Monarch - 3

[TartinTon]

TFS on Tues and both Fri flights are planned on A300. Thu ACE is currently planned on A330.

[SCANDIC]

330 would be very good, thanks for the info.

[MKY661]

Leeds/Bradford base has opened today :)

[ematom1]

Leeds Bradford is currently closed, not the start I'm sure monarch were hoping for but it's out there control

[im going in]

MKY661,
It opened yesterday.

[SCANDIC]

G-ZBAA dropped into Man about 1 0clock this afternoon.

[LTNman]

I see there was a Monarch arrival at LTN today from Sydney. What is that all about?

[Dannyboy39]

I assume that was B757 G-MONJ - Captain's Choice Tour.

[compton3bravo]

Yep, been flying round Central and South America for the past couple of weeks, takes you back when a West German travel agency used Britannias on round-the-world flights in 1970s.

[SCANDIC]

Wasn't sure whether monarch were still doing round the world trips, the good old bird, the 321 wouldn't be as good as the 757 at doing those trips.

[MKY661]

Wonder what aircraft will do it when the 757's go?

[StoneyBridge Radar]

I'm sure a sharkletted A321 fitted out with 190 seats would cope admirably, as will the A321neo.

[TartinTon]

Don't think 190 seats would do for the amount those guys are paying...I think the 757 has 92 seats for these tours? Mr@SpottyM will know...

[StoneyBridge Radar]

An even better case for it then !

[LHRjc]

92 seats is correct:

Captains Choice - Equatorial Explorer by Private Jet (http://www.captainschoice.co.uk/CaptainsChoice_AU/Tours/Equatorial-Explorer-Private-Jet)

[Leftofcentre2009]

I note lack of pricing on the webpage :oh:

Wouldnt really class a dated Monarch 757 as a Private Jet either tbh :bored:

[TartinTon]

If you bother to download the brochure it says Au$29,400...plus the age of the jet is pretty irrelevant if it's refurbed and re-configured for the purposes of the tour operator :ugh::ugh::=

[partyboy_uk]

Here are some promotional pics for the reconfigured B757 flights to give you an idea:

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac356/partyboy_uk/757cabin.jpg

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac356/partyboy_uk/757cabin2.jpg

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac356/partyboy_uk/catering2.jpg

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac356/partyboy_uk/catering.jpg

[LHRjc]

Monarch's Wi-Fi app now downloadable for iOS for use with the inflight Wi-Fi trial.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/monarch-wi-fi/id601384515?mt=8

[goldeneye]

Do Monarch actually own those seats, or do they rent them in for this flight. How long would it normally take to re-fit the cabin from the normal configuration in to this fit.

[TCX69]

The seats look nice... What the hell is with that carpet though?! :yuk:

[qwertyuiop]

The carpets look much better in real life,honest!!!

Mon own the interior inc seats.

[Buster the Bear]

Now THAT is the way to fly!

[Shed-on-a-Pole]

Just a quick query ...

I receive Monarch's special offers e.mails on a regular basis. Recently I have received a couple of editions which appear tailored to offer deals for Manchester area customers. The format shows a list of destinations alongside the fares offered from MAN ... with just two exceptions. The first is BHX-NCE; understandable, as MON do not operate to NCE from MAN. However, the real anomaly is BHX-GIB ... GIB being a destination which is served by MON from MAN. Do we know whether the MAN-GIB service is under threat ... it still appears on the booking tool? Or is the company just trying to push extra bookings towards the BHX-GIB service (is it struggling?).

Thanks for any insights offered on this.

[MKY661]

I don't think either GIB route is struggling or will struggle. When Bmibaby offred EMA-GIB apparently it was really popular and the Government of Gibraltar tried to find a replacement carrier to do a route from the Midlands. Both MAN-GIB and BHX-GIB don't operate on the same day either (until May where they will both operate on a Sunday). MAN-GIB has also had its frequency increased and what I have heard is the Monarch flights are always packed and popular. EasyJet's LPL-GIB was dropped because apparently loads were a lot lower than expected and this route had the lowest demand. So I don't really see either of them to be dropped. BHX-GIB has only just started as well so I'm sure over the years it will get even more popular. And GIB also has it's new terminal fully open now so the airport is much better tn it was. :)

Also a few years ago MAN-GIB was not stopped because of lack of demand, it was stopped because Monarch had issues with the government there at the time.

[pabloc]

Its called Business Strategy..:ok:

[paully]

Interestingly having read the figures on another forum, appears the load factors out of Liverpool were increasing and about 87% when they pulled it. Obviously didnt fit with their strategy sad to say...

[MANTHRUST]

Apparently you can get to ISS in only 6 hours now!

[MANTHRUST]

Should have posted that last one some where else, but not sure where.

[TCX69]

Cyprus Airways A321 5B-DCO was ferried LCA-OLB today as CY003P for painting into Monarch livery. This will become G-ZBAF.

[MKY661]

According to Jethro G-OZBZ is due on Thursday but haven't heard anything :(

[BFS BHD]

Does Anyone know if MON will be doing the SFB flights from BFS this year? And also has anyone got the dates on when they will be operating them.

Cheers BFS BHD http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/smile.gif

[partyboy_uk]

No SFB flights from BFS this year. The only SFB flights will be from MAN, LGW and GLA.

[mathers_wales_uk]

This was discussed in detail several months ago when Monarch opted to use the A330 on shorter routes which in theory will allow them to make more money from the aircraft.

I believe if my memorey served me correctly this was at the expense of Cardiff, Newcaslte and reduced frequency of Glasgow and Manchester to Sanford if i'm correct.

[Drive4it]

Hi all.
Im i right to think MON are scaling back on The Gambia BJL Winter 2013/14, with only flying out of LGW and not MAN?

Are LS ready to pounce??

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Where the dickens did you get that info that 5B-DCO was ferried LCA-OLB for painting?
It has gone to OLBA, which is the four letter code for Beirut.
Never mind old mate, we will all make mistakes. :ok:
I must admit, l wondered what had changed from last Thursday for it not to be going to BEY.
For info, it now looks like Monarch will not take delivery of G-OZBZ until next week at the earliest. :ugh:

[BFS BHD]

Thanks for the info about Sanford! :)

[pabloc]

MON dont operate MAN-BJL. :ok:

[TartinTon]

Drive4it...I think you miss the point...it's not Monarch who decide to stop flying the route but the tour operator......if it's MON it's chartered, if it's ZB it's operated and sold by Monarch.

[insuindi]

Monarch seems to pull the plug on the remaining MUC routes ex LBA, LTN and MAN at the end of this month for the remainder of summer. Online booking system currently still points to a possible return to MUC for the winter.

[Falcon666]

Insuindi,
LTN -MUC is still bookable this summer.Friends have just booked for July!!
Maybe a temp glitch online?
Update,you may be correct seems it didn't go through

[OltonPete]

Falcon666

Just checked as well and you do get to the page after seat selection before it tells you flights can't be found.

I wonder what Luton will get in place as they don't have any similar timings on routes with Rome/Palma the closest.

BHX was fairly easy they just increased Barcelona and they could possibly do the same for Manchester and Leeds.

BHX-MUC is bookable 1/11/2013 only despite it finishing 22/4/13 and again once past the seat selection it says sorry no flights.

I think the booking engine needs some TLC :confused:

Pete

[LBIA]

Looks like LBA - MUC remain's bookable all summer.

[OltonPete]

LBIA

Did you follow the booking progress through after your name, bags and seat selection, as mentioned previously?

If you get through to the payment screen it is more than I can do.

Quite late in the day to market a new route but possible although more likely to see increased frequencies on existing ones if within the Munich sector time frame.

Pete

[LBIA]

Yeah got all way through the booking process and paid for flights departing LBA on Friday June 7th returning on Monday 10th for a total of £391.94


Fri, 07 Jun 13
Leeds-Bradford to Munich
Dep 08:20, Arr 11:10, flight ZB 7572

Sub TotalDetails£194.47

Adult fare x1 £141.49
Taxes & charges x1 £30.00
Bags x1 £12.99
My Extra Legroom x1 £9.99

Mon, 10 Jun 13
Munich to Leeds-Bradford
Dep 12:20, Arr 13:20, flight ZB 7573

Sub TotalDetails£197.47

Adult fare x1 £149.49
Taxes & charges x1 £25.00
Bags x1 £12.99
My Extra Legroom x1 £9.99

Total £391.94
Incl. online saving £15.00

[SCANDIC]

Will the 3 75's go to fed ex do you think.

