FLIEGER67 From Bulgaria, joined Sep 2003, 4423 posts, RR: 56 Posted (3 years 2 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 7566 times:
Six circles around the Aetna and a shorty A.net meet
Ciao, dear readers,
collecting something new is always the aim during my travels.
The focus for this day was on two new italian airlines, well,
at least one is in my log now, the other missed due to some flight time changes and rebookings.
Service Swiss LX 1179 operated by Contact Air
Scheduled: 05.50 // 06.35
Actual: 05.55 // 06.30
A pretty early start in that day, leaving home at around 4.00 am, no traffic and arrived
in record-breaking 25 minutes at STR´s car park.
Check-in for the first leg of the day was done online Wednesday evening via the Swiss website.
LX redirected me to LH where the flight shows up, 19A, directly before the engine with the two seaters
was free for me, quickly secured. I like the 2-3 seat layout.
Leg one and two are the non-used segments from my trip to Bologna in January.
Fare per leg less than 50.-- Euros, not bad for a quality airline in comparison to the so-called lo-costers,
booking was done via Exp.de.
No time to wait at T1 security and a first view on the screen
Easy to locate my flight, top of the board, scheduled for 5.50 am, not bad, when we know that
STR´s night curfew allows departures from 06.00 am.
Barcelona seems popular this morning
with all that soccer fans returning from the match in Spain.
Deserted terminal 3 early in the morning
159, the gate for my flight was on the ground level in terminal 1, bus boarding today.
No delay announced, hopefully Contact goes ontime today.
Not like Christoph/ContactAir´s experience on the very same leg some weeks ago.
And also there was something more to do at ZRH during my short connecting time there.
The bus drives around the dark apron and stopped at this machine with the Star Alliance theme.
D-AGPH, the scheduled Fokker 100 and a machine with a interesting history.
Delivered at 13.07.1990 to US Air, changed to US Airways at 27.02.1997.
Registered in Germany from 09.02.2004 first with Germania, from 21.03.2006 in service with DBA,
taken over by airberlin at 09.12.2006 and finally to Contact Air at 01.02.2008.
This machine is the oldest example of the 8 F100´s in Contact´s fleet, beside five soon to leave AT45´s.
Leg no. 12 for me on type and a new entry to my log.
I´ve boarded late, as usual and the aisle seat wasn´t occupied, so good comfort for me.
The safety card showed no integrated stairs this time, like my other Contact flight in February.
The cabin fitted with oldfashioned, dark grey leather seats, clean, legroom ok.
Very noisy as expected.
The german captain with a short welcome during boarding, some weather details and informations around the flight, ok so far.
Departure from the 3345 meters runway 25 with a powerful and very short takeoff run.
Temperature around + 2 degrees centigrade, clear sky, it seems spring is around the corner here.
No info around the route and also the flightlevel, but it seems pretty low.
Two friendly females today in service, really ok.
48 pax, that means load factor around 50 %.
Service was a free water bottle, nothing to eat during this announced 25 minutes leg.
The sun rises above Southern Germany
And soon thereafter we´re reaching Swiss airspace
with some lakes around close to ZRH
Approach was above the city into the 3700 meters runway 34, a first for me here at ZRH.
Some light clouds at ZRH and + 3 degrees centigrade.
That means a long way to go for taxi till the main terminal
where we finally docked at a gate beside a couple of LX machines.
My seat during disembarking
So, the first leg was ontime, welcome to ZRH.
2.)
Thursday, 18.03.2010
"Zuerich"
"Rome-Fiumicino-Leonardo-da-Vinci"
.
Service LX 1726 operated by Swiss
Scheduled: 07.20 // 08.55
Actual: 07.30 // 08.40
Very friendly member Infodesk is always well informed about my travel plans.
A short meet from gate to gate that early morning seems possible.
At first we missed each other while I´ve reached the gate area without another security check,
but finally we had a nice chat at my departure gate A62.
Hannah, hope you´re ok when you follow my story, that was a really nice shorty meet at ZRH.
My flight shows "Go to gate"
And very soon thereafter, again as one of the last pax, I´ve boarded my machine for FCO.
