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Post by mrmoose on Dec 22, 2013 15:28:28 GMT
I have emailed Thomson customer relations to find out when the flights will be going on sale. Response:
"I'm sorry that you've not yet been able to book your flight , and this is due to the fact we've not yet finalised details of the plane we'll use for your flights. As soon as this decision is made, you will be able to book your flight Please check back with us regularly, and we'll get your flight released on our website as soon as we can"
Certainly sounds like a last minute addition to the brochure. All of the other "TBA" flights I have tried are bookable with carrier/times to be confirmed, so I would definitely say these flights are not set in stone yet. If these are to be operated by BACF through HAT, LCY, where most BACF planes are based is closed from 1300 Saturday to 1100 Sunday. It would be more logical to operate 2 flights on a Saturday afternoon, and 2 on a Sunday morning than 4 on a Saturday afternoon. Hopefully all will be revealed soon. I imagine DSA will be watching these developments closely too.
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Post by flyer on Dec 22, 2013 19:03:13 GMT
On another 2014 charter topic it looks like lowcostholidays have started to load holidays using JetXtra's Alicante and Palma flights with BA on their web site. Work in progress when I last checked.
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Post by airbus320 on Dec 29, 2013 21:04:05 GMT
Up in Yorkshire for the holidays. Played my part and whilst out shopping, popped into a couple of Thomson travel shops, nobody knew about HUY flights. Told them to keep checking as they should be on sale soon.
I suspect, looking at the Jetxtra timings, that 2 x BACF E190s will position in on either Friday night or Saturday morning, and operate morning returns for Thomson to PMI and IBZ. During the high season, they should then operate the Jetxtra flights in the afternoons.
Would seem to add up. Thomson use BE E195s out of SOU for a similar operation, so it's certainly feesible.
kind regards
airbus320
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Post by hullcityfan on Dec 29, 2013 22:07:16 GMT
Looks like the Thomson flights may not be happening now after all. Fingers crossed she's wrong though!.
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Post by pug on Dec 30, 2013 12:04:13 GMT
Like I said before, nothing is confirmed until such time that the flights/holidays are formally announced and on sale.
In my experience, only departments that need to know a ill actually know what's happening or what's not happening as the case may be. So it's best to be patient and sit it out rather than chasing these people with emails, as the chances are they are no wiser than you.
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Post by flyer on Dec 30, 2013 15:28:08 GMT
BA Alicante and Palma flights now loaded with holidays packages on lowcostholidays' web site. Just in time for their national TV advertising campaign. It's good to see them on board again selling these holidays as well as USA, Bulgaria and Jersey.
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Post by flyer on Jan 6, 2014 10:00:24 GMT
Article from Grimsby Telegraph today. Nothing particularly new but good publicity. "British Airways brought in to serve summer season from Humberside By Grimsby Telegraph | Posted: January 06, 2014 DONE DEAL: JetXtra.com founder Daniel Reilly. Below, a British Airways Embraer E-190, like those to be deployed from Humberside. BRITAIN'S flag-carrying airline will be a regular arrival and departure from Humberside International Airport this summer. JetXtra.com has reached a deal with British Airways to operate the flights to Alicante and Majorca. Launched last year, using airline Volotea, the switch is based on the success of the inaugural season. This deal will now see a state-of-the-art British Airways Embraer jet operating the weekly flights from Kirmington on JetXtra's behalf, and will be the first time British Airways has been a regular visitor to the airport. JetXtra founder Daniel Reilly said: "We are delighted to confirm that we have secured a deal with British Airways to operate our flights to Alicante and Majorca for summer 2014. The quality of service provided by BA is high, with unrivalled spacious legroom and excellent on-time performance. Coupled with the ease of using Humberside Airport, our customers will be starting off their holidays in the best possible way. "We always aim to offer a high standard of service and are confident that our customers will now also get a great in-flight experience onboard one of the most modern jet aircraft in the world operated by the UK's flag carrier." A similar class to the 717, the first Embraer will touch down on May 24, with a weekly Saturday service to Alicante recommencing. Majorca follows on July 26. Humberside International Airport commercial director Paul Litten pictured right, welcomed the announcement, pledging to keep working to bring more choice to travel-hungry people of northern Lincolnshire and beyond. He said: "We are delighted that the tour operator, JetXtra, has again decided to operate from the airport to Alicante and Palma for summer 2014. The success and high demand for the services last year have shown that passengers want to fly from our airport. "Spain continues to be a very popular destination. Clearly, using the UK flag carrier airline is a coup and we look forward to welcoming the first flights in May. Bookings can be made with our travel agency within the airport terminal and with JetXtra directly. The airport will continue to work with JetXtra and other tour operators, to return the desperately needed holiday destinations to the region." Read more: www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Britain-s-flag-carrier-heading-Humberside/story-20404879-detail/story.html#ixzz2pbuL1aVN
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Post by mrmoose on Jan 10, 2014 19:08:39 GMT
As we approach mid-January, there are still no signs of the Thomson flights that have been previously muted. All very quiet on the Thomas Cook front too by all accounts, which is quite worrying as we are now entering the main selling period for Summer 14 holidays. Based on what is actually on sale, with the assumed loss of the Thomas Cook Palma, and shorter season for JetXtra flights, we have around 30% reduction in charter seats on sale for Summer 14 compared with 13, excluding one-off departures.
