How the hell do you know what was a good thing for MyTravel and what wasnt?

You say it like they are the only company that has introduced cost cutting measures, THEY ALL HAVE! As Mark said, im sure if they brought back 3 course meals, and MD83s the money problems will all go away! For all you know, the Scandinavian side might be doing better than the English side!

When you work for MyTravel and know everything about them, then make these statements.

You don’t need to be an insider to know that MyTravel is a failure. Its directors and senior managers are (or were) incompetent failures.

A company director is supposed to enhance (and certainly protect) the shareholder’s wealth. Directors are merely stewards. Now they are proposing to destroy nearly all their shareholders wealth and give it to the banks!

Did any of the airlines upgrade you, as it was your honeymoon?

Everyone I know who’s been married gets upgraded. I didn’t though (despite them knowing about it, as I had to call them a few months in advance to clear the carriage of a wedding dress in the cabin)

And yet the system is still better than most others in the world.

BA have the royal mail crest on a lot of their aircraft.

He used to post on the airliners.net forums.

There are really 2 possible seating configurations – 5 abreast (3-2) or 6 abreast (3-3). With the latter, the seats are VERY tight and uncomfortable. In the former, you get at least 737 comfort, probably better. I have never flown on a BA Avro, though I have had countless flights on a number of their 146’s. These are unfortunately configured 3-3. OK, for a short 60 minute hop I can put up with it – but MAN-NCE must be over 2 hours, surely?

They are big enough to use airbridges.

Apart from that, I like the 146/RJ. They are faster and bigger than any prop, although the Saab 2000 and Q400 come close for speed. The flaps make a huge squeeling sound when they extend – watch out for it!

They have done a great job in opening up some of our smaller airports. At places like the Isle of Man and possibly Guernsey, the 146 is realistically the biggest aircraft you can fit in on a regular basis.

With IOM in particular, you can theoretically use 737’s and A319’s (been on both from IOM). However their use is v. rare, due in part to a problem with windshear on finals to the main runway (which often means an approach over the sea). They are extending the runway to allow routine regional jet use, so maybe we will also see 737’s and Airbusses in the future.

Agreed

The individual cost is very low, but over a period of time it can be quite substantial. Back in the days when we had four Saab 340’s operating schedules (around 1993), we spent circa £50,000 per year on ‘swiss chocolate’. This was a very small bar of chocolate handed out with the afternoon/evening meal.

The same with catering, the meals etc cost very little, but the ‘delivery’ and other ‘add-on’ costs, can add at least 400%-500% to the total cost of providing a meal.

Increase ticket prices by £1. I doubt such a small price increase would drive passengers away. Airlines regularly increase prices to cover costs (they call this a “supplement”, as with fuel, but in reality it is a price rise). 1 year later, when booking another flight, I won’t remember that the price was £1 more than the competition. But I will remember that it was a good flight and tend to give my repeat business.

Depends on your definition of what costs are voluntary and which are not. Providing a good experience is not, in my opinion, voluntary.

The fact that so many airlines went bust (who all used to give good service) is not due to the mere fact that they gave a good service. It was more to do with their being run by idiots with no idea what “profit” meant.

For surviving airlines to therefore use the line that times are tight, other airlines providing free choccies etc, went bust, so we’re cutting back in order to survive…that is just disingenious.

Not at all – I also remember boiled sweets. Sometimes, they were vital – eg. in unpressurised aircraft, like the Shorts. I often used to fly MME-IOM or LPL-IOM in a 330 or 360 when I was a kid. My ears would hurt afterwards, without something to help me swallow away the pressure.

I liked the touch.

Things like sweets, hot towels and baby wipes were everyday items and I do miss them. I doubt that the cost was prohibitive. I am 100% sure that the 1980’s were a golden age, with airlines far better than now in terms of service.