Plane Bashing

[Ascot]

If you've got some serious flying coming up then I swear by FlightTrack Pro. It can link with your TripIt account and pushes flight info to your phone. Best app I ever got.


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[starrymarkb]

ooh I use Tripit Might have to look into that!

 

[Ascot]

ooh I use Tripit Might have to look into that!

I haven't used it as much as I did before and now just tend to input complex or "different" itineraries where I'm likely to be a liability/mess. Would still keep the $49 upkeep though as you just never know when you need it.


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[Techniquest]

Just a quickie: Ryanair's e-mail says check in opens 2 hours before my flight,do I have to definitely be there for 2 hours before?Or can I arrive 90 minutes before?

 

[starrymarkb]

Just a quickie: Ryanair's e-mail says check in opens 2 hours before my flight,do I have to definitely be there for 2 hours before?Or can I arrive 90 minutes before?

The check in desks usually open two hours before departure and close 40 mins before departure (this is airline dependant though)

If you are flying Ryanair you must check in online (or pay for the world's most expensive sheet of A4), so this doesn't apply, I would aim to get to the airport about 90 mins before departure and if you have checked in online, have no hold baggage and printed your boarding pass just go straight up the stairs to security. Online Check in closes 4 hours prior to departure.

https://www.bookryanair.com/SkySales/FRSecurity.aspx?culture=en-gb&lc=en-gb

 

[Ascot]

You can only check-in online from (roughly 2 weeks) before until 4 hours.

Bag Drop only is open from 2 hours before departure until 40mins before. That is strictly. If you forget to check-in or destroy your boarding pass then the bag drop can do this for £60.

Gate closes 10 minutes strictly before departure. Keep to that logic and you can do no wrong.


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[Techniquest]

Thanks guys,checking in online tomorrow or Monday.Only away for a few days so taking just my 35L backpack with me.Got to check the dimensions of the bag mind yet,but should fit within cabin luggage sizes.

 

[starrymarkb]

Thanks guys,checking in online tomorrow or Monday.Only away for a few days so taking just my 35L backpack with me.Got to check the dimensions of the bag mind yet,but should fit within cabin luggage sizes.

Be wary as IIRC Ryanair's dimensions are smaller then the standard ICAO dimensions...

 

[Techniquest]

Just a quick question before I fly tomorrow...How do you find out/log how many miles you've covered on a flight,if there is even a way?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I just log time in the air, from the moment the wheels leave the ground until the moment of touchdown.

 

[Anon Mouse]

We're doing the new Finnair route from Helsinki to Chongqing in the Summer (connecting from Manchester) and it cost us less than a grand in total!

I'm a little disapointed with the news that you no longer get free alcohol on the Manchester - Helsinki bit also, the Helsinki - Chongqing bit is better, free beer and wine but you need to pay for "hard liqour" and sparkling wine. Also if you want a snack inbetween your complementary main meals you have to pay for that also. I suppose I better be glad that they are not banning alcohol on flights to the Far East like Aeroflot have!

Anyway, its an Embraer 190 from Manchester to Helsinki and an Airbus A340 from Helsinki to Chongqing. Looking online its possible to choose your seat (at a cost of up to 60 euros) in advance of check in however (obviously?) seat selection on check in is possible does anyone on here know what sort of seats we will be given by default (as we want to have 2 seats together with one on the aisle) and ideally we don't want to spend money picking seats.

Also on same trip we have scrapped our plans to go to Urumqui and we are now (providing the Boss sorry Wife does not change her mind again) flying from Chengdu to Jinghong, Yunnan, possibly via Kunming, so that will be a couple more Airports to scratch off!

 

[Crossover]

Can't say I am a huge aviation enthusiast, but as with railways, I love learning how stuff works

My first ever flight was on my own now just a shade over 2 years ago hock: on a Bombardier Q400 Dash 8, from Birmingham to Stuttgart. Left 2 hours late, by this time in the dark and on a runway that best resembled a lake! Maybe not the best ever first experience, but alas, I was unphased!

