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Feb 11, 2015, 3:25 pm
Last edit by: KARFA
Ladies and Gentleman, having been born and grown up in Leeds, and as a proud FT member and contributor to the BA board, it gives me great pleasure to invite you to the Flyertalk Leeds Do in April 2015. Leeds is the third largest city in the UK, and the cultural, financial, and commercial heart of Yorkshire. Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBA) to London Heathrow is one of the newer routes on the BA network having started in December 2012.
Previous Leeds Do
Held on 6 December 2013
Attendee List
angeloedades, BLHD, chris1979, DGM1985, DYKWIA, fiona_, Gastrocnemius, hugolover, Jamier45, JohnSydney2000, KARFA, Polomarc, psollitt, rapidex, skye1, The Lady Tobias, Tobias-UK, toothy, YorkieFlyer
Party trains, planes, and hotels
Friday 17th April
JohnSydney2000 - LHR-LBA, BA1340, 0755-0855
Jamier45 (plane) - ABZ-LHR, BA1305, 0930-1110 & LHR-LBA, BA1342, 1240-1340
rapidex (plane) - LHR-LBA, BA1342, 1240-1340
angeloedades (train) - KGX-LDS, 1203-1416
Saturday 18th April
chris1979 (plane) - LHR-LBA, BA 1342, 14.05-15.05
skye1 (plane) (10D) - LHR-LBA, BA 1342, 14.05-15.05
Sunday 19th April
Jamier45 (plane) - LBA-LHR, BA1343, 1425-1535 & LHR-ABZ, BA1316, 1820-1950
rapidex (plane) - LBA-LHR, BA1343, 1425-1535
chris1979 (plane) - LBA-LHR, BA1343, 1425-1535
skye1 (plane) (10D) - LBA-LHR, BA1343, 1425-1535
angeloedades (train) - LDS-KGX, 1405-1624
Date, Time, & Venue
Friday 17 April 2015
Informal evening gathering for anyone arriving on Friday. See here for details.
Saturday 18 April 2015
→Things to do in Leeds if you are around during the daytime and not going to the simulator
Lots of details of things to do posted here.
→737-800 Simulator - afternoon
737-800 fixed based simulator at http://www.flightdeckexperience.co.uk/ - see here, here, and here for more details. Total cost will be £190 to be shared equally by those coming.
KARFA, toothy, Jamier45, JohnSydney2000, psollitt
Full details for the simulator group are posted here.
→Evening Do
1700-1915 Pre-dinner drinks - SkyLounge bar at DoubleTree hotel, more details here
1930 Dinner at Sukhothai Thai Restaurant, 15 South Parade, LS1 5QS
Menu [pdf]
£5 deposit per person, provisionally booked for 18
2130 Post dinner drinks, details in this post
Sunday 19 April 2015
→Plan for Sunday morning
Hotels
Doubletree - angeloedades 17/4-19/4, Jamier45 17/4-19/4, KARFA 17/4-19/4, toothy 18/4-19/4, Gastrocnemius 18/4-19/4, JohnSydney2000 17/4-20/4
Marriott - rapidex 17/4-19/4
Novotel Leeds City Centre - chris1979 18/4-19/4, skye1 18/4-19/4
There are various hotel options in the city centre, including Radisson Blu, Hilton, Novotel, Doubletree (formerly Mint), Park Plaza, The Met, and Malmaison. Also The Chambers Park Place which seems to be fairly new and has quite a few positive reviews on tripadvisor. These ones are all pretty central and will be near where we are going out to (wherever that will be).
Crowne Plaza, Travelodge, Jurys Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Premier Inn Leeds City Centre, Ibis, and Bewleys are outside the city centre. These ones may be a bit less convenient. The Queens hotel whilst central is really not recommended.
Despite the wording the Premier Inn Leeds City Centre is not in the city centre, and is out near the Holiday Inn. The Premier Inn Leeds City Centre Leeds Arena is closer to the city centre. However, city centre Premier Inns are often not very cheap on a Saturday night so I don't think they will offer much in the way of savings.
Personally I quite like the Doubletree and a few had a night there at the last Leeds Do. Have a look at tripadvisor for reviews and photos. As always check the price of the hotel separately to see what works out best. Hopefully there is enough to cater for any budget or loyalty program.
