Trip Report

Earlier this week I spent some time on business in Jersey. The flights went like this:

03 Feb 2004
17:55 IOM-LCY-JER

I went to Jersey with Flybe, on a newish Dash 8-200 rego G-JEDZ. Still in the old colour shceme (I always get that for some reason). Flight was nice and smooth for the most part, although the descent into London was extremely turbulent. I was flying business, which on Flybe means nothing at all – they give you a voucher for a free drink and a snack on board (gosh!!). The IOM-LCY leg was about 1 hour 10 mins, with 25 mins on the tarmac at LCY before heading off again, landing at Jersey 1 hour later.

04 Feb 2004
17:25 JER-LCY-IOM

On a bigger aircraft this time, a Dash 8-300. Same old colour scheme though. This time, got to use Flybe’s business class lounge, but was disappointed by it so lingered for all of 5 minutes. I’m sure it was nice enough in the 1980’s!

Saw lots of nice things at JER:

Flybe Dash 8-200, -300 and -400. BAe 146-300
Air France (Flybe) BAe 146-300
British Airways B737-500
Aurigny ATR, Shorts 360 and a few Tri-Islanders
An Islander in a funny Jamaican Airlines type colour scheme
A handful of business jets and light aircraft

Overall I enjoyed my trip, but I felt it was a little overpriced. The service was good, although I think it is very poor that the “free” vouchers they give economy plus/biz passengers only apply to drinks and crisps/choccies. Other snacks, like sandwiches, have to be paid for. If they are going to give you a voucher because you are travelling on an expensive fare, it shouldn’t have such petty restrictions. They seem a solid regional airline (I have travelled IOM-LCY a lot in the past) but I disagree with their “low fares” propaganda. They are always either the same price or sometimes more expensive than BA for an economy fare. Their biz fares are cheaper than BA, but no biz class seats…

Nearly £400 return, whereas BA were £500 (but with the benefit of a proper Club class on the LGW-JER leg and also proper lounges).

Also – two questions:

1. Travel agents/Galileo etc always tag Flybe Dash 8-200 flights as operated by a -100. Why??

2. Flybe announced on local radio in the Isle of Man that some LCY flights will be upgraded to Dash 8-Q400. Can the -400 even operated to LCY?