Out of interest, is there a maximum headwind limit for take off and landing in say a 737-800?
I understand that there are maximums for crosswind components but if it is pretty much right down the runway, is there such as thing as too much headwind? :8

On Wednesday, I read in The Guardian that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh had delayed their travel to Sandringham for Christmas, the better to recover from bad colds.

Today, I passed a news stand and one of the tabloids (the Fail or Express) had the headline:
Health Scare for Royals

That sums up the tabloids and how they report ordinary things.

A few hours after posting the above, the Queen and the Duke have travelled to Sandringham in a helicopter - very sensible. So let's see if the tabloids call this a 'Cas-Evac'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38405648

So happy, I flew to JFK on Thursday, to avoid the pending storm. All went well weather wise, not one bump. Had brilliant views of New York on our approach.

So relieved to be in the US now to celebrate Christmas and New Year with my best friends.

Happy Christmas and New Year to you all and happy flying.

Maddie

All's well that ends well! Happy Xmas and New Year to all!

Happy for you Maddie. Enjoy your Christmas. Poor old Santa, he has to fly through everything that's thrown at him! ;)

Delight - There is no such thing as too much headwind. But there is such a thing as too much wind to enable ground handling to take place. Most aircraft have limits on cargo and passenger doors, generally in the order of 60 knots or so. That means the plane may be able to fly, but without your bags. Sometimes because the the bags from the previous flight are still on board because the doors could not be opened at the previous destination. There are also wind limits on 'ambu-lifts' and catering trucks and you don't need much imagination to guess the effect of string winds in these vehicles.

With regard to this weather system and the UK, I rethink unless you wish to fly into or out of a northern U.K. airport on Friday pm you will be alright. As for ride quality, this will vary hour by hour and mile by mile. But rest assured, we want a smooth ride just as much as anyone else.

PM