Odds n Sods

[Mr Mac]

Talking of Windows I came across a Gulfstream owned by an American gentleman who is touring South America with it. He had come up from Patagonia to Rapa Nui - Easter Island staying in our lodge.
He was only supposed to be there 2 days but unfortunately the crew found a crack in a window so stuck there and no room at lodge so had to move elsewhere. Not a happy camper and it was still there when we left yesterday. Must be a nightmare to fix in that location.

Cheers
Mr Mac

[Helol]

For info, there are some cracking prices atm for business and first class, with BA on the LHR-JNB route.

[justapax]

Originally Posted by Helol

For info, there are some cracking prices atm for business and first class, with BA on the LHR-JNB route.

Well as BA Club is other airlines' Premium Economy with lie-flat, and their First is slightly above others' Business, I suppose they should be cheap. If I can talk in terms of filthy lucre, how much did it actually cost you? Once I've done the Big Expensive One (LHR - PER- Indian Pacific - SYD - LHR) I hope to do Rovos Rail Pretoria - Cape Town just as soon as my finances have recovered. I expect the air legs of the flights will cost about the same as your LHR-JHB-LHR.

I've discovered that Emirates don't haggle ('Esteemed guest, our price is for the Emirates experience, which is unequalled') but I'd like to have a guideline price. As Emirates seem only to be interested in giving out Emirates Skywards Miles, not in actually redeeming them, I don't feel a lot of loyalty toward them.

[Helol]

Originally Posted by justapax

Well as BA Club is other airlines' Premium Economy with lie-flat, and their First is slightly above others' Business, I suppose they should be cheap. If I can talk in terms of filthy lucre, how much did it actually cost you? Once I've done the Big Expensive One (LHR - PER- Indian Pacific - SYD - LHR) I hope to do Rovos Rail Pretoria - Cape Town just as soon as my finances have recovered. I expect the air legs of the flights will cost about the same as your LHR-JHB-LHR.

How uncouth, to discuss money.

Well, I have the outbound in First, and inbound in Business, on the A380, at £3081. Cash, no avios. But if you look at the dates in the region of 15 March - through to first week in April, there are some decent prices, certainly compared to what I have seen previously.

As you probably know, I would happily fly Virgin in UC, except they use those sh ite 787's, so I don't. The only time I did, was when they were using their A350 ac.

I really like the A380 and I pay for the convenience of a direct flight, hence I don't fly East to fly South, though I did try that once, but convenience (for me) wins every time, and I am only 30 mins drive from LHR.

[justapax]

Originally Posted by Helol

How uncouth, to discuss money.

Well, I have the outbound in First, and inbound in Business, on the A380, at £3081. Cash, no avios. But if you look at the dates in the region of 15 March - through to first week in April, there are some decent prices, certainly compared to what I have seen previously.

As you probably know, I would happily fly Virgin in UC, except they use those !!!!e 787's, so I don't. The only time I did, was when they were using their A350 ac.

I really like the A380 and I pay for the convenience of a direct flight, hence I don't fly East to fly South, though I did try that once, but convenience (for me) wins every time, and I am only 30 mins drive from LHR.

That's a lot less than going East then going South. I might even slum it with Bloody Awful for that, and maybe take the twins. They're not particularly interested in train journeys, but they like seeing strange animals. They are so much 21st century kids (adolesced during the lockdown) that they have really had very little contact with the natural world.

[PAXboy]

I agree that the A380 direct to JNB is my choice. I also (as I have often said) do not like dimmable windows. I did not know that they are in A350s. The crux is whether the airline choose to lock them down without option.

This is a clip from an article I read a couple of months ago - I cannot recall where:

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian, despite earning $27 million annually, often chooses to fly in economy class. His recent remarks about doing so during an interview with Fortune sparked fresh discussion about airline leadership, image, and perception.

In the video shared by Fortune, Bastian explained that he often finds himself seated near the restroom, catching up on emails mid-flight, and chatting with surprised passengers. CEOs from the major U.S. carriers frequently mention how they fly economy, especially on domestic routes. While it might seem like a gesture of humility, it’s also a calculated decision rooted in both optics and practicality.

For staff, it signals shared experience; for passengers, it creates a story worth sharing. Encounters with CEOs in the back of the plane regularly go viral, giving airlines a wave of positive publicity without spending a cent on marketing.

It also aligns with how loyalty programs drive profit. Since upgrades are among the biggest incentives for frequent flyers, a CEO taking one of those coveted seats would be a bad look. Staying in economy helps preserve that perk for paying loyalists while allowing executives to appear grounded, figuratively and literally.

Despite occasional economy flights, airline CEOs still enjoy premium travel on long-haul routes or for major business trips. Their choice to fly coach on domestic legs isn’t about saving money—it’s about managing perception.

[Helol]

Originally Posted by PAXboy

I agree that the A380 direct to JNB is my choice. I also (as I have often said) do not like dimmable windows. I did not know that they are in A350s. The crux is whether the airline choose to lock them down without option.

This is a clip from an article I read a couple of months ago - I cannot recall where:

When I flew on VIR A350, afaik, the windows were not dimmable. This was back in 2022 (I think).

[ZFT]

Originally Posted by Helol

When I flew on VIR A350, afaik, the windows were not dimmable. This was back in 2022 (I think).

They started installing them from MSN 450 I believe.
Starlux being the first to operate with them.

[PAXboy]

For a trip Westwards this year, I had no choice but to book the 78 on BA. I wait with trepidation to see what they do with the windows. As it is a daylight - I hope nothing! The return is on their 351 and is overnight.

