Originally Posted by
virginblue
Well, if Flybe is unable to charge fares on such routes that keep them afloat, apparently thise routes are not without alternatives - as otherwise they would be a licence to print money instead of bancrupting the operator.
I think poor marketing might have more to do with it.
As a semi regular user of the route, I always assess the alternatives. Usually (unless booking months ahead), the plane would be a third of the price of 2nd class train. There's more leg room in a Q400, and with most seats you can look out of a window, which isnt the case on the crowded un-punctual train, when sometimes you don't get a seat. And it's a bit of a fallacy that you can work with your laptop on the train. In 2nd class on cross country, there's barely room to open the screen, and the lateral shaking in the underfloor-slung diesel engined carriages in either 1st or 2nd makes it a bit of a joke.
Oh, and the thought of driving off motorway suggested above by Asturias is clearly written by somebody who is not used to regularly driving such roads through the populated areas of the north and midlands of the UK.
Flybe have singularly failed to make the best of the market opportunity and communicate the offer to the potential users.