[Binman62]

In reply to: What Giveaway do you want in F and J

Another poster suggested a towel in First would be a great addition to the service and it got me thinking that whilst I get wash bags and PJs no one has ever asked me either what I want or what I would like to be in the bags.

BA seem to go for British designers and British products whilst others airlines are a great deal more international. A few years ago KLM gave BOLS away in Delft China houses which were highly collectable. CX PJ are hugely sought after as are indeed, BA which sell on ebay for up to £50.

But what would you like to get on board and what would you ditch?.
I would like what BA to offer a wash bag that can be used for a few days after my flight. So decent sizes of toothpaste, a much better toothbrush and toiletries that I have both heard of and would use. I love the idea of a towel just for me and think it would complement the PJs and duvet etc.

In Club Would like to see PJs in Club World. They can ditch the wash bags but enhance the stuff in the toilets.

[Anonymous]

Another poster suggested a towel in First would be a great addition to the service and it got me thinking that whilst I get wash bags and PJs no one has ever asked me either what I want or what I would like to be in the bags.

BA seem to go for British designers and British products whilst others airlines are a great deal more international. A few years ago KLM gave BOLS away in Delft China houses which were highly collectable. CX PJ are hugely sought after as are indeed, BA which sell on ebay for up to £50.

But what would you like to get on board and what would you ditch?.
I would like what BA to offer a wash bag that can be used for a few days after my flight. So decent sizes of toothpaste, a much better toothbrush and toiletries that I have both heard of and would use. I love the idea of a towel just for me and think it would complement the PJs and duvet etc.

In Club Would like to see PJs in Club World. They can ditch the wash bags but enhance the stuff in the toilets.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for this post, Steve.

I am flying EVA from LHR to TPE and back to AMS next week in Elite (Premium Economy) and, from what I have read, am looking forward to the experience.

I have used EVA on the HKG – TPE run in the past, along with Cathay, China Airlines and Thai and have found all to be fine. I just wonder, given the rise of Air Asia and other low-cost carriers, how long the Asian market will continue to expect a mediocre meal service on a 90 minute flight in return for fares that far exceed their European equivalents. After all, both Hong Kong and Taipei offer wonderful food experiences before departure or on arrival so why miss out on these for the sake of a “free” offering of poor quality chicken rice?

[TominScotland]

In reply to: EVA HKG-TPE

Thanks for this post, Steve.

I am flying EVA from LHR to TPE and back to AMS next week in Elite (Premium Economy) and, from what I have read, am looking forward to the experience.

I have used EVA on the HKG – TPE run in the past, along with Cathay, China Airlines and Thai and have found all to be fine. I just wonder, given the rise of Air Asia and other low-cost carriers, how long the Asian market will continue to expect a mediocre meal service on a 90 minute flight in return for fares that far exceed their European equivalents. After all, both Hong Kong and Taipei offer wonderful food experiences before departure or on arrival so why miss out on these for the sake of a “free” offering of poor quality chicken rice?

[Anonymous]

Yes there is similarity. where the inconvieniance comes it and potentialy a big problem for anyone who does not check fully is that the state that matters, China Authority, alow the use of a valid visa if its in the old passport.

The UK authority/Airlines at the point of departure do not, effectivly they use one blanket rule for all nations. Its not a problem for me just a cost but for some they may get caught out by this.

[stevescoots]

In reply to: differing visa situations

Yes there is similarity. where the inconvieniance comes it and potentialy a big problem for anyone who does not check fully is that the state that matters, China Authority, alow the use of a valid visa if its in the old passport.

The UK authority/Airlines at the point of departure do not, effectivly they use one blanket rule for all nations. Its not a problem for me just a cost but for some they may get caught out by this.

[Anonymous]

I recently had a costley experiance regarding visa’s, I wonder if others have found similar situations around the world.

I am a holder of a china resident visa, which was in my full passport. I have to be in china to renew it. Normally i used to fly to HKG on my new passport and cross the border on foot where China immigration used my valid visa in my old passport (full but valid) but used my new one and stamped it for entry, done this a few times. This last visit I was flying direct and it was a good job I phoned UK immigration first. Whilst I could enter china ok the Airlines would refuse me onto the plane as in thier opionion any Visa must match the passport actually being flown on….

