Ireland / UK Routes - Couple of questions..

The Bishop Basher

First off let me say I have a passing interest in aviation but my knowledge of aircraft isn't great so apologies for the lack of detail in this post...

I fly regularly between Ireland and the UK.

Anyway, on Wednesday I caught a BA flight from Glasgow to LHR and it was pure heaven. The service was great but the aircraft was a dream. Large, roomy and felt like sitting in a Rolls Royce.

Yesterday, I returned to Dublin from LGW with Aer Lingus and again it was a decent sized jet, very comfortable and spacious.

I normally fly Dub / Gla or Dub / LHR and the planes are hell. Little Aer Arann Prop planes, really cramped and you feel every bump. To make matters worse, when I boarded the Glasgow flight on Tuesday morning and tried to fit my bag in the overhead locker it wouldn't fit. Apparantley I wasn't the only one left a little confused as the stewardess put my bag in the hold while telling me it was smaller plane. It did appear smaller but it's a bit of a pain when your bag is regulation size and fits in every other locker on every other plane. Why is this ? Why do certain routes get all the comfort ? And have Aer Arann introduced even smaller planes on the Glasgow route ? From now on I will try to fly to LGW where possible but it's not as handy at the other end.

Ona side note, noting that there was a North wind in Dublin yesterday I took a left side window seat in the hope that we would approach from the south. Wow. What an approach. Crystal clear right up the East coast. I could see my town, my house, my workplace everything. One of the real joys of flying is getting a birsdeye view of places you know so well.

BuffyBot

It won't fit every other locker on every other plane

Regional aircraft are by nature smaller than full size jets. They are narrower so can't have bins equal in size to a larger jet.

They are used to fly to markets where full sized aircraft would be too big for/uneconomic and/or to provide more frequent service (which are the reasons Aer Lingus use Aer Arann)

The Bishop Basher

I understand that but my bag has always fit in the Aer Arann planes without a problem. Just about in fairness but it fits. It seems the size has reduced again.

As for the economics of the route, I would have thought more people would use the Dub / LHR route but maybe i'm worng in that assumption.

ComeraghBlue

it was probably an ATR-42 which is smaller than the bigger ATR-72

brandon_flowers

Under wing bin lockers by any chance on an ATR?

murphym7

Swanner wrote: »

I understand that but my bag has always fit in the Aer Arann planes without a problem. Just about in fairness but it fits. It seems the size has reduced again.

As for the economics of the route, I would have thought more people would use the Dub / LHR route but maybe i'm worng in that assumption.

Are you saying that you have been on a prop aircraft from Dublin to Heathrow?

The Bishop Basher

ComeraghBlue wrote: »

it was probably an ATR-42 which is smaller than the bigger ATR-72

That would make sense. I fly a lot though and have never encountered one of these. Are they used as backup for the ATR -72's ?

brandon_flowers wrote: »

Under wing bin lockers by any chance on an ATR?

Very possible as I was in row 11. I normally sit down the back so I can get off quickly.

murphym7 wrote: »

Are you saying that you have been on a prop aircraft from Dublin to Heathrow?

Pretty sure I have but you have me wondering now

murphym7

I am not sure you were, I am pretty sure EI only use the A320 family into Heathrow with the ATR's going to London Southend. Open to correction though.

Tenger

brandon_flowers wrote: »

Under wing bin lockers by any chance on an ATR?

This seems the likely answer. You have been on RE aircraft before and never had an issue. RE have not recently retrofitted smaller O/H bins. As with many high wing aircraft the O/H space is reduced in the centre of the cabin. The Bae146 was the same when EI had them and the CityJey RJ85's are the same (new name for the same aircraft)

The Bishop Basher

murphym7 - You're probably right. A320 rings bells alright. I have a poor memory at best and couple that with red eye flights well you get the idea.

Tenger wrote: »

This seems the likely answer. You have been on RE aircraft before and never had an issue. RE have not recently retrofitted smaller O/H bins. As with many high wing aircraft the O/H space is reduced in the centre of the cabin. The Bae146 was the same when EI had them and the CityJey RJ85's are the same (new name for the same aircraft)

OK. So I just need to make sure I get a seat at the back in future. Much handier anyway for getting off quickly at the other end.

Just remembered, the BA aircraft was a 767. Having spent so much time in the ATR's and 320's the 767 was real pleasure. Like the difference between sitting in a Mini and a Rolls. Can't wait to do a long haul flight again. It's a been a while and judging by my current bank balance, won't be any time soon

mayotom

Swanner wrote: »

Just remembered, the BA aircraft was a 767. Having spent so much time in the ATR's and 320's the 767 was real pleasure. Like the difference between sitting in a Mini and a Rolls. Can't wait to do a long haul flight again. It's a been a while and judging by my current bank balance, won't be any time soon

Surely they are not using 767´s on the LHR-GLA Route

brandon_flowers

Yes they use a 767 on that route, most segments are run by an A320/A319 but they do use a 767 once per day it seems. Must just fit nicely into the schedule at the end of a day.

