Apart from LCC (both I and the other half refuse - sends a chill down his spine the thought of having to fight for a seat) will never fly Scenic Airlines again. OK they're only small and do few trips to G.Canyon, Yosemite and CA but they really were crap and finished the whole experience with an engine out on landing into LAS.
Ok - since 2 of you have mentioned it - what is it that Alaskan do? Is there a bible on every seat or something?[?] "Bless you for flying Alaskan...."? [:p]
I thought about this some more and I WOULDN'T fly on a sea plane in Canada again...the planes are about 1000 years old and are tiny weeny cramped coffins...[xx(] Too scary by half...
I thought about this some more and I WOULDN'T fly on a sea plane in Canada again...the planes are about 1000 years old and are tiny weeny cramped coffins...[xx(] Too scary by half...
Daisy,
the food arrives in a little plastic basket and there is a piece of paper in there with a quote from the bible. I really can't remember what it said but I found it bizarre and irritating. I've nothing against any religon, or any believer, as long as they don't try and impose it on me.
Vslf
the food arrives in a little plastic basket and there is a piece of paper in there with a quote from the bible. I really can't remember what it said but I found it bizarre and irritating. I've nothing against any religon, or any believer, as long as they don't try and impose it on me.
Vslf
Originally posted by VslfThere is plenty of discussion on Flyertalk about this. Opinion is divided even in the US where there is a much higher presence of religion in public life (despite their constitution!).
the food arrives in a little plastic basket and there is a piece of paper in there with a quote from the bible.
I've nothing against any religon, or any believer, as long as they don't try and impose it on me.
I've got plenty against all religions [}:)] but I do respect a person's right to have opinions and beliefs that differ from mine. In turn, I expect to be respected for my own views: ramming religion (almost literally) down my throat with dinner I find objectionable and offensive. Happily I can vote with my feet and fly another carrier.
BC
Originally posted by iforres1
High Horse Mounted..............
Lay off Eastern Europe airlines....some of he best flights I've had have been after 2 litres of Vodka:D
Dis Mounted
Iain;)
LOL, Iain! In the US, I'd say US Air (or, as it is known here, Useless Air) is one of my least favorite carriers. It was spun from mergers of a number of "loser" carriers; anyone remember (argh, I show my age!) Mohawk Airlines? Or another real winner, Allegheny Air? Both of these carriers merged into the future US Air. Bad + Bad = ? Very Bad?
Regards,
Chuck-
Did anyone fly Pan Am when they were still solvent.....god they were awful. The FA's (still called Stewardesses at the time) could have invaded Bosnia armed with only their wit.
I flew them several times LHR-MIA when I was working on cruise ships and on one occasion I was shaken awake (a hand gripping both shoulders) to see if I wanted dinner.... my reply of 'Gee I generally dont eat when I'm fast asleep' ensured that I got absolutely no service for the rest of the flight. Even when I pressed the attendent button they would walk down the aisle, see it was me and turn around and walk off.
I remember being in a bar in Puerto Rico and raising a glass to them when I read they were going under. As soon as the US de-regulated the airline industry and Pan Am lost their cushy long haul monopoly people voted with their feet.
I flew them several times LHR-MIA when I was working on cruise ships and on one occasion I was shaken awake (a hand gripping both shoulders) to see if I wanted dinner.... my reply of 'Gee I generally dont eat when I'm fast asleep' ensured that I got absolutely no service for the rest of the flight. Even when I pressed the attendent button they would walk down the aisle, see it was me and turn around and walk off.
I remember being in a bar in Puerto Rico and raising a glass to them when I read they were going under. As soon as the US de-regulated the airline industry and Pan Am lost their cushy long haul monopoly people voted with their feet.
Adam,
I remember some poor Pan Am flights; but overall, PAA was a good airline with a long and proud history and a route system second to none.
Remember the labor troubles and high fuel prices that plagued carriers in the 1980s? That, in my opinion, was the beginning of a downward trend from which many companies failed to recover.
Chuck-
I remember some poor Pan Am flights; but overall, PAA was a good airline with a long and proud history and a route system second to none.
Remember the labor troubles and high fuel prices that plagued carriers in the 1980s? That, in my opinion, was the beginning of a downward trend from which many companies failed to recover.
Chuck-
BMI is in my "naughty corner" too. Now, if only we had Supernanny Jo-Jo to put Tiny right 
.
