Southampton-3
Ugh I cant be bothered to argue - I post an informative chatty Trip report - with helpful info for any SOU posters and pax and until you barge in...
Most of us with long airline experience should be able to fully empathise with my comments which are constructive and not a rant.
OK so no worries I'll just delete all the post then -- s** the lot of you!
You can best stick to your huge number postings on all of the other small regionals moaning about airport closures and their plights that you seem to wallow in.
Most of us with long airline experience should be able to fully empathise with my comments which are constructive and not a rant.
OK so no worries I'll just delete all the post then -- s** the lot of you!
You can best stick to your huge number postings on all of the other small regionals moaning about airport closures and their plights that you seem to wallow in.
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Thanks Rog747 for this informative post. Has to be said that apart from a few ‘teething’ issues, BACF are a perfect fit for SOU and I only hope they stick around and also add some winter sun routes! Cheers
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Very informative report !!
( just ignore the clowns post , nothing interesting to say to be honest)
Definitely need some more steps for sure , even down here in Jersey we have 2 sets of steps for everything, so much quicker
( just ignore the clowns post , nothing interesting to say to be honest)
Definitely need some more steps for sure , even down here in Jersey we have 2 sets of steps for everything, so much quicker
Thanks stewyb - and MarkyD
No sign or word of any further winter leisure routes from BACF this year -
Just the 2 Ski destinations CMF and SZG,
and Easy Jet continues the GVA Ski flights again (4 weekly) from both SOU and BOH - with 186 seat A320's
Only BOH has winter sun for us locals with TUI - the Canaries TFS LPA ACE, and 3 Barbados P&O Fly-cruises.
RYR also has TFS ACE ALC AGP FAO and MLA for this winter from BOH
On the BACF flights if you buy a Y class cabin baggage only fare you can take two bags in the cabin (up to 23kgs each allowed)
However be warned - the Overhead Lockers on the EMB are not big enough for larger cabin bags that will normally go OK in the lockers on an Airbus 320/321, or a 737.
If you buy a Y or Avios fare with checked baggage then you get 1 bag @ 23kgs, plus your 2 cabin bags.
You can no longer on BA pool your baggage allowance with family/friends on your booking (unlike TUI, EZY and RYR)
and at SOU they were strict (Computer says no) about checking in 2 bags even if you have 2 pieces within 23 kgs.
Whereas in Mykonos they just checked everything in plus the donkeys and sombrero's without any worries whatsoever LOL.
BA used to be very easy going on pooling allowances and also checking in unwanted hand luggage etc but seems that has now all changed.
Have to say that breezing through SOU out and back during such awful chaotic times seen since May at other UK airports, then SOU was a pure dream.
Yes they need to sort out optimums for ground handling and efficiencies, and I trust that someone at the Top is on top of that.
2 sets good - 1 set bad....
No sign or word of any further winter leisure routes from BACF this year -
Just the 2 Ski destinations CMF and SZG,
and Easy Jet continues the GVA Ski flights again (4 weekly) from both SOU and BOH - with 186 seat A320's
Only BOH has winter sun for us locals with TUI - the Canaries TFS LPA ACE, and 3 Barbados P&O Fly-cruises.
RYR also has TFS ACE ALC AGP FAO and MLA for this winter from BOH
On the BACF flights if you buy a Y class cabin baggage only fare you can take two bags in the cabin (up to 23kgs each allowed)
However be warned - the Overhead Lockers on the EMB are not big enough for larger cabin bags that will normally go OK in the lockers on an Airbus 320/321, or a 737.
If you buy a Y or Avios fare with checked baggage then you get 1 bag @ 23kgs, plus your 2 cabin bags.
You can no longer on BA pool your baggage allowance with family/friends on your booking (unlike TUI, EZY and RYR)
and at SOU they were strict (Computer says no) about checking in 2 bags even if you have 2 pieces within 23 kgs.
Whereas in Mykonos they just checked everything in plus the donkeys and sombrero's without any worries whatsoever LOL.
