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LONDON CITY - 2

Old 13th Jul 2010, 16:05
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After umpteen trips out of LCY over the years, it was recently a first time for me to Amsterdam. At 181 nm wisdom was always that this was too short for a jet, yet the F50s used for years have been supplanted by RJs. Do the extra seats more than make up for the extra costs I wonder ?

I haven't said which carrier we were on, because it wasn't particularly clear. KLM tickets, but KLM aircraft came off the route last year. Ticket actually said "operated by VLM", but there's no trace of VLM either any more and the RJ aircraft and all aspects of service are from CityJet. But I do wonder whose AOC we were on, whose insurance, and whether the requirements for advising to passengers the actual operator are being met.

Maybe the IT systems have just not kept up. They certainly haven't on the check-in machines (which I believe are operated by Air France, not CityJet) in the main LCY hall. We approached a free one which had a range of logos to choose from, Air France, VLM, etc, selected VLM as the only evident option, worked through the questions, inserted the passport for recognition (which these machines never, ever manage, and the same this time), were asked for our flight number, and now VLM have vanished from the carrier logos, and we have no valid carrier to choose from. The assistant comes up and says "use another machine", which seems illogical, but when I look at the one alongside the starting range of logos is different and more comprehensive. Somehow they seem to have different versions of the software on adjacent machines, and this one takes us through what are obviously a different set of questions, and works (well, apart from the passport scanner).

In case you think our passports are somehow u/s, at Amsterdam on the return leg, on comparable KLM machines, they work fine.

I don't want this to be all negative, so must report that the security queue marshal, having addressed the previous passenger as "Madam", addresses Mrs WHBM as "Miss" . Makes her day !

On we go. Upstairs things have changed since I last went back to the "new" buffet at the rear of the departure area. It used to have proper food but has now been reduced to the same thin range as its compatriot by the security exit. And the lounge/tables area alongside has disappeared as well, replaced it seems by another security unit. This new buffet area cannot have lasted more than 12 months from when it was opened.

On to the gate. Do be certain to remember your gate number from back in the lounge (not shown on the boarding card), because the screen over the designated one, instead of showing the flight number/destination as usual, says "refer to airline staff". Except, of course, that down here in the departure corridor there aren't any at all to refer to.

Oh dear, LCY, when will something be done about the swaying queues down the narrow steps to the gate, where leaving passengers to stand on a narrow step for 10 minutes or more would surely fail any 'Elf & Saf'ty inspection if these meant anything rather than being a makework for bureaucrats. It has been like this at LCY for years. It is exacerbated by screens saying the flight is "boarding" when it patently isn't, and by the usual Air France ground crew of three, for whom one does the boarding card inspection, slowly, and the other two stand by and watch. Then we all stand at the gate and wait, until the flight is announced. Not as KLM or VLM, but in normal LCY style as "Zeetyjott".

How pleasant to go up the aircraft steps into a world of SOPs and properly thought out procedures.
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Old 13th Jul 2010, 20:54
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Next time just try one of the BA E-Jets.
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Old 13th Jul 2010, 22:11
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Indeed. But although BA had quite similar timings, they certainly did not have similar prices, the difference was most noticeable. I am afraid that BA's successful marketing to major corporate users out of LCY, giving them substantial discounts for quantity, just seems to mean they then raise their base fare so after the discount they still make a significant yield; an approach that prices independent travellers off the BA network.

Am I being unfair ? Fortunately there seems to be enough traffic on some LCY routes for two operators with different commercial approaches.
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Old 23rd Jul 2010, 13:22
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LCY

you should let LCY know your comments - they usually like to know
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Old 11th Aug 2010, 12:16
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Nextjet to BMA

Noticed that the planned Nextjet route between BMA and LCY that was meant to start on 16 August is not bookable on there website. Have Nextjet dropped the route before it even started??
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Old 13th Aug 2010, 10:47
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Maybe they caught wind of someone else about to start Stockholm-London City and decided to get out before losing a fortune in trying to compete...
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Old 13th Aug 2010, 11:23
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Maybe they caught wind of someone else about to start Stockholm-London City and decided to get out before losing a fortune in trying to compete...
Interesting.... Who is thinking of operating it??

