Aviation Discussion

[me123]

BA have a major maintenance base at Cardiff for their wide body fleet, in spite of not operating a single flight out of the airport (or, for that matter, the country).

 

[WestCoast]

Did that exact trip back in January. Cardiff is, quite bizarrely, a flyBe base with exclusively E-195 operation (they use Dash aircraft on the Belfast route though I think). I don't see why the E-jets aren't better utilised on routes like Scotland to Birmingham, which I would imagine are busier and would have a higher yield.

Flybe actually wanted to dispose of the E195s as they're more expensive to operate on shorter routes because of e.g. three cabin crew members being required. But they couldn't find anyone to take over all the leases. However, they struck deals with Cardiff, Doncaster-Sheffield, Exeter and Norwich airports to base them there in return for financial inducements.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The 175 does not have an exit row in the middle (being smaller) and I don't care what anyone says there seems to be more room in the ordinary 195 seats than 175's.

It's true since Flybe went for the tightest seating configuration they could get with the 175s so that they could compete with the operational costs of the Dash. Other operators of the 175 have less seats in their aircraft. LOT Polish Airlines have 82 seats in their 175s against Flybe's 88.

The E195 is a nice aircraft to fly on but a poor choice for Flybe since;
-It can't be used at London City (now their main London hub)
-It's quite big so that dilutes the fare yield.
-Flybe don't need the range
-It takes up too much space at Southampton, their main Southern England hub.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I£60 return a bargain !!

Indirectly subsidised by the Welsh Government (Cardiff Airport's owner) in their deal with Flybe. Take advantage while you can!

 

[Butts]

Indirectly subsidised by the Welsh Government (Cardiff Airport's owner) in their deal with Flybe. Take advantage while you can!

Well I'm not sure which end is highlighted by the Welsh Governments largess, generally the fares are cheaper from Edinburgh to Cardiff so I guess it must be the Welsh End. Fares are available sub £20 !!!!

If a small Airport like Cardiff can find room for a "Ardal Ysmygu" why can't Edinburgh provide a "Limistear Caitheamh Tobac" -probably because that is Irish - make it Raon Smocaidh !!!

 

[WestCoast]

Well I'm not sure which end is highlighted by the Welsh Governments largess, generally the fares are cheaper from Edinburgh to Cardiff so I guess it must be the Welsh End. Fares are available sub £20 !!!!

If a small Airport like Cardiff can find room for a "Ardal Ysmygu" why can't Edinburgh provide a "Limistear Caitheamh Tobac" -probably because that is Irish - make it Raon Smocaidh !!!

Well it's more that Cardiff Airport (WAG) is supporting Flybe generally and they have to fill up those big E195s.

Sub £20? That must be among the cheapest flights Flybe offer!

 

[Butts]

Well it's more that Cardiff Airport (WAG) is supporting Flybe generally and they have to fill up those big E195s.

Sub £20? That must be among the cheapest flights Flybe offer!

Indeed, £19.83 is a good price !!

Most of their so called "Sales" like the current 20% variety are actually no cheaper than fares that have been available previously. (if you monitor the fares regularly)

 

[ld0595]

Just booked myself a WorldTraveller+ return trip with BA in December to PHL. Has anyone who's done this been lucky enough to get upgraded to business? I can't imagine it'll be too busy since I'm flying on December 27th but I've got my fingers crossed!

 

[anme]

Just booked myself a WorldTraveller+ return trip with BA in December to PHL. Has anyone who's done this been lucky enough to get upgraded to business? I can't imagine it'll be too busy since I'm flying on December 27th but I've got my fingers crossed!

Indeed if it's not busy there's little reason for BA to upgrade you. You might get a good deal on a paid upgrade though, but that's still likely to be as much as several nights in a very good hotel.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

These days unless you have a verified twitter account, upgrades are pretty much only if you they change plan types at the last minute and have more business class than eco+ seats.

Closest I ever got was when they put me in the exit row on a few short haul flights at no charge because we were connecting to long hauls with the same airline.

 

[WestCoast]

Just booked myself a WorldTraveller+ return trip with BA in December to PHL. Has anyone who's done this been lucky enough to get upgraded to business? I can't imagine it'll be too busy since I'm flying on December 27th but I've got my fingers crossed!

