Well, Macedonia, never been there before.
I´ve followed an ongoing discussion about the name of the country.
FYROM: Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia is still the name in Europe with the officials from Greece don´t want to accept Macedonia, what the US for example does.
It´s a small country surrounded by Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Kosovo, another special place to visit somedays.
Not that much to read from, but I´ve seen SKP a few times on the departure screens especially ex Germany and also Switzerland.
And this is for sure not a touristic place, mostly ethnic travel with people working in central Europe heading homebound for an event or some quality time with the family.
I remember an indoor shooting at STR airport when a Macedonian man killed his wife at the check-in desk last year.
Well, that´s something for me!.
Let´s go now.
Saturday, 14.04.2012
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Service Austrian OS 180 operated by Tyrolean Airways
Scheduled: 07.30 // 08.50
04.30 am and the cellphone reminds me, that´s another non standard day here. Ok or maybe it´s more or less the standard for me!.
Up and away one hour later, no traffic and at the airport around 06.30 am.
All four legs around this trip are booked together on one ticket by Lastminute.de.
The fare per leg is ok with 60.00 Euro´s.
Check-in is done online as usual, but no boarding passes printed.
That means a stop at the LH Senator counter is necessary.
A real nice elder female agent at work.
She knows how to do the job.
My question about the load produced some 80% on the scheduled Fokker 100 and an two seater exit row with the seat beside me blocked, 14A, well done.
No time to wait at security and up the stairs for the lounge.
Well, it seems Saturday morning around the easter vacation week is not the standard day for Senators on travel.
The lounge is practically non used beside me
But the offers are well presented also today
What about a view to the screen?.
No news for VIE from gate 162
Touring the apon by bus till this one comes up
"Austrian Errors", oh no, why doesn´t this leave my mind since I´ve heard it for the first time, sorry Arrows operated by Tyrolean
Should I board this plane now?
This is OE-LVO "Chisinau", a new example with my log. Leg no. 29 on the F100 like on schedule.
In the air since 08.07.1993 with American Airlines, Helvetic, Slovak Airlines and finally Austrian Arrows.
There are 15 F100's in the actual fleet
Looks like clean this way
Well, I should definitely go now
Always strange to see these green fabric seaters in the clean cabin. The load is 80%
07.30 am, ontime, "Tyrolean" want to go now shortly for the 1.00 hour ride to Vienna. Do we need the full runway?. No way, a shortcut for "Zero-Seven" is enough for us.
4 degrees and high clouds at STR.
Cockpit crew is from Austria.
The captain with a very nice welcome during our waiting break at the runway entrance. He´s once more on the speakers very nice and detailed during cruise and also with a short message on finals.
Legroom is perfectly good here
The safety card Austrian style
Cabin crew is two female FA´s, one young and ok, one young and nice.
Baku everywhere these days
Wing view en route above MUC and SZG. Flightlevel maximum is 30000 feet
Service Tyrolean style together with free drinks
Some clouds around VIE on approach for the 3600 meters runway "Three-Four"
08.50 am, ontime, cloudy and 8 degrees here.
Well, this is definitely VIE
Bye now to "Chisinau", that´s also an interesting place for me to visit somedays
1 hour, 20 minutes by now connecting time for the next flight.
Is there something new loungewise on offer?.
Saturday, 14.04.2012
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Service OS 779 operated by Austrian Airlines
Scheduled: 10.10 // 11.45
Well it is, this is the Star Gold Place, also Hon Circle members board here
Colourful to say the least
Really nice offers here
Also this way
And not that much customers, warm welcomed
What about my flight from gate C38?
I´am not that really amused with his place.
A thousand of customers around for Non Schengen places like Erbil, Amman, Bucharest and Sofia.
Queues from one end till the other, needless to say not in an orderly manner and a special security check at the gate entrance followed by passport controls.
The gate itself is small but at least there is an restroom available.
Very limited views here from this area.
This looks like the scheduled 737-700
Boarding now
New style seaters here. The cabin is clean so far
Typical 737 cabin paneel
10.10 am, ontime, 1 hour, 20 minutes to go for "Austrian" now from the 3500 meters runway "Two-Nine". Rainy 8 degrees, nothing to miss, really.
Legroom is good here. Three for me in the second to last row. The load over all is 60%
Cockpit crew is from Austria. The captain with a nice short welcome after boarding is completed and once again inflight prior to descent.
The safety card with the much more needed 736 also printed
Seats en detail
Cabin crew is three female FA´s, one elder, ok, one middle aged, acting rough, to say the least with the poor people on travel for this destination and one young, nice lady, but nothing special at all.
Love me tender, well, not everyone, but who knows?. And some free drinks
Well, much to much clouds down there somewhere above Belgrade at a maximum of 39000 feet
Approaching straight in?. Not here.
