FlyBe - 6
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Mr Hampshire
I work at Flybe and cannot stand people making stupid comments about my livelihood. Flybe are far from finished. If you were to take the time and look at the accounts you will see we have 45million in cash reserves and would have made a small profit on the last results if it weren't for the Nordic operation, which now is starting to return profit. Flybe has at last started to address the problems and hopefully next year will return to the black. Phase 2 of the restructuring is about to kick off, cheaper prices I hear. Should start to win back passengers and lets be positive about 2014.
I work at Flybe and cannot stand people making stupid comments about my livelihood. Flybe are far from finished. If you were to take the time and look at the accounts you will see we have 45million in cash reserves and would have made a small profit on the last results if it weren't for the Nordic operation, which now is starting to return profit. Flybe has at last started to address the problems and hopefully next year will return to the black. Phase 2 of the restructuring is about to kick off, cheaper prices I hear. Should start to win back passengers and lets be positive about 2014.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Hampshire
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Leg, is that just the one or do you have two?? Dont think ive ever been called a cad before, i quite like that, been called a lot worse, what about a bounder and a cad, that has quite a ring to it!?
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Rawtenstall
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Being a very regular traveller with Flybe (upwards of 1 return flight a week to various domestic destinations) I have, over the years, put up with dozens and dozens of hours of delays and numerous missed connections. I have accepted this stoically, as a hazard of frequent air travel.
Recently I had cause to take a domestic day return, booked at the very last minute using the "cheapest" fare (the word "cheapest" used in the loosest sense).
On arrival at my destination - Manchester - I found that my business meeting had been postponed and therefore I politely asked the lady at the Flybe desk if she could change my return flight to an earlier departure. I was quoted a fee of £40, being the minimum change fee, which would have allowed me to arrive home 3 hours earlier than the flight on which I held a reservation.
Naturally I declined this offer to waste a further £40 and instead I visited the Flybe lounge where I proceeded to consume as much of their complimentary red wine and eat as many of their delicious biscuits as I could reasonably manage in the time permitted.
Now I know that "rules is rules" etc., but I would suggest that it would have been small compensation, considering how many hours of my life have been wasted waiting for delayed Flybe flights, for them to give me 3 hours back by permitting me to arrive home 3 hours sooner.
They know who their regular travellers are by the hundreds of unusable points on our Flybe accounts, yet it makes not a jot of difference. "rules is rules" and there is no flexibility or modicum of recognition for someone who gives tens of thousand of pounds a year to that airline. How easy it would be to create some genuine goodwill amongst its frequent customers to offset the negative feelings that many have towards them.
Recently I had cause to take a domestic day return, booked at the very last minute using the "cheapest" fare (the word "cheapest" used in the loosest sense).
On arrival at my destination - Manchester - I found that my business meeting had been postponed and therefore I politely asked the lady at the Flybe desk if she could change my return flight to an earlier departure. I was quoted a fee of £40, being the minimum change fee, which would have allowed me to arrive home 3 hours earlier than the flight on which I held a reservation.
Naturally I declined this offer to waste a further £40 and instead I visited the Flybe lounge where I proceeded to consume as much of their complimentary red wine and eat as many of their delicious biscuits as I could reasonably manage in the time permitted.
Now I know that "rules is rules" etc., but I would suggest that it would have been small compensation, considering how many hours of my life have been wasted waiting for delayed Flybe flights, for them to give me 3 hours back by permitting me to arrive home 3 hours sooner.
They know who their regular travellers are by the hundreds of unusable points on our Flybe accounts, yet it makes not a jot of difference. "rules is rules" and there is no flexibility or modicum of recognition for someone who gives tens of thousand of pounds a year to that airline. How easy it would be to create some genuine goodwill amongst its frequent customers to offset the negative feelings that many have towards them.
Join Date: Jun 1999
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Rawtenstall, you need to see it from another point of view. If I'd forked out for a fully flexible ticket, and then found out that you on a restricted ticket had been given flexible privileges, I'd be seriously miffed. Rules are rules for a good reason. To be honest, I find £40 not too unreasonable considering. But that's me.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Rawtenstall - £40 for an extra 3 hours with my family seems far from unreasonable in comparison to what it could have been. But that is my thoughts - and this is key, it is all about what time is worth to the individual.
Out of interest, £40 is the standard administration fee which had you been on a New Economy booking which costs about £20 odd extra at the booking stage and includes a bag, SMS and seat you would have been able to change free of charge. It would only have been the fare difference to pay which it sounds like was £0 on this occasion.
Airlines will not just allow changes willy nilly free of charge to everyone. Hotel Tango gives an excellent example- another would be Mr A books a flight 2 months in advance and gets a lower price. Mr B books a later flight the same day and it costs 3 times the amount as its much busier. Mr A changes on the day and gets on the same flight as Mr B for no extra. Mr B is not amused.
Unfortunately the staff will not take in to consideration any previous delays unless maybe, you were on a day return ticket and your first flight had a significant delay. But that is up to the airline. I wouldnt mind getting my wallet out and saying of all the flights you have taken, the number on time or early will outweigh the delays - they just do not stick out in memory compared to those which caused an inconvenience. Its like anything - the bad leaves a sour taste, not the good.
Out of interest, £40 is the standard administration fee which had you been on a New Economy booking which costs about £20 odd extra at the booking stage and includes a bag, SMS and seat you would have been able to change free of charge. It would only have been the fare difference to pay which it sounds like was £0 on this occasion.
