The Airline news and travel blog service
Getting rid of the pilots
 | Could we hire Michael O’Leary to run the railways? |
Car Fire at Stansted Airport
 Comments (1) | Distress for holiday makers on their return to the UK after fire leaves cars damaged or destroyed at Stansted Airport. |
Rescuing our troops part 2
 | Some things obviously take precedence over R & R for the ordinary soldier. |
| Rescuing our troops part 2 | |
| Rescuing our troops |
Laser attack reported in Orly Airport Paris
 Comments (1) | Man appears in court after trying to dazzle pilots with laser beam. |
| Laser attack reported in Orly Airport Paris | |
| A New Form of Attack |
Articles | |
| Getting rid of the pilots | |
| Disablity and Toilets | |
| Laser attack reported in Orly Airport Paris | |
| A Hotel in its own league. | |
| Car Fire at Stansted Airport | |
Tan 'n' Go
 Comments (5) | Spray Tanning before you fly could be the way forward for having that 'pre holiday glow'. |
CAA International Rescue!
 Comments (2) | London based travel company trading as 'Kiss Flights' collapsed on 17th August 2010. |
Common sense
 Comments (5) | This is nothing to do with the dignity of labour - this is common sense. |
Travelling as an unaccompanied minor
 Comments (1) | I doubt it retains the same exotic appeal that I recall from my childhood. |
Airline food
The Health Kick
 | Is it time we looked to a healthier food option, instead of a quick fix? |
| The Health Kick | |
| Missing the in-flight meal? | |
| Special in-flight meals |
Who would be a Flight Attendant?
 Comments (3) | Being a Flight Attendant is not always the easiest job it would seem. |
Re-building British Airways
 Comments (1) | How will BA rebuild their reputation, or has it been eroded to the point of no return? |
A pain in Spain
 | Unlike their French compatriots, Spanish air traffic controllers have avoided strike action in the past. |
| A pain in Spain | |
| Bring in the troops |
Charges - a matter of perception?
 Comments (6) | It is not the £1 but the sheer lack of choice. You are stuck in the queue and need a bag and just have to pay. |
The age-old question….where shall we park?
 Comments (7) | You have booked that fantastic holiday and then you suddenly realise…parking! |
Ryanair in the news
Ryanair -Vertical Seating
 | Can it be true that Ryanair are about introduce ‘Vertical Seating’ on flights as of next year? |
| Ryanair -Vertical Seating | |
| Ryanair - What price standing? | |
| Ryanair and Aer Lingus | |
| Ryanair's new baggage charges |
Pretentious - moi?
 Comments (4) | Why is it that everything has to use fancy words to describe generally ordinary things? |
Disablity and Toilets
 | It has never really occurred to me how hard it is visitiing disabled toliet facilities whilst travelling. |
| Disablity and Toilets | |
| The many obstacles of travelling with a wheelchair | |
| The pitfalls of disabled travel | |
| Wheelchair information |
Bang out of order
 Comments (1) | Yes, I have been amused in the past by some of Ryanair‘s PR antics but ... |
Stuff your pockets and stuff security
 Comments (13) | Ryanair encourages passengers to wear their wardrobe and threaten security. |
Easyjet in the news
 | Pinocchio abuse costs Ryanair in their liar claim court case. |
| Sir Stellios ahead by a nose | |
| Easyjet: Easy come - Easy go | |
| Carolyn McCall and Sir Stellios | |
| Pinocchio - dreaming of being real. | |
| Bust-up at Easyjet | |
| Overtime for the overrated? | |
| Baggage - core or non-core |
Travel insurance and road delays
 | Oh Dear, here am I, a staff writer on an airline passenger website, and I missed my flight. The M25 stopped, time did not, and the aeroplane went without me. |
Frequent flyer rewards
 | I do like things for nothing - it is probably my Roman Catholic upbringing in a predominantly Jewish area of town. |
| Frequent flyer rewards | |
| When it is good to be old | |
| uSwitch and prepaid debit cards |
Reclaiming passenger taxes
 | The budget airlines made it difficult and wore this wimp down. |
| Reclaiming passenger taxes | |
| APD upsets BA | |
| Plans to replace Air Passenger Duty with a per-plane tax | |
| ADP change likely to damage British Airways | |
| APD - curse or green blessing? |
Airport security madness
 | It is pretty tough these days getting even close to the once legendary enjoyment of flying. Even getting close to the departure lounge is a challege for me. |
| Airport security madness | |
| e-Borders cause more confusion | |
| Monitoring - a step too far? | |
| Full body scanners | |
| Skin cancer risk ? |
Too big for his seat
 Comments (35) | It is probably not PC to comment upon overweight people these days but if you sit next to one on an economy flight, it is hard not to say something. |
Premium quality business-only airlines
 Comments (12) | A bad idea or simply the right idea at the wrong time? |
Is the Art of Chivalry Dead and Buried?