Also see this review by BotB on the Doubletree.
Airport
There are three daily BA rotations from LHR to LBA on Friday and Sunday, and two on Saturday;
Friday
LHR-LBA, LBA-LHR
BA1340 0755-0855, BA1341 0930-1040
BA1342 1240-1340, BA1343 1425-1535
BA1344 1925-2025, BA1345 2100-2155
Saturday
LHR-LBA, LBA-LHR
BA1340 0720-0820, BA1341 0930-1040
BA1342 1405-1505, BA1343 1540-1650
Sunday
LHR-LBA, LBA-LHR
BA1340 0755-0855, BA1341 0930-1040
BA1342 1240-1340, BA1343 1425-1535
BA1344 1925-2025, BA1345 2100-2155
To/From Airport
There is a 757 Bus Service that is every 30 minutes during the day, or every hour in the late evening. It takes around 35 minutes to get to the city centre and costs £3.60 for a single. Timetable here.
- If you are staying at the Holiday Inn Express the 757 goes along the main road right outisde (Kirkstall Road). Get off at the stop just past the fire station next door.
- If you are in the Doubletree/Hilton/Novotel then get off the 757 at Park Row (the bus turns right on to Park Row after passing the law courts and town hall). The stop is at the east side of city square. To go back to LBA on the bus you can get the 757 from stop S7 from right outside the station entrance (New Station Street). Some directions for the Doubletree and Hilton are below.
Alternatively, the only official private cab company at LBA is Arrow which you can pre-book, or book when you arrive at LBA. To use the taxi service head out of the terminal builidng and across to the marked up taxi "hut". You then book and pay for the taxi inside and then head outside to the specific taxi which you are booked on. The cost for LBA-city centre is likely to be around £22. Hopefully we can do a bit of coordination if people are arriving at LBA to share cabs.
There is no train service at LBA.
Rail
Leeds has one main railway station right in the centre of the city. There are plenty of trains run by East Coast to London King’s Cross, with one every 30 minutes usually. Journey time is around 2hrs 30 mins from London, and advanced tickets can be had for £13 each way. There are also direct services to Leeds from York, further north from Scotland, and from most other major cities in the UK either by Cross Country trains or TransPennine Express.
- If you are staying at the Holiday Inn Express then the best way is just to get a taxi - it is a short taxi ride and shouldn't cost more than £6. For the taxi rank at the station walk to the entrance/exit straight ahead after passing the ticket barriers, and it is across the road.
- If you are in the Doubletree or Hillton then the hotel is a short walk from the station. Head straight ahead to the entrance/exit after passing through the ticket barriers, across the pedestrian crossings. Take the covered stairwell on your right (round building to the right of the cycle shop - signed to Bishopgate and Granary Wharf), turn right again at the bottom and head under the railway arches.
Doubletree - whilst walking under the railway arches take the right turn after Brooks Newsagents - there is a sign for the DoubleTree here. Walk along Granary Wharf Arches and over the metal bridge, which spans the River Aire. Turn left and exit the arches in to the plaza. The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Leeds City Center is located diagonally to your right.
Hilton - follow the same route but do not turn right turn after the Centre Newsagents, instead keep walking until you pass out of the other side of the railway arches and the Hilton will be on your right hand side.
City Centre
Leeds city centre is fairly compact, and we are not likely to wander too far, so once you get here you can usually walk most places with 15 minutes at most. Alternatively, there are plenty of taxis at the rail station taxi rank, or at other taxi ranks scattered around the city centre. The Leeds Hackney cabs are black and white.
If you have any question about the Leeds Do please feel free to send me (KARFA) a PM.
The FT Leeds Do - 18 April 2015
Apr 16, 2015, 6:13 pm
#196
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: UK oop north
Programs: BMI Diamond Club RIP,BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,692
Happy greetings to all travelling to Leeds.
Sadly, in this fine Gulf Air contract lounge, I have had to start working.
It is 10:02 Friday morning in SYD.
Have I mentioned before, thanks for all your organising KAFRA....well done. John. (no word here, so ipso facto, the fuel leak from Right wing continues)
Sadly, in this fine Gulf Air contract lounge, I have had to start working.
