Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

Massive queues for the 3-out-of-6 immigration desks open, while several
planes disgorge at once. But at least that meant the bags had been
delivered to the carousel by the time we got through.

The posh purple-FTR shuttle bus to the airport was replaced by a red
Citaro, all liveried-up so not a temporary thing. Had the vanity plate
'T5 FCC' disguising its age - but it was clearly not new. Ex-Boris,
maybe?

At Luton Airport Parkway, the "up" escalators are broken (no indication
of when they might be fixed) and a bus-load of PAX simply doesn't fit in
one trip of the lift. Having got to the platform, the PIS says that
"Easyjet tickets not valid on this service", which is understandable as
they don't sell northbound rail tickets!

Meridian to Nottingham with a very strong tiolet smell throughout. And
FC pax can apparently pick up their freebies from the buffet, now that
the chap "there must be an easier way to make a living" has finally won
his half hour battle to open the till.
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

Roland Perry gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

The posh purple-FTR shuttle bus to the airport was replaced by a red
Citaro, all liveried-up so not a temporary thing. Had the vanity plate
'T5 FCC' disguising its age - but it was clearly not new. Ex-Boris,
maybe?

The vehicle details for T5 FCC a

Date of First Registration 15 05 2009
Year of Manufacture 2002

So it was imported to the UK, used, earlier this year.
Must be from an RHD country, so Irish?

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message , at 15:19:33 on Sat, 10
Oct 2009, Adrian remarked:
The posh purple-FTR shuttle bus to the airport was replaced by a red
Citaro, all liveried-up so not a temporary thing. Had the vanity plate
'T5 FCC' disguising its age - but it was clearly not new. Ex-Boris,
maybe?

The vehicle details for T5 FCC a

Date of First Registration 15 05 2009
Year of Manufacture 2002

So it was imported to the UK, used, earlier this year.
Must be from an RHD country, so Irish?

Googling the plate brings this up from a "bus spotter" site dated Aug
09:
"With the Wright Streetcars transferred to Swansea their place
on the Luton Parkway to Airport service has been taken by
Mercedes-Benz Citaro bendibuses from the Aircoach fleet at
Dublin Airport. Two were in operation in late June T3 FCC ex
02-D-74688 and T5 FCC ex 02-D-76812. The third of the batch
remains to be delivered."

I wonder if they'll be reducing the (zero before FCC arrived) fare, now
the main excuse (the FTRs) has disappeared in a puff of boiled frogs?
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message , at 15:19:33 on Sat, 10
Oct 2009, Adrian remarked:
The posh purple-FTR shuttle bus to the airport was replaced by a red
Citaro, all liveried-up so not a temporary thing. Had the vanity plate
'T5 FCC' disguising its age - but it was clearly not new. Ex-Boris,
maybe?
Googling the plate brings this up from a "bus spotter" site dated Aug
09:
"With the Wright Streetcars transferred to Swansea their place
on the Luton Parkway to Airport service has been taken by
Mercedes-Benz Citaro bendibuses from the Aircoach fleet at
Dublin Airport. Two were in operation in late June T3 FCC ex
02-D-74688 and T5 FCC ex 02-D-76812. The third of the batch
remains to be delivered."

I wonder if they'll be reducing the (zero before FCC arrived) fare, now
the main excuse (the FTRs) has disappeared in a puff of boiled frogs?
--

There was definitely an FTR atrocity there last Friday - I couldn't get on
because (as usual) it was jammed full. The red Citaro came in just as the
FTR was leaving & the remaining passengers got put on that. I thought it was
an ex-London bus as well.

Agree about the comments about the up escalator - there was no sign of any
work being done to sort it last week & it seems nothing's changed.

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

On 10 Oct, 16:40, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 15:19:33 on Sat, 10
Oct 2009, Adrian remarked:

The posh purple-FTR shuttle bus to the airport was replaced by a red
Citaro, all liveried-up so not a temporary thing. Had the vanity plate
'T5 FCC' disguising its age - but it was clearly not new. Ex-Boris,
maybe?

The vehicle details for T5 FCC a

Date of First Registration * * 15 05 2009
Year of Manufacture * *2002

So it was imported to the UK, used, earlier this year.
Must be from an RHD country, so Irish?

