ISLE OF MAN
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Outside the EU
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Let's not forget just who or what Manx Regional is. It isn't a poor little handling company set up by the 'locals'. It was set up under the whirling smoke and mirrors produced by BA at a time when it donate it's entire Jestream fleet to Eastern along with numerous routes - and dumped its ground handling services on the Rock into a convenient Eastern owned vehicle called Manx Regional .....yes, dear old Eastern. Now, I seem to recall there were great expectations for Eastern's development at IOM which have failed to materialise and if it comes to no Eastern it must surely be no Manx Regional. I've heard that the manx2 handling is almost for free, Eastern is on the retreat and that leaves a few flights from Loganair. If I was working at MR I'd be taking a very careful look the future and demanding some answers from the manager because like management teams everywhere, they do know the answers and are probably lying through there teeth if they say otherwise.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: UAE
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I see the Feb pax numbers are down again, 5% less then last year. The new director has a tough job on her hands. Talking to people in the pub now that the better weather is coming the Steam packet seems to be the vehicle of choice for NW bound pax.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: south east
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Week 2 of a new operation, lets hope for the boys and girls of FS and MR the challenges are a lot less than last week.
I will be travelling out this week so we shall see.
Were EMX operating Flybe MAN yesterday as a friend of mine was travelling and looking forward to a trip on an EMB but phoned to say they flew EMX instead!!!
I will be travelling out this week so we shall see.
Were EMX operating Flybe MAN yesterday as a friend of mine was travelling and looking forward to a trip on an EMB but phoned to say they flew EMX instead!!!
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Isle of Man
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
manxbudgie, G-EMBS was deployed in manchester yesterday due to some of the services bein over booked over there. Because of this, EMX put REJ onto the manchester to accomodate the BE pax, and i believe everyone got to where they needed to go, so well done EMX 
Paxing All Over The World
Thread Starter
BA had stated in their hand over to flybe that pax could continue to book trhough them for the sectors such as IOM. I thought this very curious but decided to check today.
They obviously wish to off load this from their booking system, as they have cranked the price up.
Same flights, same days:
flybe £139.98
BA £192.50
Benefit? I would get some BA Miles and lounge access if I was silver or gold. I wonder why they would add £52.52? Perhaps they will get enough twits booking through them? It would have been more honest to just stop booking this route.
They obviously wish to off load this from their booking system, as they have cranked the price up.
Same flights, same days:
flybe £139.98
BA £192.50
Benefit? I would get some BA Miles and lounge access if I was silver or gold. I wonder why they would add £52.52? Perhaps they will get enough twits booking through them? It would have been more honest to just stop booking this route.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Isle of Man
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I read most of the messages that flowed from BA/FlyBe galactic headquarters on the BA Connect takeover by FlyBe, and thought that maybe it might work for me as pax.
I booked my last (see below) flight to LGW on the FlyBe website, mainly because I wanted to sort out seat assignments as I was travelling en-famille. Got the BA miles but discovered afterwards that I don't get tier points unless I book on BA.com.
As I said elsewhere on this site the LGW South experience was truelly aweful.
So that will be my last flight on FlyBe. No tier points = no need. Next week is booked on EMX. As, I'm afraid, will be my future weekly trips to the big city.
FlyBe - nice knowing you
PS PaxBoy - congrats on 3000 posts!
I booked my last (see below) flight to LGW on the FlyBe website, mainly because I wanted to sort out seat assignments as I was travelling en-famille. Got the BA miles but discovered afterwards that I don't get tier points unless I book on BA.com.
As I said elsewhere on this site the LGW South experience was truelly aweful.
So that will be my last flight on FlyBe. No tier points = no need. Next week is booked on EMX. As, I'm afraid, will be my future weekly trips to the big city.
FlyBe - nice knowing you
PS PaxBoy - congrats on 3000 posts!
Paxing All Over The World
Thread Starter
Thanks Haven't. I had not noticed!! My family and friends would find that number no surprise what-so-ever. 
