Aviation Discussion

[Butts]

With regard to the Flybe Reward Scheme.....

This should be changed so the Flight redeemed is the flight you get without any taxes or charges. Often if you are booking in advance the cost of these are the majority of the price advertised so the redemption value is minimal.

Conversely if the flight is quite close and hence more expensive the availability is non-existent.

I also notice the Lounge Pass is 35 points - not that long ago it was 20.

Just what is the point of this scheme ???

 

[starrymarkb]

I think worse was their recent photo competition on Facebook to win flights (then in the small print 'Winner must pay Taxes and Charges')

But yes I must say their reward availiblilty is shocking

 

[Ascot]

It's good value when redeeming on Loganair flights. As for the lounge pass, it's one of the easiest on the network at just 17.5 domestic return trips a year for a whole years access. You need 25 for British Airways alone unless you fly J or Y. I do wish priority check-in/security/boarding were included at all airports with the card.


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[Butts]

It's good value when redeeming on Loganair flights. As for the lounge pass, it's one of the easiest on the network at just 17.5 domestic return trips a year for a whole years access. You need 25 for British Airways alone unless you fly J or Y. I do wish priority check-in/security/boarding were included at all airports with the card.


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With regard to the Loganair remarks I am intrigued being a resident of Scotland. Is the "good value" derived from lower taxes being applicable on Island destinations ?

In respect of the Lounges the BA ones I have been in (Heathrow/Gatwick) have a far more extensive range of freebies ie proper food and alcohol as part of the package - Flybe's is more like a Railway version.

I am correct it was 20 points for a pass when the scheme started ?

 

[Ascot]

With regard to the Loganair remarks I am intrigued being a resident of Scotland. Is the "good value" derived from lower taxes being applicable on Island destinations ?

The actual Loganair pre-tax airfare is a considerable price compared to the Flybe flights.

In respect of the Lounges the BA ones I have been in (Heathrow/Gatwick) have a far more extensive range of freebies ie proper food and alcohol as part of the package - Flybe's is more like a Railway version.

If you fly 20 sectors a year then you wouldn't really mind freebies as opposed to a quiet place to work. The Flybe lounge/pass is designed for the business traveller rather than the leisure traveller (no guests etc...) and it works well, even if it is a few chairs with a mini fridge full of Stella. Even with bmi you needed more than 17.5 domestic returns for a years lounge access.

I am correct it was 20 points for a pass when the scheme started ?

It was but it needed tightening up.

 

[Butts]

The actual Loganair pre-tax airfare is a considerable price compared to the Flybe flights.



If you fly 20 sectors a year then you wouldn't really mind freebies as opposed to a quiet place to work. The Flybe lounge/pass is designed for the business traveller rather than the leisure traveller (no guests etc...) and it works well, even if it is a few chairs with a mini fridge full of Stella. Even with bmi you needed more than 17.5 domestic returns for a years lounge access.



It was but it needed tightening up.

I have flown Loganair to IOM from GLA - you still get a free drink and pkt of biscuits don't you (even on a 20 min journey)

Do they have spirits in the lounges as well as Stella ?

With regard to tightening up - you don't want a load of "East Coast Freeloaders" like me cluttering the place up.

 

[Ascot]

I have flown Loganair to IOM from GLA - you still get a free drink and pkt of biscuits don't you (even on a 20 min journey)

I didn't get anything on the DHC-6 but on the 340s (only been on flights an hour or more) they come round with the drinks and nibbles.

Do they have spirits in the lounges as well as Stella ?

The normal booze is red wine, white wine and Stella 4%. Rarely any spirits (I seen them at Manchester last time I was there but that was it).

With regard to tightening up - you don't want a load of "East Coast Freeloaders" like me cluttering the place up.

Or sign up to the credit card to get a few day passes.

 

[Butts]

I didn't get anything on the DHC-6 but on the 340s (only been on flights an hour or more) they come round with the drinks and nibbles.



The normal booze is red wine, white wine and Stella 4%. Rarely any spirits (I seen them at Manchester last time I was there but that was it).



Or sign up to the credit card to get a few day passes.

My final question if I use my points for a "Business Class" Flight (the dearest category they do) does it attract higher taxes on a UK run as it is not real BC-ie seperate cabin or different seat.

At least if I did this I'd get the baggage and lounge and other perks - how do they work the "free food" onboard - ie how do they know your on the "top package" without a different cabin ?