A short step back to check-in for this leg.
The LH system responded: "You´re Check-In for this leg wasn´t possible" and showed some LH telephone number.
I´ve called immediatelly and the friendly agent there tried it again together with me, not succesful,
she also checked the flight, ok.
Finally she informed me, that my service is completely excluded from online check-in, strange isn´t it?.
I´ve done it earlier in the morning at STR, no time to wait there and also without a problem, seat 35F, the second last row this time, with the last row occupied.
HB-IJX was my plane. The newest entry to the LX A320 fleet, delivered at 30.04.2002 to LTU from Germany and in service for Swiss since 30.04.2009.
One of 20 actually in the fleet and named "Davos".
Leg no. 53 for me on type and a new entry to my log.
Ready to go with +4 degrees and light clouds from the 2500 meters runway 28 while another plane performing the usual approach from the northwest.
Flight time was announced with 1 hour.
The cabin spotless clean, legroom ok and fitted with comfortable dark grey leather seats,
Load was 122 pax, around 80% and the whole row was free for me, again comfortable here on LX.
Also the safety card looks like new
Flight details good to follow on the modern style drop down screens.
Four females, interesting, two from Germany and one male in service, friendly so far.
Cockpit crew was from Switzerland, the captain with a friendly and detailed welcome during taxi.
The route was above Milano and Pisa at 32500 feet.
Some lakes short after departure from ZRH
Service was a free croissant and coffee/water, absolutely ok for me during this time of the day.
And also the magazine interesting
Reaching the med around Pisa
The captain told us more about the weather during approach.
Landing at FCO was on the 3900 meters runway 16L.
A sunny welcome with 9 degrees in Italy.
Air One at the gate beside
And my seat
The last and only chance from the finger gate to picture my plane
3.)
Thursday, 18.03.2010
"Rome-Fiumicino-Leonardo-da-Vinci"
"Catania-Vincenzo Bellini"
.
Service AZ 1739 operated by Alitalia
Scheduled: 10.05 // 11.30
Actual: 10.45 // 12.00
Some more plane pictures while walking from arrivals in the D area to my next gate in the B area
Where is my flight?
Ah, here it is from B11.
Nice metal to view from the B gates
This flight was also booked via Exp.de, cheaper than on the airlines website for around 40.-- Euros.
AZ caught my attention, while they parked the most of their MD machines, but finally operated 19 examples till now.
And my flight was scheduled on the MD.
The gate changed to B20 on the ground floor, that means bus boarding.
FCO is not the spotter friendly place, but Area B is much, much better than D.
Seating space is limited, dirt and construction material at nearly every corner,
well thats FCO.
At least, boarding was called ontime and what a joke, we had to wait for some minutes till the second bus arrived and shuttled to the other side of the road. Believe it or not, in the bus, doors closed, driving five meters, where the ramp agent waited and waved us off the bus.
It seems, that was the shortest bus ride ever in my whole life, till now.
Up the stairs to the finger gate and down to the waiting plane.
I-DATC the scheduled and warm welcomed MD82, one of the highlights around these trip.
It was delivered at 02.05.1994 to AZ and is named "Foggia".
Leg no. 8 for me on type and once again a new registration.
Pretty oldfashioned and worn out fabric seats, good legroom and once again as expected,
really noisy on the MD.
A view with the cabin ceiling
The safety card shows MD80, but it was an MD82
31 A was my seat, secured during online Check-In at AZ´s website, quick and easy to use.
It was the last row prior to the galley in the rear of the cabin and close to the engines.
The load was close to 100%, also the aisle seat beside me was taken by an elderly american male.
Three male, one female FA on this service, ok, but not that especially friendly, AZ old style!.
The italian captain with a short welcome during boarding with departure and weather informations.
He told us also about some missing papers till our departure.
We´re not the only plane here
Departure from the 3309 meters runway 25 with an immedially left turn short thereafter for the 55 minutes to CTA.
It was sunny with 12 degrees centigrade.
Nice blue and green contrasts
The eolian islands ahead
It looks like the Stromboli vulcanoe
Now we reached Sicily
And some snowy mountain ahead
With some trails of smoke from the top
Lucky me, the right side of the plane
The pilot told us some informations during approach.
