BRISTOL
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Bristol
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W: True about the length of the Easyjet check-in queues, BUT I joined the back of this queue a couple of weeks ago opposite the Subway and it only took me forty minutes to get from there through security. The check-in staff are pretty efficient: I've waited for longer than that to check-in for a WOW flight at Manchester when there were only forty-odd pax on the flight! I agree about the number of check-in desks though; Easyjet will probably need more of them once the ninth a/c arrives on July 20th.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: uk
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the easy queue can seem quite daunting but I agree it does move fairly quickly. It’d move even quicker if some of the check-in staff didn’t dither in-between passengers, staring at the floor/ceiling or chatting to their colleagues sometimes seems to take priority rather than calling the next passenger forward. I have to say that things really seem to get moving quickly when staff in ‘normal’ servisair uniforms are also being used.
StandupfortheUlstermen
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Here we go again, moan, moan, ground, moan, moan. Don't suppose any of you rocket scientists have figured out that the best way to articulate your feelings about Bristol having a dedicated GMC/GMP freq, would be to put it in writing through your base captains/higher management?
We have some watches with only 4 ATCO's and are currently training others to get to 5 per watch, but with the best will in the world, to facilitate leave/sickness/retirements/people wanting to move on. it's taking a while to get there. That said, even with 5 per watch, we'll struggle to open a GMC freq. We sometimes struggle to keep 3 freqs open as it is, a fourth would be nigh on impossible. The ironic thing is, some of our less experienced ATCO's happen to be TWR only and they have to put up with what can sometimes be our busiest freq! It's not much fun for us on a busy day, believe me. I think we do bloody well considering our staffing level, but until we go to 6 per watch, don't expect a regular ground freq and to do that, the Airport Authority need to wake up and splash the cash. Not too difficult to grasp, is it chaps?!
We have some watches with only 4 ATCO's and are currently training others to get to 5 per watch, but with the best will in the world, to facilitate leave/sickness/retirements/people wanting to move on. it's taking a while to get there. That said, even with 5 per watch, we'll struggle to open a GMC freq. We sometimes struggle to keep 3 freqs open as it is, a fourth would be nigh on impossible. The ironic thing is, some of our less experienced ATCO's happen to be TWR only and they have to put up with what can sometimes be our busiest freq! It's not much fun for us on a busy day, believe me. I think we do bloody well considering our staffing level, but until we go to 6 per watch, don't expect a regular ground freq and to do that, the Airport Authority need to wake up and splash the cash. Not too difficult to grasp, is it chaps?!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BRISTOL
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Yes fair play the queue does seem daunting but does move quickly, point trying to raise is to an outsider how unproffesional , shambolic and confusing it must seem, the queue is sometimes checked over by BIA cust services and i've even seen reps from other airlines BA,BY,FCA all checking for their pax in it, but you never seem to see much in the way of queue management from a person in Orange.
Onto other matters, anybody know if all these new retail units will be ready by 01 May? i've heard a superdrug is going in, what other shopping delights await us then? Also been told that the press are visiting an airline in the old terminal next week, anyone else hazard a guess?
Onto other matters, anybody know if all these new retail units will be ready by 01 May? i've heard a superdrug is going in, what other shopping delights await us then? Also been told that the press are visiting an airline in the old terminal next week, anyone else hazard a guess?
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Bristol
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Seating in Depature Lounge
Having recently used the departure lounge I found it very claustrophobic there was very little room and all the seating areas were full. The only shop that had been completed was the duty-free. I understand there is going to be a Superdrug, Starbucks, Costa Coffee et al.
I am all for more shops, but I feel that they are just cramming in as many as possible after the Which report that criticised the lack of shopping and eating oportunities in departures. Newcastle has it right lots of space and shops.
I use the airport at least once a month and it is great to see development of the 'retail experience' but not at the expence of the comfort of the passengers.
Does anybody know if they plan to put in more passenger seating?
I am all for more shops, but I feel that they are just cramming in as many as possible after the Which report that criticised the lack of shopping and eating oportunities in departures. Newcastle has it right lots of space and shops.
I use the airport at least once a month and it is great to see development of the 'retail experience' but not at the expence of the comfort of the passengers.
Does anybody know if they plan to put in more passenger seating?
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Leeds, UK
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Will be interesting to see how the increased service from BRS - LBA with WOW will work out. BRS - LBA goes three daily from tomorrow - any projections as to whether it can sustained? My experience on this route is that it has nearly always been full (or very nearly full) so should do well IMHO.
Brunel to Concorde
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
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In 2005 CAA stats show the Air Southwest BRS-MAN route carried just over 44,000 pax with 3 rotations each weekday (less at weekends) for the full year, whilst the BRS-LBA route carried just over 26,000 pax with 2 rotations each weekday (less at weekends), but this was over a period just short of nine months.
On that basis one might think that BRS-LBA ought to be able to at least equal the MAN figures over a whole year with the extra weekday rotation.
I guess it’s really down to marketing, sensible schedules, public awareness and fare price, as is usually the case.
When one looks at easyJet’s 253,000 pax a year between BRS and NCL it shows there is a market from the West Country to the North Eastern part of England, and there is also a half-hourly direct train service between Bristol and Newcastle for much of the day. Leeds is not so well served from Bristol in terms of direct trains and Manchester requires a change of train on every service from Bristol.
These are further reasons why a properly organised air service ought to be a winner.
I suspect the same argument applies to EXT-LBA as well.
On that basis one might think that BRS-LBA ought to be able to at least equal the MAN figures over a whole year with the extra weekday rotation.
I guess it’s really down to marketing, sensible schedules, public awareness and fare price, as is usually the case.
