MANSTON - 4
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ramsgate, Kent
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There are two ways of looking at this letter, which appeared in this week’s local paper. On the one hand you could argue that flights from Masnton are over-priced. On the other hand, you could argue that they must be getting a lot of bookings to justify the prices they are charging. I guess we could settle it by looking at the comparable costs from Gatwick?
"I have always been a great supporter of Manston Airport and flew regularly with Eujet during its operating life. I understand this is a business and a profit has to be made in order to maintain and develop services, but I am very disappointed by the exorbitant cost of tickets for families during school hoidays. I tried to book tickets for flights only, to and from the Algarve, for my daughter and granddaughter for October half-term. The cost is £538. The previous week it was £318. On checking further the cost of a self-catering week, with flights worked out cheaper than the flight-only option.
I know this is a complaint that comes up regularly. However, this is a local airport that is predominantly reliant upon "local" people supporting and using it on a regular basis.
If families are to be penalized in this way then the operator is limiting customers options, particularly those people whose income cannot meet such inflated prices unless their children are removed from school. Personally, I would be prepared to pay more for my flights thoughout the year if a more level playing field could be offered during the school holidays. Surely as parents or grandparents we could all benefit from this to some degree."
"I have always been a great supporter of Manston Airport and flew regularly with Eujet during its operating life. I understand this is a business and a profit has to be made in order to maintain and develop services, but I am very disappointed by the exorbitant cost of tickets for families during school hoidays. I tried to book tickets for flights only, to and from the Algarve, for my daughter and granddaughter for October half-term. The cost is £538. The previous week it was £318. On checking further the cost of a self-catering week, with flights worked out cheaper than the flight-only option.
I know this is a complaint that comes up regularly. However, this is a local airport that is predominantly reliant upon "local" people supporting and using it on a regular basis.
If families are to be penalized in this way then the operator is limiting customers options, particularly those people whose income cannot meet such inflated prices unless their children are removed from school. Personally, I would be prepared to pay more for my flights thoughout the year if a more level playing field could be offered during the school holidays. Surely as parents or grandparents we could all benefit from this to some degree."
Join Date: Mar 2004
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A valid point but are there ANY holiday companies which don't charge a premium during the school holidays ?
I seem to remember this became a political bandwagon a couple of years ago but as always, after a few headline grabbing sound bites got sunk without a trace.
DTUP
I seem to remember this became a political bandwagon a couple of years ago but as always, after a few headline grabbing sound bites got sunk without a trace.
DTUP
Join Date: May 2006
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It's probably true that all companies charge a premium during the school holidays. But £318 for a ticket booked outside the school holidays, and nine months in advance, sounds quite steep to me.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sittingbourne Kent and at Wimborne Dorset
Age: 37
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Hi all I was just wondering can Manston Handle the A380 & the A380F? Im sure the runway can but what about the Taxiways and Aprons
James
James
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Good chance of “yes”, don't forgot that MSE can take a AN124, which is just larger in certain dimensions. The A380F is all but dead and buried. Atlas has some 747-8 on order, you might get one of those at MSE …one day.
Be good to see a 747-8 at MSE 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sittingbourne Kent and at Wimborne Dorset
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They might come into MSE you never know what could happen
Does anyone have any infomation about MK Airlines operating out of manston from when they started at MSE to when they left and returned again thank you.Where abouts on the website? It might be done by an Excel 737-800?
James
Last edited by Manston Airport; 23rd Jan 2007 at 12:18.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Canterbury
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Letter in Local Press
I understand the writers problems but this is not an issue specific to Manston.
It would be interesting to see how much the same or simliar trip would cost from LGW. Taking into consideration that residents from Thanet could be delivered by taxi or friends, thus saving return taxis to LGW or the car parking charges.
This is not a pro Manston post but a suggested response to the letter writer.
I will investigate and post my findings.
MDIS
It would be interesting to see how much the same or simliar trip would cost from LGW. Taking into consideration that residents from Thanet could be delivered by taxi or friends, thus saving return taxis to LGW or the car parking charges.
This is not a pro Manston post but a suggested response to the letter writer.
I will investigate and post my findings.
MDIS
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Isle of Thanet
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More on freight
Let me modify my information on Echo apron. I've now got news from an organ-grinder that surveying is taking place, the aim being to extend the apron so that it can take 2 x 747 and 1 x A300 such that each aircraft can move independently. I'm not sure about dates now.
Perhaps our fire chaps can say more, but another source has told me of some poor service given to DAS (before their troubles started). On one occasion a load of flowers (30 tons) was rejected by the importer, having been unloaded 12 hours after arrival, and on another a departure was put back 24 hours because fuelling was not carried out as booked. Recent staff changes might be partly due to these failures. The lesson here is that business often suffers because it is not looked after, and not because there is no demand.
It looks as though the welcome addition to fire cover is part of an attempt to improve customer service.
DC-10 operation rumours are surfacing again.
Let me modify my information on Echo apron. I've now got news from an organ-grinder that surveying is taking place, the aim being to extend the apron so that it can take 2 x 747 and 1 x A300 such that each aircraft can move independently. I'm not sure about dates now.
Perhaps our fire chaps can say more, but another source has told me of some poor service given to DAS (before their troubles started). On one occasion a load of flowers (30 tons) was rejected by the importer, having been unloaded 12 hours after arrival, and on another a departure was put back 24 hours because fuelling was not carried out as booked. Recent staff changes might be partly due to these failures. The lesson here is that business often suffers because it is not looked after, and not because there is no demand.