[SCANDIC]

It's fantastic how the monarch engineers keep those 757's going for the hours they've flown and for the age of them, there will never be another aircraft like the 757. Well done guys.:cool::cool:

[insuindi]

@LBIA that's a high price you accepted for those flights! in any case - I am 100% positive that all MUC routes will stop at the end of this month.

[getonittt]

When you get your money back from monarch ( because the flights will not operate) you only need to spend half of it to get to MUC via AMS on those dates :rolleyes:

[spider_man]

MONB first flight 1983 must be the oldest jet airliner in passenger commercial service on a UK AOC? Meanwhile BA sold their 1997 build 757s for freighter conversion! Madness.

[Alloy]

G-MONB left for Fedex a few years ago.

[MKY661]

Yes the oldest aircraft in Monarch's fleet currently is G-DAJB. The Oldest though after 2014 will be G-OZBL :eek:

[insuindi]

In addition to the MUC routes will FDH-LGW get the chop for the remainder of summer also. Planned return for the winter season.

[MKY661]

Here is some more news on the upcoming aircraft Monarch are receiving:

A320
G-ZBAB is due on 18th/19th April (Most likely will be Delivered at Luton)

A321
G-OZBZ is due shortly
G-ZBAD is due on 9th/10th May 2013 (Not sure where it's being delivered)
G-ZBAE is due on 23rd/24th May 2013 (Not sure where it's being delivered)
G-ZBAF is due at Manchester on 13th April 2013
G-ZBAG is due at Luton on 25th April 2013


Source: Jethro (Monarch Airlines (http://www.jethros.org.uk/fleets/fleet_listings/monarch_airlines.htm))

[insuindi]

I have to say I am pretty appalled at the abrupt cancellation of all the MUC services (+FDH). Monarch manages to just avoid the two weeks EU261 period so no compensation is legally required, but as Monarch is unable to offer alternatives to/from Southern Germany, a lot of people booked for the next few weeks on those routes will be left considerably out of pocket.

Pretty poor planning. Not reliable. Not great marketing.

[LBIA]

Well looks like you right guys. Got an email from Monarch Airlines today saying that my flights between Leeds and Munich in June have in fact been cancelled and that will I be given a full refund

So after a little advise I looked at the KLM option via Amsterdam and like you say "getonittt" they do actually come out far cheaper at just £228.50 compared to Monarch’s £391.94
Also whilst looking around checked out the British Airways option via Heathrow it too came out cheaper than Monarch at £315.08

[crewmeal]

So after a little advise I looked at the KLM option via Amsterdam and like you say "getonittt" they do actually come out far cheaper at just £228.50 compared to Monarch’s £391.94
Also whilst looking around checked out the British Airways option via Heathrow it too came out cheaper than Monarch at £315.08

If that's the case why do Monarch charge more than a national carrier? is it for the privilige of flying direct non stop? I know 2 friends found flying from BHX to BCN was cheaper flying with KLM.

[LHRjc]

I understand 5B-DCP (G-ZBAG as it will become) positioned LCA-BEY this afternoon. Presumably for repaint but I'm sure Mr @ Spotty M can confirm. :ok:

[2Planks]

Seems ZB cancelling schedules is becoming a habit, they abandoned LBA -GNB in the early weeks of the ski season leaving me in an expensive lurch. Even though the route is available next year I opted for a more expensive Jet2 flight for next year. Monarch's reputation of old is suffering.

[LBIA]

2planks if you care to read back this thread you might have notice that it’s not just the LBA - MUC route that’s been cancelled. Monarch have for some reason decided in the last few days to cancel all its UK routes to MUC this summer season including from MAN, LTN and BHX

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Yes l can confirm that is the case.
The first of the Cyprus A321's 5B-DCO (G-ZBAF) is due into MAN on Saturday.

[MKY661]

Seems ZB cancelling schedules is becoming a habit, they abandoned LBA -GNB in the early weeks of the ski season leaving me in an expensive lurch. Even though the route is available next year I opted for a more expensive Jet2 flight for next year. Monarch's reputation of old is suffering.

We got caught up in the process as well last year. Monarch had cancelled three out of the five flights to Gibraltar for Summer 2012 and also changed the flight times so they could use a W pattern in the schedules. We had two trips booked and three out of the four flights were cancelled and we were not told at all. Fortunately we got it all sorted out in the end. :)

[Halcyon Days]

Had the same to Faro last year too. I wont even look at their schedules now-as I was left high and dry last time and well out of pocket due to the late cancellation
but with no usable alternative offered-or compensation.
Once bitten twice shy etc etc.

[Serenity]

I see the new Monarch app is now available.
Not only does flights but destination wx, currency conversion and a car finder. Very usefull. :ok:

[jethro15]

The first of the Cyprus A321's 5B-DCO (G-ZBAF) is due into MAN on Saturday.
MAY be Sunday

[Mr A Tis]

Travel several times a year MAN-BCN, & Usually travel KLM or Lufthansa because the flights are cheaper than the direct ZB service & also greater schedule flexibility.
Was going to book MAN-MUC, but Lufty was cheaper anyway, so fortunately not faced with a late expensive re-booking.
I used to be Silver Card holder with ZB but now not found any suitable flights with ZB since May last year. I wish them well with their new expanded network, but can't help feeling the company has changed for the worst, IMHO.

[MKY661]

Monarch Flights From London-Gatwick to Venice and Verona will now not operate during Winter 2013 and are now seasonal routes.

[TartinTon]

MKY661......that's like saying the MANDLM and LGWAYT services are "not now" operating Winter 13....they were never there in the first place :ugh::ugh:

[TCX69]

A321 5B-DCO (G-ZBAF) ferried BEY-LCA after paint
A321 5B-DCP (G-ZBAG) ferried LCA-BEY fot paint
A321 TC-OAN (G-OZBZ) ferried IST-BOH for paint

[Mr @ Spotty M]

It is in fact G-OZBZ (ex TC-OAN) on its way to BOH for paint.

[MKY661]

I know the A320's with Sharklets are being based at Leeds/Bradford and the Ex Cyprus A321's are being based in East Midlands but will the three other A321's and G-OZBY be based anywhere particular this summer or will they just run like the rest of the fleet and be based anywhere?

Thanks :)

[munster]

TC-OAN
They've got an aircraft from Onur Air!
Are they really that desperate?
At least it'll keep the engineers in overtime!

[Charlie98]

I've personally flew with Onurair on many occasions, their flights were always on time, cabin was clean, unlike some and the cabin crew were also very friendly, complimentary sweets are handed out during boarding- so from personal experience I would say that you are stereotyping :ugh:

[VickersVicount]

yes the maintenance provided by Iberia and Turkish is quite well respected

[munster]

I had the pleasure of looking after some of their aircraft a while ago. The reps answer to any defect that would need addressing soon was always Istanbul!

[Leg]

Charlie, was that before or after they were banned from operating in Europe? :p

[nivsy]

as reported in the Gibraltar forum,,,Monarch advertising people all need a geography lesson. The latest e mail from the carrier trying to entice us to buy fllights with them says that Gib is an island...oh dear!:ugh:

Nivsy

[Charlie98]

Last time was about 4 years ago so I'm assuming before :P, that maybe was why they pulled NCL-BJV, they were good flight times as well :rolleyes:

[SWBKCB]

Charlie, was that before or after they were banned from operating in Europe?

there was a short term ban from Dutch air space a few years ago, is that what you're on about?

[liam4393]

5B-DCO currently flying over Germany towards UK using callsign '5BDCO'

[chaps2011]

The Leeds based G-ZBAA seems to be spending a lot of time flying to/from Manchester today

Chaps

[AP1995]

it hasn't been into Manchester at all today, it has operated LBA - FARO - LBA -PMI - LBA, it was in Manchester yesterday to operate one flight to Munich

[ematom1]

5B-DCO just arrived at Manchester

[MKY661]

5B-DCO just arrived at Manchester

Yes that is correct. G-OZBZ has also been registered today as well. :)

[SCANDIC]

G-OZBY had a very hard landing at prestwick doing touch and go's so think it will be out of action for a while. currently sat outside the hangar at Man:{

[MKY661]

G-OZBY had a very hard landing at Prestwick doing touch and go's so think it will be out of action for a while. currently sat outside the hangar at Man

Well this could mean leasing off other carriers then :(. Some flights recently have been operated by other carriers at MAN I guess this is the reason why?

