Iberia’s A350 test flights from London Heathrow are now bookable

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• Paul says:

  23 Mar23 March 06:18

  A 14 hour trip, the £300 cost of a private cabin for the four of us is only marginally more than I just paid for four First Class tickets from St Pancras to Sheffield

  LOL………. had a similar experience in Europe using Austrian Railjet business class and German railways. 12 hours of travel in First and Business class for about £300. Very efficient, very comfortable.

  Last week Reading to Bristol on a highly restricted ticket cost me £100 for just over 2 hours of travel for 1 person. But and here’s the kicker, when I tried to jump on a train 30 minutes earlier, around 2pm, I was advised that the change fees would be £84!!!!

  It’s trully incredible how in Britain we have come to accept such shoddy service whilst paying so much!

  • Jonty says:

    23 Mar23 March 06:30

    If you ever get bored of the points game there are similar but less aspirational and more anoraky websites entirely devoted to playing the cheap train tickets game

    • Jonty says:

      23 Mar23 March 06:36

      When the fully flexible and refundable 1st single is £114, the completely inflexible £106 or £97 tickets are not worth touching

      • John says:

        23 Mar23 March 07:11

        Unless you want to try the (overpriced) Pullman dining or use the sleeper, GWR 1st is not worth touching

      • Save East Coast Rewards says:

        23 Mar23 March 14:04

        @John – I’d not call the Pullman overpriced. Expensive, yes, but it’s worth it. I’ve been meaning to write a review of it.

        You can use the Pullman restaurant with a standard class ticket if spaces are available but only first class ticket holders can reserve a seat in the restaurant with standard it’s just the luck of the draw.

        GWR sleeper doesn’t have a first class. You are entitled to use the 1st class lounge in Paddington with a sleeper ticket (nice to get a drink and snack on arrival into London) but the sleeper ticket is listed as standard class. Unlike the Caledonian Sleeper (although they’re phasing this out) there’s no chance of having to share a cabin with a stranger on any of the GWR sleeper tickets.

        As for whether GWR first class is worth it you have to remember that traditionally the benefit of first class is a more comfortable seat. Complimentary food and drink (except for tea, coffee, water, biscuits) were never part of a first class product until Virgin Trains introduced it and then East Coast followed in 2011. The first class seats are significantly more comfortable than the standard class seats, so if comfort is what you want then first class is worth it. If you want free food and drink then it’s not worth paying extra for.

        Personally I think GNER nailed it. The catering wasn’t complimentary but they had restaurants on most services so you could get a good meal, they had proper glassware and cups for the drinks and snacks, unlike GWR that gives you a disposable cup when not in the restaurant. VT East Coast does a decent complimentary offering (if you get the advertised catering and there’s not a staff shortage or dodgy kitchen)

    • Lady London says:

      24 Mar24 March 21:17

      @Jonely could you name which sites you view as useful for this please? I’m just about to enter into a new era of train travel…

  • Ruth4325 says:

    23 Mar23 March 07:58

    I’ve looked at that train before but it doesn’t seem possible to book a private compartment for 4? Only 4-6, where you might end up with two other people with you. How did Rob manage to guarantee a 4berth compartment?

    • Rob says:

      23 Mar23 March 08:42

      Dunno, my wife booked it! Perhaps if you book with kids they guarantee it.

    • Andrew says:

      23 Mar23 March 09:30

      Quote:- “There are three compartment alternatives to choose between: ladies, gentlemen and mixed. If your party comprises 4 people or more, you can book an own compartment and pay our child fare for any unused berths.”

      • Lady London says:

        24 Mar24 March 21:20

        That’s very sensible and fair pricing.

  • Nick says:

    23 Mar23 March 09:08

    I don’t understand how you could possibly do that. So far this year I’ve bought TWO return tickets from Reading to Bristol for a touch over £50 each, all offering complete (off-peak) flexibility. I didn’t even reserve seats because I knew they were flexible.