Do you have any status in the BA Executive Club i.e. Silver or Gold membership? Those passengers with 'status' tend to be upgraded first if required for operational reasons as they're BA's most loyal flyers.

You may well be offered the opportunity to pay to upgrade either through Manage My Booking on BA.com or at check-in.

 

[NathanPrior]

Looks like Gatwick have taken a bashing on Twitter over the last couple of days about security delays. Considering getting there at around 7am instead of 8am on Friday to be on the safe side.

 

[westcoaster]

Looks like Gatwick have taken a bashing on Twitter over the last couple of days about security delays. Considering getting there at around 7am instead of 8am on Friday to be on the safe side.

Any one know what issues there was at gatwick yesterday, wow are blaming that and slight issues on some monster hour 13 hour delays out of Iceland.

 

[atillathehunn]

Which flights were delayed by 13 hours? A quick look back on flight radar shows a delay of an hour or so on most flights departing KEF, but nothing like 13 hours! I understand FR doesn't show you back too far, but can you post a link? I have friends in Iceland and they said the weather is nothing worse than the normal.

 

[westcoaster]

Wow KEF to LAX plus most morning departures were 2-3 hours late.

 

[atillathehunn]

Wow KEF to LAX plus most morning departures were 2-3 hours late.

Yes I saw the delays, but didn't seem too out of the ordinary for airline delays.

As for Gatwick - no idea. BA's check-in software was down the other day causing chaos at check-in but it shouldn't have affected other flights.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Do you have any status in the BA Executive Club i.e. Silver or Gold membership? Those passengers with 'status' tend to be upgraded first if required for operational reasons as they're BA's most loyal flyers.

You may well be offered the opportunity to pay to upgrade either through Manage My Booking on BA.com or at check-in.

I have been upgraded W to J several times from EWR to LHR and occasionally LHR-EWR (very similar route and range of equipment), but as West Coast suggests, I am BA Gold having been BA Silver for a while. This refers mainly to operational upgrades, "involuntary upgrade due to oversale" i.e. lower classes are oversold and people are bumped forward in succession, usually in order of status. There's a chance of economy being oversold at Christmas and this cascade happening but (to the OP) you'd be down the queue if you have no status, and I would expect that flight to be lightly loaded.

On the positive side, at that time of year I would expect an especially low load in Club World so I too would expect a "proactive online upgrade" offer from about a week out which if anything less than about £300 pp is a very good offer. Note that the POUG offer can change up or down in this time, or disappear, depending on uptake. Decide what you can afford and go for it when you see it! Alternatively there may be airport upgrades (AUPs) offered at check-in if you ask which should be a similar kind of price. Either of these options will also give you use of the BA lounge at PHL, which is a touch small/busy but good, and the pre-flight dining if it's a "Sleeper" flight.

"Another Forum" would give a comprehensive record of recent AUP and POUG prices for most routes.

If you're on the 787, all classes are really rather nice with the exception of World Traveller, but Club World especially is above the average.

If you're on the 777, WT and WT+ may or may not be the new generation which is far better than the old generation, Club World is largely the same across the whole BA fleet (with the exception of the LCY A318s and mid-haul ex-BMI A321s).

 

[flymo]

Going on my longest ever single flight in a couple of weeks, Hong Kong to Chicago with Cathay. Looking forward to it immensely, even if it is in economy. 15 hours give or take, amazing these birds.

 

[atillathehunn]

Good luck! Hong Kong to Manchester is quite long enough at 13 hours. There were moments during that completely full flight that it felt a bit like a prison sentence.

 

[Butts]

Going on my longest ever single flight in a couple of weeks, Hong Kong to Chicago with Cathay. Looking forward to it immensely, even if it is in economy. 15 hours give or take, amazing these birds.

Try and get an exit seat on a flight of that duration - even if you have to pay £50 it will be worth it.

I did Santiago to Paris CDG a few years ago (about 16 hours) and the exit seat was a lifesaver.

 

[atillathehunn]

But imagine those in the middle seat for that flight...

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Going on my longest ever single flight in a couple of weeks, Hong Kong to Chicago with Cathay. Looking forward to it immensely, even if it is in economy. 15 hours give or take, amazing these birds.