Service was biscotti and free drinks.
No flightlevel information here.
Alitalia and the Aetna side by side
We´re going closer
And passed the top of this magic vulcanoe
Above the city of Catania
And turning with both together
Touchdown was hard and heavy on the 2435 meters runway 26, finally some 30 minutes late.
More better weather conditions, 18 degrees and sunny here in Sicily.
What about Windjet´s new machine?.
Leaving my seat
And disembarking by the rear integrated stairs
Is there a more stylish way to leave a plane?
Very close to the engine
Looks like in good conditions
Windjet parked close by
The nice AZ colours
A pretty long bird
The final view
from the bus
Nose close up
And where is the new addition to my log?.
That will be the next airline.
4.)
Thursday, 18.03.2010
"Catania-Vincenzo Bellini"
"Rome-Fiumicino-Leonardo-da-Vinci"
.
Service Blu-Express BV 1777 operated by Blue Panorama Airlines
Scheduled: 13.00 // 14.20
Actual: 13.10 // 14.20
Breathing some fresh and warm sicilian air, that was the thing to do here.
The new terminal is also fresh and airy
Not that much to see here about Blue Panorama or Blu-Express.
It´s a fully private owned company operating mainly touristic flights to holiday destinations around the med
but also a good number of long haul charters.
The fleet is all Boeing and reaches from the 737-300 till to the 767-300 , in total 12 planes.
The flight fits perfectly into my schedule and it was really cheap.
Less than 20.-- Euros booked also here cheaper than on the airlines website via Exp.de.
Online check in was possible, the system shows a seat selection button, but it doesn´t work.
So I´ve decided to check the counters, two staffed with only another female customer in front.
The middle aged agent checked my status, finally ok and told me that it was free seating on that service.
Free seating, something what I really dislike. But anyway to the security check, back in the terminal pax area.
A view to the screen showed my flight leaving from gate 6 without a delay information.
We will see.
Also the gate area, comfortable seats and good views to the apron
My machine heading back for FCO
Boarding was somewhat interesting. I recognized the guy from check in at gate 9, 6 still on the screen which shows boarding, but nothing at the gate screen.
No other flight shows boarding at this time, people heading for gate 9, I´ve asked another passenger if this is Blu to Roma and he told me that he also asked another pax and so it seems.
Down to the bus, the second one for me, where we had to wait some 15 minutes till the rest of the pax arrived.
A first view to Blu-Express from the bus
and also a tail shot
EI-EEW was the registration.
A pretty oldfashioned 737-300, one of the 3 examples in the fleet, named "Citta di Torino".
Delivered at 02.09.1987 to Canadian Airlines and leased immediatelly out to Transbrasil.
To Europe at 25.10.1995 for Air Europa and further on to Lithuanian Airlines at 23.05.2002.
What about Asia?. From 15.06.2003 in service with Air Asia and back to Europe at 31.07.2009 for Blu- Express.
Leg no. 40 for me on the 733 and a new registration.
No need to hurry for me, I was prepared for a no window flight here.
Boarding by the rear stairs, welcomed by a really good looking young FA and noticed immediatelly that the last row was free, so it seems the usual situation, pax queueing at the front door and more open seats at the rear. Load was in the end around 90% and a middle aged Italian guy occupied the aisl
- Nope, it's the best, not done that for more years than I care to remember!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): The flight fits perfectly into my schedule and it was really cheap.
Less than 20.-- Euros booked also here cheaper than on the airlines website via Exp.de
- That's a steal, amazing.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Online check in was possible, the system shows a seat selection button, but it doesn´t work.
So I´ve decided to check the counters, two staffed with only another female customer in front.
The middle aged agent checked my status, finally ok and told me that it was free seating on that service.
Free seating, something what I really dislike
FLIEGER67 From Bulgaria, joined Sep 2003, 4423 posts, RR: 56 Reply 3, posted (3 years 2 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 7454 times:
Leg no. 40 for me on the 733 and a new registration.
No need to hurry for me, I was prepared for a no window flight here.
