AZ vs LH Italia
Jun 17, 2010, 4:28 am
#46
Join Date: May 2004
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When booking flights to European cities i usually tend to choose Linate. But for flights to any destination out of the schengen area then,no choice, I have to go to Malpensa. I'm really surprised that a lot of you talk about the traffic when you can just catch the train in Cadorna or Bovisa and will get you to the airport in 40 min. I also heard that there will be soon a train connection from centrale and that the Ferrovie dello Stato are planning to run Freccia Rossa trains to MXP.
I will start from the end: the train connection between Milano Centrale and Malpensa does not exist as of today. It has been rumoured for at least 10 years, but we are still here to wait. Sorry but in Italy you don't have to believe to everything is said or promised. The same is for FrecciaRossa (even because the infrastructure is not suitable for high speed, so the train will run at regular speed): it's a mere marketing speculation.
As for the train between Cadorna and Malpensa, the major downside is connected with the fact the airport was opened when the train connection was not ready, so the people at that stage had only the bus option. Many people used to take the bus and had never change this habit.
Moreover, while Milano Centrale (the place the buses leave from) is very well connected (even) to hinterland, neither Bovisa and Cadorna are the best place in the city. Furthermore, 1 train every 30 mins is not enough.
If you really wanted to provide a serious service, you had to start a fast service every 30 mins to Milano Centrale since 1998, AND a local service (stopping in Saronno and Bovisa), travelling the PASSANTE every 30 mins alternated to the direct service. Having a local service stopping in 6 or 7 stops in Milano City would help to attract passengers.
This is my opinion.
Jun 17, 2010, 4:50 am
#47
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Italy
Programs: ITA Executive for life; AZ CFP "per sempre" (ST E+); LH SEN; BA Bronze
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Plus the time to get to Cadorna, plus a buffer not to lose the train and have to wait 30 mins, and up you get again to 1.5-2 hrs. Provided you live near a underground station, that is.
Jun 17, 2010, 12:18 pm
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
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bluimage, I will try to explain you everything.
I will start from the end: the train connection between Milano Centrale and Malpensa does not exist as of today. It has been rumoured for at least 10 years, but we are still here to wait. Sorry but in Italy you don't have to believe to everything is said or promised. The same is for FrecciaRossa (even because the infrastructure is not suitable for high speed, so the train will run at regular speed): it's a mere marketing speculation.
As for the train between Cadorna and Malpensa, the major downside is connected with the fact the airport was opened when the train connection was not ready, so the people at that stage had only the bus option. Many people used to take the bus and had never change this habit.
Moreover, while Milano Centrale (the place the buses leave from) is very well connected (even) to hinterland, neither Bovisa and Cadorna are the best place in the city. Furthermore, 1 train every 30 mins is not enough.
If you really wanted to provide a serious service, you had to start a fast service every 30 mins to Milano Centrale since 1998, AND a local service (stopping in Saronno and Bovisa), travelling the PASSANTE every 30 mins alternated to the direct service. Having a local service stopping in 6 or 7 stops in Milano City would help to attract passengers.
This is my opinion.
I will start from the end: the train connection between Milano Centrale and Malpensa does not exist as of today. It has been rumoured for at least 10 years, but we are still here to wait. Sorry but in Italy you don't have to believe to everything is said or promised. The same is for FrecciaRossa (even because the infrastructure is not suitable for high speed, so the train will run at regular speed): it's a mere marketing speculation.
As for the train between Cadorna and Malpensa, the major downside is connected with the fact the airport was opened when the train connection was not ready, so the people at that stage had only the bus option. Many people used to take the bus and had never change this habit.
Moreover, while Milano Centrale (the place the buses leave from) is very well connected (even) to hinterland, neither Bovisa and Cadorna are the best place in the city. Furthermore, 1 train every 30 mins is not enough.
If you really wanted to provide a serious service, you had to start a fast service every 30 mins to Milano Centrale since 1998, AND a local service (stopping in Saronno and Bovisa), travelling the PASSANTE every 30 mins alternated to the direct service. Having a local service stopping in 6 or 7 stops in Milano City would help to attract passengers.
This is my opinion.
It really was chaos
Were now to be the "start" of MXP things really wouldn't be considered that bad
returning to the thread LH ITALIA does actually have a chance of making a MXP a decent hub for themselves if they
a) pick the correct destinations
b) improve facilities at MXP
c) reduce parking rates (how can covered parking be 28€ a day - the same as LINATE!!!)
d) do something on the lounge / oasis front
They need to be different and who knows - somebody (LH / BA with openskies) might just start some Longhaul services too..
Jun 17, 2010, 12:33 pm
#49
Join Date: May 2004
Location: 7th planet on your right
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returning to the thread LH ITALIA does actually have a chance of making a MXP a decent hub for themselves if they
a) pick the correct destinations
b) improve facilities at MXP
c) reduce parking rates (how can covered parking be 28€ a day - the same as LINATE!!!)
d) do something on the lounge / oasis front
They need to be different and who knows - somebody (LH / BA with openskies) might just start some Longhaul services too..
Completely agree the lounge facilities are really poor, compared to the number of flight operated in/out of MXP.
Jun 18, 2010, 2:14 am
#50
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Join Date: Apr 2009
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I think LHI should include the ticket for train in the ticket advertising it as "free train ride for any LHI ticket". It's a stupid thing but to know you don't have to buy a ticket and to pay the train apart would help.
