RE: What to expect on a A340

Looks to me like the Continental flight number under codeshare for the VS017 LHR-EWR (Newark).

RE: Question on low cost carriers from LA to SF

Yes I was going to mention about Southwest going to Oakland. It’s very straightforward to get from Oakland to SFO using the BART (Bay Area Rail Transport).

RE: planes you would like to own

…except the Isle of Man!!! 😉

RE: Astraeus 737 diverted after fans ‘riot’

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 16-12-02 AT 11:41 AM (GMT)]It is an unfortunate fact (and one that nobody really wants) that aviation has taken a total change since 9-11. The airlines are now forced into taking an approach of guilty until proven innocent. This is however no justification for the crews to be hostile unless given definite cause.
It is also an unfortunate fact that the non-footie supporting population tend to assume the the 1% of footie fans that are trouble makers are typical of all supporters and treat any fan with suspicion. Perhaps the best way to deal with that is for the supporters to start regulating themselves some more to rid us of the image. While rugby fans are probably no better, they certainly don’t carry the same vandal label.

On the subject of ‘rioting’ – this term has only ever been applied by the media.

With regard to flying the cheap airlines (both low cost and the charters) – if you pay peanuts you get monkeys (with the exception of safety which the CAA will not allow you to skimp on).

RE: Revamp at BA spreads to regional operations

BA have made a habit of destroying previously good companies. I only hope that any routes that get disposed of are given to new ventures rather than existing companies. I believe the regional market needs to get more competitive in order to serve the passenger better.

RE: Astraeus 737 diverted after fans ‘riot’

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-12-02 AT 08:55 PM (GMT)]At the moment the tendency is to put as many barriers as possible between the flightdeck and the cabin so it is hardly surprising the Captain has to make a decision massively erring on the side of caution. Aggressive or not, professional over 45’s are perfectly capable of acting illegally, look at Jeffrey Archer and Robert Maxwell (the basturd who robbed my mother of her pension). The Captain acted on the info he was receiving from the cabin crew (which admittedly only gives one side of the story). However, who are you going to trust? The guy you’ve never met before who you’ve never seen, don’t know his name but you do know he’s a footie fan (unfortunately that unfairly conjures up a direputable image but some of the fans created that for thenselves), or the guy/gal you know who is definitely sober, employed by the same outfit and as far as you know working to the same rulebook as you. If the cabin crew have gone over the top then that is something for the company to deal with internally later. As flightcrew you must act for the safety of your remaining passengers based on the info you have at the time.

I hadn’t commented on this until know as there is not yet enough info to fairly comment whether the cabin crew were right or wrong but one thing is certain in my mind – the flightcrew did exactly the right thing. Regardless of the final outcome it will serve as a benefit to show the public that they need to take a serious look at behaviour on board commercial aircraft.

RE: Should Alan Shearer be called into the England squad?

I’m incensed about Bowyers’ act of stupidity (YET AGAIN!!!) the other night. Is it time to kick him out of football? There was nothing but malice in his actions, he even admitted it to his manager!

RE: Just plain funny!

made my Saturday morning!