Biman DC-10 Special Flight: Mark Your Calendars

aloges · Mon Jan 06, 2014 1:34 pm

Hello everyone,

since the first two threads have been archived:
Chance to fly BG DC-10 on Special flight! (by delta777jet Oct 22 2013 in Aviation Polls)
Fly BG DC-10 On Special Flight! Part 2 *Update* (by delta777jet Nov 28 2013 in Aviation Polls)
I thought it could help to start a new one since apparently, bookings will be possible from this Friday:

Quote:
Scenic tour Tickets for the last passenger flight will only be sold via our official partner in this endeavor - Ian Allan Travel whose website is at www.ianallantravel.com. This website will be updated in early January 2014 with all the details on the flight times and how to book, etc. In addition, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will be offering scenic flights from Birmingham and will be providing details on how to book directly via our website on January 10th. So do not buy tickets elsewhere, we want these tickets to go to genuine aviation enthusiasts.

I don't remember reading anything on the date, so I apologise in case this is just a repeat of old information. (source)

That's it for the moment, fingers crossed!

Cheers,
aloges

cedarjet · Mon Jan 06, 2014 4:02 pm

I heard they won't be selling middle seats (at least on the sightseeing flights from BHX), only the pairs on the outside (2-5-2) which means about 130, 140 seats per flight. I heard £200 for a window and £150 for an aisle on the sightseeing flights.

Personally I think they should sell the lot, why not? Monarch are selling all of them on the A300 farewell flight LGW-BHX.

How many of you lunatics are keen on the DAC-DXB-BHX flight? Or just the BHX-BHX?

Oh and as previously suspected, definitely no pax on the flight to Seattle, which will tech stop at JFK.

Finally, the current edition of Aviation News has a three page article on the history of the DC-10 in Biman service, on sale til the end of the week. Cover is the mighty B-52.

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk

bennett123 · Mon Jan 06, 2014 9:11 pm

So the two options are the Biman site and Ian allan?.

Auleyair · Mon Jan 06, 2014 9:24 pm

No Ian Allan will have a list of instruction on how to book it. There must be a reference code or something like that. You book the sightseeing flight on Biman site.

MIAspotter · Tue Jan 07, 2014 7:45 am

Quoting aloges (Thread starter):
bookings will be possible from this Friday

Can´t wait!!

Now I need to find out a cool way to get to BHX from BCN.

MIAspotter

CrimsonNL · Wed Jan 08, 2014 5:50 am

I'll be up early for work on Friday so I will be hitting the F5-key every 5 minutes all morning until the booking link shows up

Thanks for the update!

Martijn

aloges · Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:15 pm

Here's what I was able to find on the Ian Allan website:
http://www.ianallantravel.com/aviationtours/tours2014.htm

cedarjet · Wed Jan 08, 2014 3:42 pm

Latest info:

DAC-KWI-BHX
Feb 20; all seats will be on sale (Y314); £600 window, £500 the rest

sightseeing flights
Feb 22, 23, 24; only window and outboard aisle seats on sale (approx 120 seats, it's a 2-5-2 config); flights will operate 0900, 1200, 1500. First flight to go on sale will be Feb 24 0900 flight, when it's full the 1200 flight goes on sale, when it's full 1500 flight goes on sale, THEN the day before opens up (Feb 23) 0900, then 1200 et al. £150 window, £100 the rest. Ian Allen will sell seats on "the last flight" but I am curious when that will be, probably the 1500 on Feb 24, for £200 window and £150 the rest. All the other flights and the DAC-KWI-BHX will be sold direct by Biman.

http://www.biman-airlines.com
http://www.ianallantravel.com/aviationtours

Be there or be square (I can do both).

source: Aviation News http://www.aviation-news.co.uk

PlymSpotter · Wed Jan 08, 2014 6:56 pm

This will be a blast, what a great start to 2014!

Dan

Auleyair · Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:24 pm

Should we have a Airliners.net Meet up on the weekend in BHX, just like all other A-net meet up.

