Flybe launches flights from London City Airport to Newcastle

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• BJ says:

  14 Nov14 November 05:47

  Flubs up for sale”
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46203183

  • BJ says:

    14 Nov14 November 05:48

    *Flybe

    • David says:

      14 Nov14 November 06:32

      I was surprised this wasn’t mentioned.

      How confident are you Rob on them being around long enough to operate this route?

      • Tony says:

        14 Nov14 November 07:14

        I think that new route tells you everything you need to know about what’s wrong with the airline.

        I can’t imagine many scenarios at all where flying would be faster than the train – and if you miss the flight you’re stuffed whereas there’s another train along in half an hour.

        Best of luck to them but having seen Eastern struggle on the BHX-NCL route (was the only pax on more than one occasion) this seems foolish.

      • BJ says:

        14 Nov14 November 07:31

        Rob mentioned it some days ago. Probably waiting for more solid news before returning to it.

      • Lumma says:

        14 Nov14 November 08:07

        Not judging the future of Flybe, but I’ve always thought LCY would actually work as a route from Newcastle due to how central City Airport is. Someone (easyJet?) was doing Newcastle to Stansted and that makes no sense at all.

        Having said that, this route is looking like £160 return at its cheapest and I’d rather just pay the walk-up fare for an off peak return on the train than that

      • Andrew says:

        14 Nov14 November 08:51

        It’s been rumoured for such a long time. Along with recent rumours of interest by the Scottish Government…

        “FlyBe is a wholly owned subsidiary of David MacBrayne Limited” anyone?

      • Rob says:

        14 Nov14 November 10:25

        It is a franchise – Eastern is a separate company. If Flybe goes then Eastern will run it under their own brand.

    • Bill says:

      14 Nov14 November 07:41

      Flybe half year results are also published now

      • Shoestring says:

        14 Nov14 November 10:05

        Google [Struggling UK-based regional airline Flybe has announced it is putting itself up for sale as it delivered another disappointing set of results.] to get behind the FT paywall.

        This is the killer:
        ‘In Flybe’s results, auditor PwC said there was “significant doubt” over whether Flybe could continue as a going concern because of the possibility its two main card processors could increase the level of cash collateral they demand and that Flybe might not be able to meet that.’

      • Shoestring says:

        14 Nov14 November 10:10

        and see https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/flybe-sale-buyer-airline-oil-prices-profits-revenue-flights-a8632741.html

        They make £1.41 operating profit on each passenger! Makes up-selling another sandwich for another 50p profit seem like a plan lol

      • Russ says:

        14 Nov14 November 11:31

        @Shoestring. Believe it or not when Easyjet started they were only making £1 profit per passenger!

      • Terry says:

        14 Nov14 November 12:19

        Airlines don’t make much money per seat, some statistics: https://thistimeitisdifferent.com/airline-insights-november-2018

  • Rob says:

    14 Nov14 November 10:26

    It’s a quoted company. It is always up for sale. As is IAG, easyJet and Ryanair. The price per share is in your newspaper.

    • Stu N says:

      14 Nov14 November 12:53

      There’s a world of difference between being listed and being a company whose management have actively put itself up for sale and has hired advisors to help with a strategic review and sales process (per FT).

      • Steve says:

        14 Nov14 November 19:32

        There is a difference. The management have no right to put it up for sale. (Other then whatever shareholding they have.) At the end of the day it is only the shareholders who can sell not the management -.however if I was a shareholder it would make me want to sell up quick.

      • Shoestring says:

        14 Nov14 November 19:39

        I’m sure that’s just loose journalism, they probably meant the directors – who definitely can instruct advisors to seek interested parties

• Craig says:

  14 Nov14 November 07:04

  I have hit the cap and stays beyond that have not been credited with double points, might take some chasing but hopefully this will be backdated?

• pommy ray says:

  14 Nov14 November 07:13

  I’m guessing the ihg accelarate is also extended to the end of the year?

  • Claire says:

    14 Nov14 November 07:24

    Was there one? For me it was only this double points guff. I guess if that’s the case there won’t be another accelerate until January.

    • Sandra says:

      14 Nov14 November 12:16

      Do you think IHG have extended and increased double points realising that it’s a flop this quarter? We certainly aren’t booking (topping up Hilton instead) as our offers are so bad – I think it’s probably the first time ever we won’t have completed any bonus offers.

    • pommy ray says:

      14 Nov14 November 18:42

      it was a more basic version from 16 Sept to 16 Dec, 4 tasks plus double points.

