FlyBE - British EuropeanNEWS: Flybe has bought BA Connect from British Airways. The deal has significantly increased Flybe's route network both in the UK and continental Europe and give the company 159 routes, up from 101.FlyBE has a highly unusual niche market in the world of British Aviation. Virtually unknown outside its marketing areas, it can best be described as a low-cost with-frills airline, that is still trying to establish itself. There are the usual mainstream airline options of a Frequent Flyer scheme, allocated seats, a business class (ish) with executive lounges, and it code-shares on International (and Transatlantic) flights. However it's a low cost airline - you pay for your food and drink, and customer services is bruising. FlyBE is an airline that can never really decide what to call it self, or what its marketing strategy is. Technically the airline began in 1979 as Jersey European Airways, itself a merger of Intra Airways and Express Air Services, and based itself in Jersey, mainly surviving by flying Vickers Viscounts and Fokkers to Southampton, although there were also routes to Birmingham, Stanstead and Belfast. It became British European in the mid 90s, but kept the "rainbow" logo. Codeshares with Air France started, and some of France's old BAE146 became BE planes, but retained the Air France logo with "British European" under the unusual markings. Now the airline has revamped again as a low-cost airline selling tickets over the Internet. Hence the new name FlyBE.Com emblazoned up the planes, with the rainbow logo turning into a stripe under the text. This has coincided with the axing of meals & drinks on the airline, and a massive expansion of the hub at Southampton, with quite remarkable success. Alas production of the BAE146 around which the airline based its operations has ceased, and large airliners can't use Southampton thanks to its very short runway, so the airline has become the only low-cost airline replacing jets with propeller driven planes, and where most of the routes are flown by a fleet of new prop Q400s - and indeed BE has sold some of its older BAE146. Flybe does have one unique selling point that no other airline can really offer - cheap, direct, international flights from a small central hub in a great location.
FlyBE Classes, Seats and Fleet
FlyBE flies three types of planes at the moment, however eventually Flybe will reduce its fleet to 2 types, the BAe146 and Dash 8 Q400. It has a few Canadair RJ used mainly on the Birmingham to Glasgow routes, and a few of the smaller Dash 8 Q200s. FlyBE BAE146-300
All the BAE146s have 3+3 seating in the cabin - most airlines only put in 5 seats abreast, so although seat pitch is better than most no-frills airlines at 31", the width is definitely a bit of a squeeze. The best seats are 1A and 1F, as seats 1B and 1E are never used, and you can often get these seats if you ask at checkin. Otherwise you could sit at the back of the cabin since the middle seats tend to fill up from the front, however in-cabin engine-noise is another failing of the 146, so prepare for your ears to bleed before you land. Views of the ground are another strong point of the BAE146, because of the high wing above the cabin, so no seats suffer a wing view. Row 5 gives you a lovely view of the engine cowling, but not much else, and row 6 gets a blanker in the window. The overhead lockers in rows 6 to 10 are half size - and on the BAE 146 they are pretty tiny anyway.
It is also worth noting that although beautiful, with great handling characterists, and it can take off from a handkerchief, the BAE146 is not the most reliable of aircraft. The older ones tend to go technical just because there is a D in the day. FlyBE DHC Dash 8 (Q200 & Q400)These are very new twin engined turbo prop aircraft seating from 37 passengers (in the Q200) up to 74 in the newest (Q400) of which FlyBE have ordered another 20.
They are only a little slower than the BAE146 jets (Belfast to Birmingham takes 10 minutes more). Comfortable but can be a little bumpy in bad weather but are very safe. The Q400 version feels a little odd in the cabin. It has 2+2 seating and is quite narrow, and very long. FlyBE ticket typesFlybe is a low cost low frills airline - with a kind of business class. Economy Plus.