Boarding by the rear stairs, welcomed by a really good looking young FA and noticed immediatelly that the last row was free, so it seems the usual situation, pax queueing at the front door and more open seats at the rear. Load was in the end around 90% and a middle aged Italian guy occupied the aisle seat, but at least the middle seat was free.
Wind jet at the apron parked beside
In total three female FA´s here on this service, ok but not that especially friendly.
A first view to the worn out safety card
as worn out like the whole cabin, fitted with dark blue leather seats, very low legroom
and heavily used
The touristic onboard magazine
and another cabin view
A last view at CTA´s modern terminal
The italian captain with detailed informations during taxi in a friendly style.
And a rolling takeoff from runway 26, like arrivals.
It was sunny with 18 degrees centigrade.
The flighttime was announced as 1 hour, above the Aeolian islands and Napoli,
no flightlevel information.
What about some more Aetna views, really close by?.
We´re doing some curves short after departure and going closer to the magic mountain.
Spot the houses close to the lava streams
It seems the pilot want to go for a view into the crater
How close can you go to that active vulcanoe
Finally that close
Service was buy on board.
Leaving Sicily and heading for the Aeolian islands
Some more vulcanoes down there
No airports on these islands
Over the med short prior to approach
And finally touchdown on FCO´s runway 16L again.
Spot that dirty flaps
Apron parking beside the popes own airline Mistral Air
And a last view to my seat
Light clouds here at Roma and 16 degrees centigrade
The tail and logo shot
Taken from the bus
Wearing the italian and EU flag, registered in Ireland, thats really European
My favourite view under the wing
And leaving my plane on the apron
The nose with the classic eyebrow windows
So, my original schedule see the second new airline for me now.
I´ve booked Meridiana´s service IG 1762 on the MD80 leaving FCO at 5 pm.
But the not so nice guys at Meridiana send me a mail only a week prior to my travel date
that the flighttime changed for 7.00 pm.
7.00 pm, that means only one hour to connect for the last flight of the day and not to my surprise,
there wasn´t online check-in available for this last leg.
So much to much risky here and therefore I´ve checked other options, available for only some ten Euros more, fitting to my in- and outbound flights, so quickly booked and called my money back from IG.
5.)
Thursday, 18.03.2010
"Rome-Fiumicino-Leonardo-da-Vinci"
"Cagliari-Mario Mameli"
.
Service AZ 1595 operated by Alitalia
Scheduled: 17.30 // 18.35
Actual: 17.50 // 19.00
AZ fills the gap, the fare really low only one week prior to departure, some 70.-- euros,
also booked by Exp.de.
OLCI was ok here, quickly done on AZ´s german website.
30 A was the usual window in the last row, we will see how that last-row-rule works here.
Departure from the B gates, well the B gates, anyone remember my gate from the morning flight to Catania,
B20 and unbelievable with that huge number of flights and gates, B 20 was also the one for this service.
Some spotting from the first level.
Brussels heading to the D gates
Air One parked
One of the only two Air One A332´s in the background
Anyone interested to fly that mighty KU A300?:
Impressive to see all that domestic departures
By bus to the plane parked on the apron.
I-BIKB, the scheduled A320, delivered at 30.05.2000 to AZ, named "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart".
One of 43 A320´s in the fleet, leg no. 54 for me on type and a new registration.
Alitalia´s system showed operated by Volare, but no sign all around on the plane to notice.
Not the best impression from the outside, missing stickers, somewhat dirty.
Boarding now
A view to the engine
Ground handlers taking more bags, looks like a good load
And a name and nose close up
The italian captain with detailed informations and a welcome in a friendly style during boarding.
Darwin from Switzerland on the apron
and also Cimber Sterling from Denmark
Once again parallel line-up for a departure from runway 25.
Also nice weather in the afternoon, +8 degrees and only light clouds.
Flighttime to Sardinia will be 50 minutes.
The load was more than 100%. A couple of standby pax at the gate squeezed in and also the galley jumpseat was taken by a good looking girl with a Meridiana sticker.
A view to the safety card
and the cabin ceiling
Four friendly female FA´s on that service.
