Crossing to the dark side...easyjet in this case
Jun 1, 2018, 12:04 pm
#91
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
isnt tgat à bit of an idiosyncratic case-specific argument though? I presume you’re comparing Gatwick express to tube because Gatwick express is cheaper than Heathrow express and you can get normal trains such as thameslink from central London to Gatwick with an Oyster card for a fraction of the price of Gatwick express without increasing travel time.
So my argument stands for me, but then of course I do understand why others would pick something else. Although with the new Crossrail, and week-end fares for the HEX, I would argue it is still cheaper to get to Heathrow from central London.
Jun 1, 2018, 12:10 pm
#92
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
I agree with what you and CWS amongst others have said about Easyjet & Ryanair using the worst terminals/piers and the queueing on stairs and on the tarmac being the biggest downsides vs legacy carriers like BA.
But, in terms of your other points (lounge, seat selection, fast track), generally all of these can be purchased either from the airline or the airport operator?or a third party. So in today’s unbundled world, just add the cost of these to the overall price comparison.
But, in terms of your other points (lounge, seat selection, fast track), generally all of these can be purchased either from the airline or the airport operator?or a third party. So in today’s unbundled world, just add the cost of these to the overall price comparison.
Plus, in MXP i dont think there even is a lounge in T2?
Jun 1, 2018, 12:43 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
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Definitely much cheaper to Heathrow if you go by tube. For train however, even with Crossrail, the difference is minimal: zone 1 station to Heathrow off peak with Oyster card is £10.10, zone 1 mainline station like Blackfriars, kings cross or Charing Cross to Gatwick off peak with Oyster card is £10.60. Roughly similar times too but I’d certainly call Crossrail more convenient when it fully opens. Weekend fares on hex are quite a bit more I believe, much faster if you go to Paddington though if you go anywhere else as I do it’s not too great a solution so both Crossrail and Gatwick trains work a lot better for me.
Jun 1, 2018, 1:44 pm
#94
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,770
Definitely much cheaper to Heathrow if you go by tube. For train however, even with Crossrail, the difference is minimal: zone 1 station to Heathrow off peak with Oyster card is £10.10, zone 1 mainline station like Blackfriars, kings cross or Charing Cross to Gatwick off peak with Oyster card is £10.60. Roughly similar times too but I’d certainly call Crossrail more convenient when it fully opens. Weekend fares on hex are quite a bit more I believe, much faster if you go to Paddington though if you go anywhere else as I do it’s not too great a solution so both Crossrail and Gatwick trains work a lot better for me.
Jun 1, 2018, 2:39 pm
#95
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Join Date: Jun 2008
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that makes Gatwick transport even cheaper then except for the tube.
Jun 2, 2018, 12:42 am
#96
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Global Again
Programs: OWS IHG Diamond + Accor Plat, Scandic Top Level
Posts: 762
My flying into Europe is mainly with BA as a Silver in Y as I can travel to where I work direct from LHR.or occasionally BHX.
Last week a nice little job in NAP came in, obviously that is a LGW route, which for me living along the M40 is to far/painful.
So I took LH....LHR- MUC-NAP wih a 40 min connection, first flight was delayed 30 mins. Obviously this means the connection is impossible, upon arrival in MUC received a TXT that the NAP flight was delayed 1 hour...phew..all good and arrived the same day.
The return was on the NAP-MUC 6am departure allowing a 1 hour connection in MUC, sods law that this flight was delayed 50mins...So not expecting to make my connection for the last flight MUC-LHR, Wandered through MUC airport to the departure gate to find they had allowed a few minutes for me to arrive...Phew..
Arrived LHR thinking no way my hold luggage would have made it on board, proceeded to put in a claim for a missing bag...only to be advised that it had also made the flight..
Just completely amazed at the LH efficiency in the baggage transfer system at MUC, considering at times BA seem to leave my bags at LHR on a direct flight.
For me to get the lowest Lounge access on LH its 30 flights (7.5 trips for me) and due to the IT crash last year BA have allowed me to stay Silver until late 2020...The novelty has worn off for the galleries lounges these days at LHR, I prefer to buy a decent meal before flying...(although the other OW lounges in T3 make my day, if flying from there)
For me now its about cost and timings not the brand... .
Last week a nice little job in NAP came in, obviously that is a LGW route, which for me living along the M40 is to far/painful.
So I took LH....LHR- MUC-NAP wih a 40 min connection, first flight was delayed 30 mins. Obviously this means the connection is impossible, upon arrival in MUC received a TXT that the NAP flight was delayed 1 hour...phew..all good and arrived the same day.
The return was on the NAP-MUC 6am departure allowing a 1 hour connection in MUC, sods law that this flight was delayed 50mins...So not expecting to make my connection for the last flight MUC-LHR, Wandered through MUC airport to the departure gate to find they had allowed a few minutes for me to arrive...Phew..
Arrived LHR thinking no way my hold luggage would have made it on board, proceeded to put in a claim for a missing bag...only to be advised that it had also made the flight..
Just completely amazed at the LH efficiency in the baggage transfer system at MUC, considering at times BA seem to leave my bags at LHR on a direct flight.
For me to get the lowest Lounge access on LH its 30 flights (7.5 trips for me) and due to the IT crash last year BA have allowed me to stay Silver until late 2020...The novelty has worn off for the galleries lounges these days at LHR, I prefer to buy a decent meal before flying...(although the other OW lounges in T3 make my day, if flying from there)
For me now its about cost and timings not the brand... .