are 320 or 321, the 319 is what is being abandoned over time due to the lower capacity.

They ordered 100 A320neo with options for another 100 back in 2013. Easyjet then converted 30 of the options into firm orders for A321neos, at about the time the first of A320neos (G-UZHA) was delivered in June 2017. They have subsequently excercised a further 17 of the options. Roughly speaking, Easyjet receive a new A320neo every 2-3 weeks on average, and an A321neo every other month. As each new one is delivered, an A319 leaves the fleet, although it isn’t quite one for one as some 319s are retained for network expansion.

In fleet history terms they only had 6 A321 from when they bought GB airways. They were taken out of the fleet after a few years.

Edit: quite bizarrely, as I typed this a quietish plane went over, and it was G-UZHX, which is easyJet’s newest A320neo. It was only delivered about 10 days ago. Boxfresh!

 

[AlterEgo]

Virgin revealed their new A350 product today - nice looking middle of the road seat in business class. VERY pink/red from the pictures. Hoping to fly it once they deploy on the New York runs in August/September.

 

[Bald Rick]

Virgin revealed their new A350 product today - nice looking middle of the road seat in business class. VERY pink/red from the pictures. Hoping to fly it once they deploy on the New York runs in August/September.

Looks good. I heard a while back that the first few flights would be to Newark in early September, before deploying to JFK. I wonder if they have changed their plans because....

BA’s first A350 isn’t far behind on the production line at Toulouse. It will be interesting to compare. I might have to swallow my principles and give BA some money to try one out assuming they test them on a Madrid run.