COMFIRMED LIST:

Auleyair
--------------------------------------------------------
MAYBE LIST:

--------------------------------------------------------
COMFIRMED FOR DC10 Sightseeing Flight

24th 0900: (Not Open for booking yet)

24th 1200: (Not Open for booking yet)

24th 1500 (Last Sightseeing flight (only bookable via Ian Allen Tour)):

23rd 0900: (Not Open for booking yet)

23rd 1200: (Not Open for booking yet)

23rd 1500: (Not Open for booking yet)

22rd 0900: (Not Open for booking yet)

22rd 1200: (Not Open for booking yet)

22rd 1500: (Not Open for booking yet)

-----------------------------------------------------------
Outbound Flight

Auleyair DUB-BHX EI3264 10:15-11:35 ATR72 (Not Confirmed)

------------------------------------------------------------
Inbound Flight

Auleyair BHX-DUB EI277 19:20-20:20 A320 (Not Confirmed)

------------------------------------------------------------
Hotel

bennett123 · Wed Jan 08, 2014 9:14 pm

For me, availability wise and cost wise, the flight from DAC is a non starter.

Also, the 24th would mean taking time off work, (unpaid).

So I will try to work a seat on one of the weekend trips.

KPWMSpotter · Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:40 pm

Quoting bennett123 (Reply 10):
Also, the 24th would mean taking time off work, (unpaid).

So I will try to work a seat on one of the weekend trips.

That is my plan as well. It seems like they're limiting their potential customers by only offering Monday flights for sale; I would think that Saturday or Sunday flights are far more desirable.

aloges · Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:49 pm

Quoting bennett123 (Reply 10):
So I will try to work a seat on one of the weekend trips.

Quoting KPWMSpotter (Reply 11):
That is my plan as well.

Third. I guess I'll have to keep my fingers crossed, I really cannot yet afford to block that Monday... well, I could but I absolutely don't want to.

Quoting KPWMSpotter (Reply 11):
It seems like they're limiting their potential customers by only offering Monday flights for sale; I would think that Saturday or Sunday flights are far more desirable.

To be fair, it's amazing that this is happening in the first place - I don't see it as much of a customer-airline issue, but rather as a bit of a favour.

CrimsonNL · Thu Jan 09, 2014 4:12 pm

Quoting KPWMSpotter (Reply 11):
That is my plan as well. It seems like they're limiting their potential customers by only offering Monday flights for sale; I would think that Saturday or Sunday flights are far more desirable.

I guess they have a good reason for this, maybe crew or tax issues or whatever. We're hardly in a position to demand otherwise, let's just be thankful for the opportunity and take a day off work!

Martijn

cedarjet · Thu Jan 09, 2014 4:19 pm

Hold off booking days off work for the Monday sightseeing flights until they go on sale - I don't know and am hesitant to bug BG Towers for tiny clarifications because all will be revealed anyway (did I say that already?) - but I am sure that there will be a flight available on the Sunday right from the start. Looks like Monday will be the very last ever flight so that obviously has a historical appeal, but those who can't get time off, or don't want to burn holiday time if they don't need to, will be fine I think. Let's see what goes on sale - which will be tomorrow (Fri) or early next week (at the latest).

Looks like this will be the ultimate a.net meet ever.

cedarjet · Thu Jan 09, 2014 7:30 pm

Ian Allen are now sending out booking forms by email to people who previously registered interest with them for the last-last flight, at 1500 on Monday Feb 24. To book you have to get a booking form, print it, fill it in by hand, scan it, and email it back. This is a painful process (I don't have a printer and scanner at home anyway) and another reason I am not a fan of Ian Allen. Plus some people who did register with them haven't been sent the form in the first place, so one wonders why bother register in the first place. Window seats are £200, aisle seats are £150 if you can book.

The rest of the flights BHX-BHX will go on sale any day now on Biman's website for £150 window, £100 aisle - look out for it. But now we know - the Ian Allen flight is the 1500 rotation on the Monday and everything before it will be regular Biman (and if it's on their website, it'll be a straightforward online booking hopefully).

nicode · Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:35 pm

How will we book this special flight on BG website ?
BHX-BHX ? A special link for this flight ?

