Economy Class & Beyond

Ryanair’s expansion continues – a new base in Berlin

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Ryanair like a non-stop train continues its network expansion, and is creating a new base for its aircraft at Berlin Schönefeld in Germany. Ryanair Boeing 737-800, Image - Economy Class and BeyondFrom 27th October, the airline will base 5 of its Boeing 737-800 fleet at Berlin Schönefeld and in typical Ryanair style, will launch 16 routes. These include: Daily (or more … [Read more...]

Iberia WiFi connectivity in-plane – even worth considering?

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In flight connectivity is all the rage these days, with Gogo offering various all day packages in the USA for $16 upwards, Emirates offering 500mb for a $1, and so on. Yesterday, I was aboard an Iberia flight - and there was WiFi offered aboard the plane. Which is all well and good. The A330 had the "new" Iberia cabin installed - but we're not interested in that in … [Read more...]

SNAPSHOT: British Airways BA458 London Heathrow to Madrid

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Time for another snapshot, this time focusing on British Airways Short-haul product Boarding: Boarding sadly was conducted from Gate 10 at Heathrow. Whilst this doesn't mean a lot to a lot of people, this is the busing gates at Terminal 5. Which is... Not so good. Why? Priority boarding normally goes out of the window. Like it did today (although by the time a bus … [Read more...]

Well… that could had gone a lot worse (Good evening from Chicago)

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Good evening from the Chicago Area, where I've once again confounded the odds and made it all the way here - without a major incident (apart from forgetting my MacBook Charger). Some bullet points: Gate A10 at Heathrow Terminal 5 is a disgrace. Seriously, can no one organise boarding sequences correctly there? The legroom on the exit row of a British Airways A321 is … [Read more...]

Here we go again (or another 1:15 departure)

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Good morning (the clock is over the midnight hour - we're morning as far as I'm concerned) from a windy part of Birmingham as I type this and wait for a taxi..... That can't find where I live. Typical, nor drive in a city he should know. What was that about me trying to support the local black cab trade? Anyoo, as this taxi driver gets lost around Birmingham, I'm … [Read more...]

British Airways does “The Face” … for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day.

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For those of us of a certain age, we will remember a certain advert that British Airways released in 1989. That advert was "The Face", done by Saatchi and Saatchi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAcBsSzjiUo Well, for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day (A comedy based fund raiser), apart from painting the nose radardomes of some planes red (red nose... get it... no... oh go to … [Read more...]

Go West! Virgin and Norwegian add Long Haul West Coast services for Winter 15

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If you're going to San Francisco or Los Angeles during Winter 2015 season (yes, it maybe cold where you or where you're going to, but airlines are planning their Winter 2015 deployments already), there will be a bit more competition . Firstly Virgin Atlantic will adds a second daily service between London Heathrow and San Francisco, with a flight pair operated by a Boeing … [Read more...]

Airplane Art – Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER

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It's Sunday again, so it must be time for some more airplane art. This week, landing at London Heathrow Airport after the long journey from Auckland via Los Angeles is an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER Air New Zealand operate a fleet of seven Boeing 777-300ERs in its long haul fleet, painted with its Koru tail and New Zealand fern on it. Whilst it maybe black and … [Read more...]