A first view for Macedonia
Also a number of clouds here
Circling. Where is the airport?
Curving around
Above some peaks
Terrible dark clouds around
Finals or not?
More curving
There should be a runway not that far away
Touchdown at the 2950 meters "One-Six". 11.50 am, short behind schedule. 14 partly cloudy degrees here.
I´ve learned later that there are heavy thunderstorms around prior to my arrivals and it seems we´re approaching the airport but got redirected to do it the other way around.
Skywings home finally reached
Terminal oldie style
Finger disembarking. I´ve missed the reg in VIE. Another chance now
Bye-bye now to OE-LNO "Hochschwab". A sad sign when we know that LH as OS´s parent company decided to remove all the 737´s from the fleet soon.
Leg no. 34 on type and something new for me.
On the way with Lauda Air and Austrian since 21.06.2001. The last remaining -700 by now
The nice police officer granted me on request a new stamp into my passport, close to no time to wait there btw.
The airport is far from downtown Skope and the website doesn´t show any public transport connection.
Well, how to protect the taxistas from any competition?.
There is also not that much to read from the trip reporters crowd here.
So I´ve mailed the hotel about how to reach the city for the best way and they immediatelly offered to pick me up.
Well done and the driver turns out to be the hotels senior chief. A really nice guy who tell´s me some stories about his country, the city and also the approach thing.
An coffee invitation followed soon.
This is City Park Hotel Skopje
The lobby
Room first view
Clean and well designed
The bathroom
No rain, so let´s go for a view downtown.
I will start with some later pictured nightly impressions:
The stone bridge
Alexander the great
Along the Vardar promenade
Back to my first views now!.
Lions are among the species occurring here
And this is definitely not London
Vardar riverside view
Looks like nice this way
The famous stone bridge connecting or separating the western and the eastern part of the city
I´am on the European side of the Vardar river with signs like this to view
Overall a modern western style city with shops and lots of restaurants. Also a McD is here, serving the Veggieburger what for example the french branch doesn´t do
Alexander the great in daytime
Or more this way
Let´s go over the bridge now
This is truly unbelievable. Five minutes only and you arrive in the oriental part left hand side of the Vardar river
With mosques...
...and an oriental style old city
A thousand of people in the small streets with a minaret in the distance
This is a small church
Indoor
Wooden built clocktower
From the outside
Walking down the old stone paved streets
And it´s immediatelly to notice that this is the less frequented part of the city, traveller wise
How to live in Skopje´s old town
Mursel Komerc free home delivery
This is the one of the Han´s
Old men spending the time with a smoke and a cup of coffee in the sun
Till I´ve reached the market.
Skopje houses the largest Roma community in Europe
and there are a thousand of kids around here. They followed me like a celebrity and it seems it´s better now to walk the other way around.
Don´t get me wrong, I have no problem with these people, but the thing with the begging kids is truly not to my amusement.
The Roma people are for sure clever dealers.
There was some sort of a celebration around a church in the western part later in the evening. And as soon as it looks like one of these frequent rain showers is on short finals there are dealers with umbrellas at every exit and along the streets.
Parking Skopje style
This is the Kapan Han
Built in the 15th century
A real interesting building
Back to Western Europe over the stone bridge for a view like this
Don´t get me wrong again, but these poor people here doing a tough job in waste recycling.
Trash transport Roma style
The old main station with the clock stopped and never moved since then exactly during the big earth quake in
1963
Looks like really oldfashioned
Thunderstorms are also around in the evening
A short but nevertheless good nights sleep for me followed, till breakfast
Me alone here
Mazedonian food details
Sunday, 15.04.2012
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Service OS 780 operated by Austrian Airlines
Scheduled: 12.35 // 14.20
It´s Sunday late morning and it´s time now for the old owner and me to shuttle back to the airport.
A B736/F70 combi is on schedule today, well, in theory.
Some more stories later I´am here again.
And much to my surprise I see an bus parked at the terminal, "Vardar Express" runs to Skopje city center!.
And that´s by another surprise a real modern building here
With the old terminal close by
Bright and airy
Spacious enough for the few flights on the board
No OLCI this time, but seats selected in advance and when the nice elder female agent shows me the seatmap it feels not really like the scheduled combo today.
No time to wait at security and up the stairs for the lounge
Another nice surprise with good offers
Well designed furniture...
...and really good views to the apron
Lounge chairs for some more time here
And well, less customers
Not that much flights on the screen today
VIA subs Wizz for Treviso
Gate view
Oh no, how to switch from the thoroughly needed B736 to the well covered A319
This is OE-LDD "Moscow", new to my log and attempt no. 79 to built up a relationship with the A319.
In service with Austrian since 08.03.2005. 7 planes on type are in the fleet actually
Snowy peaks in the background
There is a C missing with the reg., TC-CCP bound for SAW
Boarding now from gate 206
With Pegasus also on the run
Cockpit crew is from Austria. The captain with a nice and relaxed welcome after boarding is completed and once again short prior to finals later on.
