BA to serve The Azores in 2022
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,005
Dunno how much time you've allocated to the oddness of Flores, but if you want to take one step further there's the Corvo ferry from Santa Cruz. I'd hope the schedules are returning to normal, so day trips should be possible: under an hour each way for not very many euros.
#92
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,047
Dunno how much time you've allocated to the oddness of Flores, but if you want to take one step further there's the Corvo ferry from Santa Cruz. I'd hope the schedules are returning to normal, so day trips should be possible: under an hour each way for not very many euros.
#93
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,047
Just to reinforce the hire car issues raised by MarcD up thread
Arrived in Flores today and everyone who had booked cars with Ilha Verde had no car waiting for them
‘Previous customers had not returned them’ There was a lot of shrugging of shoulders saying we should have one by 5pm This is 12 pm on a 48 hour stay!
Tried to ask the SATA guy if there was a chance i could change my flight on to PDL he said no because he was gong to lunch!
They eventually found some cars; we heard them ringing up customers
and we got one by 2.30 pm
Stressful
There seems to be a real shortage of hire cars and the car hire operation does not seem to run to international
standards !
Arrived in Flores today and everyone who had booked cars with Ilha Verde had no car waiting for them
‘Previous customers had not returned them’ There was a lot of shrugging of shoulders saying we should have one by 5pm This is 12 pm on a 48 hour stay!
Tried to ask the SATA guy if there was a chance i could change my flight on to PDL he said no because he was gong to lunch!
They eventually found some cars; we heard them ringing up customers
and we got one by 2.30 pm
Stressful
There seems to be a real shortage of hire cars and the car hire operation does not seem to run to international
standards !
#94
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT PRO, AGR, Strawberry (Nordic Choice), Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 4,229
Ironically, I wonder if the quickest way to solve this might be to find someone at the Portuguese embassy in London to complain to — they care that the Azores government is spending EUR400k on bringing in tourists and probably can put some pressure on relevant people to change things…
#95
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,047
Just waiting for our delayed return from TER, late out from LHR apparently
We loved the Azores
Some themes we picked up
They are having a bad summer; all the heat has been diverted to the mainland !
The better weather was further west in Flores and Corvo
Smaller is definitely better ; we loved Flores and then Terceira and least Sao Miguel
The latter was just too big for a short island hopping trip and was the least exotic as the most touristy
Food is a little limited ; fish or beef! Hard to find good restaurants
Swimming is difficult ; there are literally loads of Jelly fish at this time of year I love the way most people swim in natural rock swimming baths or off piers
Car hire is essential despite the short comings of the local compsnies who admitted to us they over sell!
We stayed in Angra on Terceira which is a stunning world heritage site and we stayed in the converted Fort ; Pousada do Angra. Really understated; should be a 5 star hotel but there obviously isn’t the market
We stayed at an air bnb but n Flores in Faja Grande which was our favourite spot on all the islands ; very magical
We luxed it up in sao miguel and stayed at Sensi Azores Nature and Spa up near the famous Sete Cidades lakes. It means to get to the other attractions of the island such as Furnas were over an hours drive away . The hotel was exceptional.
Had a great dinner in Ponta Delgada ; a catering school on the port called Anfi Theatro ; very cool!
Want to upload some aviation pics but will do it seperately as crashed my post last time
Recommend the day boat trip to Corvo from Flores for dolphins and a hike on the base of the Caldeira
Inter island flying is fun
No service on board or seat allocation which is annoying for photographers!
We loved the Azores
Some themes we picked up
They are having a bad summer; all the heat has been diverted to the mainland !
The better weather was further west in Flores and Corvo
Smaller is definitely better ; we loved Flores and then Terceira and least Sao Miguel
The latter was just too big for a short island hopping trip and was the least exotic as the most touristy
Food is a little limited ; fish or beef! Hard to find good restaurants
Swimming is difficult ; there are literally loads of Jelly fish at this time of year I love the way most people swim in natural rock swimming baths or off piers
Car hire is essential despite the short comings of the local compsnies who admitted to us they over sell!
We stayed in Angra on Terceira which is a stunning world heritage site and we stayed in the converted Fort ; Pousada do Angra. Really understated; should be a 5 star hotel but there obviously isn’t the market
We stayed at an air bnb but n Flores in Faja Grande which was our favourite spot on all the islands ; very magical
We luxed it up in sao miguel and stayed at Sensi Azores Nature and Spa up near the famous Sete Cidades lakes. It means to get to the other attractions of the island such as Furnas were over an hours drive away . The hotel was exceptional.
Had a great dinner in Ponta Delgada ; a catering school on the port called Anfi Theatro ; very cool!
Want to upload some aviation pics but will do it seperately as crashed my post last time
Recommend the day boat trip to Corvo from Flores for dolphins and a hike on the base of the Caldeira
Inter island flying is fun
No service on board or seat allocation which is annoying for photographers!
#97
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,047
What an amazing crew
Total old school
Service throughout flight in CE
Humour galore
Galley Chat
I asked for red wine to go with my cheeks ( Beef cheeks on the menu)
Total old school
Service throughout flight in CE
Humour galore
Galley Chat
I asked for red wine to go with my cheeks ( Beef cheeks on the menu)
#98
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK - Hampshire & London
Programs: Mucci de Guardian des Celliers des Grands Crus 1e Classé, plus BAEC.
Posts: 2,731
I love it when you get those crews, makes me think back to my first experiences of BA in the mid-90s. Polished, professional service with a smile and a sense of humour.
#99
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: UK. West Sussex
Programs: BAEC. Gold
Posts: 786
Which flight was that?
I was on the Saturday flight LHR to PDL and they were very good and looked after us very well in CE
#100
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,047