Does anyone else remember Dan Air?
Jun 1, 2019, 12:10 pm
#76
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
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I certainly remember them. I might add that their Elite Class Business Class was scads better than BAs - separate cheese and desert course and little touches that made flying a pleasure. I recall going on a holiday to St Petersberg to cruise on Lake Ladoga in 1992. It was just the week that Britain crashed out of the precursor of the EMF - I flew on those 727-200 which still had the old JAL interiors. Soon after that, they were acquired by BA for a nominal £1 - they were choking in debt. The crew who came to BA were some of the best going. Anyoone who has dealt with charters can deal with anything. They arrived at BA - saw what BA were offering their passengers and thought that they had arrived in heaven. HI flew with them to MPL, VIE, GIB, and TLS and declared them excellent.
I recall that their maintenance base was at Lasham - can anyone confirm or deny that?
I recall that their maintenance base was at Lasham - can anyone confirm or deny that?
Jun 1, 2019, 12:28 pm
#77
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Toronto
Programs: BA Exec Club - Demoted to Bronze and re-promoted to Silver alongside AC Elite 50K (gold) in 2022
Posts: 393
I have many happy memories of Dan Air in the mid 80's to 90's. Owning a villa in Menorca, meant in the winter months- we could choose from Monarch Crown service from LTN on a Friday or the Saturday scheduled Dan Air flight from LGW. Usually on a 737-300/400, I had some great flight on Diamond Service with a full bar, wine with the meal and just a nice atmosphere. In the winter the flight was either ex pats in Menorca or villa owners paying a visit so loads of people knew each other and the arrivals hall at Mahon was a bit of a social club.
Only time I had a tech issue was on one of these winter flights - we levelled off over Sussex with ears popping everywhere. The pilot confirmed there was an issue with pressurisation, we dumped fuel for 30 mins and landed back at LGW. Ground staff had sorted coffee and snacks at the gate while we waited for the replacement aircraft.
In the summer months, a lot of the seat only flights (for villa owners and people renting) were the infamous 0600 /0630 departures on Fridays and Mondays. Usually with 1-111 or 727 100/200s. Rarely on time, but a lot of fun. Cold food only as the planes had no ovens. If it was a 1-11 then a 15 kg bag allowance as there was a performance issue (presumably at Mahon)
Occasionally we did the Monday afternoon flight which for a number of years was one of the two A300's that Dan Air operated for a number of years.
My only negative memory (and please correct me if I'm wrong), is that for a while Dan Air would not recruit male cabin crew, and were taken to court? I could be wrong but it was definately rare to see male crew.
Only time I had a tech issue was on one of these winter flights - we levelled off over Sussex with ears popping everywhere. The pilot confirmed there was an issue with pressurisation, we dumped fuel for 30 mins and landed back at LGW. Ground staff had sorted coffee and snacks at the gate while we waited for the replacement aircraft.
In the summer months, a lot of the seat only flights (for villa owners and people renting) were the infamous 0600 /0630 departures on Fridays and Mondays. Usually with 1-111 or 727 100/200s. Rarely on time, but a lot of fun. Cold food only as the planes had no ovens. If it was a 1-11 then a 15 kg bag allowance as there was a performance issue (presumably at Mahon)
Occasionally we did the Monday afternoon flight which for a number of years was one of the two A300's that Dan Air operated for a number of years.
My only negative memory (and please correct me if I'm wrong), is that for a while Dan Air would not recruit male cabin crew, and were taken to court? I could be wrong but it was definately rare to see male crew.
Jun 1, 2019, 12:29 pm
#79
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,634
Also flew with them several times, from mid-60's to one of thier final flights CDG/LGW in November 1992. Flew Comets several times, as well as thier BAC1-11, Boeing 727 and 737 aircraft.
Attached cabin plan is from a Clarksons holiday to Nea Makri, Greece in August 72. Guess which seats we had!
Attached cabin plan is from a Clarksons holiday to Nea Makri, Greece in August 72. Guess which seats we had!
My recollection is that as a family of five we were across a full row, probably in a similar mid cabin position. I had the left side window seat on both inbound and outbound, but I was nominally sharing with my older sister. Crossing the Alps was a big event, lots of excitement in the cabin bearing in mind people hardly flew in those days. And everyone dressed up, even for a package holiday.
Jun 1, 2019, 1:27 pm
#80
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,570
My pre-teenage memories are a little hazy, but IIRC my first experience of rear facing flying was with Dan Air - very odd set up on a 727, with 3 front and 3 rear facing seats around the middle exit row.