Googling the plate brings this up from a "bus spotter" site dated Aug
09:
* * * * "With the Wright Streetcars transferred to Swansea their place
* * * * on the Luton Parkway to Airport service has been taken by
* * * * Mercedes-Benz Citaro bendibuses from the Aircoach fleet at
* * * * Dublin Airport. Two were in operation in late June T3 FCC ex
* * * * 02-D-74688 and T5 FCC ex 02-D-76812. The third of the batch
* * * * remains to be delivered."

I wonder if they'll be reducing the (zero before FCC arrived) fare, now
the main excuse (the FTRs) has disappeared in a puff of boiled frogs?

But how will they pay for the number plates?

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

Roland Perry wrote:
Massive queues for the 3-out-of-6 immigration desks open, while several
planes disgorge at once. But at least that meant the bags had been
delivered to the carousel by the time we got through.

The posh purple-FTR shuttle bus to the airport was replaced by a red
Citaro, all liveried-up so not a temporary thing. Had the vanity plate
'T5 FCC' disguising its age - but it was clearly not new. Ex-Boris, maybe?

At Luton Airport Parkway, the "up" escalators are broken (no indication
of when they might be fixed) and a bus-load of PAX simply doesn't fit in
one trip of the lift. Having got to the platform, the PIS says that
"Easyjet tickets not valid on this service", which is understandable as
they don't sell northbound rail tickets!

Luton Airport is the worst of any of them. No proper connection from the
station to the airport terminals themselves, which are full of surley
staff from budget airlines.

Meridian to Nottingham with a very strong tiolet smell throughout. And
FC pax can apparently pick up their freebies from the buffet, now that
the chap "there must be an easier way to make a living" has finally won
his half hour battle to open the till.

Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

wrote in message
...

Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.

And it many cases it can be much less.

Ian

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

Ian F. wrote:
wrote in message
...

Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.

And it many cases it can be much less.

Ian

Indeed, it can be less at times. Much less hassle in any event.

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message , at 11:24:34 on Sun, 11
Oct 2009, " remarked:

Luton Airport is the worst of any of them.

In some ways it's pretty bad - but "worst" is a bit of a stretch.

No proper connection from the station to the airport terminals
themselves,

There's a bus every ten minutes, which is better than some other
airports (eg Bristol and East Midlands).

which are full of surley staff from budget airlines.

The airport staff are generally surlier than the airline staff.

Meridian to Nottingham with a very strong tiolet smell throughout.
And FC pax can apparently pick up their freebies from the buffet, now
that the chap "there must be an easier way to make a living" has
finally won his half hour battle to open the till.

Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.

I fly where there is route availability - and the budget airlines have
much more of that, to places I want to visit. Just got back from Lisbon,
for example, and Easyjet from Luton is much more convenient than TAP or
BA from Heathrow or Gatwick.

Typical pricing for 1-2hr flights from low-costs is half that of the
'normal' airlines.
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message , at 11:38:48 on Sun, 11
Oct 2009, Ian F. remarked:
Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.

And it many cases it can be much less.

You'll have to quote a few examples, because I've been flying round
Europe at least once a month for the last three or four years, and
I think I've only seen it once (a late evening Brussels-Heathrow with BA
that came in at 26 Euros plus 56 Euro tax (~£70); not that Brussels is
overwhelmed with Budget carriers).

The (triangular) trip I've just come back from was booked a month in
advance, London(Luton)-Geneva-Lisbon-London for a very typical £148 all
inclusive of one hold bag. And every flight was chosen for convenience
not price (and all were, on the day, completely full - that BA Brussels
flight had about ten pax on it!)
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message , at 13:39:27 on Sun, 11
Oct 2009, " remarked:
Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.
And it many cases it can be much less.
Ian

Indeed, it can be less at times. Much less hassle in any event.

Using Heathrow is much more hassle than anything a low cost airline can
throw at me.
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

wrote in message
...
Roland Perry wrote:
Massive queues for the 3-out-of-6 immigration desks open, while several
planes disgorge at once. But at least that meant the bags had been
delivered to the carousel by the time we got through.

The posh purple-FTR shuttle bus to the airport was replaced by a red
Citaro, all liveried-up so not a temporary thing. Had the vanity plate
'T5 FCC' disguising its age - but it was clearly not new. Ex-Boris,
maybe?