Also wiki says it is the 763ER they have.

BuffyBot

BA occasionally run 767's on the Glasgow and Edinburgh routes.

Senecio

mayotom wrote: »

Surely they are not using 767´s on the LHR-GLA Route

I've just returned from Tokyo. While I was there I took a 777-200 from Tokyo to Toyama. All of 48mins in the air. There was barely an empty seat on the plane. It didn't feel right being on such a big plane for such a short period.

mayotom

Senecio wrote: »

I've just returned from Tokyo. While I was there I took a 777-200 from Tokyo to Toyama. All of 48mins in the air. There was barely an empty seat on the plane. It didn't feel right being on such a big plane for such a short period.

inv Japan yes, not on an internal UK route

Marcusm

mayotom wrote: »

Surely they are not using 767´s on the LHR-GLA Route

B767s on domestic routes were quite common when BA had more of them.

L1011

mayotom wrote: »

inv Japan yes, not on an internal UK route

They still do use them on UK domestic routes, though.

Irish Steve

Long time ago now, when BA ran the LHR to DUB route regularly in competition with Aer Lingus, there was no way to predict what aircraft would be at the gate, it could have been anything from a BAC 1-11, B737, B757, B767 or Tristar. I've also known Aer Lingus to send 747's and 330's to Heathrow when the weather or something else disrupted schedules around Christmas time, in order to get as many people as possible home for Christmas.

A Dub in Glasgo

I have got the 767 Glasgow - Heathrow quite a few times. In fact last Tuesday, it was the 18.50 from Heathrow and I was in row 6 with no one else across the other 6 seats!. The cabin crew even insisted I take two vodka and cokes

I used to fly a lot of Aer Lingus Glasgow to Dublin and it was always A320. I went with Ryanair for years then last year went back to Aer Lingus and they had swapped the A320 with the Aer Arann ATR-72, nice for a change.

Finally I flew back from London yesterday to Glasgow and this time from Gatwick on BA on their 737. Just as well as Heathrow was a hell hole for UK domestic flights.

brandon_flowers

Irish Steve wrote: »

Long time ago now, when BA ran the LHR to DUB route regularly in competition with Aer Lingus, there was no way to predict what aircraft would be at the gate, it could have been anything from a BAC 1-11, B737, B757, B767 or Tristar. I've also known Aer Lingus to send 747's and 330's to Heathrow when the weather or something else disrupted schedules around Christmas time, in order to get as many people as possible home for Christmas.

Back then you could go through 20 Sweet Aftons on a flight!

Jhcx

I hate those ATR's just the look of them puts me off. Im dead serious when i would take a FR packed flight anyday over one of them.
They just look like they are about to fall from the sky. yes they may be more economical but i prefer a jet even if its small. why not get an embraer 170 their economical enough and small? at 80pax

asdfg!

I'm tempted to be really sarcastic about this. This is a very common perception. The notion that turboprop aircraft, ATR aircraft they type used by Aer Arann are cramped 'little' aeroplanes. Even that they are ancient prop aircraft dating from the another era.

The reality is that, quite often turboprop aircraft are as modern if not more than jets and are not that much smaller than most jets.

But that's neither here nor there. The reality is that it's all about capacity. Jets are expensive to operate and need to be filled. On shorter routes with less demand you have to use turboprops. The alternative is no flights at all.

As a pilot I suppose I'm biased. But to be fair OP, you have with your final comments hit the nail on the head as to why pilots fly. I have to remind myself sometimes how lucky I am. I get paid to see these sights. It's hard sometimes to keep perspective when it's just a job.

Jamie2k9

BuffyBot wrote: »

It won't fit every other locker on every other plane

Regional aircraft are by nature smaller than full size jets. They are narrower so can't have bins equal in size to a larger jet.

They are used to fly to markets where full sized aircraft would be too big for/uneconomic and/or to provide more frequent service (which are the reasons Aer Lingus use Aer Arann)

Here is the thing Aer Lingus and Aer Arann have addressed hand luggage storage on the 8 new ATR72-600. The overhead bins on the new 72's are now the same size as those on an Airbus.

IRLConor

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Here is the thing Aer Lingus and Aer Arann have addressed hand luggage storage on the 8 new ATR72-600. The overhead bins on the new 72's are now the same size as those on an Airbus.

Nice!

Will they harmonise the baggage rules entirely, do you think?

