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POST AMCWHIRTER
Royal Brunei is upping capacity exLondon Heathrow from October 28. Flights will now operate daily and the niche carrier will drop the DXB stop when flying to Brunei. It means that Royal Brunei will become a more serious player for other destinations in Asia and Australasia.
More details when available.
➜ CAPETONIANM
Excellent airline. I’ve flown on them twice, between FRA/LHR and DXB or RUH/JED (I think). I will just say though that although I am a light drinker, after two weeks in Saudi, and booked back on Royal Brunei, my first sector with them, I was gasping for an ice cold frosty, settled back into my lovely leather seat, a beautiful blonde hostess greeted me by name and asked me if I wanted a drink. Up to that point I wasn’t aware it was a ‘dry’ airline.
➜ NEVERECONOMY
Not sure if BWN has been upgraded as it was very grim the last time I was through there. I remember Royal Brunei as a nice experience for the short SIN-BWN flight, but sorry, dry flying is not for me.
POST SWISSEXPAT
I have not ever used the facility to “hold a flight booking for 72 hours” for a fee, but just did so on a booking where I had some complicated scheduling of hotels etc and wanted to get my flights sorted before sorting the hotels.
I am delighted to say this involves me having a holiday in Scotland this summer with Mrs. ExPat. (Edinburgh mainly).
Despite direct flights with Swiss/ Edelweiss, I found cheaper flights with BA through Heathrow at decent times and the extra baggage allowance, not needing to ring the airline to book a bike onboard and also British Airways Executive Club gold status with lounge access swung the decision.
However, it was the dierence in the ‘hold booking’ conditions that was surprising.
With Swiss, the fee was CHF 25 per person and this was not refunded.
With BA, it was CHF 7 per person, refunded if you proceeded with the booking.
That will pay for us both on arrival at the Caledonian Hotel.
Anyone use this feature with regularity on other airlines?
➜ CAPETONIANM
Despite direct flights with Swiss/ Edelweiss, I found cheaper flights with BA through Heathrow at decent times and the extra baggage allowance.
In your case you may have found that BA suited you better, but Swiss/ Edelweiss is a better product, hence the higher price, and that’s a price I willingly pay to avoid ‘cheaper’ BA.
BA has to be really cheap to tempt me on board, particularly on long-haul.
➜ SWISSEXPAT
@Capetonian..
Being such a regular on routes operated by BA and Swiss, I have written much on the comparison…a s in back in 2015. BA versus Swiss: A surprising result Since writing this, Swiss have improved the aircraft (no more AVRO) and also BA has introduced paid on- board F&B whilst Swiss retains the F&B included in the ticket price.
Given these changes, I agree completely that Swiss oer a significantly better product on the UK Switzerland Routes.
Based on my recent experiences the gap is even larger on J short haul bookings. I had an excellent DUB-ZRH flight in J with Swiss.
However, it is the existence of the British Airways Executive Club that brings BA back into the running. I have given up trying to get Swiss Silver level and even if you have this, you still don’t get into most lounges in the LH/LX network (DUB for example). I qualify quite easily for BA Silver (occasionally Gold) and the benefits of free seat selection, extra bags for all in my party (Swiss only allow the card holder an extra bag) and consistent lounge access across their network, and AVIOS means the BA oering is in this instance my preferred choice. Also, I don’t need to call to book my bike onboard (Swiss force you to do this and it is a real hassle with them officially only carrying three bikes on a A320).
But the point of my post was the discussing on the ‘Booking hold option’ and its pricing. Swiss are o the pace here and by quite a distance.
➜ LUGANOPIRATE
I’ve used the hold my booking features several times with Swiss and while not refunded if cancelled I’m pretty sure it was taken in part payment of the full ticket price when I completed the booking.
➜ RFERGUSON
It’s also worth mentioning that the Swiss product ex GVA will become a lot more aligned with the BA short haul product in Y when they introduce buy on board on routes out of that city.
ROYAL BRUNEI TO FLY DAILY NON-STOP FROM LHR EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 28
BA OUTSHINES SWISS ON HOLDING A FLIGHT BOOKING
POST MAX 11
Travelling to three countries in Southeast Asia next month for my business meeting. Any recommendations on how to have internet connection?