So, I've found myself booking more on VLM out of London City, where they have suitable flights. They are a great little outfit, and are now getting my AMS business over BMI or KLM.
VLM really are competing heavily with KLM on the AMS-LCY route. Four flights a day (including mid-afternoon flights which KLM have dropped), and fares that are about a third of what seems to be the norm on KLM. (KLM's "special" fares seem to be non-existant out of City).
Any London-Scotland business is either going to GNER, or to Scot Airways.
Being a United Premier Exec (*A Au), I've tended to try and stick to Star Alliance airlines, but I'm going to being doing PRG on Czech Airlines shortly (as the *A option was with LH via FRA), and LCY-ATH via ZRH on Swiss, because there were no cheap fares on LH, and all the direct flights were pretty pricey too.
I'd never fly EZY down to ATH. No way do I want to spend 4 hours of my life cooped up in one of their aircraft. I once did RHO on a charter flight (BY), and had forgotten that I had legs by the time we landed!
Cheers,
Mike
.So, I've found myself booking more on VLM out of London City, where they have suitable flights. They are a great little outfit, and are now getting my AMS business over BMI or KLM.
VLM really are competing heavily with KLM on the AMS-LCY route. Four flights a day (including mid-afternoon flights which KLM have dropped), and fares that are about a third of what seems to be the norm on KLM. (KLM's "special" fares seem to be non-existant out of City).
Any London-Scotland business is either going to GNER, or to Scot Airways.
Being a United Premier Exec (*A Au), I've tended to try and stick to Star Alliance airlines, but I'm going to being doing PRG on Czech Airlines shortly (as the *A option was with LH via FRA), and LCY-ATH via ZRH on Swiss, because there were no cheap fares on LH, and all the direct flights were pretty pricey too.
I'd never fly EZY down to ATH. No way do I want to spend 4 hours of my life cooped up in one of their aircraft. I once did RHO on a charter flight (BY), and had forgotten that I had legs by the time we landed!
Cheers,
Mike
I'd have to say, every airline in the whole world, to some extent. I haven't really flown any airline yet that I have really, really wanted to fly again. I pretty much hate every American airline except for jetBlue and maybe Song, CO is good in their 777s and some 767s but anything else is complete and utter crap, VS EC has really put me off, especially the last two times I've flown it, BA I think has a bit better EC product, but the airline itself is terrible. My family and I aren't rich, so we can't really afford to fly anything but economy, and every airline I seem to fly with, seems to have a secret intention to make every EC passenger want to upgrade because of their sh**acular seats.
I flew with bmi twice this month, and although only half the new 'improvements' have been implemented, it wasn't as bad as I was expected. That said, I was on one of the few remaining routes with a Business cabin (Edinburgh) and they did op-up me both ways, so my view is still slightly skewed.
I have travelled with the Orange folks from time to time, but would pick a real airline were there's a choice. I wouldn't step foot on a RyanAir aircraft because of their back-office business policies.
I wouldn't say I 'hate' AA, but given the choice I'd fly with any other carrier after a few flights with them a couple of years ago which gave me the distinct impression that the FAs had been dug up from the back of a trailer park. Lipstick and paint doesn't always cover up the cracks as well as Polyfilla in my opinion. A granny in a tabbard doesn't fill me with confidence that escape in an emergency will go smoothly, either. I have visions of her losing her support stockings first.
BA are ok, but as I have no status with them whatsoever, there always seem to be better alternatives. The bmi thing may change that. Last flight with BA was at least 3 years ago, and it could be described as 'uneventful'. Maybe that's a good thing.
One surprising curve ball is KLM. Even though I had a comp'd Gold Card with them, I found the service terrible and their premium passengers were just cattle. Their lounge(s) in Amsterdam are little better than the common areas of the airport, and way over crowded. The whole operation looked like something that needed steam-cleaning and re-decorating, so I'm not a fan. Air France fall into a similar bucket, as do Lufthansa (and although Lufthansa are a little better of the three, I find their insistence on only having one 'snack' option consisting of various German meats in a stale roll a little veggie-unfriendly).
I'm also not a big fan of the charter guys, although did have a reasonably good flight with First Choice a couple of years back from Ibiza. I'm not about to rush back, but then again I won't need to be dragged kicking and screaming on to the aircraft either.
Never travelled with Alaskan, and never will. Religion and air travel are oil and water to me - I want the guy up front to be placing his faith in the technology, not praying everything will be ok.