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Post by flyer on Jan 17, 2014 16:09:22 GMT
Very unlikely (but not impossible) that Thomson will now appear for Summer 2014. On the up-side, the re-appearance of Humberside in their brochure bodes well for the future. Having being given the elbow from Durham (and a slow decline in their offerings from DSA), it shows HUY is on Thomson's agenda again. Let's hope for something for Summer 2015 or even a winter 2014/2015 route!
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Post by flyer on Jan 22, 2014 9:23:28 GMT
Looks like Alicante is selling well already. The first outbound on 24th May from HUY is no longer bookable on line and no holidays seem to be being promoted. Full or at least seats are committed. The price for first inbound to HUY on that date has also risen. It would be nice to think Jetxtra could add extra capacity although I suspect it's the same issue every time for HUY - nothing based at the airport so sourcing aircraft capacity at the right price is a challenge.
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Post by mrmoose on Jan 22, 2014 20:26:22 GMT
The return on 31st May will also only show if you search for 6 or less seats on the JetXtra website, which backs up that the flight (or JetXtra's allocation), is selling very well. I do wonder is JetXtra have shot themselves in the foot somewhat by going for a smaller aircraft, and do I wonder if they could still bring out extra flights for this year, at least to ALC - The month gap mid June-July being the obvious place to start - I wonder if it was lack of available aircraft or low loads in 2013 which means these weeks will be missed? The loads appeared to be steadily increasing all last year. I actually think dropping Volotea could have been a mistake, as although the plane size matches the typical loads seen last year, it has left them no room for growth in 2014 - Something which should happen as the flights become wider known in the area, and the brand becomes more trusted, after the "rocky" start.
In other news, It appears the Sunday Balkan Holidays departure has moved to Saturdays.
Flights now operate from 17th May:
Bougras 06:50 - Humberside 08:10 Humberside 09:10 - Bougras 14:10
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Post by Humberside on May 19, 2014 16:56:12 GMT
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Post by christ on May 19, 2014 22:19:09 GMT
Supposedly they wanted BA to use a larger aircraft or put on a second flight for this weekend due to the high demand, but there were no aircraft free to do it. Let's hope the rest of the flights over the season sell as well! Can only book 2 seats on the 31st departure, although there seem to be plenty left on the 7th June both ways, priced a lot lower than the rest too, that may explain why they are taking a break for the rest of June if they are not selling as well for next month.
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Post by mrmoose on May 24, 2014 9:07:59 GMT
The first Saturday of the Summer 14 season today, with flights to Bougras, Alicante, and Jersey - and probably the busiest Saturday at the airport for some time. The Alicante flight appears to be an E170, rather than E190 as expected - no wonder the flights sold out so soon, with 49 fewer seats than 2013 on each departure.
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Post by kirmingtonuser on Jun 3, 2014 14:49:15 GMT
Have JetXtra reduced their schedules to Alicante and Palma this summer or have they sold out some of their flights? Their Alicante route now shows a gap between 14th June and 2nd August. Their Palma service now only seems to operate between 26th July and 6th September. If they continue to use an E170 and if their schedules have been reduced, their total capacity (including 456 winter seats) would be 3,040. This compares with 8,500 last year.
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