Auleyair · Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:42 pm

Update from Biman Site

a. Seats on a last flight Dhaka to Birmingham (UK) will leave on Thursday, Feb 20 with an 0830 departure and a technical stop in Kuwait. It’s estimated that the aircraft will arrive in Birmingham around 1600 on the same day. This flight will go live for sale on Tuesday, Jan 15 and you can book it via our website using the special fares being offered.
b. One hour ‘scenic tours’ to/from Birmingham on Sat, Feb 22, Sunday, the 23rd and Monday the 24th at 0900, 1200 and 1500 hours. Also on Tuesday, Jan 15, these flights will be bookable on our website. For the absolutely last DC10 flight to be operated on, Monday the 24th at 1500, Ian Allen Travel of the UK will also be selling tickets on their website
c. We will also be selling various DC10 and F28 memorabilia at Birmingham closer in.

https://www.biman-airlines.com/about/news?id=46e17663-312b-46ba-93d6-3d7e508f36b8

UK_Dispatcher · Fri Jan 10, 2014 12:39 pm

The DAC-BHX prices are a bit higher than I would have liked, but I wonder how many people will actually go for it and whether it is worth purchasing an aisle seat to save GBP100. It could be a pretty small group which is also appealing.

fallap · Fri Jan 10, 2014 1:19 pm

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I'll be in China on the 24th.

I'm going crying to bed now.

iainbhx · Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:16 pm

I unfortunately will be working on the 24th, but I managed to get my partner a ticket for the Ian Allan flight as he doesn't work Mondays and is a complete DC-10 maniac. They accepted an electronically signed edited PDF of their booking form.

cedarjet · Sat Jan 11, 2014 9:12 pm

I will definitely do the flight up from Dhaka to Brum but that will probably do me, although once the pleasure flights go on sale on Tuesday I will look at the weekend ops which are £50 cheaper than the Ian Allen. BG are prepared to operate up to nine flights (inc the Ian Allen one) - will be curious to see if they sell them all out. It's only 130-odd seats per flight, so we're talking about 1,000 seats. Are there 1,000 DC-10 nuts in the world?

HT · Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:44 am

Quoting cedarjet (Reply 21):
It's only 130-odd seats per flight,

Where is that figure coming from ?
I had the impression that also the aisle seats of the middle bank of seats will go on sale, i.e. a total of 6 seats per row.
?:?
-HT

cedarjet · Mon Jan 13, 2014 7:20 am

I thought it was only the outboard pairs of 2-5-2, and the 5s would remain unsold. All goes on sale tomorrow (Tue) so not long til all is revealed.

CrimsonNL · Mon Jan 13, 2014 7:11 pm

It's already the 14th in Dhaka, time to compulsively press F5 every few minutes to see if something shows up!

Martijn

eirik · Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:32 am

Tickets are on sale on http://biman-airlines.com now.

[Edited 2014-01-13 22:33:45]

[Edited 2014-01-13 22:43:28]

CrimsonNL · Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:13 am

I booked Sunday the 23rd at 0900, see you there!

Martijn

ndebelebev · Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:36 am

I booked Saturday 22nd at 1500.. Window seat..

HT · Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:49 am

22nd and 23rd : "No flight available" ? Only flights on the 24th are open for sale.

Has it been a hiccup by the Biman Res' system to put these days up for sale early on the 14th of January ?
I had the understanding that first all flights on the 24th were supposed to sell out before flights on the 22nd or 23rd would go on sale.
-HT

CrimsonNL · Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:52 am

Quoting HT (Reply 28):

I think they "accidentally" opened up 22/23 before selling out 24! I made a backup reservation for the 24th as I can not afford to miss out on my last chance to log a DC-10.