Completely agree the lounge facilities are really poor, compared to the number of flight operated in/out of MXP.
Completely agree the lounge facilities are really poor, compared to the number of flight operated in/out of MXP.
http://www.seamiprogram.it/home.jsp
They are the only airline "partner" and this card offers discount on MXP express - better than nothing^
You accumulate points on everything and I advise everyone to sign up for one of these cards (free) that are valid both in LIN and MXP
Parked in LIN the other day and the card gave me 5% discount + all the points that for me will go towards fast track when flying IG / LH
Jun 18, 2010, 5:48 pm
#52
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 197
Technically, also LIN isn't in Milan: it's in Segrate.
The problem was AZ (especially its costs structure) and the dualism between LIN and MXP.
No, LH was just a partner, it has never been a shareholder of AP.
It should be inaugurated on August.
I have to correct what you wrote. The connection between Centrale and Garibaldi exists, it has just been completed and it's fully operative. The problem is that trains timetables change at specific intervals (for example on June and on December), so at the moment Trenitalia/LeNord doesn't want to start the service. It's rumoured that the service will be started on September, but it's not sure. The trains that will be used should be these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGIdAiMl7Ts (during the tests)
http://forum.milanotrasporti.org/vie...php?f=7&t=3989
Obviously I agree with you about marketing speculation: politicians promise a lot of things.
These "new" airbus 320 are ex-Air One planes, which was partially owned by Lufthansa
It should be inaugurated on August.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGIdAiMl7Ts (during the tests)
http://forum.milanotrasporti.org/vie...php?f=7&t=3989
Obviously I agree with you about marketing speculation: politicians promise a lot of things.
Jun 19, 2010, 1:55 am
#53
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Jun 19, 2010, 3:41 am
#54
Join Date: May 2004
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you understood perfectly what I mean. Malpensa neither belongs to Milan Province. Said that, there's nothing to add.
The service is not available on a regular basis, therefore it's missing.
Sorry for being so rude but it's a shame after 12 years. And I don't like those getting excited for something that should have happened soon after inauguration! (nothing personal against you).
I have to correct what you wrote. The connection between Centrale and Garibaldi exists, it has just been completed and it's fully operative. The problem is that trains timetables change at specific intervals (for example on June and on December), so at the moment Trenitalia/LeNord doesn't want to start the service. It's rumoured that the service will be started on September, but it's not sure. The trains that will be used should be these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGIdAiMl7Ts (during the tests)
http://forum.milanotrasporti.org/vie...php?f=7&t=3989
Obviously I agree with you about marketing speculation: politicians promise a lot of things.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGIdAiMl7Ts (during the tests)
http://forum.milanotrasporti.org/vie...php?f=7&t=3989
Obviously I agree with you about marketing speculation: politicians promise a lot of things.
Sorry for being so rude but it's a shame after 12 years. And I don't like those getting excited for something that should have happened soon after inauguration! (nothing personal against you).
Jun 19, 2010, 6:25 am
#55
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: London LON; Rome FCO
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Posts: 1,370
...
returning to the thread LH ITALIA does actually have a chance of making a MXP a decent hub for themselves if they
a) pick the correct destinations
b) improve facilities at MXP
c) reduce parking rates (how can covered parking be 28€ a day - the same as LINATE!!!)
d) do something on the lounge / oasis front
They need to be different and who knows - somebody (LH / BA with openskies) might just start some Longhaul services too..
returning to the thread LH ITALIA does actually have a chance of making a MXP a decent hub for themselves if they
a) pick the correct destinations
b) improve facilities at MXP
c) reduce parking rates (how can covered parking be 28€ a day - the same as LINATE!!!)
d) do something on the lounge / oasis front
They need to be different and who knows - somebody (LH / BA with openskies) might just start some Longhaul services too..
Jun 19, 2010, 7:39 am
#56
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Italy 90% - Rest of the World 10%
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Posts: 2,912
Nooo.. But they've become a big player at MXP
Considering how MXP was three or four years back quite a lot has changed and the parking facilities are already a lot better^
Having a hotel in terminal was essential as MXP is a 24 hour airport
Remember taking a KF flight a couple of years back literally in the middle of the night
Thinking of LHI vs AZ some of the ROUTES that I would like to see back to MILAN are
-> South America
-> CAI
-> DXB
-> ATH
-> ORD
-> LAX (dreaming... but seeing the success from FCO - a California flight from Milan would be a success - well I'd be on it!!!!)
-> BKK / HKG / SIN all destinations AZ should serve again
Considering how MXP was three or four years back quite a lot has changed and the parking facilities are already a lot better^
Having a hotel in terminal was essential as MXP is a 24 hour airport
Remember taking a KF flight a couple of years back literally in the middle of the night
Thinking of LHI vs AZ some of the ROUTES that I would like to see back to MILAN are
-> South America
-> CAI
-> DXB
-> ATH
-> ORD
-> LAX (dreaming... but seeing the success from FCO - a California flight from Milan would be a success - well I'd be on it!!!!)
-> BKK / HKG / SIN all destinations AZ should serve again
Jun 19, 2010, 8:23 am
#57
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 197
Sorry for being so rude but it's a shame after 12 years. And I don't like those getting excited for something that should have happened soon after inauguration! (nothing personal against you).
Jun 19, 2010, 9:35 am
#58
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Jun 19, 2010, 12:28 pm
#60
Join Date: May 2004
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