The Times When Charter Airlines Were Good…

Originally posted by mongu

UK Leisure were definitely absorbed into one of the present charter airlines, yes. Not sure which one but one of our charter buffs will certainly know. I think (though not positive) that this was roughly the same time that Air UK became a KLM franchisee.

it was Air 2000 – they got 2 B767s from them…

Anyway onto more interesting topics Alcofrol.

Personally Carling Premier, its got the texture of a Beer, smooth taste, no bubbles, but its hard to come by. I’m not a fan of Carling or Fosters, so draught largers has to be Carlsberg (preferably export), Kronenbourg or Labbats which is quite hard to find now!

And after a good lager session i go onto the “Lemonades”, or Sminoff Black :rolleyes: when i get a bit bloated!

Now bottled lager is a differnat matter…

Aer Lingus was Heineken last time I flew.

To have real Stella you have to be in Belgium – the muck they serve up here as “Stella” is licence brewed in Luton, and therefore not the genuine Belgian beer. If you know how to identify the correct bottle you can get proper Stella in Britain – it has paper round the neck of the bottle and the words “imported from Belgium”. Maes is good though, but not always available. I don’t know what beer is served on VLM or Aer Lingus (I fly with them in 13 days).

I’m not a particular fan of Stella, either, but it seems to be about all you can get dan sarf…

I was in Oxford for a week long revision course 4 years ago, and just about the only choice in draught beer in the pubs was Stella or Foster’s… (plus Guinness of course, but it’s Stout, not Beer :))

Prefer an Ale myself, though…

Urgh, I can’t stand Stella personally. By all accounts the UK version is inferior so it might be nicer elsewhere. Gimme a pint of Guinness any time!

UK Leisure were definitely absorbed into one of the present charter airlines, yes. Not sure which one but one of our charter buffs will certainly know. I think (though not positive) that this was roughly the same time that Air UK became a KLM franchisee.

The first time I was in London 2 years ago, I went to “The Roadhouse” @ Covent Garden one night, and it seems every bloke in the place was drinking Stella Artois. Is it rather popular in y’all parts? Also, when I flew to Jamaica in ’97, we were parked right next to an “Air UK Leisure” 763. Which charter company did they get dissolved into?

I can’t be bothered with package tours, either, only time I’ve been on (what could be considered) one was my rugby tour to Canada three years ago with RFC Basel.

1’800 Swiss (about £720, US$1010) bought us return flights with AF in Economy ZRH-CDG-YYZ, a hired coach for the ten days we were in Canada, seven nights at the Holiday Inn, Oakville, ON, three nights at the Hotel Maritime, Montréal, PQ, full touring kit (2 Polo shirts with badge, playing jersey, shorts, socks and tour embroidered kitbag), plus return train tickets from Basel to Zurich Airport (about 75 minutes in the train), and match fees for three games.

While food/drink wasn’t included (although I’m pretty sure the Bar bill came to more than the food bill… :rolleyes:), we used the coach for sightseeing trips around Toronto and Montréal, the trip from Toronto to Montréal, as well as to visit Niagara Falls.

We also managed (somehow) to get free group tickets to go up the CN Tower (ok, as far as the first viewing platform but the glass floor was enough for me), I reckon overall that probably does represent good value, although it wasn’t a package tour as such, just stuff a Canadian on the team organised through various contacts with clubs at home, and through his office’s travel department.

Originally posted by mongu
Not strictly relevant, but I remember when you would get a hot meal, special airline chocolate and metal cuttlery on a 30 minute flight IOM-LPL. Only a decade ago!

Sabena were handing out airline chocolate back in 2001, only a couple of months before they went under. I kept the wrapper as a souvenir. They also handed out ice cream and nice fresh tasting sandwiches, and they served Belgian beer (admittedly only Stella and occasionally Maes, but as least it was bloody proper Stella).
I can’t comment much about charter airlines because I’ve only ever been on one holiday which included charter flights, back in 1974 when I was four years old!! We flew from Gatwick to Tenerife with British Airtours, the charter bit of British Airways. From a process of elimination I guess we went on a Boeing 707 but I’m not 100% certain of that. My Grandparents flew on more charter flights, usually with Britannia, and I think they were reasonably happy with them, but it was back in 1975 and 1977 when they flew with them.

Originally posted by im going in
T5, OK yr parents may have paid £4k-5K for a family of four for long haul holidays, but divide that price by 4, then work out how much the hotel would cost pppn for a couple of weeks, minus the cut taken by the tour operator, transfer costs and airport taxes and then see how much a schedule flight would have cost.

My main gripe is with the people who get the last minute deals or buy packages in the shoulder months for next to nothing, then have the audacity to moan.

Why book a package through Kuoni, why not book the hotel and flights separately?