The cabin fitted with bright grey leather seats, legroom ok and clean.
The plane looks better inside than from the outside.
Service was free biscotti and drinks.
Cruising in the afternoon southbound again
No waypoints between this two airports, no flightlevel information.
And reaching Sardinia with the last sunrays
The captain was once more to hear short during the approach with weather informations.
Touchdown soft at the 2805 meters runway 14 with clear sky and +14 degrees centigrade.
A last picture from my seat
and my plane at the gate
6.)
Thursday, 18.03.2010
"Cagliari-Mario Mameli"
"Stuttgart-Echterdingen"
.
Service airberlin AB 8977 operated by Tuifly
Scheduled: 21.05 // 23.00
Actual: 21.00 // 22.50
Out in the public, only manual check-in available for this leg.
Some ten pax infront at the two open desks.
A view to the airy terminal
The friendly female checked the seatmap for the last row and printed 25 C,
quickly changed after my question to 25A and off I was to the final security check today.
Shops closed and only a small coffee bar open for the pax during this evening
My service was the only non-italian destination on the screen
Pretty ontime groundhandlers at gate 3 prepared for some work
and finally my machine arrived from STR
D-AHXC, leg no. 26 for me on the 737-700 and the second flight on this machine, but at least the first one with the new ab colours.
Tuifly operates 11 737-700´s for airberlin.
Delivered at 09.05.2007 to Tuifly and since the last winter timetable change serving for airberlin.
Boarding with "my" Meridiana flight from FCO at the gate beside arrived only some minutes prior to my
departure. So with check-in and else I´am not sure if it finally worked when I´ve don´t changed for the AZ service.
25 A or C, at least not the thing to complain today with all three seats for me,
load was only around 40%.
Noting else expected, this route leaving the ab routemap soon and the last flight will operating
one week later.
Departure from runway 14 like arrivals, with clear sky and 14 degrees centigrade,
for the announced 1 hour and 35 minutes to STR.
Two females and one male doing the service, especially the male FA was nice and chatty,
good experience here on ab.
The german captain with a very friendly welcome during boarding and also the german FO, pilot flying
with a real friendly and detailed welcome short after departure with lots of flight details.
He was later again on the speakers with the actual STR weather report.
The route was above Olbia-Elba-Pisa-Genua and Milano at 38000 feet.
A view to the safety card and also the ab service, a sandwich and free drinks
And the well known clean fabric seats in mixed colours, legroom was acceptable.
Touchdown on STR´s runway 25 ahead to schedule.
Apron disembarking at nightly STR but also not bad with clear sky and + 7 degrees.
So, the MD was definitely the highlight around this day.
Everything fits, the weather, the seat to view the Aetna, apron disembarking from the rear stairs.
Blu-Express, ok, but a real oldfashioned machine, nevertheless something what I´am looking for.
Contact and the F100 ok, Swiss with a constant high service level, AZ on the leg to CAG nothing to complain about and also ab with a nice crew on the last leg.
And now?.
39 legs to go.
Countries in order to visit:
Tunisia with the upcoming report: "Tunis on the Tunisair A300"
Italy
France
Spain
Poland
France
Bosnia
UK
Denmark and
Sweden.
AI151 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2009, 303 posts, RR: 17 Reply 6, posted (3 years 2 months 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 7337 times:
Hi Markus, yet another brilliant TR. Loved the pics from all your flight. I always thought that AZ weren't a good airline but they don't seem that bad. I have always enjoyed travelling with LX as well.
That seems too long before getting onboard another aircraft. Im suprised you didn't suffer from depression as I normally do when this happens.
And as for getting so close to the volcano it looked like a pretty awesome experience plus very lucky that it crossed your flightpath and that you were so close you could see the smoke rising out of it. Very intimidating though being an active volcano. Look forward to the rest of your TR's for this amazing trip.
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2336 posts, RR: 53 Reply 8, posted (3 years 2 months 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 7180 times:
Hi Markus,
Two things have quickly caught my attention, the MD-82 and the Aetna scenery! Just breathtaking! I have never seen such beautiful volcano pictures. And the MD-82, it has been almost 9 years ago that I flew with that beauty.