At Luton Airport Parkway, the "up" escalators are broken (no indication
of when they might be fixed) and a bus-load of PAX simply doesn't fit in
one trip of the lift. Having got to the platform, the PIS says that
"Easyjet tickets not valid on this service", which is understandable as
they don't sell northbound rail tickets!

Luton Airport is the worst of any of them. No proper connection from the
station to the airport terminals themselves, which are full of surley
staff from budget airlines.

I was born in Luton, grew up in Perth (down under), studied and worked back
in England for 10 years (77-87) including buying a house in Luton.

Now back in Perth, and Perth International Airport works much like Luton
except there is no shuttle bus to a railway station, just shuttle buses to
the City, and others to districts with 3* + hotels.

The comments about Luton Airport are just as commonly been made about Perth.
As a cabbie, I've heard it often: "Worst Capital City airport in Australia!"
Maybe it's me -;) (Wherever I am, the airport attracts significant adverse
comment). Traffic growth has certainly outstripped airport facilities - the
mining boom drove that. The GFC has given the Airport owners just a tad of
breathing space to sort some of the problems. But as I write, the resources
industry here is gearing for another strong cycle of development. This time,
it's led by petroleum gas extraction, processing and export, but there's
quite a few iron ore, uranium and rare minerals projects advertising for
mining and construction personnel. Fly-in-Fly-out would appear to still
dominate staff resourcing of these projects, with concommitant growth of
traffic pressure on the Airport.

SNIP

DW down under

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

On Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:40:25 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote:

I wonder if they'll be reducing the (zero before FCC arrived) fare, now
the main excuse (the FTRs) has disappeared in a puff of boiled frogs?

I thought it became chargeable when the airport lost interest in
providing it themselves, so FCC said they'd take it on if they could
charge to cover costs?

I strongly suspect the FTRs were only there as prior to the Swansea
metro First had nothing to do with them, as in normal service they
require conductors.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:24:34 +0100, "
wrote:

Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.

I fly from Luton because it's local. An 0700 flight is bad enough
without a 2-hour end to end journey to Thiefrow.

And you can get through Luton outbound very quickly, especially now
you can pay 3 quid to jump the security queue.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:39:27 +0100, "
wrote:

Indeed, it can be less at times. Much less hassle in any event.

I regularly fly easyJet and it isn't hassle at all.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message , at 11:38:48 on Sun, 11
Oct 2009, Ian F. remarked:
Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.

And it many cases it can be much less.

You'll have to quote a few examples, because I've been flying round Europe
at least once a month for the last three or four years, and
I think I've only seen it once (a late evening Brussels-Heathrow with BA
that came in at 26 Euros plus 56 Euro tax (~£70); not that Brussels is
overwhelmed with Budget carriers).

I recently flew by:

BA to Inverness around £20 cheaper than EJ all in.

BA to Budapest around £40 cheaper that EJ all in.

BA to Naples £20 cheaper than EJ all in.

I always try and avoid budget airlines if I can help it as they are not
always cheaper and they cut too many corners. I still believe flying should
be a comfortable form of transport, after all it can be quite stressful. It
certainly should not be like a bus service. More often than not I only have
to pay a few quid more, if not less, for an experience that is less
stressful, and thus a lot more enjoyable, on a full service carrier.

MC

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:48:50 GMT, (Neil
Williams) wrote:
On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:39:27 +0100, "
wrote:

Indeed, it can be less at times. Much less hassle in any event.

I regularly fly easyJet and it isn't hassle at all.


Taken as a whole, the EasyJet experience is a very good example of how
to operate an airline. Low cost, no frills, but otherwise excellent
customer service.

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

On Oct 11, 3:32*pm, "MC" wrote:

certainly should not be like a bus service. *More often than not I only have
to pay a few quid more, if not less, for an experience that is less
stressful, and thus a lot more enjoyable, on a full service carrier.


Thats a lot to pay for a free coffee and roll.

--
Nick

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

On Oct 11, 2:48*pm, (Neil Williams)
wrote:

I regularly fly easyJet and it isn't hassle at all.


So do I but they've just cut the most useful route for me - Luton -
Wien.

I'm using it again next week, buts its axed in their November changes,
and its rported not just a winter t.t. cut, its permanent.