• Michael says:

  14 Nov14 November 07:17

  Shame its to city and not LGW

  • Bryan says:

    14 Nov14 November 11:47

    From recollection the route used to be NCL to LGW under Flybe. Obviously not commercially viable but I agree LGW would be better. At the moment the only option between NCL and London is BA to LHR

• Bob says:

  14 Nov14 November 07:37

  Rgarding the Double Tree mentioned in the skydive piece, beware that it used to be owned by a different company/only became a DT this month. Their card payments do not register in the normal Hilton way, and so my spend there didn’t count towards the AMEX £50 offer. (But in every other way was ok with Hilton stuff.) PS: although near Yorkshire, it is actually in Lincolnshire.

  • Chris says:

    14 Nov14 November 08:41

    What was the property like?

    Looking for a midwinter long weekend somewhere nearby (w Lincs)

    • Bob says:

      14 Nov14 November 15:48

      It’s ok but nothing special for something sold as a resort. Has a fancy looking restaurant that knocks out average food for above average prices. Depending on room assignment, it can be a very long walk to reception/breakfast/exit.

      I’m not a golf player, and I didn’t go to the gym, but the swimming pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi are all very nice though.

      • Capt Hammond says:

        14 Nov14 November 21:00

        I’ve stayed there a few times over the last ten years when I’ve been working in the Scunthorpe/Grimsby area. Had a few different owners, most recently Q Hotels. I would echo Bob’s comments – not bad but not a great hotel. Most of the standard rooms don’t have air con (or didn’t the last time I stayed) and are quite old fashioned. The switch to Hilton is intriguing and hopefully will mean some improvements in quality as well as points earning ability. There’s also a decent Indian restaurant in nearby Brigg which is worth paying a visit…

• C says:

  14 Nov14 November 07:39

  OT: platinum upgrade from gold charge. I’ve seen a lot of comments recently where the annual fee for platinum was not actually applied until the anniversary date of the gold. Is this a given or just lucky? In the past I upgraded and then cancelled before next statement date to avoid the fee (as eg when going BA blue to PP the fee gets charged from next statement so I assumed plat would be the same). Upgrading next month and it would be handy to have the benefits for a couple of months but want to keep fee to a minimum (anniversary date if gold is in March)

  • Benylin says:

    14 Nov14 November 07:49

    It is luck… Some immediate, some never.

  • Liz says:

    14 Nov14 November 07:54

    I think it’s luck as some get charged straight away and some don’t. I’ve just upgraded last month and had my first platinum statement with no fee charged. Will keep for small shop then cancel.

    • Genghis says:

      14 Nov14 November 08:15

      Indeed. No regular pattern. I’ve had the fee applied before even got the card, month 1 statement and well I guess the anniversary (though don’t keep it that long…).

    • meta says:

      14 Nov14 November 10:07

      How long did it take for the upgrade from Gold charge to Plat to be approved? My other half did it last week on Wednesday, but still no sign of the upgrade.

      • Liz says:

        14 Nov14 November 10:09

        Mine always takes a while although this time about 5 or 6 days. Some of my applications take 2 wks which is very nerve wracking!

  • Zoe says:

    14 Nov14 November 07:57

    Please can I get a quick reminder of the points you get for doing this?

    • Genghis says:

      14 Nov14 November 08:16

      20k for £1k spend in first 3 months of upgrade

  • Anna says:

    14 Nov14 November 08:02

    We’ve never been charged the fee, always cancelled just before the anniversary date. Remember though, once you upgrade this time you won’t be able to do it again as gold charge card has been discontinued for new applications.

  • Jill (Kinkell) says:

    14 Nov14 November 08:46

    I upgraded half way through my gold year, raked in points, made a couple of referrals and cancelled just before my gold anniversary was due== no plat card fee, so saved myself £450. held the plat card long enough to ensure car hire insurance whilst in the states.

  • C says:

    14 Nov14 November 09:07

    Thanks everyone, will keep fingers crossed then. If the fee is charged then will just keep for a month, will be worth it for the bonus points and 2x lounge visits for our 241 trip to SA that we bagged on the day the Durban route launched (assuming DUR has a lounge? Haven’t actually looked) – thanks HFP 🙂 Will be sad that gold to plat upgrade is no longer possible after this one.

• Graeme says:

  14 Nov14 November 07:42

  A friend of mine does the same – he’ll be delighted with not having to get the train.

• IslandDweller says:

  14 Nov14 November 08:13

  Although you’ve used a photo of an Embraer jet, the LCY / NCL / ABZ service will be operated by a small prop plane (jetstream 41).
  Given the high frequency rail service, I can’t see the point of this air route.

  • Tony says:

    14 Nov14 November 08:40

    It’s a SAAB 2000 looking at the seat map on FlyBe

    (Are J41’s even able to land at Ciy??)

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