NEWCASTLE - 8
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Newcastle
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Emirates needs to add a daily evening service so it can offer better connections to Asia.
The evening service will happen it's just a case of when.
Glasgow got there 2nd flight for 10 years and around 25k a month using the service.
Newcastle isn't far behind that in both service and passenger numbers
The evening service will happen it's just a case of when.
Glasgow got there 2nd flight for 10 years and around 25k a month using the service.
Newcastle isn't far behind that in both service and passenger numbers
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: UK
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The second daily flight would be welcome not only for connections but also for visitors to the UAE.
Arriving around midnight is not ideal when hotels in that part of the world are so expensive. You will end up paying potentially upwards of £200 for a "wasted" hotel night. Much better to fly overnight and arrive early in the morning and make the most of a mini break in the gulf. I have flown BA via LHR to DXB twice in the last couple of years as flight times have been better (and much cheaper) then direct from NCL.
Arriving around midnight is not ideal when hotels in that part of the world are so expensive. You will end up paying potentially upwards of £200 for a "wasted" hotel night. Much better to fly overnight and arrive early in the morning and make the most of a mini break in the gulf. I have flown BA via LHR to DXB twice in the last couple of years as flight times have been better (and much cheaper) then direct from NCL.
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Newcastle
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Jesus. We are a relatively small city in a relatively poor area of the UK with half of our catchment area in the sea and virtually no inbound tourism, and people are complaining that our non-stop service to Dubai is only once a day, and that it arrives in Dubai at such an inconvenient time!
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Just for information, I know Emirates have a very good reputation but I would never use them (tried once, never again) as I hate splitting a long haul journey in 2.
I always go via AMS, LHR or CDG (though won't use them again until they sort out the ATC and pilots' strike nonsense).
I always go via AMS, LHR or CDG (though won't use them again until they sort out the ATC and pilots' strike nonsense).
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
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I know Emirates have a very good reputation but I would never use them (tried once, never again) as I hate splitting a long haul journey in 2
Why was your flight an unusual exception poor service or just a cattle class 77W with that 400 + seats?
Just interested to get a perspective of your experience thats all
And your second statement is also interesting especially going east in many many markets (Japan China and Korea excluded) going via the desert from a regional centre is almost always quicker than via a shuttle and golden triangle transfer just fact and to mention the huge range of destinations particularly in the sub continent a single stop away.
Nowhere in the golden triangle offers the extensive one stop network (Most will be a three sectors !)
Or is your motivation actually more about the bribes from the alliance carriers perhaps (Those miles/avios or what ever points !) lounges etc.....
Join Date: Nov 2004
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OK, what I meant was that I hate splitting the long haul part in the middle.
Obviously I can't get to Thailand where I have relatives directly from NCL so would much rather (ie 100%) do a short hop to AMS/CDG or train the LHR and then have 1 long flight.
There is nothing worse than having your food, some wine and a movie and when you are ready to have a good sleep you get chucked off the plane and have to hang around an airport for several hours.
The last and only time I did that I was like a zombie when I got on the 2nd plane from Dubai to Bangkok and so tired I didn't have any food or drink at all, all I wanted was to sleep.
The jet lag after that was awful and that is something that doesn't affect me at all with one continuous flight of 10-12 hours.
Obviously I can't get to Thailand where I have relatives directly from NCL so would much rather (ie 100%) do a short hop to AMS/CDG or train the LHR and then have 1 long flight.
There is nothing worse than having your food, some wine and a movie and when you are ready to have a good sleep you get chucked off the plane and have to hang around an airport for several hours.
The last and only time I did that I was like a zombie when I got on the 2nd plane from Dubai to Bangkok and so tired I didn't have any food or drink at all, all I wanted was to sleep.
The jet lag after that was awful and that is something that doesn't affect me at all with one continuous flight of 10-12 hours.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
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So your quite happy to endure a 3to 4 hour train ride to London, drag cases down escalators and half way down Euston Road to the cramped Hammersmith and District LuL platform ride to Paddington with a bazilian commuters and nowhere for your cases for 25 bumpy and uncomfortable minutes with the adventure and high risk of standing all the way!
Finally get fleeced on the worlds most expensive transport service to Heathrow
Three cheers !
By the time you board that single flight to Bangkok - your already over Iran and beginning the descent but far enough though whatever rocks your boat.
Personally even in a bath chair (Biz seat or coffin with telly) my own threshold and i'am a seasoned traveller has long been 5-6 hours and I seriously want off !
I manage the East Coast okay but going East always fractious but each to their own i suppose.
Finally get fleeced on the worlds most expensive transport service to Heathrow
Three cheers !
By the time you board that single flight to Bangkok - your already over Iran and beginning the descent but far enough though whatever rocks your boat.
Personally even in a bath chair (Biz seat or coffin with telly) my own threshold and i'am a seasoned traveller has long been 5-6 hours and I seriously want off !
I manage the East Coast okay but going East always fractious but each to their own i suppose.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UK
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There is a direct underground train from Kings Cross to LHR.
I find it no trouble at all though I mostly go via AMS.
Can't do any more replies for a while as I'm on my way to the Kielder 10K.
I find it no trouble at all though I mostly go via AMS.