Economy is FlyBE's standard product. Changing ticket times, or the name on a ticket is possible - at £25 per sector at up to two hours before takeoff. However you need to call the FlyBE call centre (0906 209 0003) at £1 a minute. It isn't possible to collect Frequent Flyer points with this type of ticket, and you pay for your food & drinks. Economy Plus gets the same seats as in Economy. However you get to check in just 20 minutes before Domestic/Irish flights at dedicated desks, access into the Executive Lounge, you also get free food from the 'Deli in the Sky' selection. When you check in you will be handed a strip of three vouchers, to use each one of these
FlyBE Inflight experienceThe FlyBE experience starts at checkin. Some airports like Southampton just weren't built for the traffic FlyBE now generates, and there just aren't enough checkin desks which FlyBE can use. At other airports FlyBE will only pay for one or two desks. The result can be a long and frustrating queue to check in.FlyBE's staff are mainly young, so check in is generally a fun experience, but woe betide you if you ignore the warnings about checking in late - the flight will close exactly 45 minutes before takeoff. Luggage rules are also strictly enforced, with 10kg for hand luggage (and its got to be small) or 10kg plus a laptop for Economy Plus, and 20kg for luggage in the hold. You will also be charged for the luggage you check into the hold. You will pay £4 per bag - or £2 if you pay in advance. There is no charge for hand luggage. FlyBE will often board BAE146s on the tarmac using both forward and rear doors - rows 1 to 10 go first, and then 11 to 18 at the rear, before you climb on board, and get to hear some tunes from the 90s as you sit down.
When the trolley comes round, food is served from the rear, and the drinks from the front. The trolleys don't swap round, so if you're in the rear row and want some drinks, there can be a long long wait while the rest of the service is completed before you get some booze. Note that the food service stops on FlyBE flights which take off after 8pm. FlyBE Inflight Magazine - Uncovered & ChoicesThe inflight magazine Uncovered is suprisingly good, and considering it comes from such a small low-cost airline, it really is one of the best in its class. As it should be - it's produced for FlyBE by bmi publications.The first page gives information on FlyBE's new routes and planes - normally with natty pictures of the staff holding aloft a huge model of a BAE146. Then there are two pages of the Deli in the Sky, with all the food on board, and the prices. These are priced in GBP Sterling, however the airline will also take €uro, but as few people pay with €uro, getting change can be a problem.
There are then 20 more pages of shopping, which is quite reasonably priced. There are then usually two travel articles about places that are on the FlyBE routemap, although these tend to be bought in from freelance writers who are not noted for their eloquent prose. Finally, at the back are there are very good and useful guides to all the places FlyBE flies to, with a destination per page. These have a map of the city centre, information on how to get to the airport, hotels and restaurant reviews. There's a nice section on events happening in the city in the month, and a "Perfect Day" box on what to do if you just have a day in the city. Alas it's all let down a bit by the after dark section on entertainment, which is decidedly vague, tends to list clubs way past their prime, and pubs that have even shut down. If are traveling on an Air France codeshare, the Uncovered magazine is replaced with a copy of Air France's offering (which is still pretty good) and the Choices magazine. This is a smaller version of Uncovered, and just lists the food and drinks.
FlyBE RoutesSouthampton is the main hub on the FlyBE network. A small tiny airport with a short runway, its an unusual place to base a hub.A flight takes off for Edinburgh at 1210 and 1740 except on a Saturday at 1235 and Sunday at 1125 and 1800. Belfast has flights in the week at 0845, 1420, and 1945, on a Saturday at 1310, and Sunday at 1540. Dublin gets a fright at 0700 and 1830 except on a Saturday December to March when takeoff is at 1110.
Guernsey has flights at 0750, 1025, 1505, 1740, and 1955 during the week, and Sunday, 0850, 1205, 1850, and 1915 on a Saturday. Jersey has flights at every day 0820, 1105 (not Saturday), 1530, and 1950. Paris at 0845 (except Sunday) and 1820 (except Saturday). From Southampton to Alicante gets a flight on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday at 0720, Sunday at 0800 (0930 in the winter) and Saturday at 1305. Bergerac takes off at 1305 except on Saturday at 1635. Geneva has a daily flight at 1035. La Rochelle at 1345 Monday to Friday June to October.
From Birmingham there are routes to Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Perpignan, Salzburg, Toulouse & Shannon. A small hub at Bristol includes Jersey, the Isle of Man, Toulouse, Bergerac, Belfast & Bordeaux. Exeter includes flights to Jersey, Guernsey, Glasgow & Belfast.
From Heathrow there are only flight to Paris, at 0645, 0815, 0915, 1015, 1115, 1400, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1915, 2015 and 2045.
FlyBE Frequent Flyer scheme - the Passport to Freedom
FlyBE's Passport to Freedom is the Frequent Flyer scheme. It is linked to no other airline network. You get no points for a normal Economy flight. Although it seems as if you can apply online, with a Frequent Flyer form on the Flybe website, all that happens is that a month after you enter details, you are sent a booklet which can have Freedom stamps for each flight.