It has been said that my tombstone will state "That shut him up"
It has been said that my tombstone will state "That shut him up"
Guest
Posts: n/a
From the perspective of the crew who are now operating the Flybe flights, it's a very frustrating time for us.
I don't know what is causing the problems, or what the motive is, but the split ground handling on the rock is just not working. The number of checkin errors we see is alarming. Delays as MR try to sort out the problems, indifference from FS staff when questioned, it goes on. Whether that's poor training, lack of rest I don't know, some are definitely better than others though...
I agree Pier one at LGW South terminal is atrocious. But what can WE do? It's scheduled to be knocked down soon I've heard, but the good will we still see from some pax is much appreciated.
Thing is the checkin is the first airline experience you get and if that's bad, it sours the trip. Every flight we get families split up, two pax in one seat, baggage mislabelled or given duplicate tags. You must wonder that if the start of the trip is being ruined by the checkin staff, and folk are being turned off Flybe as a result, who benefits? Then again, who's doing the checkin? FS. Where are their loyalties? Go figure.
I'm sure a lot of the staff are trying their best on unfamiliar software, seating plans, etc. However the end result of a f-up is positive marketing for EMX.
So, to all the passengers who get buggered around at checkin, remember, look around and see what's changed, and what's still the same. When you get on board, please don't take it out on the crews, or the ramp staff. We're trying our best.
Looking back a page or two, only one skipper laments the loss of G-MABR, the rest of us called it scabby dog for a good reason. G-GNTZ is indeed in 2-3 config, it's original Business air seats were in-G-MABR! The'll be going back in soon, I suspect.
It doesn't have a row 17, but then again it doesn't have a row 13 either! We can put 80 on, just pop the No3 on the jumpseat if needed.
G-MANS, G-MIMA's twin sister, comes here to operate from the 9th, or possibly before. 90 seats, 3-3. It should have had 93, two less than G-MIMA due to the rear dogbox, but when they tried to put them in according to the engineering drawings, they didn't fit, so 90 it is. Twin crewseat at the front and airstairs too so no wait for steps anymore!
The time the bags failed to show up was because the fueller put too much on and overloaded the aircraft. Again not the airline's fault. They could have de-fuelled it, but the delay would have been interminable. As to the incontinence episode, sorry my fault. Well sort of, we just started out and got a hydraulics warning followed by a low quantity warning. A flexible hose to the airbrake jaqck split and out came the Skydrol all over the back end and taxiway. TZ is 24 years old, so I'm just glad it didn't happen in the air because Skydrol is a good paint stripper and the car park at LGW is under the flight path
Hopefully we'll have a -300 by June, when G-MANS is also retired, so then we'll be on the flybe automatic system. FS should be able to checkin properly, and Serviceair at LGW should be able to cope as well.
Lottery to start to guess what G-MANS will look like? BA Tail, white tail? Flybe stickers? answers on a postcard. It'll be good to get back into the comfortable seats anyway.
Bear with us, the prices are getting better and with more seats to fill, they'll be better still.
Unless the check-in experience puts everyone off in the meantime of course....
I don't know what is causing the problems, or what the motive is, but the split ground handling on the rock is just not working. The number of checkin errors we see is alarming. Delays as MR try to sort out the problems, indifference from FS staff when questioned, it goes on. Whether that's poor training, lack of rest I don't know, some are definitely better than others though...
I agree Pier one at LGW South terminal is atrocious. But what can WE do? It's scheduled to be knocked down soon I've heard, but the good will we still see from some pax is much appreciated.
Thing is the checkin is the first airline experience you get and if that's bad, it sours the trip. Every flight we get families split up, two pax in one seat, baggage mislabelled or given duplicate tags. You must wonder that if the start of the trip is being ruined by the checkin staff, and folk are being turned off Flybe as a result, who benefits? Then again, who's doing the checkin? FS. Where are their loyalties? Go figure.
