Economy Class & Beyond

BMI takes another step to becoming Lemming Airways…

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BMI today announced it's to drop it's Business Class product on the following routes London Heathrow - Glasgow London Heathrow - Edinburgh London Heathrow - Dublin London Heathrow - Belfast and instead to introduce a "Flexible Economy" product instead. For long time readers, you've guessed correct - BMI have once again to been to the Strategy Boutique and picked … [Read more...]

Another Aircraft Skids – Iran Air A300 comes off at Stockholm

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It seems that the skidding season is in full flow this year with an Iran Air Airbus A300 coming off the runway. Flight IR762 on Saturday 16/1 with service from Stockholm to Tehran, 149 passengers aboard, left the runway at low speed shortly after beginning its take-off roll, forcing the runway to be closed. No passengers or crew were injured, and the airframe itself … [Read more...]

Airplane p0rn – BMI A330 at Manchester

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It's Sunday again, so it's time for some more airplane p0rn.  This time another one from the archive, and one that will pass into history soon with a BMI Airbus A330-200 taxing for a Barbados departure from Manchester Airport. The A330 fleet was shifting in its entirety to London, where one will remain to serve the Saudi routes, and the remaining two will be returned to … [Read more...]

Maximing LHR-ORD – Part II – Segmentally Yours.

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Ok - I'm behind schedule (as usual) so here's part two of the LHR-ORD post. So you remember the numbers? Good.  I skipped Code shares for one reason - I wasn't willing to handle them at this juncture. BMI offer the UA flights of LHR-IAD-ORD and back for £362, with a £2 discount for going direct. CO is one who also offers cheaper fares - £330 on the direct (the cheapest … [Read more...]

Baggage fees. Hint: They’re going up. Again.

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Airlines and Shareholder love more income. Alas, they're targeting the consumer once again with more baggage rises. A quick overview (Note if you have some sort of Elite Status with the airline or alliance, it will probably reduce these costs to nothing): United First Bag:  $25 at the counter,  $23 online for a US Domestic Second Bag: $35  at the counter,  $32 online for a … [Read more...]

Richard Quest on… Miles.

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Of course, there are wonder-people like Gary, Lucky and of course Randy Petersen, who are in the millions of miles. However, some of us are in the mere hundred thousands (or thousands in the case of some programs).  For those of us, we just muddle through. Although this space might get a bit more crowded thanks to increased perception through George Cluneys "Up in the … [Read more...]

JAL: A Self Filling Prophecy?

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It seems banks and investors have made their mind up about JAL, with it's stock value dropping to ~7 yen per share, with people dropping out rapidly. It seems the offers from both American and Delta will be ignored, and JAL to head to bankruptcy with it's market value dropped by the hour. In related news, a new CEO has been selected for JAL by the Japanese Goverment -, … [Read more...]

More Snow, More Trouble…

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If there is one thing the british are obsessed with (and if you've been looking at this blog dear reader) is the weather. The UK has been gripped by another wave of snow, with London Gatwick closed to runway traffic to allow it to be cleared, London City closed due to poor visiblity, with Birmingham International right behind it (at time of writing) and London Heathrow … [Read more...]

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