Latest posts for the topic "Budget airlines survey"

Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:41:52 GMT

Interesting results from a recent survey, not specific to ski flights, but of low cost airlines. The figures are in terms of how many people found the airline stressful to travel with:

Ryanair 69%
Easyjet 14%
Thomas Cook 3%
Flybe 2%
Monarch 2%
BMI 2%
Jet 2 2%
Wizzair 2%
Thomson 2%

Re:Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:54:21 GMT

flying stress for me is only about non-allocated seating and paying for baggage... so not surprising Ryanair & Easyjet are up there (actually EasyJet's result is not as bad as you've thought.)

Re:Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:03:40 GMT

I flew for the 1st time in 16 years (!) in 2010...and it was with Easyjet. Not my choice but I went along with the crowd. This was the 1st time I'd experienced a budget airline having flown with BA, KLM, Continental, Virgin etc in the 80's and early 90's.

In the end it was a doddle. The flights were bang on time there and back. Enough space in the seat for the 2 hour flight although I wouldn't have fancied much longer. Only had hand luggage which probably helped. Check in was fine.

Therefore, despite my reservations, everything was good and I think I'd go with Easyjet again

We're flying KLM from Humberside - Amsterdam - Oslo in 2 weeks time. Will be interesting to see how that goes.

You wouldn't get me on a Ryanair plane if you paid me...

Someone bought a wizzair ticket to Budapest with my credit card just before Christmas......

Re:Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:04:15 GMT

Interesting stuff albeit not surprising,
by the way the boycott of the Irish lot is still in force and the word is spreading there are a lot of unsatisfied Irish lot users out there :thumbup:

Re:Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:46:25 GMT

Low Cost??? I am flying to London in May and because my dates fall on bank holiday the cheapest "budget" EasyJet could offer was about 360 Swiss francs return - before any extras. No thanks, I will fly for 200 with Swiss and will check my bag free and land in City instead of end of the world and will get better service and won't have to be up at silly hours to make the flight. I haven't tried any other and have no intention to. Travel is stressful as is to add more stress. Regular airline for me any time. It was the same last year when we had a group trip to Amsterdam for a DJ - paid almost twice as less for KLM than we found tickets for the same dates with Sleezy Jet. I think the popularity of EasyJet is due to the fact that they pose themselves as "budget" which attracts many people who don't even search any further. Apart from couple trips to Madrid every time I travelled I found better rates with regular airlines. And I know from friends in aviation industry in case of strikes or any other issues it's regular airlines that get served first. In Madrid we got stuck for 4 hours because of the strike and they didn't even let us leave the plane. So we were just sitting there watching how Swiss took off with almost no delay. I would be more than happy to pay the difference to be on that flight.

Re:Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:56:30 GMT

Have to say I have booked BA instead of Ryanair of easyjet several times. Rather pay GBP50 more than the advertised budget rate knowing they will add extras on and BA price is all in. T5 to fly out of, good service, better seats, allocated seating, seat selection when you check in online.....

think you might be right, people think its cheap and book without checking elsewhere.

Re:Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:49:22 GMT

We have had no problem with Easyjet but the last few time have used BA - so slick, large baggage allowance and not much difference in price.I agree with Tony,have managed to check in online and choose seats with extra legroom for no addtional cost the last couple of times. Would never touch Ryanair.

Re:Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:10:56 GMT

Tony_H wrote:Have to say I have booked BA instead of Ryanair of easyjet several times. Rather pay GBP50 more than the advertised budget rate knowing they will add extras on and BA price is all in. T5 to fly out of, good service, better seats, allocated seating, seat selection when you check in online.....

think you might be right, people think its cheap and book without checking elsewhere.

:thumbup:

Re:Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:23:14 GMT

Not sure why they are called budget airlines actually.

I think Ryanair and easyjet have done a good job in opening up the less accessible routes and it what they have suites then why not?

Ryaniar to Carcassonne and Bergerac in the last few years - no real gripes.
Easy to a few places over the years.

Neither would be my first choice, and I would always check what I call the REAL airlines as well but - hey ho - they can work.

Mind you Cyprus in 2010 - BA business class was GBP80 each more than Easyjet!!!!!