When one looks at easyJet’s 253,000 pax a year between BRS and NCL it shows there is a market from the West Country to the North Eastern part of England, and there is also a half-hourly direct train service between Bristol and Newcastle for much of the day. Leeds is not so well served from Bristol in terms of direct trains and Manchester requires a change of train on every service from Bristol.
These are further reasons why a properly organised air service ought to be a winner.
I suspect the same argument applies to EXT-LBA as well.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: uk
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I passed through the departure lounge recently and now that they’ve taken down the hoarding that was around the new shop units and some of the gates it does look a bit more open, but agree there does seem to be a lack of seating. From what I understand there is also to be a designer clothes shop and a WHSmith just selling books (in addition to the existing one in the departure lounge).
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BRISTOL
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FCA 767 BRS - Sanford weekly on sat, Dominican fortnightly and Cuba fortnightly as of summer 2007 - Great news for BRS, doesnt look as if the a/c will be actually based but it's a great start, well done FCA
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: down south
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will these flights go direct?? as the cancun in oct will be via manchester. heard they will use lgw crew to operated although if going via man will make more sense to use man one's.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BRISTOL
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The brochures are out tomorrow so hopefully it should all be a bit more clear, i'll see what I can find out, also the main summer shorthaul broch are out so be intresting what changes are in there too, the FCA 767 should make SFB direct, so it would surely make sense to send it in there to fuel up for Dominican and Cuba, however i'm certain if it means stopping in MAN for fuel it will still sell fantastically, people in this area are fed up of going to LGW/MAN/BHX and have finally realised that an hour stop in MAN is better than a 3 hour trip enjoying the delights of the M25 plus overnight hotel and parking costs of getting to LGW, also I was told a few days ago that the one off CUN from BRS via MAN has nearly sold out in just over a month, must bode well. Hopefully they will utilise BRS crew who are doing boeing training ready for 757s, imagine how peed off the crew would be otherwise, 'by the way, were sending longhaul to you, however LGW are crewing it' now that would be a stupid move!, as far as I know BHX/EMA crew operate the longhaul from there, so no reason they wont do same here, plus it would produce more flexible use of crew nationwide, they can then utilise BRS crew for other longhaul routes. The BRS routes are on weekends too which makes it easier for their crewing to do 2/3 day stop overs and crew flights back to other FCA bases.
Last edited by WATABENCH; 11th Apr 2006 at 15:14.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Bristol
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Bristol Airport Direct
Was in The Mall at Cribbs Causeway today and noticed that a new shop will be opening soon, it is 'Bristol Airport Direct' holiday shop. Does the airport have a stake in this or is run by one of the holiday companies?
Join Date: Oct 2003
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STANDARD NOISE,,,, Well well you are a bit touchy are you not??? I don't believe that I said anything to accuse you of anything, or for that matter question your intelligence let alone your or your colleagues' work ethics.....
All that was said was, that it is about time a ground frequency was activated at BRS. If you work there then you, more then us, realise that this is the case.
Posting here on the topic certainly does not suggest that I, or for that matter, anybody else has not written to the powers that be about the safety issues that are now common place with this pretend international airport. Obviously nothing is being done. Your tone suggests to me that this topic has been covered before therefore it also suggests that you may also be guilty of not writing or questioning the safety issues. If you have tried or expressed your professional opinions on this matter to the powers that be and still nothing has been done then why get frustrated with people like me.
You obviously believe that you need help down there.... hell go on strike That will sort it. Maybe we will back you by refusing to depart on flights to this airport therefore expressin our safety concerns... fat chance, we are not french.
All that was said was, that it is about time a ground frequency was activated at BRS. If you work there then you, more then us, realise that this is the case.
Posting here on the topic certainly does not suggest that I, or for that matter, anybody else has not written to the powers that be about the safety issues that are now common place with this pretend international airport. Obviously nothing is being done. Your tone suggests to me that this topic has been covered before therefore it also suggests that you may also be guilty of not writing or questioning the safety issues. If you have tried or expressed your professional opinions on this matter to the powers that be and still nothing has been done then why get frustrated with people like me.
You obviously believe that you need help down there.... hell go on strike That will sort it. Maybe we will back you by refusing to depart on flights to this airport therefore expressin our safety concerns... fat chance, we are not french.
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It's not a case of going on strike, most things that concern ground opeartions and operations at a whole its not the simple. Ground handling is the same like "its that time of year" where everyone slags off serivsair or the airport opeartions. It's not as simple to just strike, if we were like the french nothing would get solved! Every airport has its busy periods, where staff, eqiupment and resources are tested bristol is not aloan with this matter. Bigger airports like manchester and gatwick have similar issues. I mean operations with the tower would not be a problem if flightcrews, didnt call up for slots and start up times if their not ready to go. I.E. when hold doors are still opens and steps are still on, just to get early slots like airlines at bristol do. First choice every year are the worst airline for this moaning about ground operations at bristol. If airlines spent the day in the life of an operations controller or air traffic controller at bristol or ramp agent for that matter, u would understand the problems we face and how we best deal with it. No body tells you how to do ur job so dont tell how to do ours! Just remember we try to inform the powers at be, but its not always that simple. U flightcrew/airline has most influence that any body else.
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It was only a few weeks ago i was having a simlar conversation with the flightdeck of a certain airline, about operations and stand planning of aircraft. They expect us to have all the answers and power to solve the problem, when if they bothered to raise their concerns to our power that be then things with only get done. Everyone at the airport trys their hardest to make things run smoothly, its always the people at the other end of the headset or telephone that gets the blame for something thats out of their hands. If everyone understood the opeartions at bristol then we can work together to over come them. Everyone is to thank for making bristol a huge success lets keep it that way.