I ended up having to pay almost £500 to get a single entry Tourist visa in my new passport in 4 hours just so I could get on the plane to get there. Furthermore it cost another £900 to do my resident visa in new passport, The old one valid until 2012 but thanks to UK flight rules I had to renew early. Wouldnt travelling be much easier if immigration services or airlines actually understood visa requirments better.

not so much a compliant, more a highlight of usual beauracratic nonsense!

[stevescoots]

In reply to: differing visa situations

I recently had a costley experiance regarding visa’s, I wonder if others have found similar situations around the world.

I am a holder of a china resident visa, which was in my full passport. I have to be in china to renew it. Normally i used to fly to HKG on my new passport and cross the border on foot where China immigration used my valid visa in my old passport (full but valid) but used my new one and stamped it for entry, done this a few times. This last visit I was flying direct and it was a good job I phoned UK immigration first. Whilst I could enter china ok the Airlines would refuse me onto the plane as in thier opionion any Visa must match the passport actually being flown on….

I ended up having to pay almost £500 to get a single entry Tourist visa in my new passport in 4 hours just so I could get on the plane to get there. Furthermore it cost another £900 to do my resident visa in new passport, The old one valid until 2012 but thanks to UK flight rules I had to renew early. Wouldnt travelling be much easier if immigration services or airlines actually understood visa requirments better.

not so much a compliant, more a highlight of usual beauracratic nonsense!

[FlyingChinaman]

In reply to: LHR – HKG – I will never fly BA again

I agree if you have a very European palate then CX is a little Asian for your taste (I grew up partly in Europe and plus other 4 continents and I have global taste buds).

I travelled on TK and their new BIZ seats are from Jet Airways and very comfortable. Their recently introduced on-board chef does a good job and I love their soup! But Turkish style breakfast is not to my liking (I know Turkey very well and quite like their cooking).

LX is one of my favourate (been a fan of SR since I was a teenager) as I am used to Swiss cooking style food from my childhood. The Swiss and the Austrians have a tradition of looking after their travellers well and it reflects in their cabin service. And I also love being SOLO in their newer BIZ seats with no immediate fellow passenger next to me. More restful this way.

The Japanese have an eye for great details. Many airlines have seats long enough for your height even some of the American carriers can deliver the hard product.

Air China (began from the CAAC era) sends their cabin crew to Japan for in-flight training. Other regional Chinese airlines do the same.

Western crew generally are better for convesations (when they are in a good mood!) than the actual service rendering. Nobody is perfect I guess!

You do have many choices in term of price/quality nowadays but I prefer NON-STOP flights myself.

Happy travel.

[Anonymous]

I agree if you have a very European palate then CX is a little Asian for your taste (I grew up partly in Europe and plus other 4 continents and I have global taste buds).

I travelled on TK and their new BIZ seats are from Jet Airways and very comfortable. Their recently introduced on-board chef does a good job and I love their soup! But Turkish style breakfast is not to my liking (I know Turkey very well and quite like their cooking).

LX is one of my favourate (been a fan of SR since I was a teenager) as I am used to Swiss cooking style food from my childhood. The Swiss and the Austrians have a tradition of looking after their travellers well and it reflects in their cabin service. And I also love being SOLO in their newer BIZ seats with no immediate fellow passenger next to me. More restful this way.

The Japanese have an eye for great details. Many airlines have seats long enough for your height even some of the American carriers can deliver the hard product.

Air China (began from the CAAC era) sends their cabin crew to Japan for in-flight training. Other regional Chinese airlines do the same.

Western crew generally are better for convesations (when they are in a good mood!) than the actual service rendering. Nobody is perfect I guess!

You do have many choices in term of price/quality nowadays but I prefer NON-STOP flights myself.

Happy travel.

[craigwatson]

In reply to: Air France does not credit all miles

I have never heard of any airline not having a fare differential. just did a quick check on aero mexico, and it quite cleary states that mile accumulation id dependant on booking class

Here is a copy taken from there site directly

The minimum accumulation is 1,000 Premier Kilometers, even for flights of shorter distances, except for Air Europe, Copa Airlines, China Southern, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and LAN, for which the minimum accumulation is 800 Premier Kilometers (or the equivalent in Premier Miles), even for flights covering shorter distances.

