I haven't missed the point but others have already answered it most adequately.

Never mind, carry on!

Sorry, only just seen this - I don't frequent this thread.

My suggestion of a non-London venue was not for me but for others. I can get to London quite easily, but others in the country might think it too far or too difficult. So somewhere more central perhaps ?

I think the two main things are a good venue - The bowls club was ideal - not expensive and we could hear each other speak.

And good transport links. Near a train station is important, since if taxis are involved, that will make the journey far too expensive. Again, the bowls club was walkable from several local stations.

~ ~ ~

I have often thought a similar thing. However, you would need aircraft and airports with a CAT lll ILS capability, otherwise fog or low cloud would mean flights being cancelled and people being left stranded.

The UK trains are not perfect but they are do-able (admittedly with a senior railcard, which gives you 1/3 off and makes it just about affordable). They do occasionally have cancellations, but so do aircraft, and there are many more train services per hour and no airport security to have to go through.

The cheapest way to travel in the UK is by (driving your own) car - it's half the price and half the time a train takes, but car journeys over 4 hours on today's roads become a chore.

BL....I do understand your health conditions, however, sorry about this, you also seem to have taken yourself @£1300 for a very expensive ride.

As you knew the days / times in advance, then acquiring a Senior Rail Card for 1 year validity would have saved you a significant amount travelling off peak and, being able to book a disabled seat . There's also something called "split ticketing" in which you book to Station A, but, book to Station B en-route, and then to Station A. I've done it myself going to B'mouth, "change" at Reading and never leave the train.

I will agree, in part, about being a sardine, certainly with Cross-Country who have a notoriety for using as fewer carriages as possible, but basically, you have to play the TOC's at their own game which may involve a bit of inconvenience to yourself, such as waiting at a station ( which is entertaining if you enjoy people watching...as I do)

True, this site is far from user friendly, but, it does allow you to plan and juggle your journey to your advantage...and, save money !

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Out of interest however, with your conditions / restrictions, how do you feel you will cope on your planned long haul flights.

As for internal UK flights, possibly the nearest provider in recent(ish) times was Dan-Air...others have explained why such operations are impractical

To connect to hubs, to provide low cost point to point international flights, for seasonal leisure flights or for non-commercial aviation services.

We are a relatively small country and scheduled domestic regional to regional air travel just isn't practical or commercially viable, especially between the smaller regionals. Others have already explained this and pointed out that if the demand were genuinely there then someone would have tried to commercialise it. How many people per day do you really think need to travel between HUY and SOU for business or leisure?

The question you should perhaps be asking is why there aren't more reliable and extensive surface based public transport links.

With respect, you seem to be demanding a very specific mode of transportation between two very specific points leaving and returning at times to suit yourself. Life doesn't work like that.

Given how much this is costing you, have you perhaps considered the use of a private hire taxi?

Perhaps you should ask yourself why that is. (Clue - there is no conspiracy against HUY). A connection to Amsterdam opens up the world. Including - BTW - Southampton.......

Indeed.

Or Zoom, or Teams ?

Do you [Bonnielass] really need to be there in person for just 2 hours ? If so, then your employer will pay. If not, see previous suggestion.

Well I finally arrived at Clayton Hotel at MAN

OK........ can't do the meeting online as I am collecting the keys for my new home and signing the contract and I have to do it in person

I will not be claiming anything on expenses since I am retired

The new home is a supported living property that is better equipped than the current one in the outskirts of Hull

It's literally at the 02 end of the runway at SOU, so a 5 minute taxi from the airport

I did cost up a door to door taxi and it was £488 each way and still would not have got me to the new property at the right time of day

(I shall be going to get some food shortly so going to put my tablet to sleep now and will catch up on this Spanish inquisition sometime tomorrow, enjoy your evening)

Good Luck!! :ok:

OK. So considerably cheaper than your air based odyssey. Why not take the taxi to Southampton the day before and get an overnight hotel for £100 or so. That puts you in the right place and able to attend your meeting at your convenience. Less cost, less transfers, less opportunities for things to go wrong........

Andy S
Perhaps BL also likes to fly as well, as she is posting on an aviation site. I do agree though it would not be my personal way of doing it, but BL appears to have some health issues that I do not have so can be more flexiable.
BL
Enjoy your various sectors and A/C !
Cheers
Mr Mac

I confess I wouldn't fancy a trip that long in a taxi!

First class train ticket listed as £168 one way. So double that plus, say, £200 to cover some unknowns / gotchas in the rail fare system, add on £200 for local taxis and incidentals, just the accommodation in Southampton (which may have been offered free) to add on -

Total £ 736, say £750 (plus accommodation?).

BL was committed to rail travel between Southampton & Manchester anyway.

However, combining business & hobby is great, if you can!

British folks may well be familiar with 'Matt' of The Telegraph. Although I don't read that paper, a friend sends me items now and then. This NOT a comment on Bonnie Lass' intinerary. I agree that flying to different places is always good.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d8e94bd5d7.jpg

I have survived 2 x ATR 72 and reached my new property

ATR are ruddy loud and bouncy, especially when you get given a seat in the tail

Oh my goodness they are noisy and we found every single pothole in the sky

It was warm in Manchester, raining in Belfast and stifling in Southampton

New home is absolutely awesome, love it

Tomorrow I fly the reverse route, hopefully with less potholes in the sky but the exact same seat again on all 4 sectors

I love to fly and will be doing it again on the 27th....Loganair ERJ145

BL
It is due to be a little more pothole tomorrow probably, as some Thunderstorms around later and I agree ATR 72 are a tad noisy. I am glad you completed on your new apartment and had a good trip.

Cheers
Mr Mac

Another airline announces phone power bank banhttps://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....51418f6561.png
Seen in the UK 'The Independent'

With power points being freely available on just about every seat, why is there even a need to carry power banks? Quite how you police power banks being stored in seat pockets or under the seat only is going to be a challenge too!

Good luck with the new abode Bonnie Lass!

Re power packs, I carry one occasionally as my phone does tend to get some abuse on days out and train/bus seat chargers don't always work or are available long enough to do much charging... however, I doubt I'd carry one if flying anywhere...

I have a powerbank that I take onboard. So far I have had no issues.
As for seat power/airport terminal power? It's not always available when you need it or it doesn't work.
If you're in economy, there's 2 outlets for 3 seats...

I now ensure that I have extra long leads as the power sockets are often near the floor - varies by seating of course. I will continue to carry my power bank but, when I have used it on long haul, it does sit in the seat back. Having dealt with mobile phones and their batteries since 1985, I have seen the good / bad / ugly of charging methods ...

I bought several 3m leads and also a pair of "fast charger" adapters suited to my Android; one of each live permanently in my daily use rucksack.

(The power bank will go with me on Thursday when I plan to abuse my 60+ London Oyster card and explore the Elizabeth Line and several other suburban rail lines on much of which I haven't yet travelled. Unless it is as hot as currently forecast, in which case I'll stay home and eat an ice cream in the garden instead... )