Avoid it as far as possible, but ok for this flight.
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 2): - You know we do, finding a suitable schedule is not good though!
But we check it again.
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 5): - Well done Markus, though don't you hate it when these issues crop up?!
Definitely I was not amused during posting here.
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 5): The MD fligh was deffo the best part of the day, the F100 nice and the rare domestic 733 flight in Italy also good.
A 100% agreement.
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 5): - Don't remind me, somethign I wanted to do too!!
No changes till now!
@:Sandeep:
Quoting AI151 (Reply 6): Hi Markus, yet another brilliant TR. Loved the pics from all your flight. I always thought that AZ weren't a good airline but they don't seem that bad. I have always enjoyed travelling with LX as well.
Thank you, I will check you´re stories now.
Quoting AI151 (Reply 6): That seems too long before getting onboard another aircraft. Im suprised you didn't suffer from depression as I normally do when this happens.
I was really close to something like this!
Quoting AI151 (Reply 6): And as for getting so close to the volcano it looked like a pretty awesome experience plus very lucky that it crossed your flightpath and that you were so close you could see the smoke rising out of it. Very intimidating though being an active volcano
It was definitely something special to fly that route.
@Suryo:
Quoting akhmad (Reply 8): Two things have quickly caught my attention, the MD-82 and the Aetna scenery! Just breathtaking! I have never seen such beautiful volcano pictures. And the MD-82, it has been almost 9 years ago that I flew with that beauty.
Thank you and the MD 82 was one of the reasons to book that ride.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 8): It looks like Exp.de has done business very well with you. They should award you for that.
Good idea, I will tell them you´re opinion.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 8): An A.net meeting is such a joy!
Great report! Thank you for sharing.
Thanx again and meeting some other A.netters, always something special.
@LYChemsa:
Quoting LYChemsa (Reply 7): In Zurich do you have to take a bus to the plane?
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6115 posts, RR: 56 Reply 10, posted (3 years 2 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 6888 times:
Hi Markus!
Excellent report with very nice pictures! Nice that the whole trip worked out without any delays or missed flights. The pictures of Etna were very nice!
Very much looking forward to the report on TU's A300!
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
mtaabq From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 81 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 2 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 6866 times:
Markus: as always, a great report. Your pics of Aetna were particularly spectacular!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Service was a free water bottle, nothing to eat during this announced 25 minutes leg.
It never ceases to amaze me that (some) European air carriers will make the effort to offer even a complimentary beverage or snack on the shortest of flights. I don't need to tell anyone on this site that in the USA this would be unheard of. OK, wait, that's not completely true -- the last time I flew HA (HNL-LIH) the FA's handed out juice cups to the Y customers on that 30 minute flight. (Full beverage service was offered in F.) But that's probably the exception. European in-flight service really impresses me, from a customer service standpoint.
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Reply 13, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 6392 times:
Hallo Markus,
Was really looking forward to this report and of course you delivered the goods. Brilliant stuff as always, looks like a nice if a bit exhausting long day!
Shame about missing the IG Mad Dog, but as you know happened to me as well - at least I got EuroFly as a compensation, no such luck for you, bugger. Looks like you had the same stunning approach into Catania as me, that's definitely a very very impressive one. Great luck on the outbound as well, my departure in February was in darkness and I was on the wrong side so no Etna views. Shame you didn't have any time for a city visit, I really liked the short time I spent in the city.
Those green seats on the AZ Mad Dog look a bit old fashioned, I preferred the new leather seats on the Airbii.
I've been looking at Blu-Express as well, but so far nothing concrete fixed.
The Cagliari airport terminal looks pretty new and slick as well.
That's a long time, I know the feeling. It's been almost three weeks for me, luckily I have a streak of five (actually six, but one of them is a boring domestic short hop not worth reporting) consequent days of flying starting this Saturday!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): This machine is the oldest example of the 8 F100´s in Contact´s fleet, beside five soon to leave AT45´s.
Whoa, impressive. I thought they only had one or two Fokkers in the fleet! Looks like they are quite busy operating the thinner routes for LX.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): This flight was also booked via Exp.de, cheaper than on the airlines website for around 40.-- Euros.