The accumulation table will be applied in accordance with the airline code appearing on the ticket issued.
In the case of accumulations of 125%, 150% and 200% respectively, it will be valid only on payment of the full fare for the specified Classes. With Aeromexico it applies for the “J” fare (Julieta, full Clase Premier fare) or “A” (Alfa, special Clase Premier fare).

*The accumulation will only be 40% when paying the “M” and “G” fares.
**Depending on the fare paid: in Business Class only paying “J” fare = 200%,
“C” fare = 150%, “D” fare = 125%; in Tourist Class only paying “Y” fare = 200%, “S” fare = 150%, “B” fare = 125%, “M” fare = 125%, “H” fare = 125%, “K” fare = 100%, “V” fare = 100%, “T” fare = 100%, “Q” fare = 100%, “W” fare = 100%, “L” fare = 100%, “G” fare = 50%, “N” fare = 50%, “U” fare = 25%.
***With El Al it only applies on the following routes: MAD-TLV-MAD, CDG-TLV-CDG, MIA-TLV-MIA and JFK-TLV-JFK.
****The accumulation will only be 50% when paying the following fares: “V”, “N”, “S”, “G”, and “W”.
*****Depending on the fare paid: in Business Class only paying: “J”,”A” and “D” fares =150%, in Tourist Class only paying:”Y”,”B”,”M”,”S”,”K”,”Q”,”N”,”H” fares = 100%; “T”,”L”,”V” fares = 50%
******125% only applies when flying Tourist Class and paying fare “W”.
Tables for Redeeming Kilometers for Boletos Benificio on SkyTeam™ Airlines.

The Caribbean: Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Antigua, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Guadalupe, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Martin, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

South America 1: Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and French Guyana.

South America 2: Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay

North Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.

Israel, Middle East: Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

Africa: All other countries except Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.

North Asia: Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Eastern Russia and China (except Hong Kong)

Southeast Asia: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam

Southwest Asia: India, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia.

[Anonymous]

I have never heard of any airline not having a fare differential. just did a quick check on aero mexico, and it quite cleary states that mile accumulation id dependant on booking class

Here is a copy taken from there site directly

The minimum accumulation is 1,000 Premier Kilometers, even for flights of shorter distances, except for Air Europe, Copa Airlines, China Southern, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and LAN, for which the minimum accumulation is 800 Premier Kilometers (or the equivalent in Premier Miles), even for flights covering shorter distances.

The accumulation table will be applied in accordance with the airline code appearing on the ticket issued.
In the case of accumulations of 125%, 150% and 200% respectively, it will be valid only on payment of the full fare for the specified Classes. With Aeromexico it applies for the “J” fare (Julieta, full Clase Premier fare) or “A” (Alfa, special Clase Premier fare).

*The accumulation will only be 40% when paying the “M” and “G” fares.
**Depending on the fare paid: in Business Class only paying “J” fare = 200%,
“C” fare = 150%, “D” fare = 125%; in Tourist Class only paying “Y” fare = 200%, “S” fare = 150%, “B” fare = 125%, “M” fare = 125%, “H” fare = 125%, “K” fare = 100%, “V” fare = 100%, “T” fare = 100%, “Q” fare = 100%, “W” fare = 100%, “L” fare = 100%, “G” fare = 50%, “N” fare = 50%, “U” fare = 25%.
***With El Al it only applies on the following routes: MAD-TLV-MAD, CDG-TLV-CDG, MIA-TLV-MIA and JFK-TLV-JFK.
****The accumulation will only be 50% when paying the following fares: “V”, “N”, “S”, “G”, and “W”.
*****Depending on the fare paid: in Business Class only paying: “J”,”A” and “D” fares =150%, in Tourist Class only paying:”Y”,”B”,”M”,”S”,”K”,”Q”,”N”,”H” fares = 100%; “T”,”L”,”V” fares = 50%
******125% only applies when flying Tourist Class and paying fare “W”.
Tables for Redeeming Kilometers for Boletos Benificio on SkyTeam™ Airlines.

The Caribbean: Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Antigua, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Guadalupe, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Martin, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

South America 1: Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and French Guyana.

South America 2: Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay

North Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.

Israel, Middle East: Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

Africa: All other countries except Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.

North Asia: Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Eastern Russia and China (except Hong Kong)

Southeast Asia: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam

Southwest Asia: India, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia.

