ISLE OF MAN
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Baggage Prices
I maybe missing the point about the baggage issue,
however I was not charged anything for baggage when I flew to Dublin last week and I was not charged to check in at the airport was I lucky or is this the norm.
however I was not charged anything for baggage when I flew to Dublin last week and I was not charged to check in at the airport was I lucky or is this the norm.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Err no.
What it is, is good old informed discussion, and not Be Bashing or whatever. HAC and others have genuine reasons for bringing points up. This is the point of allowing SLF onto Pprune, and it informs those companies who keep an eye on it as well.
HAC, don't panic about cancelled LGW rotations, with the loads, there's no chance of that in the near future. BE's on time performance from the Island is running second in the whole network, and only not first due to problems with slots in and out of mainland europe that primarily affect the BHX route. The Flight Support staff are a major contributer to this, well done to all of them.
Here's a moan, why do folk check in near the last minute, and complain when they can't get seats together? They could check in on-line 4 hours earlier, they could pay the extra, but feel it's right that the 70 others who checked in before them should move so they can sit together. some folk, eh?
Back on topic, if it's valid, post it. Please just try to be constructive when ever you can. Hopefully BE and RE management read this occasionally...
What it is, is good old informed discussion, and not Be Bashing or whatever. HAC and others have genuine reasons for bringing points up. This is the point of allowing SLF onto Pprune, and it informs those companies who keep an eye on it as well.
HAC, don't panic about cancelled LGW rotations, with the loads, there's no chance of that in the near future. BE's on time performance from the Island is running second in the whole network, and only not first due to problems with slots in and out of mainland europe that primarily affect the BHX route. The Flight Support staff are a major contributer to this, well done to all of them.
Here's a moan, why do folk check in near the last minute, and complain when they can't get seats together? They could check in on-line 4 hours earlier, they could pay the extra, but feel it's right that the 70 others who checked in before them should move so they can sit together. some folk, eh?
Back on topic, if it's valid, post it. Please just try to be constructive when ever you can. Hopefully BE and RE management read this occasionally...
Join Date: Jun 2003
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Dash & Thump
In the old days of BA Connect, if there was more than one of you they would pre-asign seats so you could all sit together....
why can't flybe do that? or is it a deilberate ploy to make a bit more money?
In the old days of BA Connect, if there was more than one of you they would pre-asign seats so you could all sit together....
why can't flybe do that? or is it a deilberate ploy to make a bit more money?
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UAE
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For all its worth An ATR72 500 has payload less than a Q400 of nearly 7 tons, That is probably why the carry on weight and checking weight vary From FlyBe. Arann do not charge for bags checked in like alot of other carriers. You are aloud to carry 22kgs with Are Arann, 15 check in and 7 hand, I think that is suffecient for the busniess pax on such a short route.
P.s. I hope these last few post will be moved to SLF
P.s. I hope these last few post will be moved to SLF
Paxing All Over The World
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Dash&Thump
They will - within about another five years. As the older generation that are not computer users stop flying, and each new year of first time pax that have grown up with computers ... then the problem will go away! 
Here's a moan, why do folk check in near the last minute, and complain when they can't get seats together
Join Date: Apr 2008
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I partly agree.
Though I did see a quite elderly couple walk straight up to the Self Service Terminal and check themselves in today...so they aren't all computer-shy.
The reason BA Connect seemed to pre-assign you together was that Manx Regional staff, mostly ex Manx Airlines old-school superstars, would go through the bookings the night before and manually put you all together for the next day. Way beyond the call of duty and something they never got enough thanks for. The Flybe system doesn't give you that nice option.
However, the reality is the check in staff at IOM do a sterling job of helping folk sit together. The flybe shares system does automatically spread you about, primarily to make sure the a/c trims perfectly, no matter where or how many no-shows occur. The Staff on check-in "force" the system for couples and families by swapping seats manually to get you all together, and when the loads are high, the last ones to check in simply have to lump it. to get them together would mean asking couples who made the effort to check in in good time to split up and that's not fair really.
The extra charge allows you to effectively short cut the bit about checking in early. Good for families like us who are nearly always lastminute.com on such occasions....
But like any business, additional services = additional revenue streams. That's the modern way.
Though I did see a quite elderly couple walk straight up to the Self Service Terminal and check themselves in today...so they aren't all computer-shy.