For each Economy Plus flight you get 10 points Frequent Flyer points regardless of length, however you have to remember to have your Freedom points booklet stamped at check in each time you fly. Its a good old manual system for points collection. Redeeming points starts at 30 points for a bunch of flowers, 40 for a crate of wine, 80 for any return Economy flight, 100 for an Air France Economy return, 110 for an Economy Plus flight, and 350 for a weekend break with 2 nights in a hotel. The best perk 0 if you fly a lot in economy - is that you eventually get access to the FlyBE lounges.
FlyBE Executive LoungesFlyBE offer Economy Plus passengers the delight of a full Business Class lounge. At most outstations the airport Generic Lounge is used.Southampton FlyBE Executive LoungesFlyBE has the only Executive Lounge is in Southampton, following BA's abandonment. However it puts many generic lounges to shame.The Southampton lounge is rather annoying placed before security (so that means you have to leave some time before your flight to ensure you make it on time). No flight announcements are made in it. Its at the runway end of the main hall on the left, to the right of the FlyBE ticket desk. You take your Economy Plus voucher here, and trade it in for the door code, which is usually something like 8467. The lounge offers a view of the runway (just, over the top of the luggage conveyor) and two seating areas. The main one is as you go in. Then if you turn left through the arch, there is a newspaper and magazine rack on the far side of the arch, and the bar to your left. The bar offers white (Maison Thorn Chablis) and red wine (Morgan Les Creusats). Port (Marks and Spencer's own brand!) with beer in the fridge (French Kronenbourg). Food is a bit limited, with packets of Walkers Crisps, biscuits, and fruit in a bowl by the door.
There is a full selection of Newspapers, with one copy of every daily, but very few magazines.
Manchester FlyBE Executive LoungesFlyBE has noew built a large lounge in Manchester. There is a great view over the airport, once you climb the stairs in the middle of the terminal. Chairs are the standard blue ones that look almost as if they've been "borrowed" from BA's now much smaller lounge.Food is pretty basic, but then from Manchester you flight is unlikely to be more than a hour long, so you won't starve. There are packets of crisps, nuts, and biscuits. The Bar is better, with cans of beer in the fridge, and wine on the counter top. There are two reds, but only one white, in a cooler bucket.
FlyBE hints and tipsFlyBE do have a bit of a reputation of bruising customer service, where flights are cancelled at short notice with little hope of any compensation. FlyBE will also robustly refuse you checkin if you arrive later than 45 minutes before takeoff (20 minutes for economy plus) even if you are at Southampton - where the walk from checkin to the gate takes less than 2 minutes, including passing through security.Special FaresWhen FlyBE starts a new route, it will often offer bargain fares on the website. There is also usually a promotion in the run up to Christmas, and another one in the first week of Janurary.
FlyBE websiteThe FlyBE website is pretty basic. It is possible to book fares ok, and the site will list the prices for alternative flights that day (but doesn't check other days). You can now even Select your seat online. however there is very little information on the what else FlyBE does, the routes, or the planes. There are plenty of "extras" on the right hand side though, with Car Hire and Gift Vouchers, although sadly the "book a lounge" option has gone.
More worrying the main FlyBE logo changes from page to page, font sizes can be a little wild, and some pages contain pretty much no information at all. However the truly woeful part of the website is the slow loading. On a fast dialup connection it takes about 2 minutes to load just the main page - and it won't allow you to cache any of it. Bad design, and poor performance.
Main Website: www.flybe.com
Note that all reviews and opinions on FlyBE (BE) food, service, seats, planes, upgrades, lounges, and the Frequent Flyer scheme is soley at my judgement. No legal liability is accepted if you take my advice. |
FlyBE signed up to be the launch customer for the Embraer 195. At the Paris Airshow in 2005 they showed the first of the new aircraft
BAE146 leather seats
FlyBE BAE146 in dual "Air France" livery at Southampton
BAE146 row 1 seats
FlyBE Q400 in latest livery at Southampton
Q400 the cabin
Economy Plus Vouchers
Q400 dusk at Southampton
FlyBE Inflight Magazine - Uncovered
FlyBE Inflight Magazine - Choices
Edinburgh FlyBE BAE146 in old livery
FlyBE BAE146 in latest livery at Dublin
Leeds/Bradford Dash 8 at LBA
FlyBE BAE146 in old European livery at Southampton
FlyBE BAE146 at Dusseldorf
Executive Lounge Southampton
Executive Lounge Southampton
Flybe Lounge Manchester
Flybe Lounge Manchester
FlyBE BAE146 at LHR bound for Paris in latest livery
FlyBE BAE146 in new livery at Southampton
Southampton Dash 8s line up in the early morning sunshine