--
Nick

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

wrote in message
...
Roland Perry wrote:
Luton Airport is the worst of any of them. No proper connection from the
station to the airport terminals themselves, which are full of surley
staff from budget airlines.


Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.


Why settle for surly when for a little more you can have surly and
condescending.

Unless you pay for Business Class or better.

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:38:23 -0700 (PDT), D7666
wrote:

On Oct 11, 3:32*pm, "MC" wrote:

certainly should not be like a bus service. *More often than not I only have
to pay a few quid more, if not less, for an experience that is less
stressful, and thus a lot more enjoyable, on a full service carrier.


Thats a lot to pay for a free coffee and roll.


It's also a lot to pay for flights that last for only between 40
minutes and two hours. For longer flights, I can see the point of
paying for greater comfort.

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message
Roland Perry wrote:

In message , at 13:39:27 on Sun, 11
Oct 2009, " remarked:
Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.
And it many cases it can be much less.
Ian

Indeed, it can be less at times. Much less hassle in any event.

Using Heathrow is much more hassle than anything a low cost airline can
throw at me.

T5 is actually pleasant to use, which is more than one can say about Luton.
However I appreciate getting there from Nottingham is not the best journery
in the world.

--
Graeme Wall

This address not read, substitute trains for rail
Transport Miscellany at www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

On Oct 11, 2:11*pm, Roland Perry wrote:

And it many cases it can be much less.

You'll have to quote a few examples, because I've been flying round
Europe at least once a month for the last three or four years, and
I think I've only seen it once (a late evening Brussels-Heathrow with BA
that came in at 26 Euros plus 56 Euro tax (~£70); not that Brussels is
overwhelmed with Budget carriers).

It is possible to get cheaper flights by ''non-LoCo'' airlines, I've
done it.

The Opodo booking engine is one source - it has found me in the past
very low rate LHR Wien with OS, and LGW MUC with BA. But that is
comparing LHR/LGW like for like.

Not had recourse to use Opodo recently, essentially because of EZ at
Luton whre I live even if their fare is double the ''full'' airlines
cheapest offer, it dramtcally saves on time and effort and rail fare/
drive park.

The only drawback is a route like LTN-VIE (see other comment) is one
flight per day and the outbound while a reasonable ~16:00 local time
arrival in Wien, and Wien is an excellent city for a stop, my
destination is usually further east, and getting the 19:21 ex
Bratislava hl.st. to Zvolen is a bit dodgy ... all right on paper,
but only need to slight delayed arrival, missed an s-bahn / CAT, miss
the hourly train to Bratislava[*] at 17:28 and I won't make it.



[1] Yes In know there are 2 routes making 2 TPH but its not a symetric
half hourly service and one goes to Petrzalka which is n.b.g. for a
tight connection from hl.st i.e. if miss 17:28 above, the 18:05 to
Petrzalka does not get me anywhere.


--
Nick

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message , at 13:44:42 on Sun, 11
Oct 2009, Neil Williams remarked:
I wonder if they'll be reducing the (zero before FCC arrived) fare, now
the main excuse (the FTRs) has disappeared in a puff of boiled frogs?

I thought it became chargeable when the airport lost interest in
providing it themselves, so FCC said they'd take it on if they could
charge to cover costs?

The airport used bone-shakers, but I doubt they could get away with
providing no service for this essential link.

I strongly suspect the FTRs were only there as prior to the Swansea
metro First had nothing to do with them, as in normal service they
require conductors.

I can't parse that, especially as FTRs ran in normal service in York for
many years.
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message , at 15:51:51 on Sun,
11 Oct 2009, rail remarked:
Using Heathrow is much more hassle than anything a low cost airline can
throw at me.

T5 is actually pleasant to use, which is more than one can say about Luton.

There's nothing wrong with Luton outbound, but they suffer from chronic
under-manning of immigration (and long walks to get to it) on the way
back. Although my experience of T5 is equally long walks to get to
immigration.

However I appreciate getting there from Nottingham is not the best journery
in the world.

I can fly+train to central Amsterdam quicker!
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

"Buddenbrooks" writes:
Why settle for surly when for a little more you can have surly and
condescending.

Ha! If you'd fly a Korean airline, you could have violent and insane too!

-Miles

--
Alone, adj. In bad company.

