LIVERPOOL - 2
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would like to correct you there.
The Canary Islands are all year round destinations and are more popular in the summer months than in the winter. The reason the LCCs operate to the Canaries during the winter is that it is a very popular area and they can certainly make alot more money on these routes than they do on PMI etc. (especially LS! Charge over £300 [highest fares] on some BLK-TFS rotations, the mad thing is that these sell!)
I do agree with you though, the Canaries are certainly winter destinations for the LCC carriers, not so much for the charters who find themsleves filling planes during the winter and summer and this can be seen by the holiday prices during the summer! We went to Cayo Coco is Cuba for 14 nights this year with FCA Premium class because it was cheaper than a 14 night trip to Gran Canaria!
The Canary Islands are all year round destinations and are more popular in the summer months than in the winter. The reason the LCCs operate to the Canaries during the winter is that it is a very popular area and they can certainly make alot more money on these routes than they do on PMI etc. (especially LS! Charge over £300 [highest fares] on some BLK-TFS rotations, the mad thing is that these sell!)
I do agree with you though, the Canaries are certainly winter destinations for the LCC carriers, not so much for the charters who find themsleves filling planes during the winter and summer and this can be seen by the holiday prices during the summer! We went to Cayo Coco is Cuba for 14 nights this year with FCA Premium class because it was cheaper than a 14 night trip to Gran Canaria!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Manchester
Posts: 891
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps I should correct myself, what I meant is that the Canaries seem to appear more popular in the winter, because all the mainland europe resorts are cold and quiet in winter. Perhaps people are going all year round but the movements get lost on the departure boards in a sea of Alicante, Malaga, Palma, Corfu flights. Why fly 5 hrs to the sun when 2 hrs will do !
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Age: 51
Posts: 760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
from UK Airport news...
We published an article detailing a reader's view on the Liverpool Airport Fast Track (express lane through airport security) in October. Another passengers has shared his recent experience, and we thought we would close the year with it, as it is the worst 'innovation' at a UK airport this year, in our view.
Our reader says:
'Your news article on the passenger view of the Fast Lane at Liverpool is far too restrained. The Fast Lane is an utter disgrace and one of the worst scams I have come across whilst flying extensively in Europe. I shall not be using Liverpool John Lennon Airport again until they sort it out.
Booked on a flight from Liverpool at 6.30am two weeks ago, and having already done the Ryanair 'Check & Go' routine which allows you to bypass normal check-in and arrive at the airport a little later, I was gob-smacked to turn the corner at the top of the first floor at 5.20am to find a very, very long queue. It took 40 minutes of shuffling to get to the security check. All along the queue, were little pop-up banners saying '30 minutes queue from here- beat the queue and buy a Fast Lane ticket' - '20 minutes from here, etc' - '10 minutes wait from here, etc' and, as you previously said, the security fellas encouraging people to 'beat the queues' by buying the £2 fast-lane tickets.
I was incandescent, but because I'd arrived slightly earlier than planned, had just enough time to avoid having to cough up the £2.
It was clear to me, having used LJLA several times this year and the previous occasion was only about four weeks earlier when hardly anyone seemed to be using the Fast Lane, that careful and calculated changes had been made to create an intimidating queue and force people to have to buy, either because they would miss their flight or because the queue looked far too long for them to stay standing. For example, the queue arrangement at the bottom of the stairs just before the scanners had been changed so that about 10 metres of queue previously at the bottom of the stairs (and previously unseen) was now displaced to the top floor, making the queue appear much longer.
Two points: firstly, creating huge numbers of people queuing and blocking the retail areas creates a massive security risk -remember, this queue is BEFORE bags have been checked at security; do the police and government know and approve of this arrangement?
Secondly, if you spend 40 minutes in a queue, that's 40 minutes less time to buy food, drinks, books or whatever. The scheme must be completely counter-productive as far as revenue is concerned.
I made my views known calmly and politely to one of the security guys - told him what a very bad impression this left of Liverpool - but he turned his head away and said nothing.
I made six flights over the following two days in Europe. No-where else was there a queue for security and certainly there was no rip-off 'Fast Lane'.
Michael O'Leary needs to have a hard word with them - I'll be using other airlines to avoid Liverpool from now on.
Liverpool Airport: You should be disgusted with yourselves.'
We would add to this that it will be interesting to see how the change to the hand baggage rules (the one bag rule) from next week affects this arrangement. Liverpool Airport has so far failed to get permission to relax the rule. It looks like it is in the airport's interest to keep the queues long, which will mean it will not get permission to relax the restriction. However, some airlines might want to relax the rule, which will put pressure on management.
We published an article detailing a reader's view on the Liverpool Airport Fast Track (express lane through airport security) in October. Another passengers has shared his recent experience, and we thought we would close the year with it, as it is the worst 'innovation' at a UK airport this year, in our view.
Our reader says:
'Your news article on the passenger view of the Fast Lane at Liverpool is far too restrained. The Fast Lane is an utter disgrace and one of the worst scams I have come across whilst flying extensively in Europe. I shall not be using Liverpool John Lennon Airport again until they sort it out.
Booked on a flight from Liverpool at 6.30am two weeks ago, and having already done the Ryanair 'Check & Go' routine which allows you to bypass normal check-in and arrive at the airport a little later, I was gob-smacked to turn the corner at the top of the first floor at 5.20am to find a very, very long queue. It took 40 minutes of shuffling to get to the security check. All along the queue, were little pop-up banners saying '30 minutes queue from here- beat the queue and buy a Fast Lane ticket' - '20 minutes from here, etc' - '10 minutes wait from here, etc' and, as you previously said, the security fellas encouraging people to 'beat the queues' by buying the £2 fast-lane tickets.