It is 10:02 Friday morning in SYD.
Have I mentioned before, thanks for all your organising KAFRA....well done. John. (no word here, so ipso facto, the fuel leak from Right wing continues)
Apr 16, 2015, 6:30 pm
#197
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: UK oop north
Programs: BMI Diamond Club RIP,BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,692
Happy greetings to all travelling to Leeds.
Sadly, in this fine Gulf Air contract lounge, I have had to start working.
It is 10:02 Friday morning in SYD.
Have I mentioned before, thanks for all your organising KAFRA....well done. John. (no word here, so ipso facto, the fuel leak from Right wing continues)
Sadly, in this fine Gulf Air contract lounge, I have had to start working.
It is 10:02 Friday morning in SYD.
Have I mentioned before, thanks for all your organising KAFRA....well done. John. (no word here, so ipso facto, the fuel leak from Right wing continues)
QR1101 to DOH 0520
QR23 to MAN 0730
Apr 16, 2015, 7:07 pm
#198
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia 33% of the Year
Programs: QC Life, QFF Plat No 0010XXX, AA Plat 2 MM, Sinbad Blue, HHonors Dia., Marriott Titanium, IHG Amb
Posts: 423
CXL
Fri 17th APR at 0400
in BAH flight cancelled. Apparently there is some motor race here this weekend. John.
in BAH flight cancelled. Apparently there is some motor race here this weekend. John.
Apr 16, 2015, 10:42 pm
#200
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia 33% of the Year
Programs: QC Life, QFF Plat No 0010XXX, AA Plat 2 MM, Sinbad Blue, HHonors Dia., Marriott Titanium, IHG Amb
Posts: 423
Oh Goody,
I now have a BA 777 F seat BAH-VIE, followed by a BA 777 F seat VIE-LHR.
Then, how to get to LBA?
Happy Travels. John.
I now have a BA 777 F seat BAH-VIE, followed by a BA 777 F seat VIE-LHR.
Then, how to get to LBA?
Happy Travels. John.
Apr 16, 2015, 10:49 pm
#201
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Taif, KSA
Programs: BA GGL, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,906
Apr 16, 2015, 11:21 pm
#202
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ARN
Programs: SK EBG, BAEC Gold, LH FTL, FBP, CCG, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,533
FYI: a bunch of us from the swedish site businessclass.se will be having our own little DO in LHR T5 GF tomorrow. Most of us will arrive on BA771 and spend all day in GF. When you pass by LHR stop by the champagne bar in GF and say hi. We should not be too hard to find...
Apr 17, 2015, 2:03 am
#203
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia 33% of the Year
Programs: QC Life, QFF Plat No 0010XXX, AA Plat 2 MM, Sinbad Blue, HHonors Dia., Marriott Titanium, IHG Amb
Posts: 423
So via VIE became via IST, then cabin crew ran out of hours.
So at the end of a very long line to find out plan C. Definitely no premium service line here for those in Row 1, on the World's Favourite Airline.
My booking LHR-LBA is in the wiki.
I was to be in the Doubletree by now.
I have a boarding pass to LBA, luggage is checked there. John.
So at the end of a very long line to find out plan C. Definitely no premium service line here for those in Row 1, on the World's Favourite Airline.
My booking LHR-LBA is in the wiki.
I was to be in the Doubletree by now.
I have a boarding pass to LBA, luggage is checked there. John.
I am so looking forward to the flight simulator tomorrow and the do after ! .. see you in Rochdale
Apr 17, 2015, 2:24 am
#205
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: OW/AA, DL, UA; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,936
FYI: a bunch of us from the swedish site businessclass.se will be having our own little DO in LHR T5 GF tomorrow. Most of us will arrive on BA771 and spend all day in GF. When you pass by LHR stop by the champagne bar in GF and say hi. We should not be too hard to find...
Apr 17, 2015, 2:33 am
#206
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,936
Happy greetings to all travelling to Leeds.
Sadly, in this fine Gulf Air contract lounge, I have had to start working.
It is 10:02 Friday morning in SYD.
Have I mentioned before, thanks for all your organising KAFRA....well done. John. (no word here, so ipso facto, the fuel leak from Right wing continues)
Sadly, in this fine Gulf Air contract lounge, I have had to start working.
