RE: Favourite Airline

SABENA – they were simply THE BEST.[http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/sabenabelgianairlines]

RE: What makes you proud of your country?

I’m not a fan of Ghent myself, I find it rather grim. Pity really because I like all the other Belgian towns I’ve visited, especially the architecture (the Grand Place in Brussels is beautiful, so is the Markt in Brugge).
[http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/sabenabelgianairlines]

RE: Back from the North

Icelandair scare the **** out of me. I used to go to Iceland every year for my holidays, I flew Icelandair every time and had some domestic flights with them as well. You want to thank your lucky stars that they no longer operate the 737-400 because they were simply dreadful. My last flight with them was on a 737-400 (TF-FIC). The aircraft developed engine problems and the take off was aborted. For half an hour we had to sit in the aircraft while it was checked over. The stewardesses were in tears and the passengers were scared, especially when the damned thing took off. We were relieved to see Glasgow, but alarmed when the fire engines were all there to meet us. I have read other reports about Icelandair’s “safety”. Last year at Heathrow pasengers had to sleep in the check in area as the 757 they were due to fly out on had a complete systems failure and no replacement aircraft were available. On another occasion passengers refused to reboard an aircraft which had had problems because they did not feel safe flying with Icelandair (a decision I applaud!) I first visited Iceland in 1983 and last visited in 1993. The first time it was quiet, not full of pubs and nightclubs as I’ve heard it is now. Last time I visited, the unspoilt places of my first visit had been decimated with ice cream parlours (Thingvellir), car parks and restaurants (Geysir area) and the Blue Lagoon is the most over rated attraction on the island. Those who have their first visits this year and think it is unspoiled should have gone back in the early 1980s, when it really WAS unspoiled.

RE: Websites

I have several, all in different stages of completion due to my exam and college commitments. Here are some of them:
which is a fan site I set up about an actor.
which is about a TV series I once saw (not complete yet due to college time)

to showcase poems I once wrote under an Icelandic pseudonym.
[http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/sabenabelgianairlines] which is a club I set up on Yahoo for the world’s best airline.

RE: best

I’ve told you about my worst airline experience, here is the best.
I was fortunate enough to fly with Sabena. Their cabin crew were friendly and charming and service was excellent. Their aircraft were clean and their check ins were efficient. That may be a bit of Belgian bias, but I’ve also had good flights on BA, Air France, Finnair, Iberia, Cyprus Airways and Icelandair.
[http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/sabenabelgianairlines]

RE: Airplane accidents

I don’t think age always makes a difference. I’m going back in time a bit here, but the problem of metal fatigue showed up most famously on an aircraft which had only been in service for less than 2 years (between May 1952 and January 1954).

RE: thanks

Stables I have to ask you this. Have you ever actually FLOWN with Air New Zealand?? Believe me, they are not worth the paper their crummy in flight magazine is printed on. I nearly lost a whole holiday because of the incompetence of this airline. Instead of issuing the tickets properly they cancelled my reservations. Because of this I missed a stop over in Fiji because there was no room on the flight I should have gone on, and I had to fly non stop to Hawaii instead. Their cabin crew were rude, racist, ignorant, idle, obnoxious, you name it, they were it. They repeadtedly ignored cabin attendant call buttons, they were more intent on heading up to their rest area (god knows why because they hadn’t done any work during the flight, no drinks service or anything). Passengers are not allowed to look through the windows on afternoon flights as all the blinds have to be drawn whilst the film is showing (and it’s always a crap one as well). Heaven help the poor devil who tries to look through the window. I’m surprised I never witnessed air rage on their flights. One steward said that British passengers were incapable of filling in US immigration forms, he only apologized when a passenger turned round and said “how would you like it if we said that all Kiwis were thick??” I requested a special meal owing to a food allergy. The incompetent fools served me exactly what I’d told them I could not eat.
I too LOVE New Zealand, but HATE AIR New Zealand.