[Mr @ Spotty M]

I can assure you G-OZBY did not have a very hard landing at Prestwick, otherwise it would still be there.

[StoneyBridge Radar]

Mr @ Spotty M, it must be true; someone on PPRuNe said so ! :rolleyes::ugh:

[Buster the Bear]

I remember seeing a Monarch A300 on MX at RAF Thurleigh (Bedford). Monarch used a hangar there for a good few months. True!

[SCANDIC]

Apparantely the captain couldn't see anything wrong with it at prestwick so flew back to man, not til they got back to man that the engineers found somthing wrong with the front nose wheel.

[greatoaks]

Will the ex-Cyprus '321's have an interior re-fit before going into service or have they already extra legroom 'up front'?

[MKY661]

Apparently (according to Jethro) Monarch have acquired another A320. It is apparently to be registered G-ZBAH and it's coming from Vueling

[west lakes]

Will the ex-Cyprus '321's have an interior re-fit before going into service or have they already extra legroom 'up front'?

These two?
http://www.pprune.org/7795595-post5.html

[Leonard320]

The Ex CY aircraft will be in a 204 config for the summer as opposed to the 191Y config, they were operated at CY.

Thanks

[Alloy]

The normal Monarch A321 config is 214.

[SCANDIC]

Will Monarch get rid of more a300's this year than they planned to

[MANTHRUST]

A lot of people would like to know, you won't find out here first.
Or maybe you will.

[Alex321]

There is still no official announcement yet but if I were you I would take the opportunity this summer to fly on the old birds if you want to!

[MKY661]

There is still no official announcement yet but if I were you I would take the opportunity this summer to fly on the old birds if you want to!

So could this mean that all three could go at the end of the summer instead of just the one? :eek:

There have also been lots of people asking for a Monarch Enthusiasts Day Trip on the A300 so hopefully this will still happen.

[SCANDIC]

Hope the enthusiast trip on the 300 goes ahead.

[Alloy]

MKY661, as Alex321 and others suggest, there is now a distinct possibility that all A300s will go at the end of this summer season so if you want to fly on one then I would fly sooner rather than later.

[windytoo]

Just remember to go to the lavatory in the terminal before you get on board.

[MKY661]

MKY661, as Alex321 and others suggest, there is now a distinct possibility that all A300s will go at the end of this summer season so if you want to fly on one then I would fly sooner rather than later.

OK. That's really sad. Could it be the same with the 757's as well? Anyways I'm sure Mr. @ Spotty M will know something about this. Hopefully Monarch will do one as many people on feedback on the Blog wanted to go on one before they were gone. I have yet to see one of them as well (seen the others numerous times) So I hope they stay for a bit longer.

[Alex321]

Until there is an official announcement we just have to sit tight. Options are being looked at to increase the speed in which Monarch disposes of the A300 and continue with fleet renewal/replacement.

As I said above take the chance now to fly on them!

With regards to the 757 its still planned to be around until the end of 2014 as far as I am aware.

[SCANDIC]

757's will go on a lot longer than the 300's a lot more reliable aircraft, i don't want any of them to go really love them all.:cool:

[SCANDIC]

Where would they do the enthusiasts flights from if they did them kind of hoping Man, how much did the other flights cost when they did them.:cool:

[TSR2]

The last enthusiast flight was in December last. It was from Gatwick to Friedrichshefen on a B757 and cost £159.98.

Note: Enthusiast days out are not to commemorate last flights.

[SCANDIC]

They should be though it'll be the end of an era when the 300 and 75's go.

[Dannyboy39]

Why would Monarch want to operate a flight "just for enthusiasts". The A300s in their current config have 361 seats which is a hell of a lot more difficult to fill on the 180 seat A320s or 221 seat B757s/A321s.

The whole point of the enthusiast trips in the first place was to get additional revenue for the airline - I thought that would've been obvious! They don't do it for the sake of it, just to burn up some expensive fuel. Its a commercial operation.

[MKY661]

Why would Monarch want to operate a flight "just for enthusiasts". The A300s in their current config have 361 seats which is a hell of a lot more difficult to fill on the 180 seat A320s or 221 seat B757s/A321s.

They have done this multiple times. They have even done an A330 with only enthusiasts on. :)

On a side note G-ZBAB has arrived today at MAN :)

[macuser]

I remember flying LGW - alps maybe Chambery? - on the big a300 in the early 90s . First wide body I had been on. Flight was short enough not to need the lav --- plus was sitting near the front....! Good flight, don't know how they were doing at the back.G-MONS I think........

[OltonPete]

G-OZBY

Now 11 days since the 7700 squawk in to Manchester and it has still not flown, is it fair to say that it is more than a routine tech problem?

Aircraft per base

Is the split known between the A320 and A321's for this summer for each base? I have seen the posts stating the sharklets will be at Leeds and the ex CY 321's are for East Mids but what about BHX, MAN, LGW and LTN. The seat map for BHX seemed to indicate 5 x 321's and 4 x 320.

Also is the ex Vueling A320 G-ZBAH confirmed and is this to be an operational spare?

Retrofit Sharklets for the 321's

If or when this is offered will Monarch consider this as I am sure it might help on the SSH services especially in winter.

Pete

[Mr @ Spotty M]

The ex Vueling A320 has not been confirmed, as the contract has yet to be signed, however l am confident it will be shortly.
The Sharklets will be fitted to the new A321s this coming winter.
G-OZBY will be back flying by the weekend.
As for the ex Cyprus A321s, yes they are to be based at EMA, however the seating config has yet to be confirmed.

[MKY661]

The Sharklets will be fitted to the new A321s this coming winter.

So I assume no Sharklets will be retrofitted on the A320/A321 which have been with Monarch since 2012 or before?

Also where will the A321's direct from Boeing be based this summer or will these aircraft act like most of the rest of the fleet - they move around the bases?

[Say again s l o w l y]

You cannot just fit sharklets to any old 320/321, the difference in the aircraft structure to accomodate them is very large, so I certainly don't see any chance of a retrofit program for a/c not designed for them originally.

[OltonPete]

Mr @ Spotty M

Thank you for the information.

Good job the April flying schedule was quite light with BY out for over 2 weeks.

If AH is taken and is a spare then that is reassuring especially for me, as I am considering booking my summer hols with said airline and the BHX nine have very little slack in the schedule during high-summer.

I am sure the 321 sharklets will be appreciated by pax and ZB alike if it prevents the VCE tech-stops on the way back from SSH. I only noticed two or three of the BHX services stop last winter but the schedule is increasing in frequency from May and it contiues through the winter months.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

The new A321s should be deployed as per existing fleet.
Now as for SSH, l believe both a/c are not being delivered with ACT's fitted.
The extra A320 may or may not be a spare a/c.

PS, the new A321's are from Airbus not Boeing, MKY661.

[MKY661]

PS, the new A321's are from Airbus not Boeing, MKY661.

Did I put Boeing? If I did I am very sorry and it should have said Airbus. I think it was me just not paying attention to what I was writing haha. Oops :)

[TCX69]

D-AVZH, soon to be G-ZBAD. Yet another one with the .co.uk still!

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh498/TCX69K/G-ZBAH_zpsc1ef07b6.png (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/TCX69K/media/G-ZBAH_zpsc1ef07b6.png.html)

[MKY661]

The reason why it still has it is shown in the Livery Thread :)

[BasilFawlty]

Is the split known between the A320 and A321's for this summer for each base?
I would like to know that as well. By looking at the planned fleet and schedules it should be something like this:

BHX: 5x A320, 4x A321
EMA: 2x A321
LBA: 2x A320
LTN: 2x A320, 2x A321
LGW: 1x A300, 1x A320, 7x A321, 1x A330, 2x 757
MAN: 2x A300, 6x A321, 1x A330, 1x 757

Any corrections?

[Matt995]

Not certain about the placement of the LGW/BHX A320/A321's on that list. It might be 6 A321's, and 2 A320's at LGW, and 5 A321's and 4 A320's at BHX

Monarch's seat plan for Wednesday flights seams to be showing 6 A321's and 2 A320's at LGW and this might indicate that the BHX fleet could be 5 A321's and 4 A320's, on checking BHX's weekend schedule it seams to be showing as 5 A321's and 4 A320's? I would have thought Monarch must by now have the correct seating planing showing on their website for these flights?

does anyone have official confirmation on Monarch's fleet allocation for the summer?

