It was reported that fellow passengers were shocked when Blair and his seven-member entourage boarded a FR 737 at Rome Ciampino on Saturday for the flight back to London after his holiday in Tuscany. I wonder if Cherie was with him, and if she settled for a coffee at £2.50 from the refreshment trolley?!?
Well at least this is a step in the right direction, after using costly private aircraft for his holidays in the past.
So if FR is good enough for the Prime Minister, it should silence the FR bashers.
[Edited 2006-06-05 18:24:52]
MOL on SRB's latest attack at BA: "It's like a little Chihuahua barking at a dying Labrador. Nobody cares."
Mhodgson From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2002, 5047 posts, RR: 30 Reply 1, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2738 times:
He has done it before - IIRC, Ryanair used it to target an ad campaign at easyJet. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with his poor image in the eye of the public at the moment!
No trees were harmed by this message. However, several million electrons were terribly inconvenienced
Magyarorszag From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2704 times:
Well, from what I remember, a few years ago (3-4) Tony Blair travelled with his whole family to and from southern France for his holiday with Buzz! Any correction welcomed!
ARGinLON From Vatican City, joined Jun 2005, 614 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2704 times:
I am really surprised at this. Following all the security measures behind him whenever he moves is hard to believe he flies FR.
As a customer I don't think I'll be that happy to be on the same flight as him (security issues).
What a contrast! From his own 772 when flying on duty to this when on holidays
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6183 posts, RR: 79 Reply 5, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2662 times:
Quoting BCAL (Thread starter): So if FR is good enough for the Prime Minister, it should silence the FR bashers.
Why would anyone change her/his mind just because a famous individial chooses to travel on that airline? I would fly FR only if there's definitely no other travel option - I couldn't care less about other passengers.
Glom From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 2803 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2650 times:
Bad Blair! Everyone knows how unpopular FR is with the political elites these days because of its big low cost flight business. He should be doing what a Labour leader should be doing and paying through the nose for the flight to demonstrate important morality about aviation: only the rich may fly on holiday!
BCAL From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 3384 posts, RR: 18 Reply 7, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2560 times:
Quoting Trb10 (Reply 2): And I bet he never encountered attituded or a delayed flight from FR
Well if the F/As were die hard Tories or disenchanted Labour supporters, I am sure that they would have perhaps wiped the galley floor with his roll/sandwich or perhaps spat in his coffee before serving it to the PM or Cruella DeVil, if she was with him! The flight was delayed by 25 minutes ... for additional security checks.
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 5): Why would anyone change her/his mind just because a famous individial chooses to travel on that airline?
Some people do! Why do you think stores/shop are very keen to have "By appointment to HRH Queen Elizabeth II" crests?
MOL on SRB's latest attack at BA: "It's like a little Chihuahua barking at a dying Labrador. Nobody cares."
GSM763 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days ago) and read 2416 times:
IIRC in about 2002 it was announced that Blair would be flying with a low cost airline. A tabloid then printed that he would be flying with U2 and as there was no official denial U2 put up large billboards saying "Tony Blair got a bargin so can you". I bet there were a few red faces when they read he was on an FR flight!
StarGoldLHR From Heard and McDonald Islands, joined Feb 2004, 1529 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 2076 times:
I wait to see George Bush flying America West !
So far in 2008 45 flights and Gold already. JFK, IAD, LGA, SIN, HKG, NRT, AKL, PPT, LAX still to book ! Home Airport LCY
Coa747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1895 times:
Secret Service would never allow it especially post 9-11. Although a sitting US President has flown commercial before. It has happened more than once the last time I believe United had the privilage on a DC-10 can't remember the president though. I read an article on it a few years ago. Any one else know what I am talking about.
TheSonntag From Germany, joined Jun 2005, 3347 posts, RR: 30 Reply 12, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1871 times:
Quoting Coa747 (Reply 11): It has happened more than once the last time I believe United had the privilage on a DC-10 can't remember the president though.
Coa747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1826 times:
I don't know but I remember it was a nightmare, because the aircraft had to have special equipment installed for the President's use and all of first class was basically blocked off. In the end the inconvenience and cost associated with ensuring the Secret Service was satisfied with the security of the aircraft meant that United had a DC-10 out of service for a more than a few days and the cost savings were negligable. Not to mention the inconvenience to the airline and the passengers. Lets just say it won't happen again. A lot people fail to consider the logistical needs involved in transporting the President or other heads of state. Even if you eliminate the 747 you still have all the support planes that fly in the Presidential motorcade and all the other people and equipment needed. Usually an Air Force C5 is responsible for transporting the motorcade and you can bet the cost of operating that far exceeds Air Force One. On some international trips they have two whole motorcades to transport with one being a decoy.
Jlbmedia From United States of America, joined Jun 2002, 603 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days ago) and read 1750 times:
When the President is in his helicopter, I believe it is then Marine one, as this is a Marine helicopter, so I am not sure how the Designations would work outside of the US Military. I believe, and I am not 100% sure that it was President Nixon the flew the United DC-10.
Coa747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 16, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 1631 times:
I think you are right I think it was Nixon and he was going to LA I believe. I Wish I could remember where that article was. Interesting none the less. On longer trips the PM usually catches a ride on a chartered BA 777 isn't that right. The queen has gone commercial more than a few times if I recall right. I remember a trip to NZ many years ago and it seems she flew Air New Zealand, seemed odd at the time as I thought she would have gone on BA but I could be mistaken as I am a bloody American.
DL787932ER From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 597 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 1599 times:
Quoting Kappel (Reply 14):
No, IIRC Air Force One. Any aircraft carrying the president is Air Force One. Anybody agree/disagree?
Incorrect. The callsign for an aircraft transporting the U.S. President is [military branch] One - since the VC-25As are Air Force planes, their callsign when the President is on board is Air Force One. The Marine helicopter is Marine One when the President is on board, and (for example) when Bush landed on the aircraft carrier in a Navy jet, its callsign was Navy One. Same thing for Coast Guard One or Army One, if the President ever chanced to be in a CG or Army aircraft.
It only applies when the President is on board, though. The VC-25As are commonly known as AF1, but if the President isn't on board they get a regular callsign.
If the aircraft is civilian, the callsign is Executive One. I thought I'd read somewhere that that callsign was only used once, when Nixon took a private jet somewhere, but I could be wrong.
On a side note, how would it work for a world leader to travel commercially, or in a chartered aircraft? Wouldn't it take days or weeks to set up security, emergency communications, etc.? How come the UK PM doesn't have a state aircraft?
DEVILFISH From Philippines, joined Jan 2006, 4423 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 1593 times:
Quoting Coa747 (Reply 16): I remember a trip to NZ many years ago and it seems she flew Air New Zealand, seemed odd at the time as I thought she would have gone on BA but I could be mistaken as I am a bloody American.
From other threads, it seems it's customary for the host country's airline or Government VVIP aircraft where she is head-of-state to fetch HM and her entourage from, then bring them back to, the UK.
Glom From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 2803 posts, RR: 10 Reply 20, posted (6 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 1516 times:
Quoting Coa747 (Reply 16): The queen has gone commercial more than a few times if I recall right. I remember a trip to NZ many years ago and it seems she flew Air New Zealand, seemed odd at the time as I thought she would have gone on BA but I could be mistaken as I am a bloody American.
She is the head of state of New Zealand as well. She's also the head of state of Canada and Australia as well hence solving the energy security problem. She can just tell them to give us their uranium.
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