What services you are using?

[countdacash]

Just returned from weekend in Cork. Good experience all round at both ends although Cork gives a much better impression to the airport user than LBA does in terms of user experience and quality of facilities, although LBA was perfectly functional. Flight good both ways with EI/Stobart Air. First time on an ATR72 and was impressed.

I would estimate no more than about 35 on each flight - half of which were our running club going over for the marathon - so if this was typical then service may not be viable longer term?

 

[whoshotjimmi]

The problem with the Cork flight has been alluded to here previously. It is of little use to business passengers due to the frequency and it is of limited use to leisure passengers due to the days on which it operates. It is almost like the route has been set up to fail. The route clearly has potential and just needs a more focused approach to the target audience. When you consider that there is a choice of up to 3 daily from MAN to ORK, the question has to be asked as to why a daily rotation - or even Monday to Friday - couldn't be supported at LBA.

I am booked on it for a similar reason to countdacash - I am playing in a hockey tournament in Cork and had to arrange travel there with my teammates. The club is based in Keighley. Of the thirteen or so of us that are going, only two of us are flying (the rest going by boat as sharing a car is cheaper and they can take more equipment). Of the two of us flying, I am departing from Newcastle due to the lack of rotation on the day required and my team mate is taking return flights from MAN. He did not even consider LBA as he didn't want to mess about getting from place to place. He is taking his car to MAN so a return to MAN is the only reasonable option.

I realise that this is a pretty specific set of circumstances and requirements but how many others will find themselves in the same situation due to the lack of a daily flight? Could it be enough to bump passenger numbers up to a level that would sustain a daily flight? I rather suspect yes.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I have just booked a flight from LBA to Bratislava with Ryanair at the start of January for a little trip incorporating Bratislava, Vienna and Budapest. As Jet2 inexplicably seem to have a few weeks off in January, I am having to return to Liverpool from Budapest with Wizz Air.

 

[Redman4]

Regrettably had to book flights from Manchester to Lanzarote for June 2017. Cheapest flight from Leeds with Jet2 on the same day was £55 each more expensive, considering there's 9 of us going, that soon adds up!

 

[LBA787]

Going to visit my parents in Spain this Sunday returning the following Saturday.

Flying Ryanair LBA-ALC £35

Returning ALC-AMS-LBA on KLM for £150.

As a result of high demand the direct ALC-LBA flights were showing near 100% capacity with prices to match! In the end I opted for the slightly longer route yes but when saving £150 for two hours transfer at Schiphol I don't mind.

Should be a nice getaway and will be my first time flying KLM.

 

[Aviador]

£150 for two hours transfer at Schiphol I don't mind.

Any pickies ???

 

[Aviador]

Regrettably had to book flights from Manchester to Lanzarote for June 2017. Cheapest flight from Leeds with Jet2 on the same day was £55 each more expensive, considering there's 9 of us going, that soon adds up!

Sadly that is often the case and with many holidaymakers switching from Turkey to Spain, the prices are only going to get more expensive.

 

[752]

Haven't posted in this thread for a while, just an update on my latest and future trips..

16/06/2016, 18/06/2016 - Monarch - LBA-PMI-LBA
30/06/2016, 02/07/2016 - Monarch - LBA-PMI-LBA
03/07/2016, 04/07/2016 - Monarch - LBA-BCN-LBA
09/07/2016, 11/07/2016 - Monarch - LBA-DLM-LBA
29/08/2016, Jet2 - LBA-AGP
31/08/2016 Monarch - AGP-LBA
12/09/2016, 13/09/2016 - Ryanair - LBA-DUB-LBA

 

[stewief1]

In a few weeks flying down to LHR on the shuttle then on to Las Vegas and back from SFO to LBA via LHR. Will post to let you know what my shuttle experience was like.

 

[jason1-11]

Courtesy of British Airways "Kids fly for free" promo, myself and my 2 kids will be flying up to Leeds for a weekend with the family in October.

 

[tonysmith]

Next sun going from LBA to LHR on the shuttle then to LAX then coming back from San Francisco 2 weeks later LHR to LBA
Well I am if BA get there act together ?