Have to say, as a prop craft, I was impressed. Smaller than I expected internally but wouldn't have wanted the huge 10 across jobs that do the longer haul stuff as a first flight experience.

The return was the same plane type too and a lot quieter in terms of the plane was probably only half full at best, though we experienced a heck of a lot of turbulence. Didn't feel much different to going over crests fast in a car though...just less predictable!

Took a further return flight the same year with family from Manchester to Hamburg (Miniatur Wunderland is well worth a visit, by the way, we were there for hours!) which was on a jet plane. Can't remember at the moment more than it being an Embraer, but the reg of the one coming back was D-ACPC (I have a photo of it, before anyone asks!) - a Lufthansa operated craft. Also quite nice but somewhat noisier than the prop Dash 8!

 

[Ascot]

Just a quick question before I fly tomorrow...How do you find out/log how many miles you've covered on a flight,if there is even a way?

You usually fly up to Wallasey by Liverpool then across to Dublin so work out the miles that way. I'm no longer going to be in Dublin today now so I won't be able to meet up I'm afraid.


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[starrymarkb]

Anyway, its an Embraer 190 from Manchester to Helsinki and an Airbus A340 from Helsinki to Chongqing. Looking online its possible to choose your seat (at a cost of up to 60 euros) in advance of check in however (obviously?) seat selection on check in is possible does anyone on here know what sort of seats we will be given by default (as we want to have 2 seats together with one on the aisle) and ideally we don't want to spend money picking seats.

E190 is 4 abreast (2+2) and most operators have their A340s configured as 8 across (2+4+2) so there is a very good chance you will be sat as you wish. If you are on the same booking most airlines will sit you together by default...

Seat Plans
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Finnair/Finnair_Embraer_190.php
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Finnair/Finnair_Airbus_A340-300.php

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Just a quick question before I fly tomorrow...How do you find out/log how many miles you've covered on a flight,if there is even a way?

I take as the Crow Flies (I use Flight Diary to log - see sig link)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You usually fly up to Wallasey by Liverpool then across to Dublin so work out the miles that way. I'm no longer going to be in Dublin today now so I won't be able to meet up I'm afraid.


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They usually go out over Strumble Head from Bristol, after departure you'll head for the Brecon VOR Beacon, then over Pembrokeshire to Strumble Head (another VOR Beacon) then North over the Irish sea to the Holding points for Dublin.

 

[Techniquest]

Cheers,shall look into that when I return.Less than 5.5 hours to go,can you tell I'm excited!

Ascot:No probs,another time perhaps.

 

[SwindonPkwy]

Took a further return flight the same year with family from Manchester to Hamburg (Miniatur Wunderland is well worth a visit, by the way, we were there for hours!) which was on a jet plane. Can't remember at the moment more than it being an Embraer, but the reg of the one coming back was D-ACPC (I have a photo of it, before anyone asks!) - a Lufthansa operated craft. Also quite nice but somewhat noisier than the prop Dash 8!

D-ACPC is a CRJ-700, like the Dash 8, manufactured by our friends at Bombardier.

 

[Anon Mouse]

E190 is 4 abreast (2+2) and most operators have their A340s configured as 8 across (2+4+2) so there is a very good chance you will be sat as you wish. If you are on the same booking most airlines will sit you together by default...

Seat Plans
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Finnair/Finnair_Embraer_190.php
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Finnair/Finnair_Airbus_A340-300.php

Cheers thats most helpful, Would be nice if we can be upgraded to Business Class, any tips on getting this? (it happened once to me on a Mumbai to Bangkok as there had been a cock up on Jet Airways)

 

[Ascot]

Cheers thats most helpful, Would be nice if we can be upgraded to Business Class, any tips on getting this? (it happened once to me on a Mumbai to Bangkok as there had been a cock up on Jet Airways)

Fly a bit more and get oneworld Sapphire/Emerald status. Even then don't hold your breath.