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message
, at
07:39:54 on Sun, 11 Oct 2009, D7666 remarked:
I regularly fly easyJet and it isn't hassle at all.

So do I but they've just cut the most useful route for me - Luton -
Wien.

I'm using it again next week, buts its axed in their November changes,
and its rported not just a winter t.t. cut, its permanent.

Ditto East Midlands-Geneva :(

BmiBaby fly that route, but only at weekends, and at entirely the wrong
times of day. So I'll be "forced" to use Luton again, I suppose.
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message .com, at
15:32:59 on Sun, 11 Oct 2009, MC remarked:
I recently flew by:

BA to Inverness around £20 cheaper than EJ all in.

BA to Budapest around £40 cheaper that EJ all in.

BA to Naples £20 cheaper than EJ all in.

Originating where? Heathrow perhaps. BA have pretty much abandoned
regional airports. If BA are flying those routes for the same-ish price
as a low-cost booked the same amount in advance, then it's good news for
people who can get to Heathrow.

But note that BA will now be charging for seat assignments, and
reportedly have scrapped food on short-haul. So becoming more like a
budget airline.

And I know that classic carriers can't compete on price with the budget
airlines in "many cases" (rather than a few), nor is £20 "much cheaper".
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message
, at
07:51:53 on Sun, 11 Oct 2009, D7666 remarked:
And it many cases it can be much less.

You'll have to quote a few examples, because I've been flying round
Europe at least once a month for the last three or four years, and
I think I've only seen it once (a late evening Brussels-Heathrow with BA
that came in at 26 Euros plus 56 Euro tax (~£70); not that Brussels is
overwhelmed with Budget carriers).

It is possible to get cheaper flights by ''non-LoCo'' airlines, I've
done it.

It's possible, but doesn't happen very often.

The Opodo booking engine is one source - it has found me in the past
very low rate LHR Wien with OS, and LGW MUC with BA. But that is
comparing LHR/LGW like for like.

Yes, I normally check a range of booking engines and site-scrapers.

--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message , at 15:07:18 on Sun, 11
Oct 2009, Tim Fenton remarked:
So in the NW, there's little alternative *of any kind* to EZY LPL to
LIS

And that's only one flight every two days. Wouldn't have worked for me
as it's 16.40 depart Lisbon on a Friday, and my meeting wasn't scheduled
to end until 16.30 (and predictably over-ran).

And I wouldn't then be up for hanging around until 16.40 on Sunday to
fly home!!!
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message , at 00:17:30 on Mon, 12 Oct
2009, Miles Bader remarked:
Why settle for surly when for a little more you can have surly and
condescending.

Ha! If you'd fly a Korean airline, you could have violent and insane too!

What a strange remark. Are you a xenophobic? I've been to Korea and it's
a much more civilised place than the UK, despite rumours to the
contrary. Their airport frequently wins awards, too; and deservedly so.
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message , at 00:17:30 on Mon, 12 Oct
2009, Miles Bader remarked:
Why settle for surly when for a little more you can have surly and
condescending.

Ha! If you'd fly a Korean airline, you could have violent and insane too!

What a strange remark. Are you a xenophobic? I've been to Korea and it's a
much more civilised place than the UK, despite rumours to the contrary.
Their airport frequently wins awards, too; and deservedly so.
--



Well apart from being banned to fly to any country in the EU.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Koryo

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

"MC" wrote in message
ster.com...
"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message , at 11:38:48 on Sun, 11
Oct 2009, Ian F. remarked:
Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.

And it many cases it can be much less.

You'll have to quote a few examples, because I've been flying round
Europe at least once a month for the last three or four years, and
I think I've only seen it once (a late evening Brussels-Heathrow with BA
that came in at 26 Euros plus 56 Euro tax (~£70); not that Brussels is
overwhelmed with Budget carriers).

I recently flew by:

BA to Inverness around £20 cheaper than EJ all in.

BA to Budapest around £40 cheaper that EJ all in.

BA to Naples £20 cheaper than EJ all in.



Since when have EJ (New England Airlines) been flying to and from the UK?
--
JohnT

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message , at 18:07:48 on Sun, 11
Oct 2009, Buddenbrooks remarked:
Why settle for surly when for a little more you can have surly and
condescending.