The reason BA Connect seemed to pre-assign you together was that Manx Regional staff, mostly ex Manx Airlines old-school superstars, would go through the bookings the night before and manually put you all together for the next day. Way beyond the call of duty and something they never got enough thanks for. The Flybe system doesn't give you that nice option.
However, the reality is the check in staff at IOM do a sterling job of helping folk sit together. The flybe shares system does automatically spread you about, primarily to make sure the a/c trims perfectly, no matter where or how many no-shows occur. The Staff on check-in "force" the system for couples and families by swapping seats manually to get you all together, and when the loads are high, the last ones to check in simply have to lump it. to get them together would mean asking couples who made the effort to check in in good time to split up and that's not fair really.
The extra charge allows you to effectively short cut the bit about checking in early. Good for families like us who are nearly always lastminute.com on such occasions....
But like any business, additional services = additional revenue streams. That's the modern way.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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It also varies between airlines with regards policies... Th other thing is a 'group' who all book individually and have seperate reference numbers who is to tell they are travelling together before arrival at the airport. Online check-in is best or people who 'MUST' sit together.
Join Date: Mar 2005
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New Flybe Routes to BHD and BLK
News from Exeter. New routes being planned from IOM to BHD and BLK. Gather the BLK may be driven by a deal with Balfour Beatty (owners of EXT and BLK).
Join Date: May 2007
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Best thing Manxy2 could do is take BE to OFT for unfair trading practices. Eastern should have done it over BHX and SOU. Wheres BEs double daily BHX now
and as for the daily SOU - disappeared 6 months after they took Easterns daily SOU off the route. All BE want is 100% of the market. simple. its called monopoly
and as for the daily SOU - disappeared 6 months after they took Easterns daily SOU off the route. All BE want is 100% of the market. simple. its called monopoly
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Isle Of Man
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OFT
Didnt realise we had such a thing hear but JTRs' correct. Its on the iomgov OFT website
Competition Investigations
The Office is given increased powers under the Fair Trading Act to deal with the anti-competitive practices of individual businesses. The Act does not mention monopolies but there has to be a degree of market power exercised by any business under investigation before they can be adjudged as carrying on an anti-competitive practice which is against the public interest.
IOMOFT - Fairtrading & Competition - Isle of Man Government Office of Fair Trading
Competition Investigations
The Office is given increased powers under the Fair Trading Act to deal with the anti-competitive practices of individual businesses. The Act does not mention monopolies but there has to be a degree of market power exercised by any business under investigation before they can be adjudged as carrying on an anti-competitive practice which is against the public interest.
IOMOFT - Fairtrading & Competition - Isle of Man Government Office of Fair Trading
Last edited by IOMspotter; 13th Dec 2008 at 15:23. Reason: link added
Join Date: Apr 2008
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I wouldn't bet anything on new routes like these. They are not likely to be busy, and Flybe's business model needs bums on seats. BLK simply will not do that unless it pulls bums off the LPL services. a 19 seater works well to both BLK and BHD.
Any planning would be for at least a year hence by now. S09 is sorted, and W09 would only be a reduction in frequency to match demand. Certainly not new routes.
S10? You never know.
Exeter has far bigger fish on the fryer right now to put too much into messing about with the IOM operation. It's ticking along nicely and the reliability is nearly the best in the network.
Any planning would be for at least a year hence by now. S09 is sorted, and W09 would only be a reduction in frequency to match demand. Certainly not new routes.
S10? You never know.
Exeter has far bigger fish on the fryer right now to put too much into messing about with the IOM operation. It's ticking along nicely and the reliability is nearly the best in the network.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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yo ho ho. 
Yessir would be good to see flybe or its franchiseee appear on another route into IOM trying to expand their 75% market share. NOT. When youre paying £200+ now for a return to LPL
I agree it would need OFT boys brought in
. OFT would love a proper chance to get stuck into BEs fares. Like how come the passenger tax from LPL to IOM changes from flight to flight could it be that their tax charges are in the same league as Gordon Browns knife crime statistics? ie total . yessir.