[Anonymous]

Well said FlyingChinaman

Binman62 – You are looking at this issue from the wrong angle. The collection of this stealth tax is by the inland revenue with the “Inland” being the appropriate idiom.

Apart from being an inappropriate method to collect tax revenue It is just plain wrong (and quite arrogant) that the UK Govt expects all foriegn vistors to contribute towards the costs of the british public.

Can you imagine if every other Govt in the world (and what would be the justification for them not too?) decided to apply the equivalent level of taxation on flights. Bad enough for a point to point journey between 2 countries but for those itineraries touching 3/4/5 or more international points it would just become unfeasable.

The German Govt has applied an emergency austerity tax but at least they have confirmed it is temporay and it is altogether much more reasonable maximum of EUR45.00.

No there is no defence for the Govt to apply this tax and it is high time it was removed completely.

Your issue of Pricing ex Europe is not new and is not going to go away. There will always be a need for airlines to provide ‘top up’ traffic from outside their home markets where they don’t hold the dominant position but that’s a separate story (thread)

[RedFlyer]

In reply to: UK Campaign for a Fair Tax on Flying

Well said FlyingChinaman

Binman62 – You are looking at this issue from the wrong angle. The collection of this stealth tax is by the inland revenue with the “Inland” being the appropriate idiom.

Apart from being an inappropriate method to collect tax revenue It is just plain wrong (and quite arrogant) that the UK Govt expects all foriegn vistors to contribute towards the costs of the british public.

Can you imagine if every other Govt in the world (and what would be the justification for them not too?) decided to apply the equivalent level of taxation on flights. Bad enough for a point to point journey between 2 countries but for those itineraries touching 3/4/5 or more international points it would just become unfeasable.

The German Govt has applied an emergency austerity tax but at least they have confirmed it is temporay and it is altogether much more reasonable maximum of EUR45.00.

No there is no defence for the Govt to apply this tax and it is high time it was removed completely.

Your issue of Pricing ex Europe is not new and is not going to go away. There will always be a need for airlines to provide ‘top up’ traffic from outside their home markets where they don’t hold the dominant position but that’s a separate story (thread)

[Anonymous]

Binman: Like I said the cost base of a foreign airline doing a marginal in and out operation from a secondary British airport is quite different to having a crew and aircraft based at an airport, which is what BA would have to do. It is why there are less hubs than “spoke” airports so to speak. There are plenty of US cities with large populations than the UK ones that are mentioned that have NO long haul international services at all, such as San Diego and Portland for example.

The simple point is that there aren’t enough premium travellers to make it worthwhile. After all what routes should be operated from Glasgow? JFK, LAX, HKG, SIN, NRT? What to choose?

Looking at other countries, similar patterns apply. LH is an exception having both MUC and FRA, but then both are far apart geographically and have not dissimilar economic catchments. Berlin has none of this of course, and might rightfully complain. Geneva justifies the odd long haul for Swiss, but that is a very high yield market as well comparable to Zurich. By contrast, JAL has only two hub areas (Tokyo and Osaka) with many other big cities not served by JAL long haul services (e.g. Nagoya). Alitalia serves Milan and Rome, because both are higher yielding cities. Most countries have one major international hub unless they are of a size that justifies more (e.g. US, Canada, India, China). Is Austrian Airlines not Austrian if it doesn’t do long haul from Innsbruck? Is Thai Airways not Thai if it only does long haul from Bangkok? It’s absurd, most national carriers do not operate long haul from multiple airports in countries the size of the UK.

Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh are not high yielding cities by any stretch of the imagination. They are cities dominated by leisure travellers paying bottom fares, with a skim of business and high yield leisure travellers. Given BA is chasing the latter, why should it offer charity to the former, especially since most travellers have no interest in loyalty.

BA is an attractive first choice because of sheer frequency and size of network, and because it has a highly competitive long haul C class product (outdoes US carriers and EK, and compares well with other).

The BA MAN-JFK service was busy, but busy in the back. C and PE cabins were never hard to get tickets for, and when sold typically had discounted fares on them.

There simply is not enough money to make it a business proposition. BA has abandoned long haul from other airports because it is a poor use of its resources, and the amount of business it loses to foreign carriers is relatively minimal. For example, you can imagine why BA cares little about PK flying wide bodies into Birmingham – it’s mostly low yield traffic.