It looks as though the welcome addition to fire cover is part of an attempt to improve customer service.
DC-10 operation rumours are surfacing again.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Canterbury
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Flights to Faro
Kent Escapes Flight only
OB 18th Oct IB 25th Oct 2 Adults £538
TAP dates not available but OB 18th IB 28th 2 adults £559.80
EZY Not available
Monarch Dates not available but OB 16th IB 25th 2 Adults 257.68
Thomsonfly Dates not available but OB 18th IB 28th 2 Adults £217
Result is yes you can do it cheaper but taxi to LGW return £150 or Parking £85 Plus fuel 150 miles at 25p per mile £37.50. Plus at least 2 nights extra accomodation and costs.
Probably not a lot in it.
So MSE is not such a bargain after all??
Kent Escapes are a package holiday co and so they will fly you to FAO but will want to add on their lost hotel profit, which is not unreasonable.
The person who wrote the article is being a little 2 faced! On the one hand he/she is saying that people from Thanet cannot afford inflated prices but on the other he/she is suggesting that they would be willing to pay higher prices all year to subsidise the school holiday rates?? He may have more luck writing to the hoteliers in Faro who know only too well the academic calendars in the UK and the rest of Europe
Sitting on the fence
MDIS
............................................................ .........
DAS
Heard about the problems with DAS but these apparently relate to quite a while ago. I also heard that there were other circumstances which added to the problems.
Hopefully if and when DAS restart ops MSE provide a quality service.
MDIS
OB 18th Oct IB 25th Oct 2 Adults £538
TAP dates not available but OB 18th IB 28th 2 adults £559.80
EZY Not available
Monarch Dates not available but OB 16th IB 25th 2 Adults 257.68
Thomsonfly Dates not available but OB 18th IB 28th 2 Adults £217
Result is yes you can do it cheaper but taxi to LGW return £150 or Parking £85 Plus fuel 150 miles at 25p per mile £37.50. Plus at least 2 nights extra accomodation and costs.
Probably not a lot in it.
So MSE is not such a bargain after all??
Kent Escapes are a package holiday co and so they will fly you to FAO but will want to add on their lost hotel profit, which is not unreasonable.
The person who wrote the article is being a little 2 faced! On the one hand he/she is saying that people from Thanet cannot afford inflated prices but on the other he/she is suggesting that they would be willing to pay higher prices all year to subsidise the school holiday rates?? He may have more luck writing to the hoteliers in Faro who know only too well the academic calendars in the UK and the rest of Europe
Sitting on the fence
MDIS
............................................................ .........
DAS
Heard about the problems with DAS but these apparently relate to quite a while ago. I also heard that there were other circumstances which added to the problems.
Hopefully if and when DAS restart ops MSE provide a quality service.
MDIS
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: MDH
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SO.....
Cargo
MK - Daily
Eygpt cargo- 4 weekly?
Das - Yet to be announced?
Any other long term users?
PAX
3 weekly Alicante/Faro/Palma
Monarch weekly wednesday?
New market - about 7 flights this year.
Am i right?
Cargo
MK - Daily
Eygpt cargo- 4 weekly?
Das - Yet to be announced?
Any other long term users?
PAX
3 weekly Alicante/Faro/Palma
Monarch weekly wednesday?
New market - about 7 flights this year.
Am i right?
Join Date: Jan 2007
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. The AEU (astraeus) code has disappeared.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ramsgate, Kent
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Hi MDIS.
I had done similar research to yourself. However, as there is a range of prices I didn't want to publish figures for fear of being accused of bias. Nevertheless, I did conclude that it was significantly cheaper to fly from other airports. You rightly cost in the price of car-parking. However, you should do this for Manston too, because most of the intended market does not live within walking/taxi tange of the airport. At £25 per day, that's £175 a week. For a person living in Chatham they have a choice of driving to Manston or Gatwick. It will take them about the same time. I suspect the overall cost will play a big mart in their decision of which airport to use. Gatwick comes out much cheaper overall.
I had done similar research to yourself. However, as there is a range of prices I didn't want to publish figures for fear of being accused of bias. Nevertheless, I did conclude that it was significantly cheaper to fly from other airports. You rightly cost in the price of car-parking. However, you should do this for Manston too, because most of the intended market does not live within walking/taxi tange of the airport. At £25 per day, that's £175 a week. For a person living in Chatham they have a choice of driving to Manston or Gatwick. It will take them about the same time. I suspect the overall cost will play a big mart in their decision of which airport to use. Gatwick comes out much cheaper overall.
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Join Date: Oct 2006
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Hi Catflaps
I think car parking at MSE is £7.50 per day, but you are right that does need to be taken into account. I was just using the example of the letter writer who is from Thanet and therefore could probably avoid the car parking charges.
MDIS
I think car parking at MSE is £7.50 per day, but you are right that does need to be taken into account. I was just using the example of the letter writer who is from Thanet and therefore could probably avoid the car parking charges.
MDIS
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sittingbourne Kent and at Wimborne Dorset
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Yeah at first nothing came up but put a later date it comes up with it.So it might maybe done by excel 737-800 ,or a 757
PS Hope MSE improves the DAS service if they return.
James
Join Date: Feb 2006
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"PS Hope MSE improves the DAS service if they return."
James.
How would you suggest the service be improved , are you aware of
all the facts then....there's more than one side to any story.
James.
How would you suggest the service be improved , are you aware of
all the facts then....there's more than one side to any story.
Join Date: Apr 2006
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To tell you the truth I dont even know why I write that for
Maybe its cause I want good old DAS back 
James