[CEJM]

BHX: 4x A321, 5x A320
LGW: 6x A321, 1x A320, 1x A300, 2x 757, 1x A330
MAN: 6x A321, 2x A300, 1x 757, 1x A330
LTN: 2x A321, 2x A320
LBA: 2x A320
EMA: 2x A321

In total 38 aircraft: 10x A320, 20x A321, 3x A300, 3x 757 & 2 A330.

[Alex321]

Sounds about right although there are due to be 21 A321's.

[CEJM]

It's not a case of sounds about right, it is right! :ok:
Trawl through Sabre and see for yourself.

The reason that the other A321 isn't mentioned is because that is our standby aircraft and no decision has been made where that will be based.

[MKY661]

So that means that Monarch will be getting The A320 off Vueling then? I count only 9 A320's without that aircraft :)

[Alex321]

Dont fancy trawling through the timetables to work it out!

[im going in]

CEJM

If you trawl through Sabre, yr be able to work out where the standby aircraft is based.

[CEJM]

Fully aware that the jet does a DLM rotation once a week. However as with the A330, it doesn't mean that it is actually based at this particular airport as it always can be positioned in to do this flight.

In the end of the day it is our standby aircraft and it will operate from the base where it is needed at that time.

[Vauban]

Could anyone kindly advise me how I find out exactly which airplane Monarch used to fly me from Sharm to Gatwick last year on the 8th April (actually it turned out to be the 9th in the end:()? Flightstats doesn't have the information, and I'd quite like to know a bit more about the specific plane - including its age.

[OltonPete]

libhomeradar - easy collect aircraft information - Details for the selected database entry (http://www.libhomeradar.org/databasequery/details.php?qid=21034407&sid=3581127530&page=0)

Per libhomeradar if you were on ZB248 then G-EOMA A332.

If this link shows blank then go to the homepage and tick the more than 30 day box, under call-sign use MON248 (not ZB) and select 500 or 1000 entries per page and hit search and you should get the result you want.

If you were on a charter flight just add the flight number MONxxxx in the call-sign box as per above.

However as this one shows 9/4/12 I assume this was your flight.

BHX

It seems BHX will start May with 5 x A321's and 3 x A320's this summer but only 4 x A321's showing most days in June.

[janeyTA]

Not sure what aircraft age has to do with a delay, but G-EOMA is only 14 years old.

[Say again s l o w l y]

It has nothing to do with a reason for delays. Mind you if that's the sort of thinking that people put into these 261 claims, then most airlines will be able to ignore this ridiculous bit of legislation!

[Vauban]

Thanks for this - it was very interesting and useful link.

I was one of the unfortunate people stuck in Egypt for 24 hours last year when ZB248's side windscreen apparently cracked prior to take off from Gatwick. I'm simply keen to learn as much about the plane, the nature of the problem, the frequency of this sort of event, and the time it usually takes to resolve it.

I was struck by the generally poor punctuality record of Monarch, compared to other UK airlines. And I wondered whether that was to do, in a general sense, with the age of their fleet. I am so out of my area of expertise here, but assume that the older the plane the more maintenance is generally requires. The CAA's punctuality stats for Monarch do seem pretty poor - to my inexpert eye.

I can see some people feel strongly about Regulation 261/04. My own view, for what it is worth, is that the law is the law. Airlines often insist on their own terms and conditions being observed to the letter, so it seems to me - and I'm not meaning to be controversial - that it is unreasonable not to adhere to this law, however much one might consider it ill-advised. Some of the things I have seen airlines (including Monarch) write to potential claimants strike me as lacking integrity.

[Say again s l o w l y]

Our OTP isn't the best, but it hasn't got much to do with the age of a fleet really. Brand new aircraft can be just as (if not more) problematic as older ones. They are all maintained to the same standards.

No airline wants delays, they are frustrating, cause us chaos and also cost a bomb long before you can get to legislation like EU261.

The problem with this particular bit of regulation is that it takes no account that sometimes when operating a very complicated machine such as an aeroplane with hundreds of people involved in every movement that sometimes stuff just happens that can't be forseen.

Often the problem has naff all to do with the airline, but with a myriad of other problems caused by others, but this legislation doesn't allow us recompense for that, we just get hit with the cost and the enormous interal cost of dealing with the claims in the first place.

We don't delay passengers because we want to, which is something you might want to remember before you send your form in.

For this season we have more aircraft than ever before and STBY machines to try and minimise the effects of delays, plus there is a load of work going on to look at where and why delays are happening. None of this is because we are worried about EU261, but because we don't want to delay passengers in the first place.

Sorry about your delay, but sometimes, they just happen and beating up airlines and taking even more cash out of them doesn't help fix the problem, it actually makes it worse as it diverts the money needed to fix problems.

However, if you think that a few quid will make a difference to you, then go ahead, but it's a bit ambulance chaserish if you ask me.

[TSR2]

However, if you think that a few quid will make a difference to you, then go ahead, but it's a bit ambulance chaserish if you ask me.

I disagree. Most claimants are only after what they are entitled to by law as compensation for major disruption to their travel plans.

If you feel so strongly about the legislation, you should badger your MP and MEP continuously until action is taken to eliminate anomolies.

FWIW, I also feel that the legislation is very poor and not thought through thoroughly enough, but until it is amended, I cannot blame claimants for the shortcomings or lack of fairness of the current system.

[Dannyboy39]

It is law, however claiming as part of EU261 will only harm one stakeholder - the passenger through increased airfares. Airlines will start adding in extra administration charges to account for the additional costs.

[BasilFawlty]

BHX

It seems BHX will start May with 5 x A321's and 3 x A320's this summer but only 4 x A321's showing most days in June.
BHX will be 5x A320 and 4x A321 as mentioned a few posts above yours by member CEJM

[Say again s l o w l y]

Quote:
However, if you think that a few quid will make a difference to you, then go ahead, but it's a bit ambulance chaserish if you ask me.
I disagree. Most claimants are only after what they are entitled to by law as compensation for major disruption to their travel plans.

If you feel so strongly about the legislation, you should badger your MP and MEP continuously until action is taken to eliminate anomolies.

FWIW, I also feel that the legislation is very poor and not thought through thoroughly enough, but until it is amended, I cannot blame claimants for the shortcomings or lack of fairness of the current system.

to take the discussion in a different direction, the what is your opinion on corporations legally avoiding tax whilst making massive profits? Obviously legal, but morally doubtful? Or perfectly fine as the law doesn't prohibit it?

[TSR2]

to take the discussion in a different direction, the what is your opinion on corporations legally avoiding tax whilst making massive profits? Obviously legal, but morally doubtful? Or perfectly fine as the law doesn't prohibit it?

I cannot see a direct comparison with EU Compensation for travel delays, but to answer your question
a) Perfectly fine as the law does not prohibit it
AND
b) Obviously legal but morally doubful

Similarly my point is, if anyone finds it disturbing, distasteful or morally incomprehensible, then harass the law makers not those who appear to be taking advantage of what appears to be loosely framed legislation.

[OltonPete]

BasilFawlty

My post states "It seems BHX will start May with 5 x A321's and 3 x A320's this summer" it was not a question but a statement of what is happening now. The aspect that is not accurate is that in fact Thursday and Friday show six A321's and two 320's.

I know what it says a few posts back and I am saying it is not right as yet.

There were only three A320's today and in fact only two this afternoon with eventually five A321's.

The intention once all aircraft are in place throughout the fleet might be to go to 4 x A321's at BHX but they are selling at five or six to start with.

They are not last minute substitutions either otherwise the seat-map would be showing the A320.

At present and as I have said before June is showing four A321's in the first week but I simply have not got the time to check the rest of May or the other weeks in June.

[MANTHRUST]

All very interesting I'm sure, but should you not start a thread on the spotters forum for that sort of stuff?

[Nyerp]

I've noticed a320 I-eezi has been used at ema, is this long term or just temporary

[OltonPete]

MANTHRUST

Are you on about where each aircraft is based?

The deployment of assets is a significant part of AAR in my opinion as it affects all three in some way and there seems to be some last minute changes and I feel it is worth discussing and trying clarify what is going on and why.