I'm sure a lot of the staff are trying their best on unfamiliar software, seating plans, etc. However the end result of a f-up is positive marketing for EMX.
So, to all the passengers who get buggered around at checkin, remember, look around and see what's changed, and what's still the same. When you get on board, please don't take it out on the crews, or the ramp staff. We're trying our best.
Looking back a page or two, only one skipper laments the loss of G-MABR, the rest of us called it scabby dog for a good reason. G-GNTZ is indeed in 2-3 config, it's original Business air seats were in-G-MABR! The'll be going back in soon, I suspect.
It doesn't have a row 17, but then again it doesn't have a row 13 either! We can put 80 on, just pop the No3 on the jumpseat if needed.
G-MANS, G-MIMA's twin sister, comes here to operate from the 9th, or possibly before. 90 seats, 3-3. It should have had 93, two less than G-MIMA due to the rear dogbox, but when they tried to put them in according to the engineering drawings, they didn't fit, so 90 it is. Twin crewseat at the front and airstairs too so no wait for steps anymore!
The time the bags failed to show up was because the fueller put too much on and overloaded the aircraft. Again not the airline's fault. They could have de-fuelled it, but the delay would have been interminable. As to the incontinence episode, sorry my fault. Well sort of, we just started out and got a hydraulics warning followed by a low quantity warning. A flexible hose to the airbrake jaqck split and out came the Skydrol all over the back end and taxiway. TZ is 24 years old, so I'm just glad it didn't happen in the air because Skydrol is a good paint stripper and the car park at LGW is under the flight path
Hopefully we'll have a -300 by June, when G-MANS is also retired, so then we'll be on the flybe automatic system. FS should be able to checkin properly, and Serviceair at LGW should be able to cope as well.
Lottery to start to guess what G-MANS will look like? BA Tail, white tail? Flybe stickers? answers on a postcard. It'll be good to get back into the comfortable seats anyway.
Bear with us, the prices are getting better and with more seats to fill, they'll be better still.
Unless the check-in experience puts everyone off in the meantime of course....
Last edited by Anotherflapoperator; 3rd Apr 2007 at 13:33.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Isle of Man
Age: 71
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As you are probably aware, flap, MANS is simply white and blue, with just the BA logos and tail removed. Same as the Dash's and probably the 145's eventually.
The question now is, what happens to all the support staff here who, on the 20th April, don't have a job with the "independant" tech services company being set up? Portakabin sold, hangar locked - where do we go? Any guess's?
skiddyiom
The question now is, what happens to all the support staff here who, on the 20th April, don't have a job with the "independant" tech services company being set up? Portakabin sold, hangar locked - where do we go? Any guess's?
skiddyiom
Guest
Posts: n/a
Skiddy, thanks for that, I posted before it arrived here yesterday. Shame they couldn't have stretched to a Flybe sticker next to the door ore something.
I sincerely hope the hangar lads all get something from the talks happening with You know who. Great bunch of hard working professionals and I have a lot of respect for the teams there. I've got my fingers crossed, if that's any help?
I sincerely hope the hangar lads all get something from the talks happening with You know who. Great bunch of hard working professionals and I have a lot of respect for the teams there. I've got my fingers crossed, if that's any help?
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just tried to book a flight on the BLK-IOM route for the TT races.
7 flights on the Friday all full, and on the Saturday! Checked the BFS/BHD routes aswell, they also were full! LBA not far behind!
I'm sure BE and EMX will be laughing all the way to the bank aswell after those two weeks!
7 flights on the Friday all full, and on the Saturday! Checked the BFS/BHD routes aswell, they also were full! LBA not far behind!
I'm sure BE and EMX will be laughing all the way to the bank aswell after those two weeks!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Long ago and far away
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tinwald, the boat is as bad as the airlines - £127 for a FOOT passenger OFF the island during TT! Rip off city or what?