Departure from the 2950 meters "Three-four". 12.20 am, well ahead to schedule. "Austrian" on the go, no duration info here for VIE.
18 degrees and partly cloudy btw.
The military apron
Hills close by
The airport in the distance
Cabin crew is once again nothing special.
Three women, all ok, two elder and one middle aged.
Climbing away
Good legroom, well, the last row window and three for me here. The load is 60% in the end.
Clean so far
Also the modern style seaters here
The safety card
We´re not alone above Budapest and Györ, no flightlevel info
Cabin view
Love me tender again surrounded by free drinks
The aisle view
Runway "Three-four" like yesterday welcomed me back at VIE with 10 cloudy degrees. 1.50 pm, impressive 30 minutes ahead to schedule.
Well, arrived at Vienna for another time.
Sunday, 15.04.2012
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Service Austrian OS 183 operated by Tyrolean Airways
Scheduled: 15.15 // 16.30
So, is there another lounge to visit here?.
It is, this time it´s the biz lounge where I´ve asked the nice lady at the desk about the load on the STR service.
And no, I´ve dont asked about an upgrade.
But she told me that the flight is overbooked in eco
and she will write a notice in the system. If there is an upgrade needed they will call me at the gate.
Nice so far.
Colourful again, to say the least
Lot´s of people around till the far end with the apron view
With things to see like this
Well used offers today
But anyway a good variety
Snacks
My place
Go to gate B31. Ok, we will see what´s going on there
I´am waiting beside the desk.
And as soon as the nice young woman staffing the gate decides, with an boarding pass in hand to grab the microphon, I´ve told her, if she´s looking for an upgrade volunteer, what about me!.
Ok, this is a Fokker tail
Operated by Tyrolean, we know
Fokker wing and engine view
But this looks like far to long for the scheduled F70
"Skopje", that fit´s
The safety card confirms the change for the F100
This is OE-LVD, named after this interesting city southeastern side, which I should visit somedays soon!. A former American machine, in the air since 20.05.1994 and nowadays with Tyrolean.
A new entry logwise and leg no. 30 on type.
Arrows operates 15 100's.
3.25 pm, ten minutes late, 1 hour to go for STR by "Tyrolean" from runway "Two-nine" also like yesterday.
10 degrees and cloudy here.
Legroom is superb, the cabin is clean and the load is 100%, nothing else expected
Roomy to say the least with me in seat 1F. The aisle is also taken, but the middle seat is blocked biz style
Cabin crew is two female FA´s, both young, one nice, the other one working the biz cabin, really nice.
Large, slim, glasses make for a somewhat nerdy style, black hair, ponytail, oh well, I should travel more often to Austria!.
Logo view
Cockpit crew is from Austria, the FO with nice and detailed infos inflight.
Flightlevel is 28000 feet.
The meal together with magazines and newspapers offered at the seats.
Breadrolls gone separately together with coffee, tea, drinks for several times
Touchdown at "Zero-seven", 4.30 pm, ontime.
Welcome back to STR with rain and shudder, 8 degrees.
Hey, what´s this
I don´t know till now that also Condor operates a retro style machine .
A quick walk for the car, shocked once again with the parking fee, thanx to APCOA, the world leader in parking management, sure we know!.
No trip without conclusions:
OS STR-VIE: Comfortable seating on the oldie Fokker.
OS VIE-SKP: Definitely not impressed by the crew.
OS SKP-VIE: Comfy and a better impression but yet again nothing special.
OS VIE-STR: As comfy as it should be.
Macedonia and Skopje: Really something special for me and as long as there is a chance to visit a destination like this with such nice ah, people, I should go there again!.
Three silent weeks flying wise ahead till to go for a Sapphire quest by another One World member.
Cao, comments welcome,
"Markus Klaus Felger" by Facebook or simply FLIEGER67 here!.
egilsml From Norway, joined Feb 2007, 25 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (12 months 10 hours ago) and read 9082 times:
Hello Markus
Macedonia is not the typical country hordes of tourist visit every year thats for sure. Great of you to travel to a new country, because when i see your flightmemory page it seems you have scored every country in europe
A lot of nice pictures as always and looking forward to see your next adventure well covered here on Airliners.net
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 25127 posts, RR: 60 Reply 5, posted (12 months 10 hours ago) and read 9070 times:
Hey Markus ,
Interesting read from a place I did not yet visit but intend to sometime. I have a very good friend from there who is actually from the Ethnic Albanian community. Another friend of mine from Skopje has left to work in Germany recently. Its always interesting to get their views and ideas about their country. Although speaking to them there is a sad divide between Albanians and Slavs. Tensions a few weeks ago were at a record high since the near civil war in 2001. Hopefully they can solve their issues.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): And this is for sure not a touristic place, mostly ethnic travel with people working in central Europe heading homebound for an event or some quality time with the family.