 

[Techniquest]

Arrived from Dublin earlier,24 down due to the French air traffic control strikes.Had no problem getting the IDs of my 737-800s in the end.For the record,Thursday's 1510 BRS-DUB was EI-DPW and today's 1500 DUB-BHX was EI-DPD.Seen loads of craft during the trip,my AFQR will look a bit better when I get time to update it this week.

Bring on my next flight,can't wait!Oh,and we did indeed go over South Wales on Thursday.Way above the clouds today so no gen on the route (there were no clouds to block my view on Thursday) but assumed to be over North Wales and Liverpool,banking through 180° just east of Hatton to approach BHX from the east.

 

[Ascot]

Arrived from Dublin earlier,24 down due to the French air traffic control strikes.Had no problem getting the IDs of my 737-800s in the end.For the record,Thursday's 1510 BRS-DUB was EI-DPW and today's 1500 DUB-BHX was EI-DPD.Seen loads of craft during the trip,my AFQR will look a bit better when I get time to update it this week.

Bring on my next flight,can't wait!Oh,and we did indeed go over South Wales on Thursday.Way above the clouds today so no gen on the route (there were no clouds to block my view on Thursday) but assumed to be over North Wales and Liverpool,banking through 180° just east of Hatton to approach BHX from the east.

Glad to know you enjoyed it and went without a hitch. I was under the impression you flew there and back the same day though!

EDIT: Oh if you can plot this then you'd get a rough idea of your route over the UK.

 

[LE Greys]

Hopped back home on BA-1309 yesterday, aboard G-EUDN (I think), an A-319. I always remember the machines on that route being G-BUS* until recently. There was an Antonov An-12 at Aberdeen, no idea what it was doing there, plus what I swear was a Lockheed Electra, but I didn't get a good look or a picture (unlike the Cub).

On registrations, do BA get "first dibs" on them - hence Concorde G-BOAC? I ask because I've seen a Virgin 747 registered G-VAST and a Jersey European DHC-8 registered G-JEDI.

 

[starrymarkb]

Hopped back home on BA-1309 yesterday, aboard G-EUDN (I think), an A-319. I always remember the machines on that route being G-BUS* until recently. There was an Antonov An-12 at Aberdeen, no idea what it was doing there, plus what I swear was a Lockheed Electra, but I didn't get a good look or a picture (unlike the Cub).

On registrations, do BA get "first dibs" on them - hence Concorde G-BOAC? I ask because I've seen a Virgin 747 registered G-VAST and a Jersey European DHC-8 registered G-JEDI.

It's much like the DVLA - you can register personalised reg's. IE BA, One batch of FlyBe Q400s are G-ECOx. The G-JEDx was Jersey European Dash x - "JEDI" was their first Q400 but was returned to the lessor last summer

BA do have a logic too.
ie 777s are G-ZZZx (looks like 7 from a distance if you squint), G-VIIx (roman for 7 - except for one which is the RAES after the Royal Aeronautical Society, this is the one that would have been G-VIII - you can work out why they skipped that one) and G-YMMx (the batch delivered in 2000) - 747s are G-CIV x (IV being 4). IIRC the G-BUSx batch of A320s were the original BCal batch and have now been scrapped. (They had shorter range then newer aircraft being the initial production run of A320-100s)

Plus James May has G-OCOK on his light aircraft

 

[SwindonPkwy]

On registrations, do BA get "first dibs" on them - hence Concorde G-BOAC? I ask because I've seen a Virgin 747 registered G-VAST and a Jersey European DHC-8 registered G-JEDI.

Anybody registering an aircraft in the UK can choose an 'out of sequence' registration for an additional fee. This is popular with biz jets, for example, which often carry company or individual initials. I remember Royal Bank of Scotland (before their fall from grace) had a Falcon 900 registered G-RBSG. Obviously, airlines are able to block book them.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

In the case of Concorde, G-BOAC was originally registered in advance by BOAC, which clearly saw the ultimate PR angle. It made sense to reserve a sequence around that for the rest of the fleet ordered at the time, thus G-BOAA to G-BOAE but G-BOAC was the older airframe within that.