I'm growing more and more fond of Expedia as well - with the booking charges on most airlines' own websites going through the roof I really appreciate the fact that they don't charge any booking fees. With the US Expedia one usually wins a bit on the USD to EUR conversion as well...
How about trying to get a ride on this carrier next?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Wearing the italian and EU flag, registered in Ireland, thats really European
Most (all?) of the Air One 737s also carry EI-registrations, I guess they are leased from GPA or some other Irish leasing company. I wonder if it is some sort of tax evation scheme - the same happens in Russia as well where owing and registering a western aircraft in Russian register comes with some hefty tax penalties, thus there are a number of EI-registered ones flying for variosu Russian carriers.
Sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1211 posts, RR: 29 Reply 15, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 6097 times:
Hi Markus!
Another nice adventure and a pleasant read.
The Etna looks awesome from up above, doesn't it. Luckily the weather was on your side!
I am truly amazed with your flying frequency. If every airline had a frequent flyer like you, bankruptcy wouldn't be an issue anymore in the airline sector
Btw Maybe a new mission for you: a ride on Mistral Air?
Contact Air From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 1154 posts, RR: 14 Reply 16, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 5743 times:
Hi Markus,
Great report about a long but obviously interesting day of flying. Your pictures of the Aetna are fantastic - everything seems to fit: the weather, the light, the view.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Leg one and two are the non-used segments from my trip to Bologna in January.
A really clever way to "recycle" these un-used segments and use them for a new trip rather than just leaving them expire.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): No delay announced, hopefully Contact goes ontime today.
Not like Christoph/ContactAir´s experience on the very same leg some weeks ago.
Good to hear that you had more luck than I had a few weeks before. I guess a cancellation or a significant delay on your first leg would have seriously affected your day's schedule.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Approach was above the city into the 3700 meters runway 34, a first for me here at ZRH.
I also experienced this a few years ago, it was in the early morning as well. I really like this approach - much more interesting things to see than on the "standard" one.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): D-AHXC, leg no. 26 for me on the 737-700 and the second flight on this machine, but at least the first one with the new ab colours.
They were really quick to paint many of these birds in the AB colours.
debonair From Germany, joined Jan 2004, 2112 posts, RR: 4 Reply 17, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 5667 times:
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 3): Apron parking beside the popes own airline Mistral Air
AFAIK it is not true... The majority stake holder in the company is the Italian Post (Gruppo Poste Italiane).
The Vatican only signed an exclusive charter-contract for pilgrim-flights on their behalf.
Quoting BasilFawlty (Reply 12): No, this is definitely the best way to embark or disembark an MD-80.
Indeed a 100% agreement.
Quoting BasilFawlty (Reply 12): Yes, I am! They have very reasonable fares on several intra-Europe routes with A300's and A340's.
Here, too, checking the fares with a couple of other guys also.
@P.:
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 13): Was really looking forward to this report and of course you delivered the goods. Brilliant stuff as always, looks like a nice if a bit exhausting long day!
Thank you.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 13): Shame about missing the IG Mad Dog, but as you know happened to me as well
One more chance for the IG guys in April, you know, no changes till now announced.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 13): Those green seats on the AZ Mad Dog look a bit old fashioned, I preferred the new leather seats on the Airbii.
Also my opinion.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 13): I've been looking at Blu-Express as well, but so far nothing concrete fixed.
That's a long time, I know the feeling. It's been almost three weeks for me, luckily I have a streak of five (actually six, but one of them is a boring domestic short hop not worth reporting) consequent days of flying starting this Saturday!
Looking for you´re southwestern story!.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 13): Whoa, impressive. I thought they only had one or two Fokkers in the fleet! Looks like they are quite busy operating the thinner routes for LX.
Some of my flights changed lately to the F100, for example LHR and MXP ex STR.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 13): I'm growing more and more fond of Expedia as well - with the booking charges on most airlines' own websites going through the roof I really appreciate the fact that they don't charge any booking fees. With the US Expedia one usually wins a bit on the USD to EUR conversion as well...