Ha! If you'd fly a Korean airline, you could have violent and insane too!

What a strange remark. Are you a xenophobic? I've been to Korea and
it's a much more civilised place than the UK, despite rumours to the
contrary. Their airport frequently wins awards, too; and deservedly so.

Well apart from being banned to fly to any country in the EU.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Koryo

That's North Korea.
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

In message , at 18:24:00 on Sun, 11
Oct 2009, JohnT remarked:
I recently flew by:

BA to Inverness around £20 cheaper than EJ all in.

BA to Budapest around £40 cheaper that EJ all in.

BA to Naples £20 cheaper than EJ all in.

Since when have EJ (New England Airlines) been flying to and from the UK?

Anyone with an atom of common sense would have understood that he meant
EZY.
--
Roland Perry

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

On Oct 11, 4:13*pm, Roland Perry wrote:

I thought it became chargeable when the airport lost interest in
providing it themselves, so FCC said they'd take it on if they could
charge to cover costs?

The airport used bone-shakers, but I doubt they could get away with
providing no service for this essential link.

It was not a case of FCC taking it on an charge a fee. The LTN/LAP bus
link has been TOC responsibility for some time ... even when it ran
from Luton in the pre-LAP days. Before FCC it was certainly embedded
in the GoVia franchise. I have not looked it up, but I am 99% sure it
is part of FCC franchise.

So if right, FCC did not ''take it on'' from the airport, they merely
put an ''improvement'' in that part of its commitment - new [awful]
buses and charge a fee.

--
Nick

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

wrote in message
...

Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.



That may be an option if you live in SE England. But for the rest of us it's
not at all realistic. I live on Anglesey - getting to Liverpool/Manchester
for easyjet and Ryanair is tedious enough, going to London so I could use
the allegedly superior service of "normal" airlines would be ridiculous.

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

On Oct 11, 6:35*pm, Roland Perry wrote:

Since when have EJ (New England Airlines) been flying to and from the UK?

Anyone with an atom of common sense would have understood that he meant
EZY.

U2

--
Nick

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message .com, at
15:32:59 on Sun, 11 Oct 2009, MC remarked:
I recently flew by:

BA to Inverness around £20 cheaper than EJ all in.

BA to Budapest around £40 cheaper that EJ all in.

BA to Naples £20 cheaper than EJ all in.

Originating where? Heathrow perhaps. BA have pretty much abandoned
regional airports. If BA are flying those routes for the same-ish price as
a low-cost booked the same amount in advance, then it's good news for
people who can get to Heathrow.


Gatwick. Admittedly some "out of the way" airports are poorly served and
you do not get much of a choice. I am quite lucky in that I have good
public transport to my nearest Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted. Although I
still have to allow 2 hrs travel time.


But note that BA will now be charging for seat assignments, and reportedly
have scrapped food on short-haul. So becoming more like a budget airline.


At least you get a seat assignment. Some budget airlines make you run for it
in the hope of a decent seat and the older I get this is not an ideal
solution for me :o). Besides, BA will only charge for early seat (prior to
24 hours) assignment. After this time it is free and you can go online,
check in and choose your seat or wait and get it assigned at the airport.
Food on short haul has always been a little unnecessary, unless it was
breakfast (which I believe they will still offer). BA will still offer
beverages and a beer or two as well.


And I know that classic carriers can't compete on price with the budget
airlines in "many cases" (rather than a few), nor is £20 "much cheaper".


It is when the flight was around £70. "EZY (U2)" :o) was around £90


MC

Wafted from paradise to Luton Airport
 

"rail" wrote in message
...
In message
Roland Perry wrote:

In message , at 13:39:27 on Sun, 11
Oct 2009, " remarked:
Never fly budget airlines. Pay the premium and just go on a normal
airline. In many cases it doesn't work out to be much more.
And it many cases it can be much less.
Ian

Indeed, it can be less at times. Much less hassle in any event.

Using Heathrow is much more hassle than anything a low cost airline can
throw at me.

T5 is actually pleasant to use, which is more than one can say about
Luton.
However I appreciate getting there from Nottingham is not the best
journery
in the world.



T1 is also not too bad (a little busy at times) but I have found it OK. As
is T4. Never had the privilege to use T2 but T3 is the pits. Really, the
pits.

MC