BA used to be very easy going on pooling allowances and also checking in unwanted hand luggage etc but seems that has now all changed.
Have to say that breezing through SOU out and back during such awful chaotic times seen since May at other UK airports, then SOU was a pure dream.
Yes they need to sort out optimums for ground handling and efficiencies, and I trust that someone at the Top is on top of that.
2 sets good - 1 set bad....
Last edited by rog747; 15th Jul 2022 at 10:00.
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Interesting post and, to be honest, even though I live 30 minutes from LGW and 90 minutes from SOU I am seriously thinking about using SOU for my next trip to Scotland to avoid the LGW chaos. Re coaching. It’s common knowledge that to achieve on time departures when coaching you need two coaches - one for the bulk of the pax and one for the “runners” as we used to call them. The question is whether the airline is prepared to pay for the second coach.
Indeed wombat, and thanks -
In our case if there had been 2 sets of steps (as there should be) then the first bus could have gone out as you say, with most of the pax to get them on-board and seated, even with fuel still going on, and then popped back to the gate for the stragglers...and hey Presto! - doors closed OT, or early - Skippers happy.
Simple really - not rocket science to achieve OT departures - Oh wait, yes! I helped write the manuals about 40 years ago LOL.
In our case if there had been 2 sets of steps (as there should be) then the first bus could have gone out as you say, with most of the pax to get them on-board and seated, even with fuel still going on, and then popped back to the gate for the stragglers...and hey Presto! - doors closed OT, or early - Skippers happy.
Simple really - not rocket science to achieve OT departures - Oh wait, yes! I helped write the manuals about 40 years ago LOL.
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Yes both NCE and FLR were taken off sale for this summer just as I was about to book FLR in Sept which was annoying as there were plenty of Avios reward seats left.
They are both now listed for Ops > from 13/05/23
BACF are doing winter Ski flights SOU to CMF and SZG.
SOU-JMK-SOU June 2022
Have to say my recent travel on BACF from SOU to Mykonos and back in June was 99% perfect.
Car Park is excellent - book early for cheaper rates - short stay undercover is where Blue Badge can park and it is one minutes walk to check-in.
Sun morning 9am, although there were 5 or 6 flights leaving the Terminal and Dep lounge was ''almost empty'' - our JMK was 1005 STD.
No point arriving at SOU for flights much more than one hour before departure unless you want to go to the Business Lounge.
Ok, so the aircraft types at SOU are not big ((50-98 seats max) so folk waiting at the gates were all very civilised and nothing was crowded.
Check-in was a breeze (almost empty) although the young chap was brand new (Swissport) he had little customer experience, but we had a nice chat and he wants to go to NATS/ATC so we wished him all the best.
Security was a breeze, although enthusiastically thorough, and my 79yo sister was subjected to 2 or 3 full body scans, with frisking and repeated pat downs.
Seems they were obsessed she had metal on her...
Here's where SOU was a let down but they need to tweak this PDQ -
Flight boarded a bit close to time and we inwardly groaned it was a coaching gate -
The ground agents and coach driver then proceeded to want all 68 of us crammed on one bus...
We then had to wait on a very warm bus for the last 2 stragglers (as always) who got lost (how>?) in Duty Free.
Finally got to the Aircraft - first thing I saw (with my Airline Ops career eyes) was only one set of steps and the fuel still connected up pumping on - You all know you cannot board Pax whilst refuelling unless you have 2 sets of steps.
Clocks ticking...Skipper looks flustered and runs down the front steps - forgets his Hi Viz then runs back up to get it on - Gets the fuel chit - runs back up steps and 5 mins later the CC give a thumbs up to board -
Boarding was chaotic with only one set of steps as folk down the back (say rows 13-25) should have been asked to board first.
Anyway we got on board - I sort of knew the No.1 and I said to her with glazed eyes ''2 sets of steps?'' - LOL, so she said back to me - It's already down on my flight report, and we now have lost our slot of course...Well I never...90 minutes the skipper said we now got to wait....Ugh.