 | Is offering assistance with heavy luggage a bad thing? General manners seem to elude us when travelling. |
| Is the Art of Chivalry Dead and Buried? | |
| Women's lib or plain damn rudeness | |
| Baggage carousels and bad behaviour | |
| Is that my bag? |
 | Eugene Gold |
| Bang out of order | |
| Travelling as an unaccompanied minor | |
| Rescuing our troops part 2 | |
| Rescuing our troops |
 | Catriona Wells |
| Pretentious - moi? | |
| Baggage carousels and bad behaviour | |
| Oberammergau, Passion Play 2010 | |
| Thomas Cook and Which? |
 | Kayte Platts |
| Disablity and Toilets | |
| Laser attack reported in Orly Airport Paris | |
| A Hotel in its own league. | |
| Car Fire at Stansted Airport |
Mobile phones on planes
 | How long before we end up with people using their pesky mobile telephones from the seat next to you saying the same stupid things that they say on the train? |
| Mobile phones on planes | |
| Wi-Fi on a 'plane near you |
DVT from flying
 Comments (21) | Now and again, I have been reminded about the need to move about on long flights. |
Modern travel problems
 | I do worry that the time is coming where it will simply be too damn difficult to travel anywhere. |
| Modern travel problems | |
| Worst in the world? | |
| And so to Sleep ... | |
| What not to wear! |
Where will Virgin Atlantic be in five years?
 Comments (10) | Where will Virgin Atlantic be in five years? How damaging will the BA-AA dominance of Heathrow actually be? |
Recent comments
4 September 2010
With the continuing recession, more and more workers will listen to union leaders that promise more pay today and do not say less jobs tomorrow. If we want to avoid more strikes then we do have to have no-strike rules that protect the public.
Common sense
1 September 2010
I would love to know if this is an initiative that is going to be run nationwide, I would be really keen to have a spray tan before I flew.
Tan 'n' Go
1 September 2010
would like a telephone number to book a return flight from manston to manchester. thank you
Flybe's new Manchester to Manston route
1 September 2010
This is quiet alarming. where do they get these pens from in the first place?
Laser attack reported in Orly Airport Paris
1 September 2010
If my car is damaged, can I claim from the car parking firm?
Car Fire at Stansted Airport
30 August 2010
They do need to do something to reduce the queues at security. I know itb has been written about here before but we have got to find a better way.
Here comes the sun…
30 August 2010
I just do not know what the MoD are thinking about. These old aircraft that we use are always breaking down and front line troops simply cannot be guaranteed their leave.
Rescuing our troops part 2
30 August 2010
If this is a trial, do we know if it will be available full time in the Autumn?
Tan 'n' Go
30 August 2010
I have sent my son unattended, to be collected by his grand-parents at the other end. British Airways were very good and it all worked very well indeed.
Travelling as an unaccompanied minor
28 August 2010
The CAAdo a good job in rescuing people but they could do better at the licensing stage - why are these companies allowed to trade in the first place?
CAA International Rescue!
28 August 2010
When a company goes bust it is not just a matter of getting the money back. If you have not travelled you lose the holiday and have to try and explain to the children.
I booked for my husband, two children and me and now we can't go. We have the time booked off from work and can't change it so we just lose the holiday. We booked a parking space and they won't pay the money back, so we are stuffed.
Yes, we will get the flight money back but that does not compensate does it?
CAA International Rescue!
28 August 2010
I agree, I think Ryanair went over the top with this one.
Bang out of order
28 August 2010
When you sign on for a job like this you should have to agree not to strike and the government should make sure that the wages are fair like a multiple of the national wage.