BMA/LCY is a route that has huge potential, especially twice/three x daily.

Notice BA franchise Sun-Air of Scandanavia has just opened routes from AAR, BLL and HEL to BMA. Would a D328Jet be able to operate the route ex LCY??

EZ have a spare D328 Jet available from 30th Auguest as they have just announced that they will cease there 2 x daily BLL-CDG route.
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Old 17th Aug 2010, 11:54
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British Airways going London City to Chambery this winter;
==
Today we have announced a new winter ski route to Chambery from London City. Chambery is one of the best located airport in Europe for skiing, with easy access to the many resorts and slopes nearby. This will now take our ski network to three routes including Geneva and Zurich.

We will operate the new service four times a week from 18th December until the end of March 2011, using the Embreaer 190 aircraft.
The schedule is ideally set up to give our customers the opportunity to spend a long weekend, a full week, or even longer, skiing on some of the world’s best slopes and resorts.

Only a few short hours after taking off from London’s Docklands, customers can be in a winter wonderland of 120 ski resorts, all set amidst the majesty and splendour of the French and Swiss Alps.

Fares starting from £59 one way (including taxes, fees and charges) can be booked on ba.com.

The schedule for the route is as follows:
From 18 December:

London City – Chambery
Monday: depart 1050; arrive 1325
Friday: depart 0700; arrive 0935
Saturday: depart 0640 arrive 0915
Sunday: depart 1435; arrive 1710
(all times local)

Chambery – London City
Monday: depart 1410; arrive 1445
Tuesday: depart 1020; arrive 1055
Saturday: depart 1000; arrive 1035
Sunday:depart 1800; arrive 1935
(all times local)

Fare also includes (at no extra charge)
One piece of checked luggage
Seat selection 24 hours before departure
Snack/drinks on board.
==

Also BA flights from LCY to GVA as per normal winter scheduele starting on 19th December with an E190 daily except SAT and double on SUN.

Expect more to follow...


Last edited by DutchBird-757; 17th Aug 2010 at 18:43.
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Old 19th Aug 2010, 12:03
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Brive extended to October

Seems to be doing well, the season has been extended beyond the initial early Sep finish.

London City Airport : News release
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Old 20th Aug 2010, 10:08
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Does anybody have a room to rent or know of any reasonable hotels nearby the airport in preparation for my training course. I know about the Travelodge but it is very expensive. I'm shocked that it was as much as £90/night
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Old 20th Aug 2010, 11:19
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They will do a corporate rate £50-55 pn if you ask.
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Old 20th Aug 2010, 11:32
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JFK2LA, have a look on SPARE ROOM for flatshare, house share, flat share & rooms for rent

There are quite a few short term/Mon-Fri rooms available.
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Old 20th Aug 2010, 13:25
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How long is the training course? I may be able to help out with some local landlords or possibly cheaper hotels...
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Old 20th Aug 2010, 21:05
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jdcg - that would be great if you could put me in touch.

RJ100 - will check that out. Thanks
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Old 26th Aug 2010, 22:21
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Any chance of full English breakfast ?
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Old 4th Sep 2010, 18:34
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Embraer 'touch and go' @ LCY (with PAX)

YouTube - Durchstarten London City - Flying into London City Airport and Go-Around (EGLC)
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Old 4th Sep 2010, 19:07
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Clearly, some spotters believe that the request to turn off all electronic equipment during landing doesn't apply to them...
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Old 4th Sep 2010, 20:41
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True - but gives a real glimpse of the short field performance of the Embraer @ LCY
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Old 5th Sep 2010, 09:05
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Hmmm

They don't really transmit interference though. At all. I mean honestly. There will be no appreciable harm. When I flew a certain route from LHR on a special flight it was almost encouraged.
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Old 5th Sep 2010, 09:10
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Probably not. But the person filming that landing would have disobeyed the cabin crew's instructions to turn off all electronic devices once the aircraft had begun its descent. Where does it end? Should passengers have the right to decide which of the crew's instructions to comply with and which to ignore?
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