About 35 minutes later luckily we got a new routing and slot to depart.
This Ground Handling issue is NOT the airlines fault but total lack of any idea at SOU Management and its Handling Agents how to turn around an aircraft.
None of the City flyers had 2 sets of steps on (both out and coming back at SOU), but there seemed plenty of ramp guys milling about and I saw spare sets of steps unused.
At Mykonos - also a tiny airport, 2 sets of steps are put on every aircraft arrival and is the norm; they are on the aircraft within a minute or 2 (also Swissport Handling)
We were back row 25 so we were off down the rear steps PDQ and a short walk across the road to Passports, so we were amongst the first off.
The SOU MD perhaps should pop out to JMK and see how they (and Swissport JMK) do it there;
although a small airport too, they handle much bigger planes there - up to 737-Max8, 757-200, and A321N.
Loads more leg room in rows 24 and 25 BTW.
Despite the boarding hiccups, the Airport, the Flight, the aircraft, the crew, the seat, nice free food and drinks, and excellent leg room was all superb and we landed almost on time at a very windy and sunny Mykonos.
Spoke at length to the BACF crew during the flight - they have 2 CC on these flights with sometimes 8, 16 or often up to 32 Club Europe pax especially on the JMK, PMI and FAO flights - CE pax get Hot Meals both ways.
It is busy for them and of course non-stop hard work, but the Crews like these weekend SOU operations away from LCY, as they get SOU JER and PMI weekend night stops.
BACF also do Palma W patterns to both JER and GCI with the SOU-PMI so it is a big operation to crew - I saw 7 BA EMB's on the ground at SOU when we got back.
She also said the loads are really picking up on some routes - we had 8C/60Y outbound and 16C/70Y on the way back.
My pals went a week later to JMK and it was not busy at all - not even half full both ways.
Shame Florence has been canned this summer as that was a Def for me in Sept, but I shall likely use JMK again as I am off for a month's Greek Island Hopping in Sept.
All in all flying out and back to SOU with BACF was pretty awesome, despite ''steps-gate'' LOL.
Edit - Flybe start SOU - Toulon 24 July - 18 Sept
They are both now listed for Ops > from 13/05/23
BACF are doing winter Ski flights SOU to CMF and SZG.
SOU-JMK-SOU June 2022
Have to say my recent travel on BACF from SOU to Mykonos and back in June was 99% perfect.
Car Park is excellent - book early for cheaper rates - short stay undercover is where Blue Badge can park and it is one minutes walk to check-in.
Sun morning 9am, although there were 5 or 6 flights leaving the Terminal and Dep lounge was ''almost empty'' - our JMK was 1005 STD.
No point arriving at SOU for flights much more than one hour before departure unless you want to go to the Business Lounge.
Ok, so the aircraft types at SOU are not big ((50-98 seats max) so folk waiting at the gates were all very civilised and nothing was crowded.
Check-in was a breeze (almost empty) although the young chap was brand new (Swissport) he had little customer experience, but we had a nice chat and he wants to go to NATS/ATC so we wished him all the best.
Security was a breeze, although enthusiastically thorough, and my 79yo sister was subjected to 2 or 3 full body scans, with frisking and repeated pat downs.
Seems they were obsessed she had metal on her...
Here's where SOU was a let down but they need to tweak this PDQ -
Flight boarded a bit close to time and we inwardly groaned it was a coaching gate -
The ground agents and coach driver then proceeded to want all 68 of us crammed on one bus...
We then had to wait on a very warm bus for the last 2 stragglers (as always) who got lost (how>?) in Duty Free.
Finally got to the Aircraft - first thing I saw (with my Airline Ops career eyes) was only one set of steps and the fuel still connected up pumping on - You all know you cannot board Pax whilst refuelling unless you have 2 sets of steps.
