[QUOTE="Methersgate, post: 59093, member: 765 Try that with Ryanair![/QUOTE] Yeah, I had the honour of flying Ryanair the other week when I went for a job interview in Belgium, the chap who interviewed me even apologised for buying me the ticket but there were no other flights available to suit my schedule. Ryanair to me is like flying on a bus with wings should be avoided but as we all know it cant always be done. Someone told me that Ryanair actually make more money than British Airways, how true that is I don't know. You're right about Cathay being a good airline, its always surprised me why they haven't expanded at the same rate as lets say Emirates. I know Emirates are better positioned regarding having the major hub in Dubai but Cathay is a class above Emirates. My top three airlines flying serf class would be; 1. Singapore airlines 2. Cathay Pacific 3. Emirates I've flown business class quite a few times but the service seems to differ greatly depending on the model of aircraft you are flying. One thing for sure, business class in generally way over priced and not worth the extra if you are in the unfortunate position of paying for the ticket yourself.
I think I should just answer Anne's original query: Yes, you can leave the Philippines from Cebu. People think you have to go from Manila but that is only because most people have to go there to pick up documents. You will need the CFO sticker which you can get in Cebu.
And now I will tell a Cathay Pacific story. When the first widebody jets came in, it occurred to Cathay that they ought to have some. They did not think they could justify 747's so they looked at the DC10 and the Lockheed Tristar. They were attracted to the DC10, because like many another airline they had started with DC3's and DC4's. They were about to place the order when Rolls-Royce went bust on the RB211 development costs. Somewhat to their surprise, John and Adrian Swire were invited to 10, Downing Street where Ted Heath lectured them on the importance of a British airline buying British. On their way back to their office they looked at each other and said "Are we being leaned on, do you think?" "Yes, I think we probably are" "Better buy the Lockheed, with the British engines, then!" And that proved to be one of the best decisions they ever made. Not only was the Tristar, unlike the DC10, built like a brick ....house, the RB 211 was a far better engine than the P&W and GE offerings because being R-R it was heroically overbuilt, so that when R-R made an improvement, you could just bolt on the upgrade kit, whereas with the Americans you had to buy a new engine at US$10 a pop. And in due course, Cathay, under their legendary Technical Director, Stewart John, ("I've got alll the right hand side of the Red Arrows and I'm working on the left!") cooperated with R-R to develop the RB211 -524 which allowed Cathay to become the first airline to make super long haul flights with their 747's. And then Mrs Thatcher came to power in Britain and announced that there should be competition for British Airways on the London/ Hong Kong route - and she awarded the second slot on the route to British Caledonian (remember them?) "because they were a British airline". Cue for John and Adrian to book an appointment at Number Ten. " We were told to buy R-R because we were British!" And with huge reluctance Cathay were allowed a single slot at Gatwick. There exists a photograph of JK Swire, father of Sir John and Sir Adrian, and founder of the airline (the Swire Group itself goes back to 1816) , in his nineties, welcoming the first flight of his airline into Britain. And the rest is history...
OK, a JK ("Jock") Swire story. He was a junior officer in the trenches in WW1 and eventually he got a week's leave in London. Being concerned about the health of his men, he walked into a chemist's shop in Picadilly and asked for a thousand condoms. The pharmacist went into the back room and eventually reappeared witn a cardboard box, nicely tied up with string, which he put on the counter with the words, "Enjoy your weekend, Sir!"
I have flown Ryanair to "Oslo" (they actually fly you to Sandefjord, only 110 miles away) and to "Hamburg" (they fly you to Lubeck, only 70 miles away)!
Flew Ryanair last week to Dublin. T'was okay, though I doubt I could sleep on one of their flights as the tacky shocking yellow interior would be glaring in my eyes
G-BOAC (204) The flagship of the fleet (because of its BOAC registration) first flew on 27 February 1975 from Filton UK. It made its final flight to Manchester Airport – where a special "glass hangar" has now been built at the viewing park for its display – on 31 October 2003 after flying 22,260 hours. The glass hangar was not there when I took this photo
Anne - don't worry - that's the OLD Hong Kong Airport,Kai Tak, reckoned one of the most dangerous in the world - you will be landing at, and taking off from, the NEW Hong Kong Airport - Chek Lap Kok. Seriously, if you have the chance, take a day's stop over in Hong Kong (Filipinos and Filipinas get 14 days with no visa) and see the city. It's wonderful.
I might return here and bore the wife http://heritageconcorde.com/technical-2/the-concorde-fleet/g-boac/g-boac-condition-today
I recall seeing this from the viewing area at Manchester Airport a few years back. Could also see it when landing there.
Yes a dedicated viewing platform now. Many moons ago you could actually walk on the roofs of the walkways to each gate. They used to shoo you off particular sections of it when El Al aircraft was coming in. H&S plus security means that viewing area is a thing of the past now. I think security even shoo you off the top of the multi-storey car park if you hang around too long
Yeah, I had the honour of flying Ryanair the other week when I went for a job interview in Belgium, the chap who interviewed me even apologised for buying me the ticket but there were no other flights available to suit my schedule. Ryanair to me is like flying on a bus with wings should be avoided but as we all know it cant always be done. Someone told me that Ryanair actually make more money than British Airways, how true that is I don't know. You're right about Cathay being a good airline, its always surprised me why they haven't expanded at the same rate as lets say Emirates. I know Emirates are better positioned regarding having the major hub in Dubai but Cathay is a class above Emirates. My top three airlines flying serf class would be; 1. Singapore airlines 2. Cathay Pacific 3. Emirates I've flown business class quite a few times but the service seems to differ greatly depending on the model of aircraft you are flying. One thing for sure, business class in generally way over priced and not worth the extra if you are in the unfortunate position of paying for the ticket yourself.[/QUOTE] Timmers have you flown with Qatar? Not that I'm well travelled but I personally think they are the best airline I've flown with
Cathay are managed cautiously; they will look all round an issue before they decide what to do, and their rate of expansion is governed by all sorts of things that some companies don't think about, like trying to ensure that they never have to lay people off.