Some issues here with the US site last year, they dont returned taxes and fees, so staying with the EU sites.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 13): How about trying to get a ride on this carrier next?
Well, good idea!.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 13): Most (all?) of the Air One 737s also carry EI-registrations,
And also some of the IG birds.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 13): Oh yes, I've been trying to schedule the FCO-CDG leg for this summer, maybe in late July or August. Let's see.
Tell me more, August is pretty open, some family days non scheduled till now.
Not that far away, Blue 1 on the MD90 caught my attention.
@Nils:
Quoting Sultanils (Reply 15): Another nice adventure and a pleasant read.
The Etna looks awesome from up above, doesn't it. Luckily the weather was on your side!
Thank you.
Quoting Sultanils (Reply 15): I am truly amazed with your flying frequency. If every airline had a frequent flyer like you, bankruptcy wouldn't be an issue anymore in the airline sector
Some more guys here helping them also!.
@Christoph:
Quoting Contact Air (Reply 16): Great report about a long but obviously interesting day of flying. Your pictures of the Aetna are fantastic - everything seems to fit: the weather, the light, the view.
Thank you.
Quoting Contact Air (Reply 16): A really clever way to "recycle" these un-used segments and use them for a new trip rather than just leaving them expire.
Not always easy, but always interesting to fit something in.
Quoting Contact Air (Reply 16): Good to hear that you had more luck than I had a few weeks before. I guess a cancellation or a significant delay on your first leg would have seriously affected your day's schedule.
Definitely, not more than around two hours between the flights.
Quoting Contact Air (Reply 16): I also experienced this a few years ago, it was in the early morning as well. I really like this approach - much more interesting things to see than on the "standard" one.
AFAIK it is not true... The majority stake holder in the company is the Italian Post (Gruppo Poste Italiane).
The Vatican only signed an exclusive charter-contract for pilgrim-flights on their behalf.
Thanks for the further information, but at least they are in close contact.
@Phil:
Quoting oa260 (Reply 18): WOW Markus , what a really enjoyable report with great photos and a good variety of airlines. One of my favourites so far this year by you.
Thank you.
Quoting oa260 (Reply 18): Look forward to the next reports.
lukeyboy95 From Papua New Guinea, joined Apr 2008, 953 posts, RR: 34 Reply 22, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 5209 times:
Markus,
Exceptional views... I can only imagine you clicking away like a madman!
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6211 posts, RR: 79 Reply 24, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 5026 times:
Hi Markus,
nice report about an interesting enthusiast day. The pictures of Mount Etna are indeed stunning, and good to get an impression of Blue Panorama. Too bad some interior shots came out blurry.
Flying six sectors on one day is quite a venture, never tried that.
PH
Nothing's worse than flying the same reg twice!
25 FLIEGER67: Hey, good to follow more comments. @lukeyboy95: Thank you. @Nicholas: Thank you. Carpe diem, make the most of it, you know! @PH: Thank you. Its also t
26 airbuseric: Hi Markus, finally time to read this report in the nightshift at work. It's nice and interesting. Really liking the pics of Mt. Etna. Very facinating
27 FLIEGER67: Hoi, Eric and thank you for you´re reply. I love these mad-dog´s, you know. Another chance for me in about three weeks, hopefully no changes. Defini
28 Infodesk: Hi Markus, Only just got round to reading this one, you know it was a busy time last week... I was of course particularly looking forward to how this
29 FLIEGER67: Hey, Hannah and thanx for you´re nice reply. I hope you managed all the things planned for last week and it was for sure a fullfilled day for me. Jus
30 MD11Bob: Hello Flieger67, great trip report! Stunning pics of the Mount Etna and what a great combination of airlines and aircrafts! The MD-80´s are just grea
31 FLIEGER67: Hey, MD11Bob, Thank you and sorry for the late reply, concluded another trip yesterday. Hopefully it was not that hard to calm that rationality down!.
32 MD11Bob: Hi, No problem, I hope you had a good trip and looking forward to that report too. Count me in Robert
33 FLIEGER67: Hey, Robert, Some ups and downs, the story is on finals. Good to know. Greetings, Markus (FLIEGER67)
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