Note that the last two BA Concordes, G-BOAF and G-BOAG were "white tails" originally intended for Iran Air before the 1979 revolution led to that sale falling though. At the time they were registered G-BFKX and G-BFKW respectively; when they eventually became part of the BA fleet they were re-registered to follow on the sequence, which was still vacant at the time.

The prototype and pre-production Concordes had interesting registrations as well.

G-BSST is obvious, as was the French equivalent F-WTSS and officially G-AXDN was just a random registraion even though it consists of the exact sequence, in full and in order, of code designations that would describe an experimental delta winged aircraft...

 

[WestCoast]

Enjoyed flying transatlantic with Aer Lingus far more than I thought I would. The aircraft was an A320 from Manchester to Dublin then a very well presented A330 (EI-EDY St Munchin) on Dublin to JFK with a genuinely friendly and jovial crew. Dublin T2 is a great connecting terminal and the US preclearance at DUB is a very handy feature. I enjoyed the experience way more than flying Virgin or BA from LHR

 

[LE Greys]

It's much like the DVLA - you can register personalised reg's. IE BA, One batch of FlyBe Q400s are G-ECOx. The G-JEDx was Jersey European Dash x - "JEDI" was their first Q400 but was returned to the lessor last summer

BA do have a logic too.
ie 777s are G-ZZZx (looks like 7 from a distance if you squint), G-VIIx (roman for 7 - except for one which is the RAES after the Royal Aeronautical Society, this is the one that would have been G-VIII - you can work out why they skipped that one) and G-YMMx (the batch delivered in 2000) - 747s are G-CIV x (IV being 4). IIRC the G-BUSx batch of A320s were the original BCal batch and have now been scrapped. (They had shorter range then newer aircraft being the initial production run of A320-100s)

Plus James May has G-OCOK on his light aircraft

I take it G-ZZZZ gets used on overnight flights a lot.

I'd quite like to get hold of G-JANE, to remember someone by, but I'll bet that's already gone. Interesting stuff through.

 

[Techniquest]

Arrived from Dublin earlier,24 down due to the French air traffic control strikes.Had no problem getting the IDs of my 737-800s in the end.For the record,Thursday's 1510 BRS-DUB was EI-DPW and today's 1500 DUB-BHX was EI-DPD.Seen loads of craft during the trip,my AFQR will look a bit better when I get time to update it this week.

Bring on my next flight,can't wait!Oh,and we did indeed go over South Wales on Thursday.Way above the clouds today so no gen on the route (there were no clouds to block my view on Thursday) but assumed to be over North Wales and Liverpool,banking through 180° just east of Hatton to approach BHX from the east.

Glad to know you enjoyed it and went without a hitch. I was under the impression you flew there and back the same day though!

EDIT: Oh if you can plot this then you'd get a rough idea of your route over the UK.

Cheers,shall have a look when not on my phone.Sorry for the confusion on which day I flew back.Oh,and big up BRS for being far more organised than DUB!

 

[SwindonPkwy]

I take it G-ZZZZ gets used on overnight flights a lot.

I'd quite like to get hold of G-JANE, to remember someone by, but I'll bet that's already gone. Interesting stuff through.

G-ZZZZ was a balloon IIRC, so would not be available to BA for their 777 fleet. Also, yes, G-JANE has been taken, it was carried by a Cessna 340.

 

[Techniquest]

Finally got to get on the laptop, and signed up for Flightdiary as that looked more impressive than TripIt personally. Signature image coming up in a moment.

Gave up trying to find my flight home on FlightRadar24 (FR666 1500 Dublin to Birmingham on 2nd April) for an exact route so Flightdiary's as the crow flies mileage will do.

 

[NY Yankee]

Has anyone taken Virgin Atlantic or British Airways? They seem to have the cheapest fares from New York to London. How was the experience?