Very pleasant flight :D

Re:Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:23:41 GMT

Have flown on most airlines, mainstream and budget, cattle and Business class.
My view of BA was of an average service, with arrogant staff. The staff attitude has changed remarkedly since they were introduced to the real world.

The OP used to put Ryanair and EJ into the same band, changing this view, only when regular users reported good service from EJ.

Have used Ryanair, it took me longer to read the small print than it took to book the ticket. I very much doubt that I would use them for a ski flight, unless I was travelling light. After all,that is their policy.

I am a regular EJ user, more than 25 flights. Sadly they have increased a couple of charges, but this will not affect my view, they offer the best value from Edinburgh. I manage one free return flight per year, plus one/two sub GBP70 return trips to the alps per year. The hand baggage is free, and, although it is constrained by standard airline size, it can be of any manageble weight. Since on recent flight, my total baggage, including ski boots, only weighed 12.5kgm, I am relaxed about add on costs.

Austrian Airlines are to be recommended. It was Lauder before. The service is really good. It is worth the fare just to be able to watch as you fly into Innsbruck airport!

In general flight offers are largely subject to your location. Edinburgh has great offers. Belfast has, in general, poor offers. Elesewhere, I guess is in-between.

Apart from actual air incidents, I don't get stressed by flights. I prefer to get onto the aircraft, and choose who I sit next to......

Re:Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:11:33 GMT

Dave Mac wrote:
My view of BA was of an average service, with arrogant staff.

Funny, I always found quite the opposite. Couldn't be the passenger they were responding to could it?

Re:Budget airlines survey

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:13:50 GMT

Dave Mac wrote:

Austrian Airlines are to be recommended. It was Lauder before. The service is really good. It is worth the fare just to be able to watch as you fly into Innsbruck airport!

I used them this year for the first time. I assume you are talking about Austrian Arrows as Austrian Airlines have been around a lot longer than Lauda. In fact Lauda are still going with a couple of aircraft that they tend to charter out.

Other airlines fly into Innsbruck as well. You probably knew that though. But it is indeed a fantastic approach.

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 01:04:55 GMT

How loudly you can complain about Ryan Air surely depends on the price you pay. Regularly go to Portugal where my parents now live and RA are often a third of the price of EJ. Last time some jobs worth was checking hand luggage sizes but most staff are reasonable.

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:37:49 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

Dave Mac wrote:

Austrian Airlines are to be recommended. It was Lauder before. The service is really good. It is worth the fare just to be able to watch as you fly into Innsbruck airport!

I assume you are talking about Austrian Arrows as Austrian Airlines have been around a lot longer than Lauda. In fact Lauda are still going with a couple of aircraft that they tend to charter out.

Hi Dave Mac and Tony,
I was rather curious about this, so I looked up the history of Lauder and Austrian Airlines:

http://www.austrianairlines.ag/AustrianAirlinesGroup/Profil/OurHistory.aspx?sc_lang=en

http://www.laudaair.com/en/about-us/lauda-air-history.html

It seems that Austrian Airlines was founded in 1957 and Lauder in 1979. The former began buying a stake in the latter in 1997, and completed the takeover in 2002. Austrian Arrows and Lauda Air are now brands of Austrian Airlines Group, with the Lauda brand operating chartered flights.

And in 2009 Austrian Airlines became a member of the Lufthansa Group, together with Swiss.

It is all very confusing :shock:

Ally

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:13:34 GMT

Weren't Lauda Air founded by a former F1 pilot?

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:17:33 GMT

verbier_ski_bum wrote:Weren't Lauda Air founded by a former F1 pilot?

Yes, you're quite right. If you click on my link to the history of Lauda and scroll to the bottom it says this:

Niki Lauda, born in Vienna in 1949, starts his career as a Formula I racing driver in 1971. Always fascinated by the world of aviation, he wins the Formula I World Championship twice before acquiring a charter concession and founding his own airline in 1979 with two Fokker 27 aircraft.

Oh, and the latest news seems to be that Niki Lauda's other airline, flyniki.com, a low cost charter service to destinations in Europe and the Middle East, has been sold to Air Berlin and that he now has a seat on the Board of Directors of Air Berlin (but it's only recently happened and I'm not too sure about the details).