Yessir would be good to see flybe or its franchiseee appear on another route into IOM trying to expand their 75% market share. NOT. When youre paying £200+ now for a return to LPL I agree it would need OFT boys brought in. OFT would love a proper chance to get stuck into BEs fares. Like how come the passenger tax from LPL to IOM changes from flight to flight could it be that their tax charges are in the same league as Gordon Browns knife crime statistics? ie total . yessir.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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You're paying £200 return to LPL because you waited too late to book. Pure and simple.
The flights have very good load factors on many flights now, and this means the expensive seats are all that is left.
Many passengers sat next to you paid a lot less than this, and twas ever thus.
It was no different in Manx Airlines days. Once the cheap seats had gone, you had to either pick a different flight or dig deep in your pockets.
That's business, in any colour you paint an aircraft/train or ferry.
You can't whinge to the OFT for something like this, unless you want to give them a laugh, life just doesn't work like that.
History is a good starting point. ANY route to/from the Isle of Man that has had two or more operators on it has lost money, sometimes spectacularly. The Catchment area and traffic levels are just not big enough. If they were, the Big Orange and Irish Harp would be sat at Ronaldsway long before now.
The choice is always yours, book early, be flexible on your times and you can get a reasonable price. Any company that has a regular and busy business customer base will ensure the last seats remain available till very late on, for last minute business travel, and the way that happens is with pricing. Always was, always will be.
Sorry about that.
The flights have very good load factors on many flights now, and this means the expensive seats are all that is left.
Many passengers sat next to you paid a lot less than this, and twas ever thus.
It was no different in Manx Airlines days. Once the cheap seats had gone, you had to either pick a different flight or dig deep in your pockets.
That's business, in any colour you paint an aircraft/train or ferry.
You can't whinge to the OFT for something like this, unless you want to give them a laugh, life just doesn't work like that.
History is a good starting point. ANY route to/from the Isle of Man that has had two or more operators on it has lost money, sometimes spectacularly. The Catchment area and traffic levels are just not big enough. If they were, the Big Orange and Irish Harp would be sat at Ronaldsway long before now.
The choice is always yours, book early, be flexible on your times and you can get a reasonable price. Any company that has a regular and busy business customer base will ensure the last seats remain available till very late on, for last minute business travel, and the way that happens is with pricing. Always was, always will be.
Sorry about that.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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BE Southampton is returning for Summer 2009 and BHX is twice daily monday, thursday and friday. This is getting into the realms of BE bating!! Whats the problem with a route only operating during the Summer?? How many other airlines have seasonal routes?? A lot!
Flybe operating SOU means that the route is available to people who could otherwise not afford Easterns fares!
Flybe operating SOU means that the route is available to people who could otherwise not afford Easterns fares!
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Dash & T is right that when theres two airlines on IOM routes it never lasts but I dont agree with FS01 about SOU. Eastern ran it year round daily and everyone seemed happy. Some routes just need smaller aircraft and J41 suited SOU. L410 would be terribble, Q400 is too big - its horses for corses.
but I dont agree with FS01 about SOU. Eastern ran it year round daily and everyone seemed happy. Some routes just need smaller aircraft and J41 suited SOU. L410 would be terribble, Q400 is too big - its horses for corses.
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It doesn't cost much more to operate a Q400 than a Q300 or Q200 for that matter.
It'd also true that you can fill any aircraft and lose money, and half fill another and make profits.....how to do the latter is the secret of commercial departments the world over, well one they well know in Exeter anyway.
Rumours can occur for both water testing and disruptive reasons, often, they're just pie in the sky.
Simple logic tells me a route that succeeds on a 19 seater, that doesn't impact on close by major route's are neither a threat nor an opportunity.
As you say, Horses for Courses.
It'd also true that you can fill any aircraft and lose money, and half fill another and make profits.....how to do the latter is the secret of commercial departments the world over, well one they well know in Exeter anyway.
Rumours can occur for both water testing and disruptive reasons, often, they're just pie in the sky.
Simple logic tells me a route that succeeds on a 19 seater, that doesn't impact on close by major route's are neither a threat nor an opportunity.
As you say, Horses for Courses.
Join Date: Apr 2007
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anyone seen or heard of the NOV pax figures for Ronaldsway. The airports at the other ends of the route have published and it looks like most were down about 10%. Guess this is what we ll see here in 2009 with a bit of a boost from Arranns new LCY
The airports at the other ends of the route have published and it looks like most were down about 10%. Guess this is what we ll see here in 2009 with a bit of a boost from Arranns new LCY