It is 10:02 Friday morning in SYD.
Have I mentioned before, thanks for all your organising KAFRA....well done. John. (no word here, so ipso facto, the fuel leak from Right wing continues)
So via VIE became via IST, then cabin crew ran out of hours.
So at the end of a very long line to find out plan C. Definitely no premium service line here for those in Row 1, on the World's Favourite Airline.
My booking LHR-LBA is in the wiki.
I was to be in the Doubletree by now.
I have a boarding pass to LBA, luggage is checked there. John.
So at the end of a very long line to find out plan C. Definitely no premium service line here for those in Row 1, on the World's Favourite Airline.
My booking LHR-LBA is in the wiki.
I was to be in the Doubletree by now.
I have a boarding pass to LBA, luggage is checked there. John.
If on a separate ticket and if you need to do a new booking your options are:
Cash tickets:
BA 1342 1240d 1340a - shown as sold out
BA 1344 1925d 2025a - one way with checked bag is £320 (
)If you can't make either of the above it would be an overnight at LHR in a hotel and on Saturday there are:
BA 1340 0720d 0820a - one way with checked bag is £108
BA 1342 1405d 1505a - one way with checked bag is £113 - both chris1979 & skye1 are on this flight
Avios tickets:
BA 1342 1240d 1340a - no reward seats available
BA 1344 1925d 2025a - no reward seats available
and for Saturday
BA 1340 0720d 0820a - reward seats available
BA 1342 1405d 1505a - reward seats available
Train:
And finally as an alternative, trains from King's Cross to Leeds are very frequent (every 30 minutes or so) and depart until I think around 2230. The journey takes betwee 2h and 2h 30m depending on which train you get. Easy to get to from LHR, either
- HEX to Paddington and then Circle/Hammersmith lines to King's Cross (when getting off the HEX don't go to the main concourse go to the footbridge about 2/3 the way down the platform, and follow the signs); or
- Piccadilly line all the way to King's Cross which is much cheaper (around £5?) and takes about 50 minutes.
Walk on one way fares for the train are £96.80 at non-peak times, and £124.50 at peak times for standard class, and £182 for first class.
Hope the above is of some use.
Last edited by KARFA; Apr 17, 2015 at 2:54 am
Apr 17, 2015, 4:16 am
#207
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Yorkshire
Programs: BA Gold & HH Silver
Posts: 1,465
In addition to the excellent info provided above by KARFA you do also have the option should you need it of requesting a reroute to Manchester, from which you would have a 15 minute walk from T3 to the Train Station and then a 70 minutes direct train journey to Leeds for £25.80 in Standard Class and £32.90 First Class one way... Direct trains to Leeds leave the Airport at xx06 and xx33 past each hour.
Apr 17, 2015, 4:51 am
#208
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia 33% of the Year
Programs: QC Life, QFF Plat No 0010XXX, AA Plat 2 MM, Sinbad Blue, HHonors Dia., Marriott Titanium, IHG Amb
Posts: 423
Really appreciate the info
KARFA and BLHD,
Thanks so kindly for the fall back advice. It is really appreciated.
After being literally the last person finally served by the 2 BA help people, and looking at the choices, (A few connections were no longer viable due to standing in the queue so long);
I will be in the same seat/same aircraft/same crew to try again 23 hours later.
I have been rebooked on the same flight BA1340 up to LBA in the morn 07:55-08:55.
I shall seek out the 757 bus into the Doubletree following your earlier appreciated instruction, and hopefully will be set for the simulator activity soon after.
Hope everyone has a great night tonight, will see you tomorrow. John.
Thanks so kindly for the fall back advice. It is really appreciated.
After being literally the last person finally served by the 2 BA help people, and looking at the choices, (A few connections were no longer viable due to standing in the queue so long);
I will be in the same seat/same aircraft/same crew to try again 23 hours later.
I have been rebooked on the same flight BA1340 up to LBA in the morn 07:55-08:55.
I shall seek out the 757 bus into the Doubletree following your earlier appreciated instruction, and hopefully will be set for the simulator activity soon after.
Hope everyone has a great night tonight, will see you tomorrow. John.
Apr 17, 2015, 6:08 am
#210
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,936