Yes it seems to be alot of migrant workers who fill the flights.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): I remember an indoor shooting at STR airport when a Macedonian man killed his wife at the check-in desk last year.
Well, that´s something for me!.
Really ? Thats shocking , why did he do that ? Did he shoot her or something ? Must have been terrible for the other passengers watching .
I have to say I prefer the older Ottoman Skopje than the rather mix and match ''European'' side .
Anway glad you had a good time there . Look forward to your next adventure .
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
dc9northwest From Romania, joined Feb 2007, 1751 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (12 months 9 hours ago) and read 8973 times:
Hi Markus,
Thanks for this report. Never been to Skopje, but the Skopje-Prishtina train is interesting to me!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): I remember an indoor shooting at STR airport when a Macedonian man killed his wife at the check-in desk last year.
Wow. That's really horrible.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): I´ve followed an ongoing discussion about the name of the country.
FYROM: Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia is still the name in Europe with the officials from Greece don´t want to accept Macedonia, what the US for example does.
I just call it Macedonia (soft c). The Greek province is Makedonia IMO (hard k). I know that's not the proper way, but no endorsements here for any side.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): My question about the load produced some 80% on the scheduled Fokker 100 and an two seater exit row with the seat beside me blocked, 14A, well done.
Well done indeed!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Always strange to see these green fabric seaters in the clean cabin
I quite like it. It's special. Not many green seats around...
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Bye now to "Chisinau", that´s also an interesting place for me to visit somedays
How about Air Moldova to Chisinau? I'm doing that in August on the Embraer 190 from Venice.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): A thousand of customers around for Non Schengen places like Erbil, Amman, Bucharest and Sofia.
No surprise. VIE is the busiest destination from OTP. Maybe up to at least 8, possibly 10 flights a day... weekdays at least.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): The meal together with magazines and newspapers offered at the seats.
Breadrolls gone separately together with coffee, tea, drinks for several times
Good meal offering for such a short route. Delta would have given you some chips or a banana... in the States.
Thanks, Markus, it's always nice to read your reports!
reifel From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 1155 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (12 months 9 hours ago) and read 8958 times:
Thanks for sharing Markus!
Skopje looks wonderful! I would definitely consider a visit there, now... How is it pricewise, i.e. restaurants?
OS disappointed a little i think... I remember the food they were offering a year or so ago in Eco on a FRA-VIE run and now you get a pack of crackers... well, all these thing go inline with the LH mother now, I guess...
sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1215 posts, RR: 29 Reply 8, posted (12 months 9 hours ago) and read 8929 times:
Hello Markus,
Nice and interesting story. Skopje is not a much featured destination here on the board, so warm welcomed. The city seems nice and the airport as well: clean and modern. Also good to see another full Austrian short haul report. While the carrier is certainly , I wonder if the VIE airport has improved since the new terminal?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): I remember an indoor shooting at STR airport when a Macedonian man killed his wife at the check-in desk last year.
Well, that´s something for me!.
OMG, I hope you will not go and shoot people at airports now
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): I´ve learned later that there are heavy thunderstorms around prior to my arrivals and it seems we´re approaching the airport but got redirected to do it the other way around.
That explains it well. Kinda like a go-around but not quite
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): A sad sign when we know that LH as OS´s parent company decided to remove all the 737´s from the fleet soon.
Are they? And replaced by something else?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): A thousand of people in the small streets with a minaret in the distance
Good to see the "Dutch Ladies" treated you well on the STR-VIE-STR flights
Thank you and for sure I like these "Dutch Ladies".
Quoting MH017 (Reply 3):
Shocking to see, OS treats their HONOR members with a lounge like this (just look at the floor !!!)
Also my opinion, not the real HON place.
Quoting MH017 (Reply 3):
Skopsko looks nice and surroundings look awesome with these mountain-ranges...
Should go there once in the future...
Good point, do it.
Quoting MH017 (Reply 3):
Looking forward to your next OW trip-report; thanks for sharing this one !
Coming up soon.
@Egil:
Quoting egilsml (Reply 4):
Macedonia is not the typical country hordes of tourist visit every year thats for sure. Great of you to travel to a new country, because when i see your flightmemory page it seems you have scored every country in europe
Thank you and there is still a lot to do here.
Quoting egilsml (Reply 4): A lot of nice pictures as always and looking forward to see your next adventure well covered here on Airliners.net
Thanx again.
@Phil:
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5): Interesting read from a place I did not yet visit but intend to sometime. I have a very good friend from there who is actually from the Ethnic Albanian community. Another friend of mine from Skopje has left to work in Germany recently. Its always interesting to get their views and ideas about their country. Although speaking to them there is a sad divide between Albanians and Slavs. Tensions a few weeks ago were at a record high since the near civil war in 2001. Hopefully they can solve their issues.