Clocks ticking...Skipper looks flustered and runs down the front steps - forgets his Hi Viz then runs back up to get it on - Gets the fuel chit - runs back up steps and 5 mins later the CC give a thumbs up to board -
Boarding was chaotic with only one set of steps as folk down the back (say rows 13-25) should have been asked to board first.
Anyway we got on board - I sort of knew the No.1 and I said to her with glazed eyes ''2 sets of steps?'' - LOL, so she said back to me - It's already down on my flight report, and we now have lost our slot of course...Well I never...90 minutes the skipper said we now got to wait....Ugh.
About 35 minutes later luckily we got a new routing and slot to depart.
This Ground Handling issue is NOT the airlines fault but total lack of any idea at SOU Management and its Handling Agents how to turn around an aircraft.
None of the City flyers had 2 sets of steps on (both out and coming back at SOU), but there seemed plenty of ramp guys milling about and I saw spare sets of steps unused.
At Mykonos - also a tiny airport, 2 sets of steps are put on every aircraft arrival and is the norm; they are on the aircraft within a minute or 2 (also Swissport Handling)
We were back row 25 so we were off down the rear steps PDQ and a short walk across the road to Passports, so we were amongst the first off.
The SOU MD perhaps should pop out to JMK and see how they (and Swissport JMK) do it there;
although a small airport too, they handle much bigger planes there - up to 737-Max8, 757-200, and A321N.
Loads more leg room in rows 24 and 25 BTW.
Despite the boarding hiccups, the Airport, the Flight, the aircraft, the crew, the seat, nice free food and drinks, and excellent leg room was all superb and we landed almost on time at a very windy and sunny Mykonos.
Spoke at length to the BACF crew during the flight - they have 2 CC on these flights with sometimes 8, 16 or often up to 32 Club Europe pax especially on the JMK, PMI and FAO flights - CE pax get Hot Meals both ways.
It is busy for them and of course non-stop hard work, but the Crews like these weekend SOU operations away from LCY, as they get SOU JER and PMI weekend night stops.
BACF also do Palma W patterns to both JER and GCI with the SOU-PMI so it is a big operation to crew - I saw 7 BA EMB's on the ground at SOU when we got back.
She also said the loads are really picking up on some routes - we had 8C/60Y outbound and 16C/70Y on the way back.
My pals went a week later to JMK and it was not busy at all - not even half full both ways.
Shame Florence has been canned this summer as that was a Def for me in Sept, but I shall likely use JMK again as I am off for a month's Greek Island Hopping in Sept.
All in all flying out and back to SOU with BACF was pretty awesome, despite ''steps-gate'' LOL.
Edit - Flybe start SOU - Toulon 24 July - 18 Sept
Indeed wombat, and thanks -
In our case if there had been 2 sets of steps (as there should be) then the first bus could have gone out as you say, with most of the pax to get them on-board and seated, even with fuel still going on, and then popped back to the gate for the stragglers...and hey Presto! - doors closed OT, or early - Skippers happy.
Simple really - not rocket science to achieve OT departures - Oh wait, yes! I helped write the manuals about 40 years ago LOL.
In our case if there had been 2 sets of steps (as there should be) then the first bus could have gone out as you say, with most of the pax to get them on-board and seated, even with fuel still going on, and then popped back to the gate for the stragglers...and hey Presto! - doors closed OT, or early - Skippers happy.
Simple really - not rocket science to achieve OT departures - Oh wait, yes! I helped write the manuals about 40 years ago LOL.
I still use my Skycare suitcase straps, very unlikely any other PAX on the flight will have the same. They've now clocked up well over a million miles and are still going strong.
Last edited by TCAS FAN; 15th Jul 2022 at 15:19. Reason: Addition
Flybe
The thread has gone rather quiet over the last few weeks.
Great to see Flybe once again at Southampton with flights to Avignon and Toulon starting over the weekend.
Someone posted a very long video on YouTube of the activity at Southampton Airport on Saturday 23 July and the airport was rather busy with several unique visitors.
