Comments for The Cranky Flier

Comment on Palmair: One of the Top Four Airlines in the World by Teresia Rossello

Teresia Rossello — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:47:11 +0000

Hi Cranky Flier - I am Teresia Rossello, the one who does the seating plans for Palmair on my kitchen table! Out of 43 Short-haul airlines we are absolutely delighted to have been voted top by the readers of Which? In Feb 2008 Which? sent 200.000 postal questionnaires to its members asking them to rate their satisfaction with the airline they had used on their most recent flight. They received 30,059 responses allowing Which? to report of 71 different airlines. I would be happy to send you the ratings if you send me your address.
What Palmair offers is good old fashioned service! I am their airport representative and once passengers have checked in (at Bournemouth airport) they come to me and I allocate their seats on the aircraft. I board the aircraft in row order, unlike the rush to board some “free seating” airlines, and I see the aircraft off.
The seating plan is done the night before on my kitchen table (which is becoming quite famous!). I work from the passenger manifest and block off seats for families of 3, 4, 5, 6 etc. which means that whatever time they arrive at the airport, they will never be separated. I also reserve seats for wheelchair and disabled passengers, people who are nervous fliers, claustrophobic, very tall, etc. and try, if possible, to meet every request. I don’t preseat couples or singles, they choose their seats at the airport. We are a large number of pax who travel very regularly with us and I know their favourite seats!
Hot food (at no extra charge) is served on board and our cabin crew are well known for their service and attention to detail. All our pax say the award is well deserved and we are thrilled and very proud.
I would be delighted to send you Whispers, our In-flight magazine, which would give you a better idea of what Palmair is all about.
Hope I haven’t bored you too much, only once I get started ……………..!
regards, Teresia.

Comment on Virgin America’s Up to Something with Premium Seating by CF

CF — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:09:02 +0000

coward - Yeah, it’s strictly based on spend, but no redemption levels have been announced yet. So they need to do more work on it, and who knows what that might include? I like the idea of adding more F seats best though.

Comment on Virgin America’s Up to Something with Premium Seating by eponymous coward

eponymous coward — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:05:28 +0000

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t eleVAte strictly based on spend (5 points = 1 dollar spent), not mileage? Basically, I’ve heard it described as “Rapid Rewards Lite” (in that the rewards are based on revenue, not mileage, and they expire even quicker than WN’s do, 18 months), and there really are no premium levels for it, outside of “founding member”, which just means you enrolled before a certain date.

While I do hope we get details on eleVAte soon, I suspect it’s likely to be something else- perhaps more F?

Comment on This Week on BNET Travel (June 30 - July 3) by David

David — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:46:42 +0000

I guess that every news channel has to cope with a slow day and nothing on which to report to the viewers ? :)

Comment on My Book Report on Ruinar by drgmobile

drgmobile — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:46:18 +0000

and what is tripe?

(he asks for effect, since he can look it up on Wikipedia like the next moran…Yes, moran. That was for effect too)

Comment on Virgin America’s Up to Something with Premium Seating by MC

MC — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:03:09 +0000

Maybe they plan to reconfig the seats between bulkhead and exit row to an expanded coach (ala UA E+). To do this they need to get rid of at least 1 row to get the space.

Or expand F offering.

Either way - IMO this is a good thing… interesting to see how they decide to offer/price the new benefit.

Comment on Across the Aisle from British Airways on London/City Flights by aircraft parts

aircraft parts — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:35:57 +0000

it would have been more better to stay at Halifax where they could do full preclearance. after the preclearence they could go else where.

Comment on L’Avion Swallowed by OpenSkies by Robin Johnson

Robin Johnson — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:22:24 +0000

The Avion website shows two daily flights on the A0 code, only one being l’Avion. No menmtion of any class, so presumably busuness class, and on some days the fares are the same. No listing for l’Avion flights on http://blog.flyopenskies.com/ though - even the blog!

Comment on Virgin America’s Up to Something with Premium Seating by CF

CF — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:45:26 +0000

Ari - They aren’t blocking First Class seats, they’re blocking the bulkhead and exit rows in coach. Those are currently offered for a few bucks above and beyond the regular coach price. So, if they’re expanding First Class, it would be at the expense of coach seats.

Comment on Virgin America’s Up to Something with Premium Seating by Ari

Ari — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:33:52 +0000

Why would they need to block them if there is going to be more capacity? It seems to me that just the opposite is going to happen. And this fits the general market trend of offering the lowest common denominator and the flying public not willing to pay more for premium service.