 

[Ascot]

My final question if I use my points for a "Business Class" Flight (the dearest category they do) does it attract higher taxes on a UK run as it is not real BC-ie seperate cabin or different seat.

At least if I did this I'd get the baggage and lounge and other perks - how do they work the "free food" onboard - ie how do they know your on the "top package" without a different cabin ?

Taxes are the same, it's not a business class fare. You get 2 boarding passes, the 2nd is used as a tear apart voucher for the lounge and food. You get a drink and a sandwich in return for your coupon.


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[Butts]

Taxes are the same, it's not a business class fare. You get 2 boarding passes, the 2nd is used as a tear apart voucher for the lounge and food. You get a drink and a sandwich in return for your coupon.


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Thankyou.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
What on earth is going on at Flybe - I have just received my third notification of changes to flights on BHX-EDI during December. These are more annoying than life changing (mainly two hour odd changes to departure times)

It looks like they are rationalising and chopping a load of flights - at the same time they have a sale on ????

As I previously hinted at are they struggling

 

[Butts]

This scheme is a total waste of time if you are booking in advance...

Have just looked at redemption on EDI to BHX in November.

The rewards for all taxes and other charges are higher than the fares without using any points at all - ie the normal ones.

 

[trentside]

Ryanair have announced their intention to expand their operations at East Midlands, Manchester and Liverpool. The expansion will include the creation of (an estimated) 1000 jobs and will see two new aircraft based at both Manchester and East Midlands.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20151684

 

[Nym]

How does basing two new aircraft create 1000 jobs, Ryanair always do tend to overegg their job creation estimates...

 

[starrymarkb]

They claim it's what will be created in the wider economy as a result of their presence... Personally I think it's BS!

 

[Butts]

How does basing two new aircraft create 1000 jobs, Ryanair always do tend to overegg their job creation estimates...

and underegg the not so optional extras on their fares......

ps where have you been? at WHS ABZ 20 B&H £9.99 what a bargain

 

[Nym]

and underegg the optional extras on their fares......

ps where have you been? at WHS ABZ 20 B&H £9.99 what a bargain

I don't work for WHS any more remember...

But the price of fags has made me glad I don't smoke any more...

 

[Butts]

I don't work for WHS any more remember...

But the price of fags has made me glad I don't smoke any more...

Especially if you were still calling the numbers in Spain - those prices would have bankrupted you.

Is Aberdeen Airport in Category 1 for WHS/ BAA pricing - ie is it likely they could have breached the £10 barrier at LHR ? (from your previous knowledge)

 

[Nym]

Aberdeen is an Air Mid Price store...

 

[WestCoast]

The expansion will include the creation of (an estimated) 1000 jobs and will see two new aircraft based at both Manchester and East Midlands.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20151684

How does basing two new aircraft create 1000 jobs, Ryanair always do tend to overegg their job creation estimates...

It's even questionable just how many ''local' jobs Ryanair directly creates. For air crew, Ryanair doesn't usually recruit on a base by base basis (i.e. it doesn't put an advert in the local rag for staff). Cabin and cockpit crews apply through several centralised agencies and then they 'bid' for their bases. All Ryanair staff across Europe have to speak English, so the UK/Irish bases are popular choices especially among Eastern European and Spanish/Italian staff as well as British/Irish staff.

A friend of a friend applied for Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds and ended up with Girona! Apparently he got a better job with another airline after about a year (after paying for training/uniform)...

 

[trentside]

It's even questionable just how many ''local' jobs Ryanair directly creates. For air crew, Ryanair doesn't usually recruit on a base by base basis (i.e. it doesn't put an advert in the local rag for staff). Cabin and cockpit crews apply through several centralised agencies and then they 'bid' for their bases. All Ryanair staff across Europe have to speak English, so the UK/Irish bases are popular choices especially among Eastern European and Spanish/Italian staff.

Indeed, I didn't have time to add much comment earlier - but it does come across as the usual MOL headline grabber.

It does surprise me how long it has taken for them to announce expansion at East Midlands, I thought they'd have been far quicker to capitalise on the demise of BMI Baby - rather than allowing Monarch, Jet2 and Flybe to move in on their former routes.

 

[WestCoast]

Low cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle is to establish a new base at Gatwick next spring.

Several Mediterranean destinations and Scandinavia will be served, although details have yet to be announced.

The airline plans to start its operations at Gatwick with three Boeing 737-800s, increasing to four aircraft by the end of the year.