Thank you and sure well described here with the actual situation in Macedonia.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5):
Yes it seems to be alot of migrant workers who fill the flights.
Definitely.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5):
Really ? Thats shocking , why did he do that ? Did he shoot her or something ? Must have been terrible for the other passengers watching .
AFAIK she want to go for the separated track and he didn´t like it this way.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5):
I have to say I prefer the older Ottoman Skopje than the rather mix and match ''European'' side .
Anway glad you had a good time there . Look forward to your next adventure .
Me, too, much more exotic than the western part.
@A.:
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 6):
Thanks for this report. Never been to Skopje, but the Skopje-Prishtina train is interesting to me!
Thank you and these train ride is really also interesting for me.
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 6):
I just call it Macedonia (soft c). The Greek province is Makedonia IMO (hard k). I know that's not the proper way, but no endorsements here for any side.
I quite like it. It's special. Not many green seats around...
Good point here.
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 6):
How about Air Moldova to Chisinau? I'm doing that in August on the Embraer 190 from Venice.
Checked it also, it doesn´t fit till now.
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 6):
No surprise. VIE is the busiest destination from OTP. Maybe up to at least 8, possibly 10 flights a day... weekdays at least.
Good connections from VIE, definitely. I´ve done it once on Niki.
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 6):
Good meal offering for such a short route. Delta would have given you some chips or a banana... in the States.
Thanks, Markus, it's always nice to read your reports!
Sure ok for me here and thanx again.
@reifel:
Quoting reifel (Reply 7): Thanks for sharing Markus!
Skopje looks wonderful! I would definitely consider a visit there, now... How is it pricewise, i.e. restaurants?
Thank you and really good value for money there. Not that expensive.
Quoting reifel (Reply 7):
OS disappointed a little i think... I remember the food they were offering a year or so ago in Eco on a FRA-VIE run and now you get a pack of crackers... well, all these thing go inline with the LH mother now, I guess...
That´s the way it goes these days.
@Nils:
Quoting sultanils (Reply 8):
Nice and interesting story. Skopje is not a much featured destination here on the board, so warm welcomed. The city seems nice and the airport as well: clean and modern. Also good to see another full Austrian short haul report. While the carrier is certainly , I wonder if the VIE airport has improved since the new terminal?
Thank you and never been to VIE since the opening of the new wing.
Quoting sultanils (Reply 8):
OMG, I hope you will not go and shoot people at airports now
Well, sometimes there are people at the airports well worth it this way!.
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Reply 14, posted (12 months 1 hour ago) and read 8322 times:
Hi Markus,
Good to have you back reporting instead of flying. A very nice quick visit to Skopje, certainly somewhat out of the beaten path but you really should've tried to catch a flight with MAT instead of boring Austrian. I had planned to go to Skopje this year thanks to some nice fares offered by OS (actually cheaper ex-HEL than what you paid ex-STR) but thanks to their withdrawal from HEL those plans are no shattered, bugger.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): No question, a new departure airport, no. 213 is ready to count on the map:
Looks like you are catching up with me! I'm at 230 right now, the target for this year is to hike that up to 250, currently booked 15 new airports so still need to come up with five more.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): FYROM: Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia is still the name in Europe with the officials from Greece don´t want to accept Macedonia, what the US for example does.
Yeah, this ridiculous issue. Quite stupid if you ask me - maybe Greek could now sell the name "Macedonia" for them, hey it could raise some cash they need right now!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): And this is for sure not a touristic place, mostly ethnic travel with people working in central Europe heading homebound for an event or some quality time with the family.
Well not exactly, Macedonia has a tourist industry as well, although it is mostly centralized around the Lake Ohrid and most tourist opt to fly to Ohrid airport instead. So for Skopje this is true.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): I remember an indoor shooting at STR airport when a Macedonian man killed his wife at the check-in desk last year.
Well, that's one way to handle a divorce I guess!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Check-in is done online as usual, but no boarding passes printed.
Oh dear, your frugality is certainly quite unmatched!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): "Austrian Errors", oh no, why doesn´t this leave my mind since I´ve heard it for the first time, sorry Arrows operated by Tyrolean
Hey, how come I never thought of that! Hope you don't mind, I think I'm going to use it in the future.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Always strange to see these green fabric seaters in the clean cabin. The load is 80%
Yeah, I always thought those colors didn't really fit the Austrian imago at all. Also the red FA uniforms were a bit weird, but at least they fit better.
Yep, the whole VIE airport is quite a dump. And the non-Schengen part can get horribly crowded. When are they finally going to open that new pier, it looks so nice?