Jamie2k9

Not sure what there plan will be but the extra baggage space is more so for T/A connections but they might change but it will be summer 2014 before it happens as all are not due in service until March 14. It could end up being selected routes if they do change such as GLA, EDI, BHX, MAN which will see mostly 600's.

IRLConor

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Not sure what there plan will be but the extra baggage space is more so for T/A connections but they might change but it will be summer 2014 before it happens as all are not due in service until March 14. It could end up being selected routes if they do change such as GLA, EDI, BHX, MAN which will see mostly 600's.

Grand. It's nice to know it might happen, even if it's not on the routes that would affect me. It's the fact that they don't take firearms on the DUB-ABZ and DUB-IOM routes that currently affects me.

Preset No.3

The options for DUB-LON are:

Heathrow: BA and EI
Gatwick: FR and EI
Stansted: FR
Luton: FR
London City: AFR
Southend: EIR

All flights are around the hour mark. What are the pros and cons to each airport?

The reason I ask is that I went to London yesterday, flew with EIR to Southend. Flight was just over an hour in a half full ATR 42. Landed in Southend and I was on the train on the way into London in about 10 mins. Now there was train works, and we got off at Stratford, but normally it goes to Liverpool Street. Return train ticket was £15. Stansted Express to Liverpool Street is £32.

How long is it from Gatwick and Heathrow into the centre of London?

Yes CityJet is in the centre of London, but most times the flights are a lot more expensive.

BuffyBot

Gatwick, approx 30 minutes on the express. 35 - 45 minutes depending on which "normal" service you get.
Heathrow, 15 minutes on the express. 30 minutes approximately on the Heathrow Connect, 45 - 1 hour on the Tube depending where you're getting off.

Jhcx

BuffyBot wrote: »

Gatwick, approx 30 minutes on the express. 35 - 45 minutes depending on which "normal" service you get.
Heathrow, 15 minutes on the express. 30 minutes approximately on the Heathrow Connect, 45 - 1 hour on the Tube depending where you're getting off.

should only take you 20 minutes on the Gatwick express. took me 22 minutes from Croydon to LGW on Southern and it only take 13 minutes from Croydon to Victoria where the Gatwick Express and Southern Trains Terminate.

of course their non peak.

As for LHR i couldnt tell you, only that its too long

LXFlyer

BuffyBot wrote: »

Gatwick, approx 30 minutes on the express. 35 - 45 minutes depending on which "normal" service you get.
Heathrow, 15 minutes on the express. 30 minutes approximately on the Heathrow Connect, 45 - 1 hour on the Tube depending where you're getting off.

Jhcx wrote: »

should only take you 20 minutes on the Gatwick express. took me 22 minutes from Croydon to LGW on Southern and it only take 13 minutes from Croydon to Victoria where the Gatwick Express and Southern Trains Terminate.

of course their non peak.

As for LHR i couldnt tell you, only that its too long

Which London Airport you use is down to where you want to go, how much you want to pay, and how fast you want to get there.

The Heathrow Express will get you to Paddington in 15 minutes, and I've often got off a plane and (using the HEX and Bakerloo line) been in Piccadilly Circus 45 minutes later. Granted I know my way around both Heathrow and Paddington like the back of my hand!

HEX costs £34 return.

The Heathrow Connect will take approximately 30 minutes to/from Paddington and costs £19 return.

The Underground takes between 45 and 60 minutes from Piccadilly but only costs either £3 (off-peak) or £5 (peak) using Oyster, and £5.50 cash.

Gatwick Express takes 30 minutes exactly from Victoria to Gatwick, it's certainly not 20 minutes!!!

Either way - do not use the Gatwick Express as you don't need to. It's for people who don't know any better!

Right behind every Gatwick Express service is a Southern service that normally takes 31-36 minutes and will cost you significantly less, and I mean SIGNIFICANTLY less!!

Alternatives from Gatwick are both Southern and First Capital Connect will to London Bridge and First Capital Connect will also take you through the heart of the City to St Pancras.

London City has the DLR which will cost £2.70 (off-peak) and £3.20 (peak) using oyster and takes a mere 24 minutes. Remember too that LCY has very tight check-in times (15 minutes with hand luggage only) - a big plus!!

owenc

Swanner wrote: »

murphym7 - You're probably right. A320 rings bells alright. I have a poor memory at best and couple that with red eye flights well you get the idea.




OK. So I just need to make sure I get a seat at the back in future. Much handier anyway for getting off quickly at the other end.

Just remembered, the BA aircraft was a 767. Having spent so much time in the ATR's and 320's the 767 was real pleasure. Like the difference between sitting in a Mini and a Rolls. Can't wait to do a long haul flight again. It's a been a while and judging by my current bank balance, won't be any time soon

A320 has like 180 seats and is a normal jetliner the overhead lockers are not small.