Common sense
28 August 2010
It is just damned stupid, Blair should have checked this all out before agreeing to go to war. We cant afford to go out building schools and hospitals in other countries. What about winning harts and minds here?
Rescuing our troops part 2
26 August 2010
Yes, funny article but I have one of these Weber chicken stands and it really does work. Even I, as a poor male, can make a very tasty meal.
Pretentious - moi?
26 August 2010
Anything that stops people going to these sunbed places is a good move. My niece refuses to listen to her mother and I am scared that she will develop a cancer.
Tan 'n' Go
26 August 2010
I feel very sorry for our troops.
Ignoring the arguments about illegal wars and whether they are or not actually in our national interest, we have sent young men out to fight and die on our behalf.
Before doing that, we should have worked out the logistics ranging from hospitals for the wounded, guns and vehicles, and simple things such as pay and holidays.
If an ordinary employer behaved in the cavalier manner that the MoD displays, there would be a visit to the employment tribunal in the diary.
Rescuing our troops part 2
26 August 2010
What is the betting that this threatened strike will then be followed by anothe? We have already seen that our 'British' Unite union is in talks with their brothers in other countries. They will just bring more misery to us all.
A pain in Spain
26 August 2010
My husband used one of these spray places and it is still all over the bed clothes.
Tan 'n' Go
26 August 2010
I think this is a great idea, and I would use this facility. I always run out of time when getting prepared for my holiday and it's the one thing I wish I had done by the time I reach my destination. Being able to tan in the airport and 'develop' whilst flying sounds fantastic to me!
Tan 'n' Go
26 August 2010
We are due to fly off over the weekend and the one thing I am not looking forward to is the stampede at the airport
Here comes the sun…
26 August 2010
This article is very amusing, but very true. I especially like Catriona's account of her boyfriend Marcus's recipe of what went into the chicken's rear end!
Pretentious - moi?
25 August 2010
JUST WHAT THIS AREA NEEDS I HOPE TO SEE MANY MORE ROUTES
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU WITH AT LEAST 50 ROUTES WHY KEEP GOING TO HEATHROW AND GATWICK YOU ARE HERE 2O MINS AWAY YOU CREATE MUCH NEEDED JOBS IN A RUN DOWN DECRADID AREA CALLED THANET JOLLY GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND ALL YOUR STAFF
Flybe's new Manchester to Manston route
25 August 2010
My husband was help up in Kandahar for three days because the RAF TriStar had mechanical problems. This is wrong. My daughter and I wait a long time to se him return and this delay is so damaging to confidence.
Rescuing our troops
25 August 2010
My boyfriend was also told that he would have to wait 48 hours for RAF transport so easyJet are doing a good thing here.
Rescuing our troops
23 August 2010
My husband lost three days of his leave due to these air-bridge failures but his CO says that he will get the days at the end of the tour.
Rescuing our troops
23 August 2010
Its always so difficult boarding a plane with everyone trying to squeeze their luggage into the too small compartments, there is so little room and you always get the 'dirty' look if you take too much time. I agree we all need to be a bit more patient in these situations and thoughtful to others.
Is the Art of Chivalry Dead and Buried?
23 August 2010
I could not agree with you more! All these fancy words for ordinary things, its like you need a degree these days to read a menu.
Pretentious - moi?
23 August 2010
Can you imagine what would happen here if the troops were deployed to break a strike?
Bring in the troops
23 August 2010
I agree with Janet, anything that interferes wit R&R is a blow to morale, not just for the troops but also for families.
Rescuing our troops
23 August 2010
We Brits used to be the envy of the world because of our manners. Where did it all go so badly wrong.
I think we are now among the rudest people on the planet.
Is the Art of Chivalry Dead and Buried?
23 August 2010
Of course we are being held to ransom. The union leaders are dinosaurs and only have the real support of a small bunch of extremists. But, that is all they need to bring a country to its knees.
This is like terrorism, a small number of people able to punch well above their weight because they do not care about the damage that they do.
Common sense
23 August 2010
My husband went to to airshow at Farnborough were they had the new Boeing jet. He said that will change air travel completely and we will then be able to enjoy the same range of services that you get on a cruise ship.
Perhaps then food will be part of the enjoyment rather than just an inconvenience.
The Health Kick
23 August 2010
Thank you Catriona, You made me smile after a bad day at work.