 

[yorkguy]

Went with 20 work colleagues from North and West Yorkshire to a conference in Oslo last Tuesday, and back Sunday. Needless to say we all had to trek over the hills for our SAS flight. 737/800 full to capacity out and return. Very good value at £100 return. Couldn't help but think that SAS operates an almost low cost model, but without all the add on costs when booking. Impressive service, but definitely no frills. T1 was struggling yesterday afternoon big time. Massive immigration queues and 3 flights waiting at our baggage reclaim belt. Some very unhappy punters.
It's such a shame we've no routes to Scandinavia from LBA given both the business and leisure markets there for the taking.

 

[jason1-11]

It’s a real shame, but the legacy carriers like Lufthansa, SAS etc consider Manchester to be the airport that serves the greater Leeds region. They can offer multiple frequencies utilizing larger aircraft etc so as a consequence can offer lower fares, more flexibility and of course don’t have the threat of Leeds unfortunate winter record.

Many people I know in Leeds don’t even consider Leeds when arranging their business travel as they are all so use to travelling from Manchester. Look how long its been since we had a decent Paris service as an example of airlines lack of enthusiasm .


Let’s hope one day someone bucks the trend as there are so many un-served business destinations from Leeds including:

Paris

Frankfurt

Copenhagen

Munich

Hamburg

Brussels


Flybe with their low cost structure and ideal aircraft fit (Dash 8 Q 400 and Emb 175 ) would be great, but lets not go there.


Also, does anyone know if the Cork service has been scrapped?

 

[oldendays]

Cork still operating AFAIK.

Nice wish list of European routes jason. All do-able, I'm sure, but probably long after I'm gone !

 

[AirBingley]

Just booked 4 nights in Berlin with Jet2 in the last week in June for a mere £301 room only at a hotel I've used a few times before and really like. Prices now include cases as standard for city breaks on this route. Interestingly there were some wild (I mean wild +£200) price fluctuations over the June / July period so I'm wondering if forward bookings are a bit variable and its not settling down? Also nobody seems to have pre selected a seat on those flights so have no idea on bookings so far!

 

[cmj]

Went with 20 work colleagues from North and West Yorkshire to a conference in Oslo last Tuesday, and back Sunday. Needless to say we all had to trek over the hills for our SAS flight.

Technically, you didn't HAVE to. You can get to Oslo from LBA via Amsterdam (or Heathrow).

 

[752]

Booked LBA-TFS-LBA with Monarch 20th Sept - 23rd Sept

 

[Bhowani]

I am pleased YorkGuy Travelled to OSL for £100 return. I do the trip each October with a selection of gift items that
the Norsk Customs would tax merrily.
However if you factor in the fact that a party of 20 would attract some kind of discount (1 free may be?) and the fag of getting to MAN I will be sticking to LBA. Current lowest return fare via AMS is £125 return in October. Anyway I am glad they went - with the demise of the Stavanger/Bergen and Kristiansand ferry routes the Scandinavian families this side of the hill really are in a hard place! (And yes I do use the Immingham/Brevik cargo boats too!)
Bring back BrownAir (£98 return in the eighties) and a real experience!

Bhowani 2

 

[yorkguy]

Technically, you didn't HAVE to. You can get to Oslo from LBA via Amsterdam (or Heathrow).

Lol, agreed, but I couldn't imagine my boss paying for us all to abandon a direct 90 minute, 100 quid flight from MAN for a more time-consuming, scenic route from LBA!

 

[AirBingley]

Travelled out on Friday to Barcelona and back Monday (LS231/232). There was no queue at Jet2 check in ( I mean no queue - we had the choice of every desk) and all desks open and similarly at security. The flight Boarded some 50 minutes before the stated departure time and arrived about 10 minutes early into BCN. The return trip was just as efficient with a mix of Jet 2 and Swissport staff on hand at BCN. We landed 21 minutes early into LBA and bags off before the stated arrival time. Well done Jet 2!

The only pain was the 20 minute wait for the taxi which seems to be sometimes the case in the afternoon.

Interestingly both flights (on days when there is competition from both Monarch and Vueling) were almost full! Jet2 was also the most expensive option but for a few nights away the flight time was by far the best for us.