The aircraft shown in the footage included,
Aer Lingus Regional (Emerald Airways)...ATR:-600
Amellia Airways...Airbus A319
Aurigny...ATR-600, Dornier
Blue Islands...ATR-600
British Airways...Embraer 190
Carpatair...Fokker 100
Eastern Airways...ATR-600, Embraer 190
Flybe...DH-800
Loganair...Embraer 145
Quite a few business jets arriving and departing including several Falcon 900's and two Boeing 737 BBJS and an all black and unidentified ATR-600
Great to see the airport getting busier with so many movements and I rather enjoyed watching the footage on YouTube from the comfort of my home.
Great to see Flybe once again at Southampton with flights to Avignon and Toulon starting over the weekend.
Someone posted a very long video on YouTube of the activity at Southampton Airport on Saturday 23 July and the airport was rather busy with several unique visitors.
The aircraft shown in the footage included,
Aer Lingus Regional (Emerald Airways)...ATR:-600
Amellia Airways...Airbus A319
Aurigny...ATR-600, Dornier
Blue Islands...ATR-600
British Airways...Embraer 190
Carpatair...Fokker 100
Eastern Airways...ATR-600, Embraer 190
Flybe...DH-800
Loganair...Embraer 145
Quite a few business jets arriving and departing including several Falcon 900's and two Boeing 737 BBJS and an all black and unidentified ATR-600
Great to see the airport getting busier with so many movements and I rather enjoyed watching the footage on YouTube from the comfort of my home.
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The airport has bounced back tremendously well and the past few weekends especially have been busy busy with BA and cruise charters, also great to see so many different types using the airport. BE operated two services to BHD over the weekend before commencing this Thursday and the press release also states that SOU will become an important airport for BE, hence more routes very likely. Let’s get the runway over the line once and for all by September and things will certainly be looking up for a bright future with EZY hopefully expanding their route network!
Last edited by stewyb; 26th Jul 2022 at 10:18.
Amelia Airways, Air Alsie (black ATR72) have been ferrying ladies football teams around in association with the Euros tournament. Possibly the Carpatair FK100 as well, but not sure about that.
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incorrect. The Amelia A319. The air Alsie atr. The carpatair and the Klas jet 737’s have all been cruise ship charters picking up American tourists from Southampton and taking them to Ireland which occurred for 3 Saturdays in a row. Last weekend was the 1st weekend where the opposite occurred and the cruise ship passengers were all inbound to Southampton from Ireland.
Looks like Emerald are increasing BHD rotations to 2 daily on some days starting around the August Bank Holiday weekend.
There is either a lot of demand on this route (more capacity now than pre-pandemic) or one (or more) of the current 3 carriers won't last.
There is either a lot of demand on this route (more capacity now than pre-pandemic) or one (or more) of the current 3 carriers won't last.
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On the BACF flights if you buy a Y class cabin baggage only fare you can take two bags in the cabin (up to 23kgs each allowed)
However be warned - the Overhead Lockers on the EMB are not big enough for larger cabin bags that will normally go OK in the lockers on an Airbus 320/321, or a 737.
If you buy a Y or Avios fare with checked baggage then you get 1 bag @ 23kgs, plus your 2 cabin bags..
However be warned - the Overhead Lockers on the EMB are not big enough for larger cabin bags that will normally go OK in the lockers on an Airbus 320/321, or a 737.
If you buy a Y or Avios fare with checked baggage then you get 1 bag @ 23kgs, plus your 2 cabin bags..
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https://www.southamptonairport.com/n...cial&fs=e&s=cl
hopefully work can now really begin on the extension
hopefully work can now really begin on the extension
https://www.southamptonairport.com/n...cial&fs=e&s=cl
hopefully work can now really begin on the extension
hopefully work can now really begin on the extension
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Could Lufthansa or Swiss be a possibility? They have slowly expanded in UK over the past year or two adding Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle. Edelweiss and Eurowings added Newquay too. Perhaps a CRJ900 to FRA or MUC could work like Liverpool?