Pretentious - moi?
20 August 2010
Hi,
My husband was one of those soldiers who jumped on an easyjet flight after a 48 hour and potentially longer wait to get home with the RAF.
He didnt get the 'rescue rate' fare though and paid substantially more for his ticket in desperation to get home after 3 months away from his family.
Rgds
Morven
Rescuing our troops
20 August 2010
I agree that something has to be done but i just do not know where one would draw the line between essential services and the rights of the worker to obtain a fair wage.
Common sense
19 August 2010
A "cap-and-trade" global emissions scheme is the way forward for aviation. APD in the UK should be retained for the time being, with all four bands being amended, and phased out by 2020. The Coalition government should reverse the 2010/11 rise in APD at the earliest opportunity.
APD - curse or green blessing?
19 August 2010
Well done to easyJet but what a kick in the face for our troops. We spend all this money on so called defence and we cannot even get the boys home for their leave.
Rescuing our troops
19 August 2010
The simple idea would be to send the striking Unite members to Afghanistan. They might then find out a bit about workers' rights and freedom.
They are screwing up freedoms for other people and do not deserve their jobs.
Height of Season Strike Chaos
19 August 2010
A lot of people say that they blame the parents. I agree that the home is where manners and respect for others has to start but I am worried about the negative influence of the schools.
My two, 7 and 9 year olds, seem to come home from school with what I will call a Me Me approach to life. Of course, good academic results need a certain self-awareness and push but this should not be at the expense of respect for others.
I have spoken to their form teachers and, whilst they are probably just a few years younger than me, felt that there was big gulf in understanding of manners and social responsibility.
Can things have really gone downhill so rapidly?
Is the Art of Chivalry Dead and Buried?
19 August 2010
I have to agree that certain key workers should not be able to hold the rest of us to ransom. My Dad was a staunch trade unionists all his life but even he begun to see that the unions had gained too much power and that they were no longer representing the ordinary working man.
Common sense
18 August 2010
To answer a few comments:
1/ The space isn't given away, its rented to the providers but that should not negate improved free facilities so complain to the airport operator (and to the media and Which)
2/ I always take my children (ages 7 - 27) in the lounges and sometimes business class on longer flights. There are as many offensive & badly behaved adults as there are children (more in my experience). At least the children can learn/be taught how to behave.
3/ Without the huge rental income from the shops the landing fees would rise further and then the ticket prices would follow. Annoying but true.
What irritates me is the Fast Track facilities that the airport provide that cannot be accessed directly only through deals struck with the airlines. Security and other such processes should be the same for all as they are Government requirements and not commercial choices.
VIP airport lounge access - Is it worth it?
18 August 2010
Dealing with the public is a pain. My daughter works in a shop on Saturdays and tells the most horrific stories. Just plain rudeness.
The flight attendant must have a very difficult time trying to act with authority and with the burden of safety to worry about.
Who would be a Flight Attendant?
17 August 2010
They do do a fantastic job, and are very tolerant with the general public, they must have to endure a lot and at the end of the day every one has a breaking point.
Who would be a Flight Attendant?
16 August 2010
This is a much cheaper option I have found, if you have a last minute deal, and you go on one of these websites you can often get a great deal with your parking, it is well worth a look.
The age-old question….where shall we park?
16 August 2010
Trying to remember for security requirements what you are and not allowed to take through is difficult in itself, charging for the bags is just an insult.
Charges - a matter of perception?
13 August 2010
Everyone is right above with all their comments, it is tedious enough waiting in long queues trying to get through without waiting for someone to unload everything from their person, it is getting ridiculous to say the least.
Stuff your pockets and stuff security
13 August 2010
I would hate to be a Flight Attendant, I think they have to put up with so much, ok, they get to travel but is it really worth all the stress of dealing with the general public, I think they do a fantastic job.
Who would be a Flight Attendant?
13 August 2010
It really is becoming a joke! Charges here, charges there, when will it end? You seem to have so much to remember these days when you fly, weight of baggage, what you take in your hand luggage, now remembering to take a clear plastic bag, you are worn out before you begin!
Charges - a matter of perception?
13 August 2010
I think BA have 'shot themselves in the foot' quite frankly, I think they are systematically destroying their brand.
Re-building British Airways