Martijn

CrimsonNL · Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:58 am

As per the updated news page:

Quote:
But this is not its final operation. Due to an overwhelming response from aviation enthusiasts from around the world, we are going to operate scenic flights on the weekend of Feb 22, 23 and 24 from Birmingham airport. The first flights to go on sale will operate on the Monday, Feb 24th at 0900, 1200 and 1500 with a block time of an estimated one-hour. If as expected, they sell out quickly we open up the Sunday, Feb 23rd flights up for the same times of 0900, 1200 and 1500. As these sell out then we will open up the Saturday flights also at the same times – 0900, 1200 and 1500. As with the last commercial flight from Dhaka, we are keeping the prices for these scenic flights at reasonable levels with prices of ₤150 for a window seat and ₤100 for an aisle seat. Please note that for the last commercial flight ever on Monday Feb 24 @ 1500, prices have been set slightly higher at ₤200/₤150. In order to keep the flights as “special” as possible we are only selling 152 of the 319 seats on the aircraft – therefore all are window or aisle seats.

Seems that 22/23 being open was a mistake after all.

SwissCanuck · Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:15 am

Quoting CrimsonNL (Reply 30):
Seems that 22/23 being open was a mistake after all.

Long, long, long time listener. First time caller.

There's several of us here in GVA that booked for the weekend this morning and all have confirmation emails. This discussion is making us VERY nervous ... Didn't plan on taking Monday off. Plan is spotting at LHR Friday, BHX for a DC-10 flight Saturday, and museums and LGW then fly out Sunday night.

If anyone manages to contact Biman etc and get an answer whether or not the weekend bookings are good please shout!!

nicode · Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:26 am

So, could we book a flight for Saturday 22th (the only day I can) ?

[Edited 2014-01-14 00:29:45]

SwissCanuck · Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:35 am

Quoting nicode (Reply 32):
So, could we book a flight for Saturday 22th (the only day I can) ?

At 7:30CET you could, right now you can't. We don't know if that's because they're actually sold out (unlikely but possible? Everyone wanted to get in on the weekend?) or because the fact they went on sale in the first place is a mistake. I know several people who have "confirmed" tickets bought this morning for the 22/23rd but we're waiting for a possible "oops" email.

I think it's best to just sit tight and wait for more info.

HAMSpotter · Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:48 am

Sadly I got screwed too... I wanted to book four tickets for the 12pm flight at Saturday.

I booked (and paid) two window seats for Saturday and then during the booking for the second pair of aisle tickets they closed the Saturday flights and I received a booking confirmation for two aisle seats on the monday 12pm flight!

Now I am sat here with two (sure.. already paid) seats on a monday flight two people can't use, because they have to work... gasp

[Edited 2014-01-14 00:49:34]

mxp · Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:08 am

Hi all
i have confirmation for sunday on 9.00 flight.
Alberto

SwissCanuck · Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:01 am

I have sent an e-mail to Biman asking them to confirm our reservation for Saturday. I'm not booking anything else until I hear back. Its almost 1700 local there so I'm not sure I'll get a response today.

I'll be sure to report back here when I receive more information.

BritishB747 · Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:53 pm

Have just booked onto the 0900 BG2 on the Monday. Can get from Scotland to Birmingham for fairly cheap for that departure.

aloges · Tue Jan 14, 2014 2:05 pm

Window seats on the 12 and 3 pm flights on Monday are now sold out. This is giving me hope for the Sunday flights!

cedarjet · Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:08 pm

Don't fret, the weekend flights are not sold out, they will become available as soon as the Monday flights sell out. I don't know why it's being done this way but next to go on sale is Sunday, then Saturday, and if demand exists, Biman are willing to fly on Friday as well. All that is from Biman HQ direct. Reason is cos the DC-10 is such a thirsty bird (47% higher fuel consumption than the 777-300ER per seat) that they can't afford to operate nine half empty flights, each one has to be full to pay it's way. I guess this is the most logical way of doing it. Anyway, hang in there and the weekend flights will open up quite soon. See you onboard!

Also they will be bringing DC-10 and F-28 stuff up with the aircraft to sell over the weekend, eg parts, instruments, manuals, weight and balance paperwork, safety cards (of course!), you name it...

