Aviation Discussion

[Butts]

:We should all charter a private smoking Q400 to Luxembourg, you wouldn't be complaining then!

I could possibly put up with the cramped conditions in those circumstances

Strangely enough the last time I had a cigarette on an aeroplane was on a chartered service in 1998. I wonder if you can still arrange a "chartered smoke" these days ? - if you've got the money I'm sure anything is possible.

 

[Harbornite]

I like the Dash 8s for the noise, but of course an E175 or even better E195 is preferable for the general ambiance.

Went to Heathrow on a rail bash on Thursday, passing by the many planes on the final approaches to the bus station had me seriously wishing I had my passport with me! Saw an American Airlines craft landing, quite like that livery. Same for the Gulf Air craft I saw from the bus in that gold livery, looks very smart indeed.

American airlines recently had a rebrand, their old polished aluminium livery was reminiscent of Amtrak.

 

[me123]

Where I come from, we don't get offended by jokes about each other's cities, my advice is don't take stuff personally as there are genuine things out there to be offended by, this isn't one.

If you think that "no-one in that city has the intelligence to read" is a joke, then you are a very strange person indeed.

 

[Harbornite]

If you think that "no-one in that city has the intelligence to read" is a joke, then you are a very strange person indeed.

Have you heard the jokes people make about Brummies? Grow a pair and cheer up, life's too short.

Anyway let's move on from this nonsense. I only found out yesterday that Bournemouth airport is served by fairly large jet aircraft, and I'm quite chuffes because I copped a Matheos 737.

 

[thejuggler]

Had an unexpected sighting yesterday. City of Lincoln Lancaster flying over Steeton towards Pole Hill.

 

[Butts]

Had an unexpected sighting yesterday. City of Lincoln Lancaster flying over Steeton towards Pole Hill.

Was it being chased by an ME 109 ?

 

[fowler9]

Had a pleasant afternoon behind Speke Hall next to JLA's runway. A Typhoon and the Red Arrows. Makes a pleasant change. Sadly the BBMF was cancelled today due to high winds at Blackpool.

Can I just add that the last 2 times I have have flown Wizzair they have been superior to Ryanair and Easyjet.

 

[WestCoast]

Had a pleasant afternoon behind Speke Hall next to JLA's runway. A Typhoon and the Red Arrows. Makes a pleasant change. Sadly the BBMF was cancelled today due to high winds at Blackpool.

Can I just add that the last 2 times I have have flown Wizzair they have been superior to Ryanair and Easyjet.

Yes, I was in Blackpool today but the airshow was sadly cancelled.

Not a fan of Wizzair, mainly due to their baggage policy where you have to pay extra to take a normal sized cabin bag and the terrible conditions on their new A321s. With Ryanair, you get decent legroom and are allowed to take a normal sized cabin bag and a personal item onboard without charge.

 

[ian959]

With Ryanair, you get decent legroom and are allowed to take a normal sized cabin bag and a personal item onboard without charge.

Shush.... you will give them ideas again.

 

[Zamracene749]

I find the new wizzair stuff ok- they use similar seats to jet2, thin but you get a bit of knee space. Easyjet are the worst in my experience, I was in agony after a NCL BRS flight a couple of years ago-6 hours on a voyager is better......

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I'm going for my first ever paid flight in ten days time - the only other time I have been up was a competition I won in a Lanc

As it happens, I am saving up for piloting lessons so who knows... I might become the site's resident pilot and end up taking a few of you up with me as a "positioning move" to somewhere

 

[WestCoast]

I find the new wizzair stuff ok- they use similar seats to jet2, thin but you get a bit of knee space. Easyjet are the worst in my experience, I was in agony after a NCL BRS flight a couple of years ago-6 hours on a voyager is better......

easyJet's new slimline seats on newer A320s are good for legroom, but the A319s and older A320s aren't great I'd agree...

 

[theageofthetra]

Any inside info on the 300 catering staff sacked at LHR today for the supply of fraudulent airside passes?- I wonder if this will turn out to be some sort of duty free cig/booze scam rather than for terrorism purposes.

 

[Crawley Ben]

Any inside info on the 300 catering staff sacked at LHR today for the supply of fraudulent airside passes?- I wonder if this will turn out to be some sort of duty free cig/booze scam rather than for terrorism purposes.

The individuals under investigation have not been sacked (as yet anyway). They have had their airside passes suspended whilst an investigation takes place.

http://news.sky.com/story/heathrow-alert-300-security-passes-suspended-10530608

Ben

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Any inside info on the 300 catering staff sacked at LHR today for the supply of fraudulent airside passes?- I wonder if this will turn out to be some sort of duty free cig/booze scam rather than for terrorism purposes.

