Thanks to everyone who has responded.
Cavemonster, Sorry to hear about your Hahn stopover. I heard about that flight as one of my mums friends happened to be on it but anyhow I've bitten the bullet and my mates and I are off wednesday 28th. I'll make sure that we check in early to get a low numbered boarding card and sit as close to the front exit as possible. Fingers crossed.
FR did happen to mention in our local rag that they would link BOH to their next european base, which was likely to be an Italian airport. Maybe we'll have a direct bergamo flight soon!