Auleyair · Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:44 pm

Just Booked for BG 4 on Monday 24th of February

COMFIRMED LIST:

Auleyair
--------------------------------------------------------
MAYBE LIST:

--------------------------------------------------------
COMFIRMED FOR DC10 Sightseeing Flight

24th 0900 BG 2: Open For Booking

24th 1200 BG 4: Open For Booking
Auleyair

24th 1500 BG 8 (Last Sightseeing flight (only bookable via Ian Allen Tour)):

23rd 0900: (Not Open for booking yet)

23rd 1200: (Not Open for booking yet)

23rd 1500: (Not Open for booking yet)

22rd 0900: (Not Open for booking yet)

22rd 1200: (Not Open for booking yet)

22rd 1500: (Not Open for booking yet)

-----------------------------------------------------------
Outbound Flight

Auleyair DUB-MAN EI202 06:30-07:30 A320

------------------------------------------------------------
Inbound Flight

Auleyair BHX-DUB EI277 19:20-20:20 A320

------------------------------------------------------------
Hotel

Auleyair -> 22nd -> Radisson Blu Manchester Airport
23rd -> Not Comfirm yet (Hotel in BHX)

Birdwatching · Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:02 pm

Here's what you're all forgetting:

Biman flights are usually about 20-22 hours delayed, so a Saturday booking is actually a Sunday flight.

Soren

nicode · Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:21 pm

Quoting aloges (Reply 38):
Window seats on the 12 and 3 pm flights on Monday are now sold out

Not anymore ! You can book on all monday flights... Strange

debonair · Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:36 pm

Quoting auleyair (Reply 40):
24th 1500 BG 8 (Last Sightseeing flight (only bookable via Ian Allen Tour)):

...and via BIMAN.

zululima · Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:14 pm

I'm ticketed for BG 1015 from Dhaka. Also snagging an A342 and A310 on the way there. Booking went smoothly, but the Biman website is kind of second-rate. Seat selection is a "coming soon" feature, and you first have to make a reservation, then get until midnight Bangladesh time to pay for it, which takes you through a third-party bank to process the credit card. Odd, but it does work.

See you all in DAC / BHX.
ZuluLima

Auleyair · Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:00 pm

Thank Debonair, meant to add that in after noticing myself.

It look like what left on Monday 24th but I open for correction.

BG 2 -> 2 Window Seats and >6 Aisle Seats left.

BG 4 -> No Window Seat and 1 Aisle Seat left.

BG 8 -> No Window Seat and 2 Aisle Seats left.

bennett123 · Wed Jan 15, 2014 12:03 am

I tried at 1730.

All Sat/Sun seats gone.

Guess I will be in the spotting area on Sat.

CrimsonNL · Wed Jan 15, 2014 12:32 am

Only aisle seats available now for Monday 0900, all other Monday flights are sold out. Hopefully they'll add Sunday next!

Martijn

vandenheuvel · Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:38 am

I'm confirmed for the 0900 flight on Sunday. All Sunday flights are up now.

cedarjet · Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:48 am

Some spectacular lack of English comprehension going on here. Other than a brief hiccup when the flights went on sale, Biman are releasing seats as each day fills up, working in reverse chronological order from Monday Feb 24. This has been repeated again and again. Now that Monday Feb 24 is almost sold out, flights from Sunday Feb 23 are on sale. As they fill up, expect to see Saturday Feb 22 go on sale.

Quoting bennett123 (Reply 46):
All Sat/Sun seats gone.

No.

Quoting SwissCanuck (Reply 31):
This discussion is making us VERY nervous

Why? Please read it more carefully.

BG HQ are very responsive to emails. If you are unhappy with your booking, contact the airline and they will fix the issue.

Quoting HAMSpotter (Reply 34):
I booked (and paid) two window seats for Saturday and then during the booking for the second pair of aisle tickets they closed the Saturday flights and I received a booking confirmation for two aisle seats on the monday 12pm flight!

If you do not get a response, let me know by private message and I will contact the office of BG's management and get this situation fixed.

To recap. Monday almost sold out, Sunday now on sale. If Saturday is your preference, hang in there a tiny bit longer and it will go on sale. If demand persists, the airline is willing to fly Friday as well. Everyone will get their DC-10 wishes granted.

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