I have both an interest as a prospective (and recent) Monarch customer and of course as part of BHX stats which I like to monitor.

Monarch at present, again in my opinion is probably one of the most interesting and to a point changing airlines especially in respect of their presence in the Midlands and I am trying to understand what is going on with the allocation of the fleet.

[crewmeal]

What's Monarch done wrong this time to be featured on next week's Watchdog on BBC1?

[goldeneye]

Crewmeal it's going to be EU261 delay payments, ZB & TCX were both mentioned last night at the end of the show.

[MANTFS]

OP - I believe for peak a line of Bhx flying was due to be operated by a 3rd party carrier - this has now been bought in house on a 320 and a 321 is going to be a SB aircraft. By the peak Bhx will have 5 321's and 4 320's.

[CEJM]

OltonPete,

From May 22nd, it will be 4x A321 and 5x A320.

[OltonPete]

CEJM & MANTFS

Thank you for the information, that is just about in line with the 9th aircraft starting full-time operations.

Perhaps slight disappointment that it is only four A321's but still an incredible increases on 2012 although the competition has somewhat changed over the last 12 months.

As an aside work seems to progressing well on the MAEL hangar at BHX with some work done on the apron in front as well.

[PhilW1981]

How ironic that Monarch is to be featured on BBC watchdog for delays to EU261 claims less than a week after I emailed their chief exec about the exact same issue. Been waiting since October and found them to be utterly hopeless.

Before the odd clown accuses me of ambulance chasing, let me make one thing clear, I initially did not claim under EU261 as I think the legislation is overly harsh on the airlines. I asked them to re-imburse all out of pocket expenses (including refreshments purchased on the outbound which should've been FOC as we were delayed by more than 3 hours) plus the cost to myself of having to book an additional days holiday as the inbound was nearly 7 hours late and I was in no fit state to go to work after zero sleep. The total requested was £360 ish. However after receiving a condescending reply and a derisory offer of "a free upgrade to an extra legroom seat on a future flight" I felt compelled to pursue under EU261. If the airline wasn't so stubborn in the first instance they would've saved themselves in the region of £1,000 (3 persons, 2 sectors delayed by more than 3 hours = €1,500), plus a whole lot of manpower hours.

[Say again s l o w l y]

Phil, be realistic, a less than 7 hour delay is hardly a reason to pay all of those expenses. Yes, it's an inconvenience and nobody wants it, but I don't see how a 7 hour delay would leave you that far out of pocket.

The choice not to go to work was your decision.

When you realise how much correspondence gets directed in Kevin's direction (especially given the 6.5 million pax we carry a year) then expecting any airline to simply go "oh alright then here's all the money for no particular reason" is well, naive.

Sorry and you'll get annoyed by it, but be realistic please. We are sorry when people get delayed and are doing a huge amount of work to cut down the number of people that get affected, but it happens. You might make €1500 out of EU261 from us, but did you really suffer €1500 of loss? Of course not.

This is not an official position by any means at all, just my opinion and I think that sort of figure is ridiculous.

Passengers will of course end up paying for this, so if you're happy with that, then great. Personally I think we should recompense people sensibly when needed, but that passengers should also realise that delays are always an unwelcome possibility. When I'm a pax, then they annoy me to bits, but as a person who also understands what goes on in the background, I also understand why they happen and the astonishing efforts that go on to try and fix these problems.

[student88]

plus the cost to myself of having to book an additional days holiday as the inbound was nearly 7 hours late and I was in no fit state to go to work after zero sleep

Gosh I hope you were okay.

[AP1995]

What's wrong with the Monarch fleet at the minute? I have seen several airlines operating for them on flight radar this evening, the following include; Pullmantur air 747 and Titan 757 from MAN & Meridiana fly 320 from EMA

[Artie Fufkin]

Say again slowly, is this how you talk to all your customers?

No matter what you think of EU 261, the law is the law. Patronising the people who pay your wages isn't going to improve things, your time would be better spent lobbying those with the power to change this ridiculous law.

[on time all the time]

Monarch is starting to change the seats on its a/c replacing them by light weight ones.
Half of the fleet should be done by June.
B757 and a300 are not part of it.
This may be the reason for the use of other airlines while a big part of the fleet goes in the hangar in a short period.

[Say again s l o w l y]

Oddly enough, customer relations isn't something I do at work. Which is fortunate.

However, I'm not at work here so I'm free to put my own opinion across and when I think someone is a whinger who's being totally unreasonable, then I'll say it. No matter what a bit of EU legislation (which no one here got the chance to vote on) might say.

I worry about trying to make sure that we run more efficiently and fix problems that cause delays so that passengers get the service they should get, hitting us with ridiculous and frankly unwarranted claims, won't make the blindest bit of difference to that.

I have seen and heard many calls from the people down in customer services and the amount of ficticious rubbish and downright rudeness and abuse they get from passengers is completely insane. Spurious issues and vastly over inflated claims make up a huge amount of the stuff that happens and I know how much effort they put in to deal with problems for passengers. I left at 1930 tonight and more than a few were still there sorting stuff out, they don't get paid for that and are supposed to finish at 1730, but they were still there dealing with issues, as they do most nights.

So I won't hear any rubbish about customer care at Monarch, passengers are just lucky that they have nice people to deal with in the customer care area rather than people like me that would just tell them to naff off and stop being so pathetic.

When we do have a real issue and it is a really big problem for people, then of course we should do everything we can to help, but that doesn't mean that forking out €1500 for a 6 hour delay to someone who probably paid a fraction of that for the tickets in the first place is even remotely sensible.

The reason for using other people to fly our pax at the moment isn't because of the new seats, but for a few other reasons mainly involving a couple of hard landings that took a couple of aircraft out for checks at exactly the wrong time.

Monarch has more capacity this year than it has for a long time, so using other carriers is not by choice.

[harer92]

Anyone know what the new seats onboard look like? Any pics?

[Say again s l o w l y]

They look great. Though it's half the fleet to be done by early July not June! Fitting doesn't start for a few weeks yet, so no seats on board as yet.

[PhilW1981]

Say again slowly....I shall say this again slowly.....excuse the pun.

I didn't ask for €1,500 initially, I asked for £375, which I believe was reasonable, only when I was fobbed off did I pursue under EU261, if you'd read my previous post in full you would have noticed that I don't especially agree with EU261, however Monarch left me no option.

The £375 included £30 spent on refreshments outbound which should have been FOC due to the delay - I presume you cannot argue with that one?

I don't see what your objection to me asking for contribution towards my days leave is. Our flight was due to land at 10pm, we landed at 5am or suchlike. I have a tough job and to go to work immediately after arriving home after zero sleep wasn't an option. My leave is valuable to me and my family, Monarch's delays (due to a faulty aircraft) cost me a days holiday, only right to re-imburse. Instead, they sent me a patronising letter,therefore I pursue my legal rights which are to €1,500. I might well give most of it to charity, that's not the point, the point is they delayed us, caused significant disruption, when I tried to be reasonable and not use EU261 they fobbed me off, I either let it go or use legal rights, what would you do?

[janeyTA]

You should have had "meals and refreshments in a reasonable relation to the
waiting time", in the airport during the delay (usually by means of a voucher), not on board the flight. If they don't give vouchers out in the airport, airlines will usually reimburse a set amount, or expenses within reason (which doesn't mean you will get what you paid out necessarily, and wouldn't normally amount to £30). hey don't have to pay for consequential loss. Possibly they thought it was excessive, hence the refusal to pay?

[G-AZUK]

In Scandinavia (which has just finished its 'peak' season - ie winter) a number of 'no win-no fee' lawyers have set themselves up exclusively to act on 261 claims. Approaching passengers when they see there has been a big delay via social networks and very clever targeted marketing. 261 could well be this years PPI.

If I was suitably qualified, and so inclined, I'd set up airlineclaims4u.com right now.

[gilesdavies]

I was looking at the below document and noticed there is some serious cut backs in capacity from LTN this summer.

http://www.acl-uk.org/UserFiles/File/LTN_S13_START_SEASON_REPORT.pdf

The document states how Monarch have 39,000 less seats on sale for this summer, compared to last year... But this shows the Munich service still operating and if you take into account this route being cut this summer, it probably increases the cut in capacity to around 55-60,000.

The airline reduced the fleet from five to four aircraft last year at the airport, it appears this is the same number operating this year...

Nearly every route is seeing some cut in capacity.