Hah, that approach reminds me of the approaches pilots fly in warzones where there's a possibility of shoulder launched SAMs - tight downward spirals over the airport.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Finger disembarking. I´ve missed the reg in VIE. Another chance now
"NO" - see, that's what it is saying to you.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): So I´ve mailed the hotel about how to reach the city for the best way and they immediatelly offered to pick me up.
Good service, but I guess you paid a premium for it.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Overall a modern western style city with shops and lots of restaurants. Also a McD is here, serving the Veggieburger what for example the french branch doesn´t do
Markus, you went to eat in McDonald's in Macedonia?! Come on, they have lots of lovely cuisine at very cheap prices and you do this? You are almost as bad as Jonas.
Ok, looks like these new seats are good for something at least - legroom! I flew an OS A319 VIE-IST some years ago and that was one of the most uncomfortable flights I've ever had. Horrible legroom at the back of the bus and next to a smelly old Turkish guy. No thanks.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): and she will write a notice in the system. If there is an upgrade needed they will call me at the gate.
You know I still dislike this habit. You know there should (and is) a clear process for handling upgrades like this and it should be automatic, so no need for smooching and small talk to get them.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Lot´s of people around till the far end with the apron view
Hey nice. Maybe the next time I'll give this lounge a try, those apron views are worth any drop in food and drink standards over the SEN place.
infodesk From Switzerland, joined May 2006, 1256 posts, RR: 33 Reply 15, posted (11 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 8237 times:
Hi Markus,
Good to see another one of your reports on here, it was far too long since the last one! I enjoyed your pictures of Skopje - the ones on approach with the hills almost remind me of coming in to MAN over the Pennines.
It seems a mixed bunch with the lounges. The first one in VIE looks truly awful, so dated. Compare it with the one in SKP- so much better.
The new seats on OS however are a welcome change, much more inkeeping with the times than the old green ones. Nice that you got the upgrade on the way back. The meal is well presented and quite generous. The cake looks yummy, but no so sure about that prawn in the salad!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): Not that much to read from, but I´ve seen SKP a few times on the departure screens especially ex Germany and also Switzerland.
Yes, I know it well.....
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): I remember an indoor shooting at STR airport when a Macedonian man killed his wife at the check-in desk last year.
Well, that´s something for me!.
Markus, you surprise me. I didn't have you down as the shooting type???!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): In the air since 08.07.1993 with American Airlines, Helvetic
Interesting, Helvetic.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Also a McD is here, serving the Veggieburger what for example the french branch doesn´t do
Comment 1: La France!!
Comment 2: I remember a similar experience at Burger King in Tenerife, where I was so desperate for meat free food that I asked for a veggie burger. No, they don't do it!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): attempt no. 79 to built up a relationship with the A319.
Bit of a love-hate relationship, is it?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): A quick walk for the car, shocked once again with the parking fee, thanx to APCOA, the world leader in parking management, sure we know!.
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6115 posts, RR: 56 Reply 16, posted (11 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 8200 times:
Hi Markus !
Very nice to another report from you and even better to see you explore a new city!
Skopje looks interesting with two different styles of city. Not sure which one I prefer.
OS looks okay; the green seats are really green.....but okay once you get used to it.
Looking forward to your next report!
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
FLIEGER67 From Bulgaria, joined Sep 2003, 4423 posts, RR: 56 Reply 17, posted (11 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 8177 times:
Hey, good to follow more comments.
@lychemsa:
Quoting lychemsa (Reply 13): I never found the OS crews very friendly.
I first flew OS from London in the early 1970s. And the meals were not great but a lot better than what they serve now.
I still remember Schwechat in 1958 with just 2 planes on the tarmac; a BEA and an AUA Vickers Vicount.
Interesting to follow you´re opinion and memories about OS.
@P.:
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14): Good to have you back reporting instead of flying. A very nice quick visit to Skopje, certainly somewhat out of the beaten path but you really should've tried to catch a flight with MAT instead of boring Austrian. I had planned to go to Skopje this year thanks to some nice fares offered by OS (actually cheaper ex-HEL than what you paid ex-STR) but thanks to their withdrawal from HEL those plans are no shattered, bugger.
Thank you and believe me, I´ve checked the timetables up and down for something on Skywings, no chance to fit it together.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Looks like you are catching up with me! I'm at 230 right now, the target for this year is to hike that up to 250, currently booked 15 new airports so still need to come up with five more.
Ah, good to know and looking forward to more stories.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Yeah, this ridiculous issue. Quite stupid if you ask me - maybe Greek could now sell the name "Macedonia" for them, hey it could raise some cash they need right now!
Good point here.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Well not exactly, Macedonia has a tourist industry as well, although it is mostly centralized around the Lake Ohrid and most tourist opt to fly to Ohrid airport instead. So for Skopje this is true.
Ohrid is also interesting for me.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Well, that's one way to handle a divorce I guess!
