Monarch Airlines

[White Heather]

Thanks lbaspotter. Typical that they launch their flights just as Jet2's 10% off offer ends. Co-incidence? I think not.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

White Heather I think you know Jet2 operational plan is to sell at least 60% of the seats before competitors release their prices and then not to under sell their rivals but to be dearer or very close to their rivals prices.
We always book Jet2 the second flights released, now booked october 2015, never been found out on prices against their competitors in the last 10 years.
Truthfully I made a decision years ago never to fly Monarch and as they still seem to be near the bottom on lateness which was my bug with them.

 

[White Heather]

Well I will be booking with Jet2 this weekend when I have time to sort out the printer - with fees/extras looks to be about £250 return to TFS.

 

[imagineif]

With regard to the new seats - they are by Acro but not the entry level model Jet2 have onboard.

They are slightly more padded and have a bigger tray table and a "Tablet" mount for people to put gadgets in.

They have trialled an early version on several aircraft and taken on board quite some criticisms -

ranging from lack of padding to the tablet holder not properly supporting most devices. Now they are rolling out the final version of the seat fleet wide.

The main reason to introduce these seats is weight saving, they are so slim and light and offer a massive saving on weight over older conventional airline seats. They are slightly cradled so lack of recline isn't the issue but people will find them quite hard and uncomfortable compared to an old style fabric seat. A much shorter seat pad and less padding at the back of the chair also offers some more knee area space - thus giving the impression the airlines have upped the leg room.

"The weight saving in the new design achieves significant savings on fuel and emissions. For instance, when compared with a set of Monarch’s existing seats, a set of new seats on a flight from the UK to Egypt saves 255kg of fuel, which is equivalent to 816kg of carbon dioxide saved on a single flight."

Think people will have to embrace this one because more and more they are appearing on shorthaul. You will find them on Jet2, KLM & soon Monarch flights from Leeds alone.

It won't be long before Ryanair find a replacement for those big bulky heavy chairs too!

 

[airforced]

I will be interested to try them out at the earliest opportunity. I know I moan about the Jet2 seats but really I haven't got a problem with these new type of seats as long as they provide the basics properly, ie decent thigh support and a proper arm rest neither of which are catered for adequately in the Jet2 version.

Interesting to see you mention the Ryan seats imagineif. They look as though they will be uncomfortable but in reality they are fine. I hope, when they change their seats, that they don't let the bean counters too loose or else we will end up with something worse than horrible.

 

[imagineif]

I find the Ryanair seats comfy airforced - but I can see they are substantially bulkier and heavier than these new generation Arco seats and I bet Mr O is negotiating a deal behind the scenes as we speak.

Also I am sorry to inform you that the new Monarch Arco seats will have stumpy little arm rests like versions on Jet2 & KLM cityhopper Fokker 70.

 

[airforced]

[hi-lighty:2l8wax2g]Also I am sorry to inform you that the new Monarch Arco seats will have stumpy little arm rests like versions on Jet2 & KLM cityhopper Fokker 70.[/hi-lighty:2l8wax2g]

Oh dear. When that happens that will be another airline I avoid if possible.

 

[SNOWMAN]

hi airforced
like you I am not too keen on the small arm-rests but I have got used to them now,and our max flight time with jet2 is usually 3hrs (AGP) and they smaller seat bases give you more leg room which I am always grateful for.
regards
sm1

 

[Tarn Spotter]

As my partner bags the window seat and I finish up in the middle, what is an arm rest?
Like reclining seats better removed then have to fight over them.

 

[lbaspotter]

Looks like Monarch Airlines are about to announce a new 2x weekly Leeds/Bardford - Gran Canaria route for winter 2014/15 Season. As Las Palmas have just appeared bookable as a destination on there website with flights operating on Mondays and Saturdays commencing from November 8th.

Bad news is that it looks like we have lost the winter flights to Cyprus Larnaca. Monarch actually pulled the route last winter due to which I understand was because of low bookings.

 

[752]

Excellent! Perfect winter sun destination!

I'm not sure if its been covered but could Monarchs Sharklets A320 make it to SSH??

 

[lbaspotter]

Excellent! Perfect winter sun destination!

I'm not sure if its been covered but could Monarchs Sharklets A320 make it to SSH??

Humm is there something you not telling us Ap1995! I'm hoping that was a hint at the possibility of the Leeds/Bradford - Sharm el Sheikh route been restarted seen as there is currently a full days gap in the winter flight schedule (Wednesdays) as things stand??

 

[752]

I'm very sorry to disappoint but there is nothing to tell!
It was just a query that's all!

Monarch surely will have to fill the gap in the schedule? - Personally I would like to see another winter sun destination instead of Ski.

They have just announced new winter flights from BHX to Turin & Salzburg

 

[lbaspotter]

Oh well never mind, like you say "Ap1995" I agree that you would expect Monarch to fill in the Wednesday gap in the winter flight programme...

Saying that I've just had another daft thought!
If I remember correctly didn't it get posted on here recently that Monarch had got traffic rights to serve Marrekesh from both Leeds/Bradford and Birmingham in the near future?

 

[imagineif]

LPA - that's great news and in my opinion much better than serving Cyprus during the winter. The weather in the Canaries is much more stable year round and this brings competition to the route.

 

[752]

The flights to Gran Canaria are now for sale and bookable on the Monarch website

The Monday flight times:

Dep LBA: 09:00 Arr LPA: 13:30
Dep LPA: 14:30 Arr LBA: 18:50

The Saturday flight times:

Dep LBA: 12:15 Arr LPA: 16:45
Dep LPA: 17:45 Arr LBA: 22:05

Pretty good flight times if you ask me!

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Big decision, tapas bars of las palmas on my to do list, Monarch on my do not fly list, what gives.
Is it right as someone has told me that as a couple if one books hold luggage the other is forced too as well. Flying with Jet2 we just book one hold case as my stuff can go in my small cabin case.
Monday flight times look ideal for us.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Fantastic! However we loose the extra frequency on the Lanzarote that we had from ZB for winter. Whats nice to know and see is that ZB are operating a programme of flights throughout the whole week rather then like Jet2 operating more towards the weekend. SSH would be a perfect fit, but not on Wednesdays as ZB don't fly from any of the bases on a Wed.

 

[752]

Tarn Spotter, I flew Monarch back in April from EMA (sadly) and we booked 2 hold luggage each way, when there was five of us, so as far as I am aware, you can take 1 hold luggage without been forced another!

nicholas1992 Lanzarote is at x2 weekly, is this the same as last year? Also it looks like they are operating on Christmas Day!

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

We got 3 weekly, Monday, thurs and sat all at varied times but we've now got ACE sun and thurs.