Can't do any more replies for a while as I'm on my way to the Kielder 10K.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
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"Jesus. We are a relatively small city in a relatively poor area of the UK with half of our catchment area in the sea and virtually no inbound tourism, and people are complaining that our non-stop service to Dubai is only once a day, and that it arrives in Dubai at such an inconvenient time"
Exactly!!!!!!!!!
Exactly!!!!!!!!!
Join Date: Feb 2004
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There is a direct underground train from Kings Cross to LHR. I find it no trouble at all though I mostly go via AMS.
Still great.
Going via Amsterdam though understandable even if the KLM B77W is little different to the EK cattle class frames (just 3 seats difference !)
Join Date: Mar 2015
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Glasgow got there 2nd flight for 10 years and around 25k a month using the service.
Join Date: Nov 2004
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All I can do is repeat that getting the train from the Newcastle area to LHR is not remotely arduous in my experience.
The only problem is the return arrival time of likely airlines is just about too late to be confident of any transport back home.
From AMS you have the choice of KLM, CI and probably others and book at the right time and you can get a very reasonable business class fare (otherwise KLM charge about £600 for the short hop to AMS, greedy sids)
The only problem is the return arrival time of likely airlines is just about too late to be confident of any transport back home.
From AMS you have the choice of KLM, CI and probably others and book at the right time and you can get a very reasonable business class fare (otherwise KLM charge about £600 for the short hop to AMS, greedy sids)
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Getting to LHR is fine - the problem is the cost of a flexible railway ticket for the trip home - due to risk of delays etc.
On BA, tickets routed NCL-LHR-??? are generally cheaper than LHR-??? direct. Same goes for KL at AMS (obviously need to add on APD).
On BA, tickets routed NCL-LHR-??? are generally cheaper than LHR-??? direct. Same goes for KL at AMS (obviously need to add on APD).
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UK
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BA is too expensive to start with and I've not always found KLM/AMS to be cheaper from NCL (though AF sometimes is).
If you catch it right NCL-AMS-BKK business class can be had for £1700 (CI a bit cheaper but can't book a through ticket) but if not it's £1700 for AMS-BKK but nearly £2300 for NCL-AMS-BKK.
Just on principal, even if I could afford it, I wouldn't pay nearly £600 for a 1hr flight where business class seats are the same size as economy and often the food is identical so all you get for your money is getting on first which never bothers me.
It's a shame they don't let you book a through ticket using economy for NCL-AMS then busy for AMS-BKK.
In the good old days CI used to let you do that (using KLM for the NCL-AMS hop) but not any more.
They call it progress.
If you catch it right NCL-AMS-BKK business class can be had for £1700 (CI a bit cheaper but can't book a through ticket) but if not it's £1700 for AMS-BKK but nearly £2300 for NCL-AMS-BKK.
Just on principal, even if I could afford it, I wouldn't pay nearly £600 for a 1hr flight where business class seats are the same size as economy and often the food is identical so all you get for your money is getting on first which never bothers me.
It's a shame they don't let you book a through ticket using economy for NCL-AMS then busy for AMS-BKK.
In the good old days CI used to let you do that (using KLM for the NCL-AMS hop) but not any more.
They call it progress.
Join Date: Feb 2004
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On BA, tickets routed NCL-LHR-??? are generally cheaper than LHR-??? direct
Down side is the short domestic/puddle jump flights are seen to book deep crimson in the accounts !
This is countered by charging £300 + for those wanting to commute or make self connects.
Thats what ASH666 has already found on the puddle jump to Amsterdam to join the Dynasty service.
Two tickets and no cross subsidy (unless you buy via a consolidator)
Though not said by ASH666 from Heathrow perhaps he would confirm but i also suspect he's used EVA from Heathrow as well.
Both the Taiwanese carriers offer some pretty good deals across all classes into Bangkok.
Whist writing i also think his jet lag experience with Emirates is more to do with the departure time on the current Newcastle service which dumps you in the desert in the middle of night rather than stage length.
The later departures from other UK airports are popular exactly because they arrive in Dubai in the morning meaning you will have had a nights sleep.
Join Date: Nov 2004
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I have used EVA and they are ok and a good price and relatively better in economy than in busy or premium economy.
I have never flown BA to LHR for a connecting flight, too big a chance of my luggage going AWOL.
At least KLM and CI have sorted out their problems in that respect since I stopped using them for a number of years after they p'd me off.
AF premium economy was great except for the non-reclining seats (though that may have changed recently) and VERY variable fares and I still remember the girl at NCL check-in desk trying to sort out KLM economy to AMS followed by business to BKK. I didn't think pockets could hold that many bits of scrap paper!
It didn't seem to be a problem at BKK on the return.
BA and TG are far too expensive to use long haul if you want a bigger seat.
I have never flown BA to LHR for a connecting flight, too big a chance of my luggage going AWOL.
At least KLM and CI have sorted out their problems in that respect since I stopped using them for a number of years after they p'd me off.
AF premium economy was great except for the non-reclining seats (though that may have changed recently) and VERY variable fares and I still remember the girl at NCL check-in desk trying to sort out KLM economy to AMS followed by business to BKK. I didn't think pockets could hold that many bits of scrap paper!
It didn't seem to be a problem at BKK on the return.
BA and TG are far too expensive to use long haul if you want a bigger seat.
