Willard the Bear (http://www.willardbear.com/) is trying to get up to date with the backlog of trip reports, and so this little report has gone up, it's a trip we did last year to a friends wedding, in Staten Island, we've called it Wedding Bells (http://www.willardbear.com/WeddingBells/).
As always, all comments greatfully appreciated!
Also, should it be of interest, I've just posted the photos from Sheep's (http://www.sheepstravels.com/) Birthday party, which was definitely an FT/BA Board Do of Epic proportions! The report is called Sheeps Birthday (http://www.willardbear.com/SheepsBirthday/)
Willard is working hard on new reports, but finds typing difficult with such big paws!
Ken.
Willard the Bear (http://www.willardbear.com/) - The perfect wedding guest!
FLYGVA
Jun 17, 06, 12:35 pm
I enjoyed the report very much.
It was again nice to read it, they are really something special.
TrayflowInUK
Jun 17, 06, 1:45 pm
I see Willard's at it again!
Not to be pedantic, but I didn't know CO ever flew a 777 into MAN as indicated in your trip report (bottom of Pg 3). I've flown the MAN-EWR route a few times, but never in BusinessFirst, though I'm scheduled to fly the route in Aug and Sep and the return will be in J. Anyway, it's always been either 757-200 or 767-200. Last I checked it's been 2 × 757-200. Were you actually on a triple-7?
Also, I was wondering what kind of arrivals facilities there are for BizFirst pax; I wouldn't mind having a shower as I'm heading right into work. You mentioned a room at the Bewley's, was this included free of charge?
KenF
Jun 17, 06, 3:26 pm
I see Willard's at it again!
Not to be pedantic, but I didn't know CO ever flew a 777 into MAN as indicated in your trip report (bottom of Pg 3). I've flown the MAN-EWR route a few times, but never in BusinessFirst, though I'm scheduled to fly the route in Aug and Sep and the return will be in J. Anyway, it's always been either 757-200 or 767-200. Last I checked it's been 2 × 757-200. Were you actually on a triple-7?
Also, I was wondering what kind of arrivals facilities there are for BizFirst pax; I wouldn't mind having a shower as I'm heading right into work. You mentioned a room at the Bewley's, was this included free of charge?
This was last year, in May, just before they took the 777 off the route - yes, they now fly 757/767 on MAN-EWR, but I can assure you that when we flew it was a 777.
Arrivals facilities at MAN are supposed to include a day room, but as Willard's report implies, the organisation of this is less than stellar. I'd push to make sure that you get a day room at the SAS Radisson, which is directly connected to MAN airport (on the walkway between T1 and T2), not, as we did, Bewleys hotel, which needs a shuttle bus from T2, and is not capable of understanding the concept of a dayroom!
The dayroom is available at MAN on request as part of the BusinessFirst package, ask the concierge at EWR prior to boarding the flight.
Have to say that CO BF was a little underwhelming - it was OK, but was nothing like I rememer my old DL BusinessElite flights out of MAN, back in the Good Old Days (TM).
Ken.
TrayflowInUK
Jun 17, 06, 4:02 pm
Ah, I get it, one from the archives, a blast from the past! Now that you mention it, I do remember CO flying a 777 on that route because I saw the Peter Max plane at MAN once.
Re: the Bewley's, I've stayed at just about every MAN airport hotel: Crowne Plaza, Radisson SAS, Hilton, and Bewley's (and whatever it was before it was Bewley's... Holiday Inn Garden Court was it?), and, as sad as it is, I rank Bewley's No 2 behind the Radisson SAS. If it's out of my own pocket, the Bewley's is an easy No 1, unless Radisson are running a special. The CP and Hilton are pretty poor, IMHO.
When flying from T1 I've just walked it from the Bewley's with luggage, it's not really that far at all, but it seems like forever when you drive it as it's a total maze of roundabouts. Never walked it from T2, but it would be a hike. But you're right, you can't beat the Radisson SAS's location at the hub of the gerbil tubes!
Tell Willard thanks for the tip about the arrival package, I'll ask next time I'm in BF.
SMART51
Jun 17, 06, 5:43 pm
Again a great report.Keep them coming ^
Sheep's birthday is also wooow
KenF
Jun 18, 06, 4:13 pm
Ah, I get it, one from the archives, a blast from the past! Now that you mention it, I do remember CO flying a 777 on that route because I saw the Peter Max plane at MAN once.
Re: the Bewley's, I've stayed at just about every MAN airport hotel: Crowne Plaza, Radisson SAS, Hilton, and Bewley's (and whatever it was before it was Bewley's... Holiday Inn Garden Court was it?), and, as sad as it is, I rank Bewley's No 2 behind the Radisson SAS. If it's out of my own pocket, the Bewley's is an easy No 1, unless Radisson are running a special. The CP and Hilton are pretty poor, IMHO.
When flying from T1 I've just walked it from the Bewley's with luggage, it's not really that far at all, but it seems like forever when you drive it as it's a total maze of roundabouts. Never walked it from T2, but it would be a hike. But you're right, you can't beat the Radisson SAS's location at the hub of the gerbil tubes!
Tell Willard thanks for the tip about the arrival package, I'll ask next time I'm in BF.
Actually, I agree that value for money wise, Bewleys is probably the best deal at MAN, especially if you are going from T1 and thus do not have to use their hideously overpriced bus service. However, as a day room provider, they really are <censored>, as I say, though CO booked the room, we waited around 45mins because they couldn't understand the concept that CO was paying for the room, and that we were only staying 4 hours. If I'd paid full fare and was expecting to get 4 hours sleep before a big meeting, I'd have been incadesent, as it was, I was just really, really PO-ed!
As I understand it, they only use Bewleys if the SAS is full up - make sure they understand your preferences :td:
The CO service on the way back was pretty lacklustre (i.e. get this over with so we can hide in the galley - as I said in the report, it was a real come-down from the MAN-ATL flights that were my first real experience of lolng-haul business travel - oh how the mighty have fallen!)