• Michael C says:

  23 Mar23 March 06:26

  Can’t wait for the report on the Swedish train, sounds fabulous!
  My UK shocker was last summer: for 3 second-class Oxford-HuddersfielD returns, I was quoted…GBP510.

  • Andrew says:

    23 Mar23 March 09:29

    Oxford to Edinburgh £322 before 9am – Priced by Cross Country
    Oxford to Glasgow £148.50 before 9am – Priced by Virgin

    Guess which route I use to head to Scotland this Easter?

    (That’s right, I drive to Heathrow, pay £18.50 to park for 6 nights and £30+Avios to Fly).

    • Intentionally Blank says:

      23 Mar23 March 09:48

      Living in Kingston and having family in Manchester, all my family and friends think I’m decadent, as I fly instead of driving / getting the train, until I point out a bunch of avois and £18 is much cheaper than getting the train.

    • Lady London says:

      24 Mar24 March 21:21

      That’s shocking. Aren’t there books about that talk about Britain having been sold to venture capitalists, who are now collecting huge rents off the public for all essential services?

• Genghis says:

  23 Mar23 March 06:30

  OT. Interesting FT article on ultra-long-haul travel and QF’s Project Sunrise: “Qantas pushes boundaries with 17-hour ‘kangaroo route’”

  • Nick says:

    23 Mar23 March 10:26

    (Geek alert)
    Seems Qantas is struggling with range performance on the 787 PER-LHR and it hasn’t even begun yet! They have blocked some seats from sale to reduce the pax load, and fully embargoed the flight for staff travel (both other airline staff and their own) until at least the summer because of ‘performance limitations’. Could get interesting if it has to stop for petrol!

    • JamesB says:

      23 Mar23 March 11:44

      They bought the wrong metal.

      • Jon says:

        23 Mar23 March 12:56

        Isn’t this just the effect of removing economy and adding business seats? This service will never compete on price with standard hub-based routes. Economy passengers aren’t going to pay too much of a price premium to go non-stop whereas business passengers might, so I guess the service will only make sense if skewed heavily towards premium passengers.

      • Nick says:

        23 Mar23 March 17:33

        Absolutely correct, but that’s to do with the config (fit-out) of the aircraft. Once they’ve chosen that they should be able to sell all the seats they’ve chosen to put on it. But they can’t, they think it’ll hit performance limits sooner than expected. Can’t complain though, rather safe than sorry.

• Mike says:

  23 Mar23 March 06:46

  Rob – I would love an article on the train trip

  • Ruth4325 says:

    23 Mar23 March 07:59

    And me.

    • W says:

      23 Mar23 March 16:45

      Having been on that train three times for various hiking trips, it is scenic, and you meet interesting people. Watch out for lappoorten!

• JamesB says:

  23 Mar23 March 07:11

  Hope you and your family have a great time Rob. Just run the articles and largely leave HFP to take care of itself.

• GrondAir says:

  23 Mar23 March 07:21

  OT. I’ve managed to grab 2x reward flights with VS to HKG for a week in November in Upper Class. It will be our first time in Hong Kong. I recently upgraded my Amex PRG to Platinum and am keen to benefit from the hotel statuses. Currently thinking of the JW Mariott – SPG matched to Mariott Gold so should get executive lounge access or Shangri-La Kowloon – Jade status provides free breakfast. I’ve also looked at Amex FHR but seems much more expensive. Does anyone have any recommendations?

  • JamesB says:

    23 Mar23 March 07:29

    You don’t need to keep the platinum card for the hotel status, once they come through they are fixed, you can cancel the card. Hotel status will last for remainder of this scheme year and all of next. Always best to trigger hotel status on 1 April or soon after to maximise benefit period.