Pete
I have travelled with the Orange folks from time to time, but would pick a real airline were there's a choice. I wouldn't step foot on a RyanAir aircraft because of their back-office business policies.
I wouldn't say I 'hate' AA, but given the choice I'd fly with any other carrier after a few flights with them a couple of years ago which gave me the distinct impression that the FAs had been dug up from the back of a trailer park. Lipstick and paint doesn't always cover up the cracks as well as Polyfilla in my opinion. A granny in a tabbard doesn't fill me with confidence that escape in an emergency will go smoothly, either. I have visions of her losing her support stockings first.
BA are ok, but as I have no status with them whatsoever, there always seem to be better alternatives. The bmi thing may change that. Last flight with BA was at least 3 years ago, and it could be described as 'uneventful'. Maybe that's a good thing.
One surprising curve ball is KLM. Even though I had a comp'd Gold Card with them, I found the service terrible and their premium passengers were just cattle. Their lounge(s) in Amsterdam are little better than the common areas of the airport, and way over crowded. The whole operation looked like something that needed steam-cleaning and re-decorating, so I'm not a fan. Air France fall into a similar bucket, as do Lufthansa (and although Lufthansa are a little better of the three, I find their insistence on only having one 'snack' option consisting of various German meats in a stale roll a little veggie-unfriendly).
I'm also not a big fan of the charter guys, although did have a reasonably good flight with First Choice a couple of years back from Ibiza. I'm not about to rush back, but then again I won't need to be dragged kicking and screaming on to the aircraft either.
Never travelled with Alaskan, and never will. Religion and air travel are oil and water to me - I want the guy up front to be placing his faith in the technology, not praying everything will be ok.
Pete
Originally posted by colmcI wouldn't step foot on a RyanAir aircraft because of their back-office business policies.
Ooooh? *curious*
In their effort to save every single penny, they have draconian measures imposed on their staff, such as not allowing them to use mobile phone chargers in the office since it uses half-a-penny's worth of electricity.
Whilst any business should ensure they turn a profit, I can't help thinking RyanAir would send their staff up chimney's with a brush at weekends if they thought they could get an extra buck. Any airline that treats its staff that poorly won't be getting any of my business.
Pete
Originally posted by mike-smashing
VLM really are competing heavily with KLM on the AMS-LCY route. Four flights a day (including mid-afternoon flights which KLM have dropped), and fares that are about a third of what seems to be the norm on KLM. (KLM's "special" fares seem to be non-existant out of City).
Should be doing this route later this year (LCY being particularly convenient) - any further info you can provide about VLM would be appreciated Mike
Originally posted by onionz
Should be doing this route later this year (LCY being particularly convenient) - any further info you can provide about VLM would be appreciated Mike
I've used VLM a few times before on the LCY-MAN route, and I was quite impressed. Not done the AMS route yet, but will have done by this time next week.
They are usually on time, had the same cabin crew in both directions on one trip (they only have about 300 employees), halfway decent onboard refreshments (including fresh sandwiches/rolls, coffee in real cups, and drinks from real glasses), no waiting around at LCY (check in 20 mins before departure is okay).
The Fokker 50 aircraft are a bit basic, and the style of seat varies a bit depending on which aircraft you get (some are leather covered, others are fabric), but the legroom is good, and you're not board for too long anyway.
Their fare structure is very simple, so it's realistic to do a day return without paying through the nose, and even their cheaper tickets are changeable for a fee. If only they qualified for *A "Regional Member" status, like Blue1, Adria and Croatian! But that would probably break some of their economics - they are probably better off going it alone like VS (especially as they choose to compete with the alliance member incumbents on a lot of routes).
As I said, I'll be able to report on the AMS run by this time next week, so stay tuned.
Cheers,
Mike
In their effort to save every single penny, they have draconian measures imposed on their staff, such as not allowing them to use mobile phone chargers in the office since it uses half-a-penny's worth of electricity.
Whilst any business should ensure they turn a profit, I can't help thinking RyanAir would send their staff up chimney's with a brush at weekends if they thought they could get an extra buck. Any airline that treats its staff that poorly won't be getting any of my business.
Funny you say that (I kind of expected it).
I did a couple of months work at FR a while back. Believe it or not, it was one of my favourite jobs. Had a lot of fun, worked with some good people and those who were there seemed to enjoy it. I was quite sorry to leave at the time! Maybe it was just me, but I certainly don't believe all the doom and gloom about FR's staff treatment
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