Airlines will not just allow changes willy nilly free of charge to everyone. Hotel Tango gives an excellent example- another would be Mr A books a flight 2 months in advance and gets a lower price. Mr B books a later flight the same day and it costs 3 times the amount as its much busier. Mr A changes on the day and gets on the same flight as Mr B for no extra. Mr B is not amused.
Unfortunately the staff will not take in to consideration any previous delays unless maybe, you were on a day return ticket and your first flight had a significant delay. But that is up to the airline. I wouldnt mind getting my wallet out and saying of all the flights you have taken, the number on time or early will outweigh the delays - they just do not stick out in memory compared to those which caused an inconvenience. Its like anything - the bad leaves a sour taste, not the good.
Last edited by Cloud1; 9th Apr 2013 at 21:58.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Belfast, UK
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Rules maybe rules, however may depend who you get on the day.
I made a booking for a night in London, mid November, as a surprise for 3 work friends as BE were paying the APD equivalent. Turned out that one of my friends had a wedding and couldn't go the dates booked.
Was raging with myself, but phoned the call-centre. Albeit after being on hold for 17 minutes, explained the situation to the lady, and said the week before, or after would suit, same flight times. Changed with no charge, after speaking with her manager, and an incredibly pleasant attitude.... I was very impressed, as my wallet also sighed relief.
I made a booking for a night in London, mid November, as a surprise for 3 work friends as BE were paying the APD equivalent. Turned out that one of my friends had a wedding and couldn't go the dates booked.
Was raging with myself, but phoned the call-centre. Albeit after being on hold for 17 minutes, explained the situation to the lady, and said the week before, or after would suit, same flight times. Changed with no charge, after speaking with her manager, and an incredibly pleasant attitude.... I was very impressed, as my wallet also sighed relief.
Join Date: Sep 2007
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BFS101, myself and colleagues have had similar experiences, and have found that if you contact them quickly - within say, 24 hours, they are usually sympathetic. I sense there may be a sort of unofficial 'cooling off period' for people who show they have made a genuine mistake.
therefore I politely asked the lady at the Flybe desk if she could change my return flight to an earlier departure
Join Date: Apr 2013
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One option to "square the circle" would be to have the ability to spend FlyBe points in lieu of change fees - Rawtenstall's experience suggests it would be value-adding and the customer would obviously need to have at least some FF points.
Maybe that will happen. Slide 23 on FlyBe's Investor Relations presentation from 08/11/2012 outline a number of initiatives, and I think they have all happened except one described as "New FFP". If so, I hope they focus on finding ways to create value rather than just looking at the FFP as a short-term cost to be chipped away.
@SDRYH. I hope FlyBe survive and propser too. Maybe my experience is atypical, but my experience of going to DUS is almost entirely positive. The E-175 is much better than the LH CRJ-900, timings are good for me, punctuality is excellent (except when things go tits up at DUS late evening, due to curfew). Pity the terminal at BHX is so grotty (particularly compared to DUS).
Maybe that will happen. Slide 23 on FlyBe's Investor Relations presentation from 08/11/2012 outline a number of initiatives, and I think they have all happened except one described as "New FFP". If so, I hope they focus on finding ways to create value rather than just looking at the FFP as a short-term cost to be chipped away.
@SDRYH. I hope FlyBe survive and propser too. Maybe my experience is atypical, but my experience of going to DUS is almost entirely positive. The E-175 is much better than the LH CRJ-900, timings are good for me, punctuality is excellent (except when things go tits up at DUS late evening, due to curfew). Pity the terminal at BHX is so grotty (particularly compared to DUS).
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Flybe reporting bigger than expected losses on the local news BBC News - Flybe losses 'worse than expected'
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Flybe fares
Interesting that BE have the lowest prices ever that I have seen from them, with less restrictions, for booking between 01/07 and end of summer schedule. as low as £7 one way and bookable on a one way basis, normally in my experience you have to book return and usually could not get low fare on the return leg.
Seems bizarres that they effectively sell below cost adsorbing all duty/airport charges. Not what I'd expect to see on a BE flight.!!
EI-BUD
Seems bizarres that they effectively sell below cost adsorbing all duty/airport charges. Not what I'd expect to see on a BE flight.!!
EI-BUD
Join Date: Jul 2011
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The company issued a forecast sometime ago, now we find that the loses came in at the lower end, that is not worse than expected!
The press release is not all bad news, the restructuring is on course to turn the company around and return to profitability and stability which surely benefits everyone. Just wish they would hurry up and announce the new CEO.
The press release is not all bad news, the restructuring is on course to turn the company around and return to profitability and stability which surely benefits everyone. Just wish they would hurry up and announce the new CEO.
Last edited by Leg; 22nd Apr 2013 at 08:27.
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Aberdeen
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Was looking to book BE ABZ-MAN-ABZ with hold baggage so a New Economy fare which worked out dearer than the BM equivalent which also includes free food and drink onboard. How is a smaller operator with less efficient planes and fewer economies of scale manage to be cheaper on this route? I really wish I could support BE but the fares are just too high!
Join Date: Feb 2001
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I have just looked at LGW - 15 MAY - JER - 20 MAY - LGW
For flights at more or less the same time of day (lunchtime):
BA - £125.35 including 1PC luggage (which I will need)
BE - £137.60 no luggage.
BA, not my favourite airline, but better service, more reliable, overall a better experience, and cheaper.
A bit of a 'no-brainer', as the saying goes. I've booked BA.
For flights at more or less the same time of day (lunchtime):
BA - £125.35 including 1PC luggage (which I will need)
BE - £137.60 no luggage.
BA, not my favourite airline, but better service, more reliable, overall a better experience, and cheaper.
A bit of a 'no-brainer', as the saying goes. I've booked BA.