Does anyone know what is happening with this cut in capacity? Is the airline parking up the aircraft for the periods it would have been operating this additional capacity (eg with longer turnaround times, maybe not operating overnight and doing "W" flights), or will we some last minute additional capacity added to the popular destinations for the peak summer months?

What is the catalyst for all these cut backs at Luton? I regularly fly with Monarch year round from the airport and the flights are nearly always 90% plus full? The airport has a loyal following of Monarch passengers, who would rather use them over easyJet, even if prices are higher.

I appreciate the airline is focusing growth at other UK airports at present, but cuts don't seem to be happening at the other bases with the fleet and with the fleet that is based at the airport there seems to be spare capacity going by these numbers and the cutting of the Munich route.

Quite Ironic really when outside their Luton HQ building, they are boasting about operating more routes, on the advertising board.

[ericlday]

With a new MAEL hanger being built at BHX and a larger sized fleet based there, is this the thin edge of the wedge for an eventual withdrawl from LTN ?

[Buster the Bear]

Monach Engineering will be looking after Flybe aircraft at Birmingham.

Why are there so many sub-charters for Monarch this week? I see a 737-400 is spending the weekend at Luton. Titan into Gatwick, Neos and Meridianafly using East Midlands yesterday.

[Nyerp]

I think the ltn-gib are nearly all w flights now. The weekly a300 Palma on sat was replaced with a a320 last year.

Went to alicante last November and there wasn't an empty seat there or back, so there must be demand for the seats or perhaps even additional capacity. It looks like their focusing more on lba, bhx and ema, where there is less competition from lcc's.

[LTNman]

MAEL have always had an issue with parking fees at LTN. OK for a quick turn around but not at all good for a longer stay outside the hangar.

[Buster the Bear]

Flybe UK and Monarch Aircraft Engineering sign contract for the provision of line, light hangar maintenance, storage and logistics service at key UK airports | Wales Air Forum (http://walesairforum.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/flybe-uk-and-monarch-aircraft-engineering-sign-contract-for-the-provision-of-line-light-hangar-maintenance-storage-and-logistics-service-at-key-uk-airports/)

[MANTFS]

Buster - due late arrival of fleet additions

[SWBKCB]

PhilW1981 - I don't see what your objection to me asking for contribution towards my days leave is. Our flight was due to land at 10pm, we landed at 5am or suchlike. I have a tough job and to go to work immediately after arriving home after zero sleep wasn't an option. My leave is valuable to me and my family, Monarch's delays (due to a faulty aircraft) cost me a days holiday, only right to re-imburse.

You don't say what hours you work, but you were happy that you would be fit to work after a 22.00 scheduled arrival the previous day? Given a normal 9-5ish working day, if one of my staff phoned in in these circumstances saying they were unfit to work I wouldn't have been happy and would have suggested that they should have allowed for a possible delay and should factor that in when booking their leave in future...

Buster - from the end of post 1401 The reason for using other people to fly our pax at the moment isn't because of the new seats, but for a few other reasons mainly involving a couple of hard landings that took a couple of aircraft out for checks at exactly the wrong time.

Monarch has more capacity this year than it has for a long time, so using other carriers is not by choice.

[azz767]

There was a Pullmantur 744 at MAN yesterday doing I think Paphos

[LHRjc]

Correct. It's doing the ALC today.

[Buster the Bear]

I was told that there were 4 airframes sat idle at Luton yesterday.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Two airframes only l believe, A321 G-ZBAG due in service maybe Monday and G-OZBZ due in service late May.
The B747 has been covering for A330 & A300 flights and possible combining of A320/321 flights.

[Say again s l o w l y]

Say again slowly....I shall say this again slowly.....excuse the pun.

I didn't ask for €1,500 initially, I asked for £375, which I believe was reasonable, only when I was fobbed off did I pursue under EU261, if you'd read my previous post in full you would have noticed that I don't especially agree with EU261, however Monarch left me no option.

The £375 included £30 spent on refreshments outbound which should have been FOC due to the delay - I presume you cannot argue with that one?

I don't see what your objection to me asking for contribution towards my days leave is. Our flight was due to land at 10pm, we landed at 5am or suchlike. I have a tough job and to go to work immediately after arriving home after zero sleep wasn't an option. My leave is valuable to me and my family, Monarch's delays (due to a faulty aircraft) cost me a days holiday, only right to re-imburse. Instead, they sent me a patronising letter,therefore I pursue my legal rights which are to €1,500. I might well give most of it to charity, that's not the point, the point is they delayed us, caused significant disruption, when I tried to be reasonable and not use EU261 they fobbed me off, I either let it go or use legal rights, what would you do?


This has happened to me. I just put it down to what may happen and went in anyway. It's annoying, it's unwelcome and it's something that nobody wants to happen, but it did.

I don't feel that I should be recompensed when I stub my toe, a train runs late or I get caught in a traffic jam or for any reason other than someone has deliberately caused me harm or significant bother.

It was you who made the decision not to go to work and yet you feel that someone else should pay you for it. If you have kids and they keep you up all night and you feel tired the next day, then do you ring in sick and hand a bill to your son or daughter? Of course not, you just get on with it.

Life doesn't always run to plan and sometimes things are just inconvenient or don't happen as you want, that's just how it goes at times. 261 is never going to change that. Aeroplanes break down at times, because they are massively complex machines and we don't allow them to go when they aren't safe to dispatch, that means you get delays at times. Or would you rather that some less scrupulous than Monarch operators might decide that worrying about EU261 claims was more important than fixing problems?

Tech delays are a nightmare to deal with for any airline, especially when they happen down route as well.

[OltonPete]

It has been mentioned that the new seats weigh less but are they the slimline recaro or similar?

My last two flights have been Monarch and although no problem for me the seat pitch in my opinion for those of a certain height seems poor.

Having flown on a 138 seat Lufthansa A319 sitting in a Recaro I have to say it looks the part although it didn't feel that padded but for a 100 minute flight it was not a problem but a 5 hour haul to SSH it might be different.

Can anybody state the type of seat to be used so at least we can Google it unless it is a Recaro.

If the seat is slimline and no extra seats added this would be a major improvement to a reasonable product.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

They are not going to be Recaro seats.
They are from a new manufacture of aircraft seats, which have been chosen from tests carried out on a number of different seats.
Monarch have spent a lot of time and effort evaluating these seats and l for one hope they have made the correct decision, only time will tell. :ok:

[OltonPete]

Mr @ Spotty M

Thank you for your reply, I never thought I would get so excited about a new seat :) but feedback from friends, relatives and work colleagues indicate that the actual or peceived seat pitch (sometimes it is just perceived) is the main negative aspect about travelling Monarch.

I must admit other than cost I can understand why Recaro wasn't chosen due to sector length but I must admit this is one development I will be keeping an eye on.

I recently flew on A320 "JK" and although the seat was comfortable for me it looked tight (similar to the old Thomson seats) and you could see some pax were struggling.

It is good to see this is under review.

[greatoaks]

Pitch Aircraft Seating based in Birmingham ??

INTERIORS: Thin seats for passengers of size? Pitch readies to roll on short-haul carrier » APEX Editor's Blog (http://blog.apex.aero/cabin-interior/interiors-thin-seats-passengers-size-pitch-readies-roll-shorthaul-carrier/)

[OltonPete]

greatoaks

Cheers for the link, shame about the demo colour (yuk) but in leather would look similar to the recaro although as the blurb says a distinct difference is how the seat-back is shaped.

It will be interesting to see the feedback (if Monarch is the customer) on the longer flights but it does seem to resolve one major aspect and that is the general space between the row in front. Another view is behind but again only relevant if this is the said company.

The Pitch PF2000 - Pitch Aircraft Seating (http://www.pitchaircraftseating.co.uk/seating)

[Say again s l o w l y]

Don't worry, they won't be that colour! Having seen them, they really do look smart and are very comfortable. They give a much better feeling of space and leg room too. Definitely a good choice.

[MKY661]

My bet is that the seats will be either Purple or Yellow :)

[AP1995]

Are the seats the same / similar to the ones on Jet2?

