VLM

RE: VLM

Hi Geforce – Yes, I am visiting Brugge, I will be based there, staying in the same hotel as last year (an old monastery from the 17th Century!!) I agree about Antwerp, it is a delightful place, had a day there last year and will probably go again this year and hopefully see more of it!! Also nearly got blown away by the wind at Oostende so I’m trying Blankenberge this year, also Oudenaarde, possibly Ardennes and almost definitely Brussels, it’s just a pity my favourite waffle shop in Brussels shut down, but there is an excellent one in Brugge so that is not too bad. Also I think Brugge is to be city of culture in 2002, so the new concert hall will be finished and the scaffolding will have disappeared!! It is such a shame about DAT, I would really loved them to be successful, they had all the good points of SABENA but with smaller aircraft!:-)

RE: VLM

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 04-01-02 AT 02:50 PM (GMT)]Ohh Comet, in case you didn’t know yet … DAT is a joke, a big pile of sh.t. It’s sad to see the same faults being made over and over again : too much optimism, no profits, bad managment. I’d rather have no belgian airline than a big failure, and DAT is becoming one. If I were you, I wouldn’t pay for those DAT-tickets, buy VLM or BA. Principles are very nice, but not enough to survive, if you know what I mean.

About your Trip, well, belgian is so small it doesn’t really depend whether you opt Brussels or Antwerp (slighty longer distance from Antwerp). But anyway I would chose Antwerp because it is easy, fast and cheap. Visiting Brugge btw? Probably Belgiums nicest town (together with Antwerp) to live in. I go there occiasionally, the whole city is an ancient heritage, protected by the UN.

RE: VLM

Geforce – love your “smiley” icons!! Thanks for the imformative reply. I’m not sure yet whether I’ll be flying to Antwerp or Brussels, for the distance I need to travel by rail to reach my base (Brugge), there is not much difference, it will depend on price and flight times (morning out, afternoon back if possible). I know what you mean about no more A340s, very sad. I am disappointed not to fly with DAT, but everything with them seems so uncertain, all their flights into the UK were suspended over Christmas up to New Year, and then talks of a merger with Virgin Express. It will be great to fly on a Fokker 50 again, it’s nine years since I experienced one (in Iceland, awesome take off and approach into a fjord-side airport, I can really reccommend it!!) Their service at least sounds good, which is one of the main things!!
Fly with proper Belgian airlines.

RE: VLM

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 04-01-02 AT 08:57 AM (GMT)]Hi comet,

I’ve flown with them (a short trip to London) 10 years ago. I was only 8 years old and I was alone, to visit my brother in Oxford. They took care of me very well (own stewardess etc for same price), but still they managed to lose me. Luckily my brother found me somwhere in Gatwick, trying to find a way out of that hellhole 🙂

I was to young to remember all the details, but they were very friendly and caring. That’s the most important thing. I was by that time already interrested in airplanes and we flew with a fokker 50, best experience ever. At least you know you’re flying, unlike the 747 and yhe A-340 (damn i’m gonna miss it :'( :'( :'( )

We took off from Antwerp, so much easier than Zaventem. (only flew once from Antwerp). Checking-in really goes fast, and taking off is always an adventure (after removing goats and cows from the runway :+)

DAMN, i can’t believe they are our biggest airline now. Very nice one, but still, no sabena :'( :'(

RE: VLM

VLM seem like a good airlie to fly with,i had family who travelled with them to Dusseldorf Express Airport in the summer and they sid that the service was excellent,friendly and helpful cabin crew,nice food and the aircraft was comfortable,the only problem was that VLM had a tendency of being late on their charter flights they operated here in the C.I in the summer but other than that it was great!
Are you travelling to Antwerp or Brussels with them?

Regards Saab 2000