Nope, tried this one and it still doesn’t work out cheap. Booking seperately doesn’t really achieve much anyway. Our holiday actually worked out about £30 CHEAPER by doing so.

One point I would make, is that the charter airlines in general are missing a trick with long haul flights.

I’m surprised that destinations like Phuket, Gold Coast or San Diego are not offered more. I think there are a few charter flights to Phuket – but you get my drift. There’s a big potential market there. A lot of people stick to the Med through price, because a more distant destination either involves forking out for a scheduled airline (and the hassle of arranging hotels etc) or an excrutiating day in a 200 seat 757.

I find really long flights in Economy a pain at the best of times, but I have to be honest and say that I would absolutely refuse to fly long haul on a charter airline. If I find BA or Emirates a trial, what joy with Britannia’s 28 inches?

Basically – the UK’s charter airlines have the chance to become the Ryanairs and Easyjets of long haul. I’m convinced there’s money to be made.

Only once have I ever paid for airfare plus accomodation. This is when I went to Jamaica back in ’97. I paid roughly $1100US for one week accomodation at the Holliday Inn, MBJ, all inclusive (food, booze, water sports, etc. all paid for), plus travel on Air Jamaica (not a charter airline). I thought that was a pretty darn good deal. Only reason I did this is because I went with 2 cousins of mine, and they arranged it. Considering the amount I dished out, I would have preferred to have flown an airline where I get some mileage out of it. All other times, I get my airfare (on UA or some Star carrier), and worry about the hotel afterwards. Sometimes, this may come out to be pricier, but at least I get the mileage for both the airline and the hotel (plus I can upgrade), and I have some flexibility. In most instances, I have a place to stay at my destination, so I only have to worry about airfare, anyhow.

T5, OK yr parents may have paid £4k-5K for a family of four for long haul holidays, but divide that price by 4, then work out how much the hotel would cost pppn for a couple of weeks, minus the cut taken by the tour operator, transfer costs and airport taxes and then see how much a schedule flight would have cost.

My main gripe is with the people who get the last minute deals or buy packages in the shoulder months for next to nothing, then have the audacity to moan.

Why book a package through Kuoni, why not book the hotel and flights separately?

Originally posted by mongu
…until it comes to being shoehorned into a 3-3 configured 146…

Now I’m trying to decide which is worse, being 3-3 or in a one four sick!

Originally posted by im going in
I agree, i work for a charter airline and get annoyed when i hear people constantly moaning about Charter flights, i’e poor food, lack of legroom, delays.
Why moan when you have probably paid next to nothing for yr holiday. Travel on a schedule airline and im sure the price of yr seat would be more than yr whole charter package. You get what you pay for.

I disagree entirely. Probably paying next to nothing for a holiday? I cannot count the number of times my parents have paid £4000 or even £5000 for a family of four to enjoy a couple of weeks on a long haul holiday. Let’s face it, in most countries, accommodation is extremely cheap, the flight makes it expensive, so I think passengers on charter flight have every reason to complain about problems which the airline can rectify.

Our most expensive holiday took us on a flight with Britannia Airways. Their service was good, the food was also good, but the legroom was quite frankly, pathetic – a miserable 28″, I understand that to be the minimum requirement of airlines?

Our holidat to Thailand has been booked through Kuoni this year. Unbelievably, the hotel is only about £20 per person per night. The flights do not work out cheap at all.

And trust me, if any other airline, other than charters flew to countries such as the Dominican Republic, I’d be flying them!!

Originally posted by greekdude1
Michael, how did you rate UA’s food when you flew them? I, frankly, think their food is good. Not good as in, “good considering it’s airline food,” I mean good as in “good, period.” That’s just my opinion.

It was very nice and it was the first time in a while I have actually felt full on a flight. We had a choice of meals, I opted for chicken and it was served with vegetables and gravy – very nice!

My mum was talking about meals following her flights with Qatar Airways a couple of months back. Being the last passenger to be offered a meal, there was no choice left – she was stuck with what was left. However, the crew sensed she wasn’t too happy and invited her into the First Class cabin to select a First Class meal.

But United were great, best food I’ve had so far.

Oh no doubt, ticket prices have fallen since then.

I can’t remember the price it used to be, but it seems a lot more affordable now.

I’m basically happy with paying less in exchange for less chocolate and so on – until it comes to being shoehorned into a 3-3 configured 146! That takes the biscuit. I don’t mind paying some extra for more comfort in such a case.

It would be an interesting exercise to find out the ticket cost and then see what it would work out to today when modified for inflation, etc.

Not strictly relevant, but I remember when you would get a hot meal, special airline chocolate and metal cuttlery on a 30 minute flight IOM-LPL. Only a decade ago!

No worries LBA. I do like getting on my soapbox once in a while!

I didnt mean to sound like i was moaning just reliving the old days of charter airlines thats all..