The ability of aircraft to fly such long times/distances is indeed impressive. But travelling on such a flight is, at best, tedious, certainly in Economy. I once did Los Angeles to Melbourne, a 15 hour marathon and mostly in darkness. As the departure was Boxing Day evening the flight was very lightly loaded so everyone had a chance to spread themselves out. But a somewhat fuller, if slightly shorter, run from Singapore to Manchester was hard going. Thankfully it was Singapore Airlines so reasonable space and excellent on-board service.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Am I right in thinking that the forthcoming London to Perth non-stop service will take the record? Can't remember which airline it is though!

 

[Tetchytyke]

It's Qantas, and it will do, I think it's marginally further than the Emirates Dubai-Auckland service.

 

[Techniquest]

Fudge that for a game of soldiers! Having done my first long-haul flight almost 4 months ago, I would rather change 2 or 3 times for a journey of that length. JFK to LGW in a Norwegian 787-9's Economy seats was enough to put me off for life! We had booked extra legroom seats as well, which made it even worse to be chucked into seats with legroom that even Ryanair would shake their heads at!

 

[Butts]

Imagine what it's like if you are a smoker

On my trip from Santiago to Paris we had to land in France prior to CDG as the fuel was running low which added another hour to the journey.

You will certainly become familiar with the in flight movie menu - just pray that is working !!!

Theres no hiding the fact it is (in economy at least) an ordeal !!

 

[Techniquest]

Imagine what it's like if you are a smoker

On my trip from Santiago to Paris we had to land in France prior to CDG as the fuel was running low which added another hour to the journey.

You will certainly become familiar with the in flight movie menu - just pray that is working !!!

Theres no hiding the fact it is (in economy at least) an ordeal !!

Oh don't worry, some of us here know how you felt!

 

[atillathehunn]

Fudge that for a game of soldiers! Having done my first long-haul flight almost 4 months ago, I would rather change 2 or 3 times for a journey of that length. JFK to LGW in a Norwegian 787-9's Economy seats was enough to put me off for life! We had booked extra legroom seats as well, which made it even worse to be chucked into seats with legroom that even Ryanair would shake their heads at!

I suppose it depends on the purpose of the journey and your opportunity to recover at the other end. If I'm flying home, I just want to get there, and I'll put up with longhaul economy with no stops and recover at home.

But if travelling for work, I need time to catch up to see if plans have changed, and ideally have a night stop. The Ethiopian, Royal Jordanian and Emirates hotels are pretty nasty, but they're better than trying to slum it in a seat!

 

[Tetchytyke]

Imagine what it's like if you are a smoker

Travelling with my smoker mother after 13 hours on a Cathay Pacific 747 from Manchester to Hong Kong was not much fun. It took us an hour to get out of the airport as she stopped at every smoking room

I'm off on honeymoon next week and dreading seven hours on the Emirates A380 then immediately another four on a 777-ER. The idea of spending 16 hours on a 777-ER gives me the cold sweats.

 

[flymo]

Actually going for a window seat both ways so I can sleep and not get disturbed. I can jump over the people in the other 2 seats if need be to go to the loo. I came back LHR- HKG on BA27 last week and had 46A, B and C to myself. Business class economy style haha How I would love that across to ORD but doubt it.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Mind you the week after I get back from US I'm flying HKG-DXB-NCL in business for my 50th as a treat to myself. Kind of keeps me going just thinking of it.

 

[Techniquest]

I suppose it depends on the purpose of the journey and your opportunity to recover at the other end. If I'm flying home, I just want to get there, and I'll put up with longhaul economy with no stops and recover at home.

But if travelling for work, I need time to catch up to see if plans have changed, and ideally have a night stop. The Ethiopian, Royal Jordanian and Emirates hotels are pretty nasty, but they're better than trying to slum it in a seat!

Fair point, I will not be doing an overnigjht flight again that's for sure. Slumming it in a seat and trying to kip is not my idea of fun! Not that I plan to fly long-distance any time soon of course

 

[Tim R-T-C]

I'm going old school later this month with an A300 or A310 on a Schiphol to Tehran flight. Apparently the food is great, not sure there will be an at-seat entertainment box though. Taking a book!

On the way back we are flying from Shriaz via Istanbul, darkly ironic that most people have said how they wouldn't want to risk doing the first leg and that the Turkish Airlines flight seems much safer.