The first flights will commence in spring 2013. Pilots and cabin crew will be recruited locally.

The carrier said it sees a major passenger potential in London and surrounding areas.

Chief executive Bjørn Kjos said: “By establishing a new base in London, Norwegian will be positioned to meet the future competition on short-haul routes within Europe as well as long-haul routes globally.

“Growth and volumes are necessary to stay competitive in the airline industry.”

Norwegian is already runs more than 100 weekly departures between the Nordic region Gatwick.

London is Norwegian’s most popular destination outside its home market.

Norwegian will also establish a new base of operations at Alicante in Spain in addition to already established bases at Malaga and Las Palmas.

From Travel Weekly; www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/Details/42060

Interesting development, Norwegian have had a lot of success in the Nordics. The question is can they compete on sunshine routes against the likes of easyJet, Ryanair and Monarch at Gatwick? Aer Lingus's Gatwick base was a failure and so was Air Berlin's hub at Stansted. Norwegian have a very competitive product, offering e.g. Wi-Fi onboard, but experience has shown that leisure flights are an extremely price sensitive market.

 

[starrymarkb]

Interesting development, Norwegian have had a lot of success in the Nordics. The question is can they compete on sunshine routes against the likes of easyJet, Ryanair and Monarch at Gatwick? Aer Lingus's Gatwick base was a failure and so was Air Berlin's hub at Stansted. Norwegian have a very competitive product, offering e.g. Wi-Fi onboard, but experience has shown that leisure flights are an extremely price sensitive market.

Haven't they got 100 737MAX and 100 320neo on order. They are going to have to go somewhere.

They have also launched a 787 minisite. Interesting that the comparisons are with the A330 (operated by their main rival SAS)

http://www.norwegian.no/longdistancerevolution/

 

[WestCoast]

Haven't they got 100 737MAX and 100 320neo on order. They are going to have to go somewhere.]

Quite, but making UK-Spain e.t.c work for them is not going to be an easy task. Especially not from Fortress Orange at Gatwick, when Aer Lingus tried to do a similar thing easyJet slashed fares on competing routes. Up to now, Norwegian's main competitor has been SAS, which is nowhere near as strong as easyJet and Ryanair.

 

[starrymarkb]

A.net seem to think these will be a W pattern with Scandinavian Routes... I believe Gaedermoren is full every night and until the new terminal is done the Authorities won't allow any more based aircraft. So outstation them at Gatwick and use the downtime between runs to Oslo to go to Spain? Frequency wise they are going to be slaughtered, most of the announced routes are 1 per week!

 

[radamfi]

easyJet now accept Emirates Skywards Miles.

 

[trentside]

Virgin Atlantic are the successful bidders for the former BMI slots at Heathrow, offered by regulators for domestic flights to Edinburgh and Aberdeen. It is intending to lease Airbus A320s for the route, alongside those already planned for Manchester.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-20384801

 

[starrymarkb]

The cynic in me says they will only fly these routes for the contractually obliged time before closing the route and using the slot for Long Haul

 

[Butts]

The cynic in me says they will only fly these routes for the contractually obliged time before closing the route and using the slot for Long Haul

Hopefully it may induce a "short term" fares war
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
If you Fly from Edinburgh to Luxembourg Club Europe will you be entitled to use the BA Lounges at Edinburgh and Heathrow ( no club on domestic leg)
and on the way back at LHR while awaiting your connection to EDI ?

 

[starrymarkb]

PC Air - A Thai airline famous for Transgender cabin crew has ceased operations (unable to pay fuel bills)

I wish the employees luck in finding new jobs in the industry

 

[WestCoast]

Virgin Atlantic are the successful bidders for the former BMI slots at Heathrow, offered by regulators for domestic flights to Edinburgh and Aberdeen. It is intending to lease Airbus A320s for the route, alongside those already planned for Manchester.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-20384801

Virgin Atlantic will be wet leasing A320s from Lithuanian carrier Avion Express, who will be employing UK-based crews. This is for the upcoming London Heathrow - Manchester/Edinburgh/Aberdeen services.

Avion Express is recruiting Airbus A320 pilots and cabin crew for a longer term contract for scheduled operations based in London Heathrow, starting on March 2013.

Personally, I had a strong feeling it would be a leasing specialist (ACMI) all along, rather than Aer Lingus or easyJet that many were suggesting on the aviation forums.