Anyway, I'd rather fly - think of all those sweaty, hairy-a***d bikers swanning about on the Ben for 4 hours. At least on a plane it's an hour tops!
excon
Anyway, I'd rather fly - think of all those sweaty, hairy-a***d bikers swanning about on the Ben for 4 hours. At least on a plane it's an hour tops!
excon
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In the house
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
excon, fella. What are you saying. Some of my best mates are hairy-a***d bikers tee hee. Goes with the territory over here on Fraggle. Anyway, great news for my mates down the hangar cos the new owners put an ad in the local freebie paper for engineers and managers.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Isle Of Man
Age: 40
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hanger
Really pleased to hear about the hangar. should bring some interesting aircraft over here. Does anyone have a link to the full announcement of what's happening?
Guest
Posts: n/a
Interesting? You mean ATPs?
Whatever, fantastic news, though from what I hear it's not actually fully signed yet, but awaiting approval from WestAir's board of Directors. Eddie is grinning again though!
Best of luck to all at the hangar, hope it goes well.
Meanwhile. The EMB is not seen by everyone as a wonderjet, but it is VERY quick and the landings smooth. Damn thing whizzes past us on the quadrapuff like we're stood still. It's very modern, the cabin space is OK, the room under seats good and the overhead lockers, not the largest, but will swallow briefcases, soft bags and coats with ease. If you think of it as a business jet, then the ride is a thrill and certainly an experience if you're used to little Dashes or the ATR.
Expect change this Autumn sometime, with two of the super new efficient Dash 8 Q400s coming to replace both 146 and Embraer. 78 seats, (same as G-MABR), but two by two like normal dash8 so loads of lockers overhead, comfortable seats and very quiet. Steps at back and front, quiet working APUs for air conditioning. Fully modern avionics for us to play with, working anti-noise system in the cabin too. They can do IOM-LGW in nearly the same time as the 146 and burn half the fuel. Only 5 minutes longer. That's 8 tonnes a day less kerosene used. With one aircraft. Think of that as enough heating oil to heat four homes for nearly a year. Sad to lose a jet? Think green and it makes a lot of sense. They'll stick an Embraer 195 on for those really peak days anyway.
The Q400 is nothing like the Q300 or 200 EMX use. It will outclimb a 146 to 25,000ft. Cruise at only 40kts slower than the 146, but get to cruise height and speed several minutes quicker. The cost reduction WILL fliter through to your ticket price too.
Not till the end of the Summer holidays though, the aircraft, not the cost reduction! 146-300 with 118 seats for TT and the summer. You won't recognise the pilots though, we'll be off training to fly the Dash. See you when we get back!
Whatever, fantastic news, though from what I hear it's not actually fully signed yet, but awaiting approval from WestAir's board of Directors. Eddie is grinning again though!
Best of luck to all at the hangar, hope it goes well.
Meanwhile. The EMB is not seen by everyone as a wonderjet, but it is VERY quick and the landings smooth. Damn thing whizzes past us on the quadrapuff like we're stood still. It's very modern, the cabin space is OK, the room under seats good and the overhead lockers, not the largest, but will swallow briefcases, soft bags and coats with ease. If you think of it as a business jet, then the ride is a thrill and certainly an experience if you're used to little Dashes or the ATR.
Expect change this Autumn sometime, with two of the super new efficient Dash 8 Q400s coming to replace both 146 and Embraer. 78 seats, (same as G-MABR), but two by two like normal dash8 so loads of lockers overhead, comfortable seats and very quiet. Steps at back and front, quiet working APUs for air conditioning. Fully modern avionics for us to play with, working anti-noise system in the cabin too. They can do IOM-LGW in nearly the same time as the 146 and burn half the fuel. Only 5 minutes longer. That's 8 tonnes a day less kerosene used. With one aircraft. Think of that as enough heating oil to heat four homes for nearly a year. Sad to lose a jet? Think green and it makes a lot of sense. They'll stick an Embraer 195 on for those really peak days anyway.