Definitely.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Oh dear, your frugality is certainly quite unmatched!
Good point, no paper and printer needed!.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Hey, how come I never thought of that! Hope you don't mind, I think I'm going to use it in the future.
I like to read about it, sure ok for me!.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Yeah, I always thought those colors didn't really fit the Austrian imago at all. Also the red FA uniforms were a bit weird, but at least they fit better.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Oh yes, I definitely can recommend it. Sort of an out of this worldly feel there.
Another place for me to go immediatelly.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14): Hmm, don't they have any lounges on the non-Schengen side?
This Senator place is not really my favorite, quite worn down, dumpy and very uninspiring. Also no apron views, boring.
Count me in this way.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Yes, the food was very good. Pretty much the only good thing about this lounge.
Also my opinion.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Yep, the whole VIE airport is quite a dump. And the non-Schengen part can get horribly crowded. When are they finally going to open that new pier, it looks so nice?
It is opened, quiet and calm early this month.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Oh, I never knew also OS was getting the NEK seats.
I was also surprised.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Hmm, quite unimpressive. I'd expected at least a sandwich.
Exactly my opinion here.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Hah, that approach reminds me of the approaches pilots fly in warzones where there's a possibility of shoulder launched SAMs - tight downward spirals over the airport.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Good service, but I guess you paid a premium for it.
Not that really with the long distance from the airport, 15,00 Euro´s.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
And that Mercedes was your ride from the airport?
More the Kangoo around the corner.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Markus, you went to eat in McDonald's in Macedonia?! Come on, they have lots of lovely cuisine at very cheap prices and you do this? You are almost as bad as Jonas.
If there is not that much time I prefer it this way!.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14): Ahh, this looks nice. More like my place. If they serve beer there, that is - you can never be too sure with the Muslims...
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Well, just arrange the letters differently T-CCCP, ready for a flight to MOW.
Hah, good point.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Ok, looks like these new seats are good for something at least - legroom! I flew an OS A319 VIE-IST some years ago and that was one of the most uncomfortable flights I've ever had. Horrible legroom at the back of the bus and next to a smelly old Turkish guy. No thanks.
That sounds really terrible.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
You know I still dislike this habit. You know there should (and is) a clear process for handling upgrades like this and it should be automatic, so no need for smooching and small talk to get them.
I´ve don´t asked about it, but it was offered this way.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 14):
Hey nice. Maybe the next time I'll give this lounge a try, those apron views are worth any drop in food and drink standards over the SEN place.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 15):
Good to see another one of your reports on here, it was far too long since the last one! I enjoyed your pictures of Skopje - the ones on approach with the hills almost remind me of coming in to MAN over the Pennines.
Thank you and it seems I should do more approaches into MAN the next time!.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 15):
It seems a mixed bunch with the lounges. The first one in VIE looks truly awful, so dated. Compare it with the one in SKP- so much better.
Exactly my point here.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 15):
The new seats on OS however are a welcome change, much more inkeeping with the times than the old green ones. Nice that you got the upgrade on the way back. The meal is well presented and quite generous. The cake looks yummy, but no so sure about that prawn in the salad!
Not my thing, you know with the prawn salad, but beside that ok.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 15): Comment 1: La France!!
Comment 2: I remember a similar experience at Burger King in Tenerife, where I was so desperate for meat free food that I asked for a veggie burger. No, they don't do it!
Exactly my way, you know.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 15):
Bit of a love-hate relationship, is it?
It is, definitely.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 15):
It can't be any worse then ZRH, believe me.
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2337 posts, RR: 53 Reply 18, posted (11 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 7677 times:
Zdravo Markus, my friend,
Of course, you should go on travel again! Unless, you’re shivery with pounding headache like me today.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): an indoor shooting at STR airport when a Macedonian man killed his wife at the check-in desk last year.
It’s not really what I call quality time with the family..
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): a special security check at the gate entrance followed by passport controls.
Seriously? I can imagine security check at the gate, but subsequent passport control? How cumbersome!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): A sad sign when we know that LH as OS´s parent company decided to remove all the 737´s from the fleet soon.
Hey, I was not aware of it. Such energetic, cute airliner is soon due for early retirement? How sad!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): Well done and the driver turns out to be the hotels senior chief. A really nice guy who tell´s me some stories about his country, the city and also the approach thing.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 2): Large, slim, glasses make for a somewhat nerdy style, black hair, ponytail, oh well, I should travel more often to Austria!.
No blonde anymore for you?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 2): The meal together with magazines and newspapers offered at the seats.
Look at the presentation! Poles apart from the Y offering.
Thank you for sharing. Though Skopje is not typical touristic destination, it seems worth a visit, thanks to your insight review.
I am back to bed now. Getting awfully dizzy again.
CaptainRed From Germany, joined Oct 2010, 588 posts, RR: 19 Reply 19, posted (11 months 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 7473 times:
Hi Markus,
another great report to a certainly interesting destination. An Austrian flight from STR is also coming up for me later this year, so now I know a little what to expect. I just hope that my flight won't be upgraded from the scheduled F70 to the F100, as the small Fokker would be a new type for me. Besides OS seems to be what I have expected from them, ok, but nothing special although that meal you got looks very good.
Some very nice pictures you took there in Skopje, must be an interesting place. That contrast between the old and modern part of the city is truly amazing.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 18): Look at the presentation! Poles apart from the Y offering.
Sure it is.
Quoting akhmad (Reply 18):
Thank you for sharing. Though Skopje is not typical touristic destination, it seems worth a visit, thanks to your insight review.
I am back to bed now. Getting awfully dizzy again.
Worth it definitely and I hope you´re feeling better soon.
@Captain:
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 19):
another great report to a certainly interesting destination. An Austrian flight from STR is also coming up for me later this year, so now I know a little what to expect. I just hope that my flight won't be upgraded from the scheduled F70 to the F100, as the small Fokker would be a new type for me. Besides OS seems to be what I have expected from them, ok, but nothing special although that meal you got looks very good.
Thank you and good to know.
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 19):
Some very nice pictures you took there in Skopje, must be an interesting place. That contrast between the old and modern part of the city is truly amazing.
signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2953 posts, RR: 7 Reply 21, posted (11 months 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 7397 times:
Hi Markus,
some nice flights there, and for sure some interesting pics of your visit to Skopje! A friend who was going out with a CSA stewardess once accompanied her on a stopover there, he said it was interesting for sure! (They are now married, she is no longer an F/A).
some nice flights there, and for sure some interesting pics of your visit to Skopje!
Thank you.
Quoting signol (Reply 21): A friend who was going out with a CSA stewardess once accompanied her on a stopover there, he said it was interesting for sure! (They are now married, she is no longer an F/A).
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 23, posted (11 months 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 6763 times:
Nice report Markus! Nice to see you visiting Skopje….I really enjoyed my trip to FYROM (or Macedonia!)
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): Not that much to read from, but I´ve seen SKP a few times on the departure screens especially ex Germany and also Switzerland.
Interesting to see….I’ve always wanted a ride on VIA ever since a friend of mine flew them to go skiing in Bulgaria on their T154.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter):
The meal together with magazines and newspapers offered at the seats.
Breadrolls gone separately together with coffee, tea, drinks for several times
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 23):
Strange to now see 4U serving both STN and LHR….will one of them be phased out?
Not sure, but you never know these days.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 23):
Is that all you get?! What happened to the nice Do&Co sandwiches in Y?
It is, nothing else.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 23):
Interesting to see….I’ve always wanted a ride on VIA ever since a friend of mine flew them to go skiing in Bulgaria on their T154.
Count me in this way.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 23):
Meal looks good – great that you were upgraded!
Definitely, lucky me.
Greetings,
Markus(FLIEGER67)
Next: There is a meeting to go at Bourgas!.
25 airbuseric: Hi Markus, finally my time to leave a short comment on your fantastic tripreport to indeed a less-known place in Europe! At least the seat next to him
26 FLIEGER67: Hoi, Eric Thank you, warm welcomed. Be sure it was. That´s indeed impressive. Good point here. Me, too in comparison to other places. Nice people the
27 MSS658: Hi Markus Nice to follow up the Skopje story and getting the F100! To bad the change to the 319! It's my most covered narrow-body up till now. Ironicl
28 FLIEGER67: Hi, Marc, Thanx for the feedback and interesting to follow that coincidence with the OS A319. Greetings, Markus(FLIEGER67)
29 deltamartin: Hi Markus! Nice report again! Sure an enjoyable read. Good to know, or maybe not! Haha Not for me, I've flown the 736 way more than the 73G. But then
30 FLIEGER67: Hej, hej, Martin, Thank you. Sure the point here. Different worlds, I know. Worth a visit, definitely. Ah, good to know. Greetings, Markus(FLIEGER67)
31 adamspotter: Hi Markus, Another great report as usual. Nice to see a report from/to Macedonia. Lounges look good, too bad about the crew on the one sector. Great p
32 FLIEGER67: Hi, Brendan, Thanx a lot for you´re feedback. Sure a big difference between the two parts of Skopje. Greetings, Markus(FLIEGER67)
33 PlaneHunter: Interesting report, Markus. The catering in Y Class is disappointing, the good old times are gone. Only 738s are left now, unfortunately. But what's e
34 FLIEGER67: Hi, PH, good to follow you re feedabck. True words here. Strange, that s really strange, also from my point of view. Not that much, salad and sweet ok
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, I wonder if the VIE airport has improved since the new terminal?
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