Luton-10
If Border Force are asking people if there are sharp items in their bags and then doing a thorough search of bags, this is unlikely to be about immigration checks... I'm inclined to think there is something else as a root cause of interest
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So Wizzair drops routes just so new ones can be introduced. Financial incentives from the council muddy the waters. Open a route and collect the money. When the money stops just open another route instead. The word in the terminal is that Wizzair UK is a failing airline both at Gatwick and Luton with bases closed or closing at other UK airports. This might explain why they have not been complying with CCJ’s.
As for the Wizzair UK head office located in the terminal. It is just a door with a letterbox. No staff no nothing!
Anyone booking a ticket with this airline is taking a chance which is why I would never fly with them.
As for the Wizzair UK head office located in the terminal. It is just a door with a letterbox. No staff no nothing!
Anyone booking a ticket with this airline is taking a chance which is why I would never fly with them.
Last edited by Spanish eyes; 29th Jan 2023 at 19:21.
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I totally agree with Spanish eyes’s comments having been on the receiving end of several now cancelled Wizzair flights from LTN this summer. I won’t be booking again unless I have no other choice. You don’t normally cancel routes if you are making money on them so the conclusion is they are not making money or alternatively can not supply the flights for some reason - Wizzair have a huge retention problem, particularly in the retention of skilled staff post Covid because there are much, much better employers out there. The majority of people I know at Wizz are actively looking for other employers, experience building
and biding their time or are trapped there for some other reason.
and biding their time or are trapped there for some other reason.
It is strange they would cancel Malaga from June onwards… if you can’t make Malaga work in the summer from London there is an issue!
I work for the orange airline at LTN and whilst it was pretty bad for the first few summer months last year, once our esteemed COO departed and they got a grip of things the operation was a lot more stable. Walking through the baggage hall recently there has been piles and piles of bags from Wizz air flights. It’s not unusual to see flights 3-4 hours delayed or cancelled even during the quiet time of January.
Ryanair seem to have been the best operationally of all the low cost airlines in 2022. Wizz do seem to still be struggling.
I work for the orange airline at LTN and whilst it was pretty bad for the first few summer months last year, once our esteemed COO departed and they got a grip of things the operation was a lot more stable. Walking through the baggage hall recently there has been piles and piles of bags from Wizz air flights. It’s not unusual to see flights 3-4 hours delayed or cancelled even during the quiet time of January.
Ryanair seem to have been the best operationally of all the low cost airlines in 2022. Wizz do seem to still be struggling.
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So I was reading the old NOTAM wrong on the 17th but I was actually correct with the date. Genius
Last edited by LTNman; 30th Jan 2023 at 20:38.
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Just as well Flyr didn't get slots as they have just gone pop. Very leisure oriented so is demand that weak for Winter Sun? Aka Wizzair moving Sun routes to Turkey where some transfers can be picked up through IST.
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I heard them asking one passenger, if they were there were aware there was a limit on the amount of cash they could leave the country with.
The flight was absolutely packed on the A321neo, so doubt anyone was detained. It's very common for border force to show an interest on flights to the middle east and Indian sub-continent. So guess this is reasonably new experience for LTN.
Considering it only went on sale 6-8 weeks ago, seems a very successful route! Many Jordanian's were saying how London to Amman is usually £500+ return with both RJ and BA (year round), and were very happy with Wizz starting the route!
With the recent routes being dropped, could they possibly be making way to increase frequency on routes like this?
I feel sorry for the crew, as they don't get a stopover in Amman, they fly both sectors, and with a flight time of up to 5.5hrs depending on winds and time on the ground between sectors, that's a long shift on a cramped high density A321!
Last edited by gdiddy; 31st Jan 2023 at 21:00.
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Thanks for the insights. Flight time is much the same as Hungarda or Sharm so I'm sure crews will be used to it. Wait for the 321LR, then when they push longer sectors, a layover will come about. Obvious would be they go for linking further dots.
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First pax trials today https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/tr...system-4011345
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First pax trials today https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/tr...system-4011345
I didn't. I not booked on them as need to take a day off work. I didn't then think today being a train strike I'd have a flexible day working at home so could have done it. D'oh.
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As you have asked, I took part in the trial, which lasted 5 hours. First impressions is that both stations look like stations from the Elizabeth Line and have a signature building feel to them. This is what I would expect from a major international airport yet it was Luton.
The rides on the day took on average 2 minutes 40 seconds and not the claimed 4 minutes and will operator every 4 minutes peak and every 15 minutes off peak.
Platforms have been sized to take longer trains.
There will be no road access to the Dart forecourt at Parkway for the general public, as it will be barrier controlled.
All in all it will be a game changer for rail passengers.
As for the issues? I am not going to disclose them, as this was the first trial but the second trial has been cancelled.
Parkway Forecourt
Parkway
The journey
Central
The rides on the day took on average 2 minutes 40 seconds and not the claimed 4 minutes and will operator every 4 minutes peak and every 15 minutes off peak.
Platforms have been sized to take longer trains.
There will be no road access to the Dart forecourt at Parkway for the general public, as it will be barrier controlled.
All in all it will be a game changer for rail passengers.
As for the issues? I am not going to disclose them, as this was the first trial but the second trial has been cancelled.
Parkway Forecourt
Parkway
The journey
Central
Last edited by LTNman; 3rd Feb 2023 at 06:24.
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For those interested (sorry LTNman) it looks as there is going to be an influx of both executive and airline traffic on 25-26 February regarding the Carabao Cup Final between Man U and Newcastle U. One passenger charter already on sale from Newcastle (probably operated by Jet2) and others planned.
LTNman - you mention there will be no road access to the DART as it will be barrier controlled.
Will it still be possible to enter/exit between the railway station and Kimpton Road (yes, by the hotel) without paying for the DART ? I rather like being able to save the money and walk between the airport and train station
Will it still be possible to enter/exit between the railway station and Kimpton Road (yes, by the hotel) without paying for the DART ? I rather like being able to save the money and walk between the airport and train station
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As for the issues? I am not going to disclose them, as this was the first trial but the second trial has been cancelled.
Ticket machines don't work so were all switched off with trialists issued with fake tickets.
The Dart trains were not being properly monitored with passengers ending up where they started as they didn't get off the train quick enough.
A passenger got his shoe trapped in the door that couldn't be forced open. Another passenger having a wheel ripped off his suitcase while a third passenger got the extended handle of his suitcase trapped in the door. After a long fight someone on the train who should have got off pulled the case back into the train and off the train went.
The trial was to identity issues and they went away with a long list. I think the next trial has been suspended for H&S reasons. Not properly tested and rushed comes to mind.
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LTNman - you mention there will be no road access to the DART as it will be barrier controlled.
Will it still be possible to enter/exit between the railway station and Kimpton Road (yes, by the hotel) without paying for the DART ? I rather like being able to save the money and walk between the airport and train station
Will it still be possible to enter/exit between the railway station and Kimpton Road (yes, by the hotel) without paying for the DART ? I rather like being able to save the money and walk between the airport and train station
The ground floor Dart entrance is open access to both Thameslink and the Dart with just a Thameslink gate line to platform 1. Passengers heading for platform 2 to 4 can either use the platform 1 entrance and follow the existing route to the other platforms or use the escalators and lifts to the first floor, which is also open access. From there passengers either pass through the barriers to the Dart or at the rear of the Dart station, another set of barriers to the railway lines. The second photo shows both sets of barriers.
Last edited by LTNman; 3rd Feb 2023 at 11:43.