The individuals under investigation have not been sacked (as yet anyway). They have had their airside passes suspended whilst an investigation takes place.

http://news.sky.com/story/heathrow-alert-300-security-passes-suspended-10530608

Ben

I would hazard a guess that it's more about employment of illegal immigrants or restricted asylum seekers. The catering industry around London is notorious for it. ISTR an Immigration raid on Casey Jones at Waterloo some years ago and something like half the staff were working illegally. Airline catering companies run on very thin margins so the temptation to work outside employment regulations must be huge.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I would hazard a guess that it's more about employment of illegal immigrants or restricted asylum seekers.

Given their employer is Sodexo, widely regarded in the industry as the absolute worst of the outsourcing companies, I'd agree with your guess tbh.

 

[theageofthetra]

Yes saw some social media comments on that firm suggesting they operate on the edge of legality & left many who worked for them during the Olympics out of pocket. Also the same lot who had horse DNA in their meat products (well they are French!) & are subjects of numerous complaints from the unfortunate service personnel who eat their products on our military bases.

 

[AndrewP]

Sodexo are not the worst in the industry by some margin - I have known a lot worse in many aspects. Like all big companies in this arena they have good parts and bad parts. Like others, my money is on an immigration scam.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Not a fan of Wizzair, mainly due to their baggage policy where you have to pay extra to take a normal sized cabin bag and the terrible conditions on their new A321s. With Ryanair, you get decent legroom and are allowed to take a normal sized cabin bag and a personal item onboard without charge.

I flew Wizz this past week from Doncaster to Warsaw and I was rather perplexed by the cabin bag policy when I booked, but in fact it makes a lot of sense and I wish more airlines would do it.

Basically you can take a small bag on for 'free', then if you want a "full sized cabin bag" or hold baggage, you have to pay a fee.

The good thing is that it encourages people to just pay a little more for a hold bag, than bringing the enormous cabin bags on board, so when we got on the A320, there was loads of space in the overhead bins and boarding was a lot faster because there weren't the usual fights over squeezing bags into the bins that you get on most low budget flights these days.

It seems daft that with their free carry-on but paid hold baggage, most airlines are tempting people into taking all their baggage into the tiny storage on the plane and not using the enormous hold space.

Surprised that people like Ryanair haven't started doing this. I suspect if they or Easyjet took a lead on this, all the others would quickly follow.

 

[fowler9]

I flew Wizz this past week from Doncaster to Warsaw and I was rather perplexed by the cabin bag policy when I booked, but in fact it makes a lot of sense and I wish more airlines would do it.

Basically you can take a small bag on for 'free', then if you want a "full sized cabin bag" or hold baggage, you have to pay a fee.

The good thing is that it encourages people to just pay a little more for a hold bag, than bringing the enormous cabin bags on board, so when we got on the A320, there was loads of space in the overhead bins and boarding was a lot faster because there weren't the usual fights over squeezing bags into the bins that you get on most low budget flights these days.

It seems daft that with their free carry-on but paid hold baggage, most airlines are tempting people into taking all their baggage into the tiny storage on the plane and not using the enormous hold space.

Surprised that people like Ryanair haven't started doing this. I suspect if they or Easyjet took a lead on this, all the others would quickly follow.

I would agree with you on that. Me and a load of mates flew Wizzair to Gdansk from Liverpool last year had no probs apart from one mate who for some reason brought his entire wardrobe. I see it this way, if I use a budget airline for a short weekend away I take a small bag. If for some reason I need to take the crown jewels and the freezer with me as well I will check out what it will cost and how it compares to a full cost carrier. Don't blame budget airlines charging you for you trying to fit your flat pack wardrobe in the overhead locker. They aren't trying to catch you out, you are thinking you can get something for free. Doesn't happen.

 

[WestCoast]

I can manage with a small backpack for a weekend break away but can't do that for trips longer than a week or business trips where I need to take paperwork and a laptop etc. For a business trip I need a small cabin case and a laptop bag. I'm glad that easyJet, Jet2, Flybe and now even Ryanair recognise the needs of business travellers and holidaymakers, but Wizzair is a pain in the behind for me personally if I'm sent to the Budapest office due to their double whammy add-ons (extra for cabin case and second bag). When I've flown with them I've witnessed lots of arguments at the gate, it reminds me of the way Ryanair used to be.