The Q400 is nothing like the Q300 or 200 EMX use. It will outclimb a 146 to 25,000ft. Cruise at only 40kts slower than the 146, but get to cruise height and speed several minutes quicker. The cost reduction WILL fliter through to your ticket price too.
Not till the end of the Summer holidays though, the aircraft, not the cost reduction! 146-300 with 118 seats for TT and the summer. You won't recognise the pilots though, we'll be off training to fly the Dash. See you when we get back!
Last edited by Anotherflapoperator; 13th Apr 2007 at 10:08.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Isle of Man
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Introducing new aircraft quickly is a big step forward. On the EMX thread you (Anotherflapoperator) said..
Pier 1 itself is not the problem. Inbound you have to queue for a photo presumably so you can mix with the outgoing pax, and queue to be scanned out again (yet strangly as I recall this scanning point is just beyond the seating area and you still mix with the outgoing pax....)
Outbound is the problem for me and the missus. You have to turn up early enough to get through security (FlyBe's website says check-in opens 90 mins before the flight, and I suggest it should be sooner - I checked in online which works well despite the potential for additional charges for replacement boarding cards should you be unlucky to suffer a printer wreck).
Because the terminal was designed in the days when security was a speedier process all the decent places to eat are landside, and I guess the original plan was for pax to spend time there before going airside. The result is that all the pax are congregated airside and the place is untidy and filthy. There's few places left to sit and it's better to head down to Peir 1 despite it's lack of facilities.
If you're paying full whack, as I often do, you get to use the FlyBe lounge, which is a a peaceful haven off peak, but will no doubt be crowded at peak times.
There is an arguement that we were spoilt by BA - LGW North is new(ish), has plenty of space to sit, big lounges (kids allowed), plenty of places to eat airside, and is kept clean and tidy. So the transfer to LGW South is a huge backward step. Maybe FlyBe should relocate? (Of course there is the need to deal with the Transit, which has broken down on occasion).
You have commented earlier about the positive side of the new FlyBe operation with enthusiasm, and I admire you for that. It was the Manx based crews who that kept me loyal even after the introduction of the BA Connect brand. Let's see what the pax numbers look like in due course.
.... if you can stand Pier 1 at LGW that is!
As I can't get any further than the airbridge, just how bad is it in there? The main shopping part is OK, it's only the pier that is old and grotty and that's due to be knocked down and redeveloped next year I believe.
As I can't get any further than the airbridge, just how bad is it in there? The main shopping part is OK, it's only the pier that is old and grotty and that's due to be knocked down and redeveloped next year I believe.
Outbound is the problem for me and the missus. You have to turn up early enough to get through security (FlyBe's website says check-in opens 90 mins before the flight, and I suggest it should be sooner - I checked in online which works well despite the potential for additional charges for replacement boarding cards should you be unlucky to suffer a printer wreck).
Because the terminal was designed in the days when security was a speedier process all the decent places to eat are landside, and I guess the original plan was for pax to spend time there before going airside. The result is that all the pax are congregated airside and the place is untidy and filthy. There's few places left to sit and it's better to head down to Peir 1 despite it's lack of facilities.
If you're paying full whack, as I often do, you get to use the FlyBe lounge, which is a a peaceful haven off peak, but will no doubt be crowded at peak times.
There is an arguement that we were spoilt by BA - LGW North is new(ish), has plenty of space to sit, big lounges (kids allowed), plenty of places to eat airside, and is kept clean and tidy. So the transfer to LGW South is a huge backward step. Maybe FlyBe should relocate?
(Of course there is the need to deal with the Transit, which has broken down on occasion).You have commented earlier about the positive side of the new FlyBe operation with enthusiasm, and I admire you for that. It was the Manx based crews who that kept me loyal even after the introduction of the BA Connect brand. Let's see what the pax numbers look like in due course.