[greatoaks]

the seats fitted to the Jet 2 fleet are made by Acro

Seat aimed at budget carriers unveiled as Factory refreshes Jet 2 cabins | News | Design Week (http://www.designweek.co.uk/news/seat-aimed-at-budget-carriers-unveiled-as-factory-refreshes-jet-2-cabins/1141803.article)

[statictom]

So I won't hear any rubbish about customer care at Monarch, passengers are just lucky that they have nice people to deal with in the customer care area rather than people like me that would just tell them to naff off and stop being so pathetic.

I wish I could deal with one of these wonderful people who are so caring.
I have been waiting for weeks now for some kind of response after writing to Monarch regarding a lengthy delay. Not even an acknowledgement. 2nd letter and Monarch Claim forms submitted, still no acknowledgement or a reply.
Not even a reference number to refer to should I contact them again.
They hold my name & address, home phone number, mobile phone number and e-mail address, yet no response.
Now sent final letter of notice before action and I`m not hopeful of even receiving a response then.

If this department is so over run with claims, would it not be easy to at least register the complaint, acknowledge its receipt, giving a reference number and inform sender that enquiries are in hand. Must be far better than being ignored for weeks on end.

[Say again s l o w l y]

The Jet 2 ones are indeed Acros.

Having see the Acro ones when a couple of their 75's were in for checks then I'm pretty certain that Monarch made the right decision in not buying them!

[SCANDIC]

Anymore news on the retirement of the 300's as to how many will be going if not all of them this year.

[MKY661]

NS is definitely leaving this summer along with the older two A320's.

Not sure about the other two yet. :)

[davidjohnson6]

Installed Monarch's Android app today. It lets you make new bookings but you can't log in or see your existing bookings or check in or choose seats. It also has links to things like weather and traffic but these are probably done best by the multitude of existing weather and route navigation apps instead of Monarch trying to be a me-too player in the market.

Given Monarch is very heavily based towards holiday and beach routes which tend to get longer stays, rather than city breaks, am dubious as to how many sales they will get through their mobile app.

The app left me with the impression of someone having decided to build an app but without thinking why there should be an app or what customers would want from it.

Anybody else had a look at the app ?

[alpha.charlie]

Any truth to the rumour that NS is fatally wounded??

[tubby linton]

It is on its' way to SSH at the moment so I would say no. Please pm me Alpha Charlie with details of your rumour.

[student88]

Alpha Charlie - yes, there is a lot of truth..

[116d]

Installed Monarch's Android app today. It lets you make new bookings but you can't log in or see your existing bookings or check in or choose seats. It also has links to things like weather and traffic but these are probably done best by the multitude of existing weather and route navigation apps instead of Monarch trying to be a me-too player in the market.

Given Monarch is very heavily based towards holiday and beach routes which tend to get longer stays, rather than city breaks, am dubious as to how many sales they will get through their mobile app.

The app left me with the impression of someone having decided to build an app but without thinking why there should be an app or what customers would want from it.

Anybody else had a look at the app ?

I have the iOS version of the App and I too agree that it's strange to launch an App without the facility to bring up existing bookings. easyJet's and Jet2's Apps allow you to do this and Monarch are starting to compete with them more on city routes as well as the sun routes. I also think not being able to bring up a boarding pass using the App is a missed opportunity as that's the way things are going seeing as the technology is already there.

Other that that, it's a good App that seems to work well. I like the currency converter and weather forecast features in particular.

[SCANDIC]

Wounded in what way, has it been hit with a vehicle or something hope not.

[StoneyBridge Radar]

Fatally wounded...? :hmm:

She's currently in the air, on the way to preveza (MON5642).

G-MONS - Monarch Airlines - Flightradar24 (http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/g-mons)

Pretty good going for a fatally wounded aircraft....:rolleyes:

[Serenity]

I really like the app on my iPhone.
You can make bookings, flight arrivals and departures, sat nav directions, car finder and I really like the destination weathers and currency converter!
I'm sure it will develop more over tune, but a great start.

What's not to like. Very useful if travelling Monarch!!

[Serenity]

Trapped with 200 school children at 35,000ft - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/10054110/Trapped-with-200-school-children-at-35000ft.html)


All sounds like a lot of fun!!

[airforced]

Having had the misfortune to travel to Crete and the Canaries on Jet2 aircraft with the Acro seats I can testify that they are most uncomfortable once you pass the 2 hour or so mark. The arm rests are rounded and too short and the seat squab is also too short and seems not to have any padding at all.

The Pitch seats look far more comfortable than the Acro efforts and I too hope that Monarch haven't made the mistake of ordering Acro seats as that would land them in more seating complaints than they currently suffer.

Having just traveled on AA and AB in Airbus fitted legroom seats my comment would be that they are spacious and comfortable and it would be a great shame if these new seats were replaced with any sort (Pitch or otherwise) of slimmed down economy seating.

Is anyone aware if the new A320's are having their seats replaced as part of the programme?

[Say again s l o w l y]

Monarch have not bought Acro seats. I can assure you of that. Quite a bit of testing has also gone into the new seats as well and from what I understand, the feedback is that the seats actually get more comfortable as time goes on. Odd, but that's what both staff and customers have said in trial feedback.

[PilotsOfTheCaribbean]

Oh good!

Perhaps they will fit them in the flight deck as well! ;)

[MANTHRUST]

What !!!
Take away the leather Parker Knoll recliners?

[OltonPete]

Nearing the end of May and: -

G-OZBZ A321 registered 12/04/2013 - still not in service

G-ZBAH A320 still not on the UK register and not flown since 8/5

Hifly A330 on Gatwick routes and Alba Star 734 on BHX routes.

Who is paying for all this and has there been any finger pointing?

Flight delays are not too bad although A320 JK was tech again yesterday, which caused knock on delays at BHX and it arrived back recently nearly a couple of hours a drift.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

I can answer two of your questions.
G-OZBZ, Monarch is paying for it and it should be in service by the end of next week.
Now as for G-ZBAH, Vueling is paying as the aircraft has not been returned off lease yet.

[Jamie2k9]

Now as for G-ZBAH, Vueling is paying as the aircraft has not been returned off lease yet.

Its already painted in Monarch colours and doing nothing at DUB for the last few weeks.

[firstforfirstchoice]

Does anyone happen to know roughly when G-ZBAH will officially be put into service??

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Just because it is in Monarch colours it does not mean Monarch are paying for it, unusual l know.
It still has not been returned to the leasing company, hence Vueling is still paying the bills.
firstforfirstchoice
It will not enter service until late June, however this may come forward.

[OltonPete]

Mr @ Spotty M

Thank you for the reply and I assume BZ has turned out not to be not up to Monarch's high standards and hence the delay with the Alba Star covering until it is in service?

I believe I read earlier in the thread the actual summer spare is planned to be an A321 and hence "AH" is the one that should be in service or have I got it the wrong way round?

I suppose if there is a spare, the 321 is most sensible as it can cover for a 320 and 321 whereas a 320 can only really cover for a 320 unless loads are light.

Quite surprised at BHX getting the non-Monarch branded aircraft after last years negative publicity surrounding with the 733 incident.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Yes l understand you are correct in that the plan is to have an A321 as the spare aircraft once ZBAH is in service.
Yes OZBZ has come with its problems, but problems from trying to bring in extra a/c within a very short time scale have not helped with getting OZBZ into service.

[Matt995]

Airbus A321 G-ZBAE seams to have entered service today on the Manchester-Barcelona route , ZB516/7

Just leaves A321 G-OZBZ and the much talked about A320 G-ZBAH to enter service in the next few weeks (hopefully!)

[Mr @ Spotty M]

G-ZBAE entered service yesterday l think you will find, should have been the MAN/BCN on Saturday, well that was plan A on Friday.
It was in fact EFL on Saturday, my mistake. :ok:

[Buster the Bear]

According to FR24 ZBAE is in service.

[Adsuk]

hi all, i am due to fly on ZB438 next week (BHX-FUE), any ideas if Monarch will use the 737-400 (EC-LTG) on this flight?? I know it usually uses A321 but was unsure. Seems like on FR24 it is only doing the BHX-FAO , BHX-PMI flights but not sure.
Cheers

[32SQDN]

Is this a dumb question?!! What is FR24?

[IrishFlyer2013]

Is this a dumb question?!! What is FR24?

FR24 is FlightRadar24.

Flightradar24.com - Live flight tracker! (http://www.flightradar24.com/)

[32SQDN]

Ah right - many thanks!!