However, that's their business model and if it works for them that's great. There isn't a full service airline that offers direct flights from Northern England, but I'm very happy to use Ryanair or Jet2 from Manchester to Budapest. In fact, Ryanair is usually roughly the same price as Wizz so it works out cheaper for me as Wizz charge something like £15 to take the same large cabin bag that Ryanair would take for free. On the other hand, I'm looking at a leisure trip for a few days to the Baltics in November so Wizz would be fine then.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I had no issues with my most recent flight - I checked in with my baggage, it was loaded aboard and off we went

Never even paid extra

 

[Butts]

Flybe's new service to Luxembourg leaves a lot to be desired ...on Dash 8 Q -400

Flew from Manchester in around 90 Mins - to be fair I got a two to myself by checking in at the Airport M/C and being able to change my seat.

Unlike BA's or Easyjet services we parked so far from the Terminal I think we were nearly in France. First time ever being bussed at Findel :cry:

Return journey to LHR on BA Airbus 320- Exit Seat for free, coffee biccies and scotch gratis. Boarded via an Airbridge . Me and my 4000 Bensons had a pleasant ride home. The Airbus up to Edinburgh on the second leg was actually full and I was amongst the first to board as I volunteered to put my hand luggage in the hold free of charge

 

[WestCoast]

Flybe's new service to Luxembourg leaves a lot to be desired ...on Dash 8 Q -400

Flew from Manchester in around 90 Mins - to be fair I got a two to myself by checking in at the Airport M/C and being able to change my seat.

Unlike BA's or Easyjet services we parked so far from the Terminal I think we were nearly in France. First time ever being bussed at Findel :cry:

Findel's not that massive is it? Did your Flybe Dash not park with some of its comrades i.e. the Luxair dashes? Recently saw a Flybe Dash at Palma Majorca all the way from Southampton I think, almost three hours of Dash fun for you!

 

[AlterEgo]

Flybe's new service to Luxembourg leaves a lot to be desired ...on Dash 8 Q -400

Flew from Manchester in around 90 Mins - to be fair I got a two to myself by checking in at the Airport M/C and being able to change my seat.

Unlike BA's or Easyjet services we parked so far from the Terminal I think we were nearly in France. First time ever being bussed at Findel :cry:

Return journey to LHR on BA Airbus 320- Exit Seat for free, coffee biccies and scotch gratis. Boarded via an Airbridge . Me and my 4000 Bensons had a pleasant ride home. The Airbus up to Edinburgh on the second leg was actually full and I was amongst the first to board as I volunteered to put my hand luggage in the hold free of charge

LUX is a small airport, how were you "nearly in France"??

 

[Techniquest]

Edinburgh to Luxembourg on a Dash 8 sounds hellfire!

It's been way too long since I last sat on a plane, almost 6 months exactly to the day. Just over two months until I fly again, LGW-VIE and back for my first ever BA experience.

Butts has got me wanting to get another flight under my belt with Flybe, I must start exploring where I can go from BHX with them...

 

[Butts]

Findel's not that massive is it? Did your Flybe Dash not park with some of its comrades i.e. the Luxair dashes? Recently saw a Flybe Dash at Palma Majorca all the way from Southampton I think, almost three hours of Dash fun for you!

No it was all on it's own - the poor relation
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LUX is a small airport, how were you "nearly in France"??

Findel is fairly small hence normally you walk off and straight into the terminal either via an airbridge or on foot. Flybe were in the 2/6's miles from the terminal in the "budget ?" Parking Area.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Edinburgh to Luxembourg on a Dash 8 sounds hellfire!

It's been way too long since I last sat on a plane, almost 6 months exactly to the day. Just over two months until I fly again, LGW-VIE and back for my first ever BA experience.

Butts has got me wanting to get another flight under my belt with Flybe, I must start exploring where I can go from BHX with them...

Luckily it was Manchester not Edinburgh !!! - still bad enough.

if you are booking a flight on Flybe try and get a route that uses Embraer 175 or if you are really lucky 195. Failing that go to the Islands on one of their "Airfix" craft.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Butts has got me wanting to get another flight under my belt with Flybe, I must start exploring where I can go from BHX with them...

They fly to Düsseldorf a couple of times a day, get a morning flight, enjoy the good view from the terminal roof, train into town for some German beers, fly back that night!

 

[Techniquest]

They fly to Düsseldorf a couple of times a day, get a morning flight, enjoy the good view from the terminal roof, train into town for some German beers, fly back that night!

Sounds like a hellfire day, I must investigate! Cheers for the idea

Butts, Manchester to Luxembourg still sounds hellfire!

 

[WestCoast]

They sometimes use a Dash 8 on the Birmingham to Stuttgart route which would definitely count as hellfire if you're into that sort of thing...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

No it was all on it's own - the poor relation

I see..... Luxair also flies their Dashes to London City and Dublin from Luxembourg for your future consideration on fag runs.