[Helol]

Originally Posted by PAXboy

For a trip Westwards this year, I had no choice but to book the 78 on BA. I wait with trepidation to see what they do with the windows. As it is a daylight - I hope nothing! The return is on their 351 and is overnight.

I flew on the 787 down to JNB with BA a few years ago. It was awful, too bloody small for 11+ hours. anyway, the windows were fine, but BA didn't fly the 787 down to JNB for very long, thankfully.

[PAXboy]

We are in PE for this trip. Last PE with BA have been on the 380 upstairs which is reasonable. You may be sure of my trip reports ...

[Krystal n chips]

Originally Posted by Mr Mac

Talking of Windows I came across a Gulfstream owned by an American gentleman who is touring South America with it. He had come up from Patagonia to Rapa Nui - Easter Island staying in our lodge.
He was only supposed to be there 2 days but unfortunately the crew found a crack in a window so stuck there and no room at lodge so had to move elsewhere. Not a happy camper and it was still there when we left yesterday. Must be a nightmare to fix in that location.

Cheers
Mr Mac

Mr Mac,

It depends how you define "nightmare".

True, a long way from anywhere to get engineers in to rectify, but that in itself isn't really a problem.

Windows, generally, are relatively straight forward in the cabin, ( think unbolt, remove, bolt back on...sorry if that sounds a bit simplistic and the luxury trim would probably be a sort of nightmare I suppose) it's the ones at the front which can prove, ahem, " problematic" depending on how much combing you have to remove for access...and, subsequently, the curing time / temps for any sealant.

Never touched a Gulfstream so I don't know, but, I would imagine their product support, for obvious reasons being a prestige marque, will be well versed and capable of rectifying the defect.

Far more pertinent I would suggest would be determining the causal factor of the crack.

[Mr Mac]

KnC
It was apparently flight deck window according to the owner, but he didn’t know cause when I was speaking with him. Thanks for background and Gulfstream were sending some people and replacement but it was still on the ramp when we left 5 days ago.
Cheers
Mr Mac

[Asturias56]

Interesting experience with the Emirates website this week. Booking a Business ticket London- Australia with a stopover in Dubai .

Do the usual stuff, clear the cached data and cookies, start looking at various airlines. Get a price circa £ 6700 rtn. from Emirates - go and check other websites - come back and have to enter the details in again on Emirates - now £ 6200.................. booked

Also flights from AMS were a lot cheaper than say Paris - which was only slightly cheaper than LHR (not enough to pay for the hassle)

[BonnieLass]

What is KLM's secret?

They recently added a 18th UK airport to their extensive Cityhopper network...that is despite the demise of Eastern who used to fly a few of their Cityhopper routes from/to the UK from/to AMS (now covered by KLM Cityhopper themselves or German Airways).

How do they manage it when UK's own regional airlines (and supposed flag carrier) barely musters a dozen UK airports on regular services.......KLM have sewn up the UK regional services, OK so having to go to AMS when connecting tween UK airports is a bit of a pain (when looking at flights to SOU last year KLM had HUY-AMS-SOU with 23 hours at AMS) but at least they are making the effort to get UK airports, especially regionals, connected with each other and the outside world.

The usual excuse is Brexit....well KLM is from an EU country and they have no trouble getting bums on seats to /from UK airports, and with AMS being an excellent hub for the rest of the world, they onto a good thing surely?

KLM Cityhopper are making several UK based airlines look pretty silly......the only UK airline who seems to making an effort is Loganair but even they have a long way to go to beat KLM Cityhopper on linking UK regional airports to main hubs.

[Asturias56]

It's MUCH easier changing planes in AMS than at LHR - thats a major factor for many. And sometimes you get a much lower price on long haul, especially in business, by bypassing LHR

I've paid 60-70% of the LHR price by going through CDG or AMS

[Andy_S]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

It's MUCH easier changing planes in AMS than at LHR - thats a major factor for many. And sometimes you get a much lower price on long haul.....

And there's the rub.

KLM Cityhopper exists to transfer passengers from UK regional airports onto KLMs wider network. It's not really intended to connect those UK regional airports (albeit it can be done).

[BonnieLass]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

It's MUCH easier changing planes in AMS than at LHR - thats a major factor for many. And sometimes you get a much lower price on long haul, especially in business, by bypassing LHR

I've paid 60-70% of the LHR price by going through CDG or AMS

I agree with you completely

However, KLM Cityhopper are actually linking UK airports with each other via AMS....so if, for example you wanted to go from Humberside to Southampton or Cardiff to Humberside you can do so with Cityhopper via Amsterdam, no UK airline links those airports together on regular services. Is it not odd that a European flag carrier can do flights that no UK carrier (flag or standard) can't do?

[Andy_S]

Originally Posted by BonnieLass

However, KLM Cityhopper are actually linking UK airports with each other via AMS....so if, for example you wanted to go from Humberside to Southampton.....

And yet you yourself said that the connection time was 23 hours. That might tell you something.....

You also don't seem to entirely understand the way the hub and spoke system works.

[BonnieLass]

Originally Posted by Andy_S

And yet you yourself said that the connection time was 23 hours. That might tell you something.....

You also don't seem to entirely understand the way the hub and spoke system works.

KLM obviously manage the financial bottom line on linking UK regional airports....even with a long connection at AMS, which is not a bad airport to be in that long since there is plenty to see and do whilst there, including going into the city or going up onto the balcony to watch the comings and goings (plus go have a climb aboard the Fokker on the roof there). KLM put UK airlines to shame, frankly, they are making an effort to connect UK regional airports and it must be paying them to do so cos they keep adding new UK airports and multiplying their flights.

Loganair and easyJet are the only UK airlines putting in the effort but they are still a very long way off the committment being shown by KLM for the UK airports.