  • Andrew* says:

    23 Mar23 March 08:58

    I’m guessing you’ll want to book before then but I’ll be staying at the SL-Kowloon for a week in July…

    What swayed our decision making? Yes, we have Jade through platinum card too; we’ve had good experiences at the Shard in London (2 adults & 2 children getting free breakfast); although we didn’t consider the JW Marriott, the SL was happy to allow a family of 4 in one room…

    A quick Google search (I wanted to see where the JW Marriott was based) suggests you pay the traditional premium for being based on the island… What’s important to you? For the price of a Marriott room you could probably book a good SL room with club access included… it’s very easy to get from Kowloon to Island and back again (MTR, Star Ferry… TBF, for the price difference even taxis although I wouldn’t like to say how much it would cost…) There is also an island SL, but again it’s much dearer than the Kowloon version…

    I have stayed at the Novotel on Nathan Road for work; it is perfectly acceptable – small club lounge and good, helpful concierge staff…

    There are HFP reviews on the IHG IC property… and various things to consider re points/cash/ambassador certificates

    • Genghis says:

      23 Mar23 March 09:08

      We’ve a week booked at the JWM in Oct using the travel package. We stayed next door at the Conrad 18 months or so ago and had a great time there (suite upgrade). While there visited the JWM’s Fish bar – excellent food – and pool area. True you certainly pay a premium for that location. Isn’t there a decent Renaissance in Causeway Bay?

      • JamesB says:

        23 Mar23 March 10:10

        What category is that, a serious upgrade I guess? We need 4 nights late late this year but I think I will look for something a bit different than the usual in Kowloon or the UK bay side.

      • Genghis says:

        23 Mar23 March 10:40

        JWM is Cat 9.

    • GrondAir says:

      23 Mar23 March 10:51

      Thanks for the advice. Sounds like the SL Kowloon is much better value and it should be easy to get the Island. Just need to decide if it’s worth going for the Harbour views or Club access!

      Not so keen on the IC given it’s imminently being closed for an extensive refurb.

  • Relaxo says:

    23 Mar23 March 09:37

    We stayed at the Renaissance last november. Really generous exec lounge & the biggest hotel swimming pool Ive ever seen. Great views across the harbour, but there is some construction work happening. Didnt bother us though. I think its a good compromise between luxury & cost if paying out of pocket. Also heard the new Kerry hotel is really good – dont know what the Jade benefits there are though.

  • roberto says:

    23 Mar23 March 15:33

    I stayed in the Kowloon Shangri La a few weeks back and can 100% reccomend the Horizon level. The hotel is well positioned and very comfortable with an amazing staff ethos. Its not the cheapest hotel ever but its Hong Kong.

    I dont know if youre Jade and book a basic room then you are entitled to breakfast and Horizon privileges – I thought no… Prehaps others could chime in with that.

    Book via Robs contact Emyr for fully cancellable deal with upgrade options and $100 hotel credit.

    As a side note I got UberX to the airport and back for a fraction on the Hotels limo prices.

• Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

  23 Mar23 March 07:45

  Good lord East Midlands first class! It’s only very marginally superior to standard class (unless you get one of the breakfast services, then drop the ‘very’). Makes Club Europe look like a real step up from economy.

  • Genghis says:

    23 Mar23 March 07:54

    Depends how much value people place on the “I’m travelling First” factor I guess

    • Lumma says:

      23 Mar23 March 10:07

      Priced up tickets for Sheffield to London last night. Only £7 more for first class. Would value it at about that if I can get one of the single seats when travelling alonr but not much more than that

      • Rob says:

        23 Mar23 March 11:08

        That’s roughly the extra we paid!

  • Jon says:

    23 Mar23 March 13:00

    Similar travelling trans-pennine. I valued 1st as worth about £3 extra (as you got a coffee and a cake). However still use it quite a bit as advance fares (which are fine for my purposes) are frequently almost identical to standard class, and sometimes cheaper!

• martin says:

  23 Mar23 March 07:56

  I’m already flying MAD-LHR on July 29th, but annoyingly the shiny new plane will get us back to London too late. (The outbound is on a 777 though, so the CW bed will be a nice wee treat)

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