[OltonPete]

Adsuk

The FUE is virtually always an A321 and as you have stated the Alba Star is mainly on the shorter Med routes although it is resting this afternoon with six Monarch A320's operating and only three A321's

This season Monarch have juggled the A320/A321 around a little and the 734 has operated what traditionally have been 321 services in the past (The morning Med routes) I suspect it will be the 321 for you and even today with the unusual split of three and six, the FUE was still one of the three A321's.

The downgraded service was Paphos which is normally an A321 on a Wednesday but it operated as the 320 today.

I would say little chance of the B734 but an outside chance of the A320. I would hope for the A321 unless you get "NX" before its retirement, which seems to be doing well compared to some later models and it is BHX based at present.

2014

Very impressive April 2014 schedule for BHX due to the late Easter with it looking like at least six based compared to four in April 2013.

Pete

[Adsuk]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for that. Any news on G-OZBZ entering yet? Will this be at Birmingham?

Cheers

[flyOU]

Summer timetable 2014 is published from BHX, LBA & EMA

[Mr @ Spotty M]

It is planned that G-OZBZ is to enter service tomorrow from MAN, but as with all plans, it is subject to change. :ok:

[Adsuk]

Yup, i see BZ is already in Manchester, made flight MON321P from Luton for positioning.

[mattjwood]

Forgive me if this has already been covered, but i noticed that Monarch were using a 767 for this mornings flight to BCN. I only thought Monarch had Airbus A321's and B737's from BHX?

Is this a new thing?

[TartinTon]

Monarch is only supposed to have A321s and A320s at BHX. The 767 is covering for late deliveries and maintenance over-runs.

[mattjwood]

Ahhh that explains it!

Cheers!

[gazza007]

I am having to reschedule a flight next week MAN-ACE and looking to go April 2014 but not showing, I know it will cost me £80 but better than loosing all together. Does anybody on the inside know if they are imminent?

[TartinTon]

Should be out on Friday gazza007

[gazza007]

Thank you. Ill hold my breath then.
Unfortunate circumstances due to severe illness of partners sister.

[spacegrand]

Could somebody say how many aeroplanes Monarch may have at EMA and LBA in Summer 2014 please? For this Winter is it 2 EMA and 1 LBA ? Many thanks.

[renort]

And here is the sound of floodgates opening. This wont just affect MON obviously but not ideal PR for them. The Daily Fail love a story like this.

Holidaymakers win court battle with Monarch Airlines after it refused to pay £430 compensation for 26-hour Spanish delay | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2338887/Holidaymakers-win-court-battle-Monarch-Airlines-refused-pay-430-compensation-26-hour-Spanish-delay.html)

[Jamie2k9]

Just because it is in Monarch colours it does not mean Monarch are paying for it, unusual l know.
It still has not been returned to the leasing company, hence Vueling is still paying the bills.
firstforfirstchoice
It will not enter service until late June, however this may come forward.

Well at least Monarch received ZBAH last night.

[AirGuru]

Heard a rumour on another thread on this forum that Monarch want a CWL base

[TartinTon]

Would that have been another Welsh aviation forum? Ain't going to be a CWL base......

[AirGuru]

It was on the Astraeus returns thread.

[yeo valley]

it aint going to be a cwl base.spotters dreams i think.

[Serenity]

Looks like good news for Monarch.
Pushing ahead for the the future!

Monarch Airlines Plans 62-Jet Deal by September in Discount Push - Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-12/monarch-airlines-plans-62-jet-deal-by-september-in-discount-push.html)

Monarch boosted its passenger total 5.4 percent to 6.28 million in the year through October 2012. Cost cuts helped the company narrow its adjusted loss before tax to 14.9 million pounds ($23 million) from 51.1 million pounds as it targets a profit this fiscal year, according to the statement.
Revenue rose 10 percent in the six months ended April 30, with yields -- a measure of average prices -- gaining 4 percent.

[LGS6753]

Travel Mole reports:

Monarch Group announces deep cut in pre-tax losses (http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?c=setreg&region=2&m_id=s~_rvY!s~m&w_id=9033&news_id=2006793)

I'm afraid I don't see this quite as positively as some. Whilst the airline division has posted growth in revenue and pax, it has also added quite a bit of capacity. I think the jury's still out on how successful Monarch's airline growth strategy has been.

Having said that, I wish them well and will continue to favour them with my custom when I can.

[Dannyboy39]

The full annual summary is here...

http://www.monarchholdingslimited.com/media/30033/H1%20Trading%20Update%20-%2012%20June%202013.pdf

[SWBKCB]

Monarch could take CSeries as part of 62-aircraft order (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/monarch-could-take-cseries-as-part-of-62-aircraft-order-386996/)

[MANTHRUST]

LGS6753
Whilst not out of the woods, the extra capacity might account for the bigger numbers but the yield is also up which, we re told, is the real bottom line.
Numbers and yield improved today thanks to FR cancelling flights all over the place, even flights that had already boarded! No pay for the crews there then.

[Facelookbovvered]

The c series is a distraction in my view and will only serve to undermine the value of the Boeing/Airbus order. Whilst the figures out today are a big improvement they have still work to do to get back to break even, they are being squeezed in the North and Midlands by Jet2 and at LGW by fast growing Norwegian, judging by the reviews on skytrax they have a lot of work to do in customer service and dispatch reliability if they are to retain business against the new comers, still living on their past glory I think, but wish them well.

[Alloy]

The financial results are more of an indication of the positive direction of travel of the group's financial results rather than the current financial position. They are for up to October last year, a lot more has been done in the last eight months and indeed a lot more is being done to continue to improve the financial results.

[partyboy_uk]

Just read this in the Travel Weekly today:

"Monarch also plans to order new long-haul aircraft next year, after cancelling an order for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner at the start of its current turnaround plan.

Group executive chairman Iain Rawlinson said: “We will be putting out an RFP [request for proposal] on long haul next year.”

Rawlinson said three new appointments to the airline board, announced yesterday, form part of the transformation and expansion plans"

Personally, I'll believe it when I see long haul a/c parked up on the apron but this does sound more promising than anything else I've seen with regards to anything other than narrow bodied fleet (which is what I though was the only plan in place for now).

Full article: Monarch plans 60-aircraft deal to replace fleet (http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2013/06/13/44366/monarch-plans-60-aircraft-deal-to-renew-fleet.html) - Travel Weekly, 13 June 2013

[Fuel Crossfeed]

"Monarch also plans to order new long-haul aircraft next year, after cancelling an order for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner at the start of its current turnaround plan.

Ha Ha Ha

Can't wait to get issued my A350 tie pin!!

[allosaurus]

seeing as this is a rumour network ,heard today that Monarch could be looking at opening (reopening?) Glasgow.

[Iver]

I still don't understand the end-goal with Monarch... Will it attempt to go low-cost and compete with Easy, Ryan, Norwegian, Vuelling and Wizzair? Or will it add A350s and compete more against Thomson - or will it continue as a hybrid if the two? Still quite confusing. I guess only the high-paid McKinsey consultants know these days...

Fingers crossed for a C-Series order in Paris!

[pabloc]

A380's (well it is a rumour network):ok:

[IB4138]

...and if you are going down the rumor/looking for (un)obvious clues:

Has a deal been done to buy the initial 787s from BA, given the aircraft registrations ( G-ZBJA onwards) ?

[MKY661]

I have just checked to see if Flights that run on the A300 at the moment are on the A300 for summer 2013 and the bad news is that the are A321's next summer. Flights I checked Were:

Friday:
ZB564 MAN-TFS
ZB569 TFS-MAN

Saturday:
ZB654 MAN-AGP

Sunday:
ZB655 AGP-MAN

This is my indications that All 3 A300;s could be going this year :( Mr. @ Spotty M will know I think :)

[Mr @ Spotty M]

100% decision has not been made. :mad:
However the hot rumour is all gone by next summer and it is still only a rumour. :E

[22/04]

If /when they go an enthusiasts trip I am sure would be well supported.

[Facelookbovvered]

https://www.retriever-info.com/go/?a=19920&d=148954201306189083702234&p=249260&sa=2004823&u=http%3A%2F%2Fc.moreover.com%2Fclick%2Fhere.pl%3Fz908370223 4%26z%3D1650248803&x=d5e579743b5b6a3440aa8629e0602dde

[SCANDIC]

I take it that the 300's will be leaving this winter and being replaced by more a320/1's. What are they going to do when the a330's are on maintenance in future because the a300's usually cover for them :sad: