Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
ClassicLover wrote:bx737 wrote:I have spoken to a few people and asked them about Astral. From what I understand, it is old technology, but it is extremely efficient. The main complaints seem to be about the sign in language used. One person told me that Astral was faster than the system used by Emirates, information was easier to find and overall it was better to use, apart from the various sign in bits, once you get in, it is very efficient.
What do you mean by the sign in "language" ? I'm just curious to know. You would think that if there was such a major pain point, that they could amend that aspect of the system to make it more streamlined and user friendly. If they're going to keep it (and if it works for them, why not), some money should be spent on the user experience to make it simpler to use in any place where it's not.
bx737 wrote:ClassicLover wrote:bx737 wrote:I have spoken to a few people and asked them about Astral. From what I understand, it is old technology, but it is extremely efficient. The main complaints seem to be about the sign in language used. One person told me that Astral was faster than the system used by Emirates, information was easier to find and overall it was better to use, apart from the various sign in bits, once you get in, it is very efficient.
What do you mean by the sign in "language" ? I'm just curious to know. You would think that if there was such a major pain point, that they could amend that aspect of the system to make it more streamlined and user friendly. If they're going to keep it (and if it works for them, why not), some money should be spent on the user experience to make it simpler to use in any place where it's not.
For signing in and working on it, I believe it uses a lot of symbols as opposed to words. A sequence of symbols eg @@ will set it up to do a certain function. These have to be learned. I believe that once you get used to it’s quirkiness it is a good system to use. I have never used it myself.
tonystan wrote:bx737 wrote:ClassicLover wrote:
What do you mean by the sign in "language" ? I'm just curious to know. You would think that if there was such a major pain point, that they could amend that aspect of the system to make it more streamlined and user friendly. If they're going to keep it (and if it works for them, why not), some money should be spent on the user experience to make it simpler to use in any place where it's not.
For signing in and working on it, I believe it uses a lot of symbols as opposed to words. A sequence of symbols eg @@ will set it up to do a certain function. These have to be learned. I believe that once you get used to it’s quirkiness it is a good system to use. I have never used it myself.
Now it’s been almost 20 years but ASTRAL was a doddle to use. Sign in was literally a 4 letter code followed by ones personal access number and function ability (level of access one had to the system based on ones role within the company. I can still remember my sign in better than my own phone number and took all of two seconds to sign in. It did become a little more convoluted when DUB started to adopt CUTE systems where check-in desks were shared with other carriers/handlers which slowed down booting up a system if it wasn’t already selected to ASTRAL but as you know most EI desks are not shared so it wasn’t too much of an issue. But you did need to remember your codes, right down to trying to remember how do pull up a seat plan and change seats for onward carriers ex LHR or wherever, quite often I’d see colleagues just say “sorry, cant do it, you’ll need to ask at LHR”!
We did around 1998/99 introduced a system called Easi Checkin which was a windows based updated version of check-in which was all very slick BUT staff hated it, it was slow, clunky and some of the more complex tasks took forever to complete or simply were not programmed into the system meaning one would need to log out of Easi and log back into the old ASTRAL black screen. Interestingly I took part in a group way back in 2000/01 prior to 9/11 which was looking at an updated system. Amadeus was the primary runner and it was looking good for a change. But then as we know 9/11 happened, I moved to head office so have no idea what happened to the original task force for that change and then I decided to leave the company altogether soon after. As we know Astral is still a key feature of the operation even after the move to T2 which really surprises me to this day.
But yes it was old back then and I can only imagine with everything being online now it must really be showing its age.
HTCone wrote:Runway far too short for A380 at Cork. Airbus were certifying the A330 NEO crosswind limits a few years ago in Shannon. They popped down towards Cork and were on final approach before they realised they wouldn’t be able to get back out again so went around. A380 story is BS I’m afraid. It was only able to land in Knock because it would never have to get out again.
EI320 wrote:One would imagine the end can’t be too far away, but it continues to serve EI well. It’s cheap, efficient/responsive, and generally very reliable.
Eagleboy wrote:HTCone wrote:Runway far too short for A380 at Cork. Airbus were certifying the A330 NEO crosswind limits a few years ago in Shannon. They popped down towards Cork and were on final approach before they realised they wouldn’t be able to get back out again so went around. A380 story is BS I’m afraid. It was only able to land in Knock because it would never have to get out again.
That sounds like urban legend to me.
The Airbus pilots would have up to date Jensen plates for each airport or diversion option. No way they would only realise the size of the runway/taxiways at Cork while on approach. (I believe its a turning radius issue for the A330?)
Training like this would be extensively briefed beforehand.
kaitak wrote:Yes, it seems to be official now; vaccinated pax can enter the US from November. Excellent news for all carriers. It'll be interesting to see if EI and other carriers will reverse capacity cuts recently announced. I'm sure all airlines, both sides of the Atlantic, will be celebrating.
In less good news, it now appears that the Metro system, originally supposed to open by 2027 won't even be started by that date and is now unlikely to be open before 2024.
https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/other/da ... ar-AAOBXgQ
Fliplot wrote:If Emerald are not ready by Summer 22 EI will bleed passengers, especially for their hub services. Finding it hard to understand EI at present. Not sure what the thinking is?
EI321 wrote:Will be interesting to see how quickly bookings accross the Atlantic from this side pick up again. Hopefully we won't see any more route cancellations or postponments.
BrianDromey wrote:EI321 wrote:Will be interesting to see how quickly bookings accross the Atlantic from this side pick up again. Hopefully we won't see any more route cancellations or postponments.
I think the summer will look good, but demand is likely to look very different to how it did in 2019, so schedule and aircraft changes are going to be par for the course.
IrishTexan wrote:UA will return on EWR-SNN with the increasingly rare 752 when flights restart in March.
AA resumes PHL-SNN with a 3xW 788 (having retired their 752 fleet) from May 8. PHL departures Sun,Wed,Fri with SNN Departures Mon,Thu&Sat.
BrianDromey wrote:IrishTexan wrote:UA will return on EWR-SNN with the increasingly rare 752 when flights restart in March.
AA resumes PHL-SNN with a 3xW 788 (having retired their 752 fleet) from May 8. PHL departures Sun,Wed,Fri with SNN Departures Mon,Thu&Sat.
The AA schedule is interesting, maybe an example of what I meant. The American carriers almost never operate less than daily, they historically really preferred frequency and routing via hubs. I would guess there is a good risk of passengers needing up on PHL-LHR-SNN or PHL-DUB. I hope not, but let's see.
IrishTexan wrote:With the continuing lack of SNN-LHR flights I'll be happy to have to have some options other than DUB, no offense to DUB fans. Ground travel connections from the west to DUB for morning departures are sub optimal. Happy to have a 788 option to help with jetlag and hope that AA will increase frequency once travel restrictions relax
IrishTexan wrote:Just back after a DFW-EWR-DUB round trip. UA hit highs and awful lows.
Eastbound UA23 from EWR was awful. No Polaris lounge at EWR and the lounge at C74 was packed to point of not having empty seats. Old, worn decor and the "food" offerings were pitiful. 764 departed late. Sold as Polaris but still had old business class seats. Non working IFE and no power to recharge electronics at seats and even the seat overhead lights and call buttons went in-op. A/C not working properly so hot temps all the way. Single D seats are private but not comfortable for sleeping with a narrow funnel for a footwell. Crew were indifferent and spent most of the flight lounging/sleeping in the mostly empty business seats. Arrival at DUB was early and from deplaning to exiting building took maybe 10 minutes. Seemed to be no other arrivals into T2 at about 6.45am.
Westbound UA22 was the polar opposite. DUB was busy but cleared security and US preclearance in a few minutes. No lounge access and no apology! 764 was subbed with a 763 with new Polaris cabin. Got 3L which is one of the best seats in the cabin. Departed early and breakfast was a full Irish and was outstanding. Great crew and clear, informative pilots. Early arrival into EWR.
2 transatlantic flights and 2 completely different experiences. Lounge access continues to be an issue especially for those of us connecting with a moderate layover.
Ire2008 wrote:Took TP to FUE from DUB 12SEP back 19SEP. Mostly full on all 4 flights. LIS was extremely fast to transit through. No lines at security each time, really set up for transiting fast! TP average I guess, nothing stand out, but not rude or anything. Was cheap , €160 return inc a checked bag, can’t complain. Have star gold until November with MS…. Little family account back from one trip to OZ. Lounge was decent in LIS, food choice ok but limited enough. Great bar!
OA260 wrote:There seems to be further reductions and cancellations for DUB - LAX / SFO until March .
Also some UK reductions / cancellations LHR LGW MAN BHX and BHD - LHR until 30/10.
Eagleboy wrote:OA260 wrote:There seems to be further reductions and cancellations for DUB - LAX / SFO until March .
Also some UK reductions / cancellations LHR LGW MAN BHX and BHD - LHR until 30/10.
I’m going to assume such cancellations were planned in advance and will be reversed after the US announcement on Monday.
I expect to see DUB-SFO back in December. LAX will prob not return until 2022.
Eagleboy wrote:OA260 wrote:There seems to be further reductions and cancellations for DUB - LAX / SFO until March .
Also some UK reductions / cancellations LHR LGW MAN BHX and BHD - LHR until 30/10.
I’m going to assume such cancellations were planned in advance and will be reversed after the US announcement on Monday.
I expect to see DUB-SFO back in December. LAX will prob not return until 2022.
OA260 wrote:Some adjustments to UK schedules from 31/10 to March 2022 seem to be coming through .
DUB - LHR / LGW / BHX / MAN
ORK - LHR
DUB - EDI / GLA
SNN - LHR
BHD - BHX / EDI / LHR
NOC - LGW
Cancellations and frequency reductions .
OA260 wrote:
Fliplot wrote:I suggested a while back that EI will use 2021 to clean house as much as possible. Any changes and charges need to be nade by 31.12.21 to include them in any covid blamed write offs.
Will be sad to see EI home bases turned into outsourced stations! I never thought EI was a 4 star airline but I doubt if it deserves 2 stars going forward!