Ally

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:44:28 GMT

AllyG wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

Dave Mac wrote:

Austrian Airlines are to be recommended. It was Lauder before. The service is really good. It is worth the fare just to be able to watch as you fly into Innsbruck airport!

I assume you are talking about Austrian Arrows as Austrian Airlines have been around a lot longer than Lauda. In fact Lauda are still going with a couple of aircraft that they tend to charter out.

Hi Dave Mac and Tony,
I was rather curious about this, so I looked up the history of Lauder and Austrian Airlines:

http://www.austrianairlines.ag/AustrianAirlinesGroup/Profil/OurHistory.aspx?sc_lang=en

http://www.laudaair.com/en/about-us/lauda-air-history.html

It seems that Austrian Airlines was founded in 1957 and Lauder in 1979. The former began buying a stake in the latter in 1997, and completed the takeover in 2002. Austrian Arrows and Lauda Air are now brands of Austrian Airlines Group, with the Lauda brand operating chartered flights.

And in 2009 Austrian Airlines became a member of the Lufthansa Group, together with Swiss.

It is all very confusing :shock:

Ally

Ally aka J2wikipedia aka J2weekly diary :wink:

Thanks, I knew that already.
I don't think David did though. He even thought Niki Lauda was called Niki Lauder.

FYI information Austrian Arrows come into being in 1998 when Austrian Airlines bought Tyrolean Airways.

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:51:58 GMT

Airline anoraks

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:05:37 GMT

Tony_H wrote:Thanks, I knew that already.
I don't think David did though. He even thought Niki Lauda was called Niki Lauder.

Tony - I think Dave Mac knew exactly what he was talking about - he just made a spelling mistake. In fact, re-reading what I wrote this morning, so did I, and I had the Lauda web page open in front of me :shock: :lol:

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:58:51 GMT

AllyG wrote:

Tony_H wrote:Thanks, I knew that already.
I don't think David did though. He even thought Niki Lauda was called Niki Lauder.

Tony - I think Dave Mac knew exactly what he was talking about - he just made a spelling mistake. In fact, re-reading what I wrote this morning, so did I, and I had the Lauda web page open in front of me :shock: :lol:

You didn't know anything about it until you googled it so don't give me that one :wink:

Anyone who knows anything would have put the connection with Lauda Air (being Austrian) and a famous (Austrian) F1 driver. Shirley.

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:59:11 GMT

felthorpe wrote:Airline anoraks

Knowledge is the key )

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:00:45 GMT

Don't call me Shirley.....

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:05:39 GMT

Iceman wrote:Don't call me Shirley.....

Over

Under

Under

Done

Wibble

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:16:55 GMT

Never had the experience of flying BA or Ryanair. Flown Thomsons, Thomas Cook okay. Jet2 my worst ever flights. Easy Jet I actually enjoyed. But my favourite Austrian Airlines still the best for me.

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:20:30 GMT

RoseR wrote:Never had the experience of flying BA or Ryanair. Flown Thomsons, Thomas Cook okay. Jet2 my worst ever flights. Easy Jet I actually enjoyed. But my favourite Austrian Airlines still the best for me.

Yes, have to agree. Loads of room, and I actually liked the 2 seat layout on one side of the aisle.

Re:Budget airlines survey

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:54:20 GMT

A good few years back I flew tyrolean air, in a prop plane. One if the best flights ever

Unsure if they still exist? They were small and good, so I doubt it!

Re:Budget airlines survey

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:32 GMT

Iceman wrote:A good few years back I flew tyrolean air, in a prop plane. One if the best flights ever

Unsure if they still exist? They were small and good, so I doubt it!

As posted before, they've been rebranded as Austrian Arrows.

The prop planes are the ones that Flybe use.

Still officially trading, but rebranded. Same mob I flew with recently on a Fokker. Oo er.

Re:Budget airlines survey

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:33:39 GMT

Iceman wrote:A good few years back I flew tyrolean air, in a prop plane. One if the best flights ever

Unsure if they still exist? They were small and good, so I doubt it!

According to the history of Austrian Airlines (link on page 2) they took over Tyrolean Airways and something called Rheintalflug, integrated the 2 of them in 2002 and renamed them Austrian Arrows in 2003.