I was incandescent, but because I'd arrived slightly earlier than planned, had just enough time to avoid having to cough up the £2.
It was clear to me, having used LJLA several times this year and the previous occasion was only about four weeks earlier when hardly anyone seemed to be using the Fast Lane, that careful and calculated changes had been made to create an intimidating queue and force people to have to buy, either because they would miss their flight or because the queue looked far too long for them to stay standing. For example, the queue arrangement at the bottom of the stairs just before the scanners had been changed so that about 10 metres of queue previously at the bottom of the stairs (and previously unseen) was now displaced to the top floor, making the queue appear much longer.
Two points: firstly, creating huge numbers of people queuing and blocking the retail areas creates a massive security risk -remember, this queue is BEFORE bags have been checked at security; do the police and government know and approve of this arrangement?
Secondly, if you spend 40 minutes in a queue, that's 40 minutes less time to buy food, drinks, books or whatever. The scheme must be completely counter-productive as far as revenue is concerned.
I made my views known calmly and politely to one of the security guys - told him what a very bad impression this left of Liverpool - but he turned his head away and said nothing.
I made six flights over the following two days in Europe. No-where else was there a queue for security and certainly there was no rip-off 'Fast Lane'.
Michael O'Leary needs to have a hard word with them - I'll be using other airlines to avoid Liverpool from now on.
Liverpool Airport: You should be disgusted with yourselves.'
We would add to this that it will be interesting to see how the change to the hand baggage rules (the one bag rule) from next week affects this arrangement. Liverpool Airport has so far failed to get permission to relax the rule. It looks like it is in the airport's interest to keep the queues long, which will mean it will not get permission to relax the restriction. However, some airlines might want to relax the rule, which will put pressure on management.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: leeds
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fast track security.
Flew from this airport 22nd Dec.After a swift one in Wetherspoons,made our way to security,and noticed the queue was backed up to top of stairs.Now I personally hate queing for ANYTHING!.
Saw the fast track option for £2,paid it and hey presto,straight to front of queue!.Best £2 I ever spent!.
I know its just another way of making money,nobody was twisting my arm to use this facility,but I would do it again!.
On a side note,I personally find it much easier and quicker to drive from Leeds to Liverpool Airport rather than Manchester Airport,which I try to avoid.
Saw the fast track option for £2,paid it and hey presto,straight to front of queue!.Best £2 I ever spent!.
I know its just another way of making money,nobody was twisting my arm to use this facility,but I would do it again!.
On a side note,I personally find it much easier and quicker to drive from Leeds to Liverpool Airport rather than Manchester Airport,which I try to avoid.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Age: 51
Posts: 760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Much quicker...are you still drunk ?
Leeds - LJLA = 72 miles Est 1hr 20min
Leeds - MAN = 57 miles Est 1hr
..and thats £2 please for the fastrack answer that you obviously won't mind paying
Leeds - LJLA = 72 miles Est 1hr 20min
Leeds - MAN = 57 miles Est 1hr
..and thats £2 please for the fastrack answer that you obviously won't mind paying
Join Date: May 2005
Location: leeds
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
eggc,very funny!,nearly choked on my brussel sprouts!
If I had paid £2 for fast track security,and had to wait 1hr 2 mins,I would have been a bit miffed!.
Happy New Year to you,hic!
If I had paid £2 for fast track security,and had to wait 1hr 2 mins,I would have been a bit miffed!.
Happy New Year to you,hic!
Disappointed
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Scotland
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The fast track at EGGP, a topic I've ranted about before, is definitely an absolute disgrace.
The airport's tactics of narrowing the non-fast lane by some considerable amount, as well as some questionable staffing policies, thus making the queue seem longer than it actually is, are just a couple of a number of supposedly clever, yet highly manipulative tactics designed solely to fleece the travelling public out of more hard cash.
Simple as.
And more fool anyone who pays the £2.
The airport's tactics of narrowing the non-fast lane by some considerable amount, as well as some questionable staffing policies, thus making the queue seem longer than it actually is, are just a couple of a number of supposedly clever, yet highly manipulative tactics designed solely to fleece the travelling public out of more hard cash.
Simple as.
And more fool anyone who pays the £2.
silly comments
What would you expect from a bunch of scousers?
How witty groveaviation!!!
and how innaccurate.
Liverpool Airport is owned and operated by Peel, a Manchester based company...
and the MD is Scottish!
How witty groveaviation!!!
and how innaccurate.
Liverpool Airport is owned and operated by Peel, a Manchester based company...
and the MD is Scottish!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Warrington, UK
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wizz is to ditch its LPL-Bucharest Baneasa service from mid-February due to poor results.
This route is now operating on reduced frequency...juts once weekly, down from 3x, launched on 1st Oct '07.
Wizz had planned to operate this route 4 times per week from 28th Feb '08 but it won't see that date.
This route is now operating on reduced frequency...juts once weekly, down from 3x, launched on 1st Oct '07.
Wizz had planned to operate this route 4 times per week from 28th Feb '08 but it won't see that date.
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Samsonite Avenue
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps a spotter may be able to set me straight. I thought that easyJet at LPL was an all Airbus operation? I travelled LPL - PMI the other week and it was on a 737 with cabin crew that distinctly sounded like they were from the BFS base - thought that was a Airbus base as well. Tech problem somewhere perhaps?