➜ GIN&TONIC
Max11, assuming you need connection primarily for work and keeping in touch with home, the wifi available at the vast majority of hotels and cafes is more than suitable. Depends on where you are, if you want to stream Netflix etc then that’s not always so good, but for day to day email, Face Time or Skype you will be well covered. Enjoy your trip, first time I assume? Safe travels.
➜ HANDBAG
I use “three”. They have a tari called “Feel at Home”. When you go to any of the specified countries, you just use your phone at as you would at home for no extra charge. Had a look at the list of the countries they cover and it is very extensive and they add more all the time. If I am going to a country, that I don’t go to very often, I just have a quick look to see if included. The majority of BA Crew are on these packages now.
I only pay £15 per month. For this I get unlimited calls and text and 12GB of data.
➜ HUIT SIX
Hi Max11,
Is this your first time in Southeast Asia? If so, I sure hope you will love the region as much as I do!
As a few participants above have already mentioned, hotel/restaurant connection is usually totally fine. I usually use those to connect my laptop and write a few e-mails on the go.
But if you are an ‘internet addict’ like me and need constant 4G connection everywhere, I would definitely recommend you get a sim card at the airport. Everywhere it is easy to find and quite cheap. The only exception to this is Jakarta CGK airport where it is not only diicult to find a local sim card (you have to really look for it) but it is also ridiculously expensive! I’m talking $20 for a few days only, keeping in mind this is a country where locals often pay less than $5-$10 for their monthly plans.
This is why I have a phone with a double sim slot: one sim for data access and local calls when travelling, and the other sim is for my home number in case someone calls me on that line, the number is always available.
If you need transport, do note that Uber has pulled out of Southeast Asia altogether (this is very recent), so now I would recommend you use the Grab app which is basically the same thing. Hope this helps.
Enjoy your trip!
POST TOM OTLEY
Interesting point (which I hadn’t considered before).
Discussed on the industry websites such as DFNI.
Example: Post-Brexit duty-free not aected by customs union dispute
Seems clear that duty-free between the UK and the EU will not come into eect in March 2019 because “The transition agreement, which has been reached between the UK and the EU, is very clear and it states that for the application of EU law, the UK shall be treated as an EU member state for the duration of the transition period. Should there be an agreement, the transition will last from March of next year until December of the following year [2020],”
DFNI understands that the possible return of duty-free will be a part of the framework agreement on the future relationship between the UK and the EU, which is currently scheduled to be agreed, meaning the next four to five months are vital for the industry’s lobbying eorts.
I would have thought that the industry would want duty free to return, since that would increase sales since prices would drop for consumers on these products, but on the other hand, if fewer people are flying between the UK and Europe (unlikely, I admit) then there’s less footfall though the airport.
INTERNET CONNECTION FOR TRAVELLING
➜ FDOS_UK
No, it will not. I believe there will be a political deal on the customs union and this will keep present harmonised taxes in place.
➜ FLIGHTLEVEL
Economics won’t change much since VW, BMW, Mercedes, and many others will have to lay o thousands of workers if their products went back to taris.
Airbus already accepts that fact and is only considering building stocks of wings, engines, etc. until the politicians get their act together and stop their stupidity!
Doubt they will have taris on alcohol, etc either.
WILL DUTY FREE RETURN BETWEEN UK AND EUROPE AFTER MARCH 2019
➜ ALAINBOY 50
@flightlevel —- Do you know the second biggest export market for Mercedes after USA? The Gulf? No, it’s the UK. For sure Mercedes etc will not allow their government to screw up their second-best market. I also read an article today about the possibility of flights stopping between UK and Europe from March 2019. What this also means, is that LH/AF/IB/AZ/SK/AY/ SN/TP/EI/OK/LX etc will not be able fly to UK — Does anyone believe those airlines (and their respective governments) will allow this situation to happen? Its only M. Bernier and his team who is trying to show how powerful they are, but they will soon be reined in. They (EU unelected oicers), are paranoid about other countries following suit and also declaring their wish to leave, so they are extremely afraid that the ‘Gravy Train’ will end, so their wish, nay their absolute need, is to show the rest of Europe how diicult it is to leave, and to dissuade them to ever consider it).