10.12.1997
Austrian Airlines increase their share in Tyrolean Airways to 85.7 %.

23.03.1999
Austrian Airlines increase their share in Tyrolean Airways to 100 %.

31.01.2001
Austrian Airlines raise their interest in Lauda air to 54.6% by acquiring voting capital shares.

15.02.2001
Austrian Airlines announce the take-over of 100% of Rheintalflug shares.

4.11.2001
Austrian Airlines raise their interest in Lauda to 99% by acquiring voting capital shares.

06.06.2002
Austrian Airlines raise their interest in Lauda to 100%

01.10.2002
Rheintalflug is integrated into Tyrolean Airways at 100%

16.09.2003
Announcement of new branding ("Austrian", "Austrian arrows" operated by Tyrolean, "Lauda Air")

Re:Budget airlines survey

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:41:27 GMT

AllyG wrote:

Iceman wrote:A good few years back I flew tyrolean air, in a prop plane. One if the best flights ever

Unsure if they still exist? They were small and good, so I doubt it!

According to the history of Austrian Airlines (link on page 2) they took over Tyrolean Airways and something called Rheintalflug, integrated the 2 of them in 2002 and renamed them Austrian Arrows in 2003.

10.12.1997
Austrian Airlines increase their share in Tyrolean Airways to 85.7 %.

23.03.1999
Austrian Airlines increase their share in Tyrolean Airways to 100 %.

31.01.2001
Austrian Airlines raise their interest in Lauda air to 54.6% by acquiring voting capital shares.

15.02.2001
Austrian Airlines announce the take-over of 100% of Rheintalflug shares.

4.11.2001
Austrian Airlines raise their interest in Lauda to 99% by acquiring voting capital shares.

06.06.2002
Austrian Airlines raise their interest in Lauda to 100%

01.10.2002
Rheintalflug is integrated into Tyrolean Airways at 100%

16.09.2003
Announcement of new branding ("Austrian", "Austrian arrows" operated by Tyrolean, "Lauda Air")

Why are you wasting your time researching this, when I told you in previous posts about it?

Re:Budget airlines survey

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:46:26 GMT

Yawn

Hope you are all writing down the registration numbers in your little note books

Re:Budget airlines survey

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 06:04:46 GMT

felthorpe wrote:Yawn

Hope you are all writing down the registration numbers in your little note books

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Some sad git probably does.

Re:Budget airlines survey

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 07:55:13 GMT

I have run out of paper....

Re:Budget airlines survey

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 07:57:41 GMT

Iceman wrote:I have run out of paper....

TMI !!
:oops:

Re:Budget airlines survey

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 09:46:46 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

Iceman wrote:A good few years back I flew tyrolean air, in a prop plane. One if the best flights ever

Unsure if they still exist? They were small and good, so I doubt it!

As posted before, they've been rebranded as Austrian Arrows.

The prop planes are the ones that Flybe use.

Still officially trading, but rebranded. Same mob I flew with recently on a Fokker. Oo er.

You certainly can't beat a Fokker :thumbup:

Re:Budget airlines survey

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:12:59 GMT

He is trying to build his search engine results by linking to his site.

However, he obviously does not know that Google has got wise to this and now only counts this if they are from relevant sites. So a link to a ink cartridge site from a winter sports site will not count.

Give someone half a brain and look at the trouble they cause :evil:

Re:Budget airlines survey

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:18:23 GMT

Iceman wrote:
Give someone half a brain and look at the trouble they cause :evil:

Seen plenty of that Icy :mrgreen:

Re:Budget airlines survey

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:20:09 GMT

At the petrol stations? :roll:

Re:Budget airlines survey

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:25:32 GMT

Iceman wrote:At the petrol stations? :roll:

Not quite what I meant - but ......

Aren't you supposed to be working?

Re:Budget airlines survey

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:26:53 GMT

Multi-tasking

"working from home"

Music on (bit of classical is my current choice)
Tabs open - Gmail, work email, J2ski, facebook, twitter, spotify

:thumbup:

Re:Budget airlines survey

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:35:56 GMT

And another thread ends up in wibbleland