Still have my original passport with loads of Entrada and Salida stamps in it. Happy days...
Still have my original passport with loads of Entrada and Salida stamps in it. Happy days...
Jun 1, 2019, 1:48 pm
#81
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,634
Nice writeup of the Dan Air Comet 4C at East Fortune here
https://travelupdate.boardingarea.co...comet-4-fleet/
I feel a day trip coming on. About 40 minutes from EDI by car.
https://travelupdate.boardingarea.co...comet-4-fleet/
I feel a day trip coming on. About 40 minutes from EDI by car.
Jun 1, 2019, 2:30 pm
#82
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 243
I had the privilege to work in Dan Air operations from 78-83. As a young spotty avgeek teenager, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. First week of famil entailed 3 flightdeck trips GVA, BGO and MUC. MUC was in a Comet - got as far as DVR and all the hydraulics pissed out. We returned to LGW, manually lowering the gear IIRC, quick a/c change and off we went again. Those 5 years stood me in very good stead for my later career in ATC.
Fond memories.
Fond memories.
Jun 1, 2019, 5:49 pm
#84
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
I certainly remember them. I might add that their Elite Class Business Class was scads better than BAs - separate cheese and desert course and little touches that made flying a pleasure. I recall going on a holiday to St Petersberg to cruise on Lake Ladoga in 1992. It was just the week that Britain crashed out of the precursor of the EMF - I flew on those 727-200 which still had the old JAL interiors. Soon after that, they were acquired by BA for a nominal £1 - they were choking in debt. The crew who came to BA were some of the best going. Anyoone who has dealt with charters can deal with anything. They arrived at BA - saw what BA were offering their passengers and thought that they had arrived in heaven. HI flew with them to MPL, VIE, GIB, and TLS and declared them excellent.
I recall that their maintenance base was at Lasham - can anyone confirm or deny that?
I recall that their maintenance base was at Lasham - can anyone confirm or deny that?
I think the B727-100's were ex All Nippon.
Jun 1, 2019, 5:51 pm
#85
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Australia
Programs: Aeroplan 50k, Hilton Diamond, Accor Plus Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz Presidents Club
Posts: 188
What a marvellous relic. We would have been flying from Ringway (always remember the Alcock and Brown sculpture and I have some memory of something to do with Icarus there) I'd love to find the pricing, and it would have been 1972 too. If you have the whole catalogue, could you see if it includes packages to the Messonghi Beach Hotel in Corfu?
My recollection is that as a family of five we were across a full row, probably in a similar mid cabin position. I had the left side window seat on both inbound and outbound, but I was nominally sharing with my older sister. Crossing the Alps was a big event, lots of excitement in the cabin bearing in mind people hardly flew in those days. And everyone dressed up, even for a package holiday.
My recollection is that as a family of five we were across a full row, probably in a similar mid cabin position. I had the left side window seat on both inbound and outbound, but I was nominally sharing with my older sister. Crossing the Alps was a big event, lots of excitement in the cabin bearing in mind people hardly flew in those days. And everyone dressed up, even for a package holiday.
I've got the inflight magazine somewhere.
Also attached is a copy a ticket for aonther DA flight.
Jun 1, 2019, 6:06 pm
#86
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
One of my favourite trips was a week in Fuerteventura in winter. Day 1 was position LGW-FRA-TXL LGW-Fra was business class Bcal BAC1-11and FRA-TXL was F in a Pan Am A310. Day 2 TXL-FUE then a week sitting in the sun before FUE-FAO-TXL then a last night in TXL before positioning home on the BAC1-11 TXL-LGW. Those tartan ladies looked after us so well on the way to FRA, which made a great start to the trip. What a way to avoid winter. A lot of guys could not do the trip because of family commitments, or passport. It was a requirement to have a British French USA or Russian passport to fly the Berlin corridors. This shrank the available crew pool, and led to me spending a lot of the winter sitting in the sun.
Jun 1, 2019, 6:13 pm
#87
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
I have many happy memories of Dan Air in the mid 80's to 90's. Owning a villa in Menorca, meant in the winter months- we could choose from Monarch Crown service from LTN on a Friday or the Saturday scheduled Dan Air flight from LGW. Usually on a 737-300/400, I had some great flight on Diamond Service with a full bar, wine with the meal and just a nice atmosphere. In the winter the flight was either ex pats in Menorca or villa owners paying a visit so loads of people knew each other and the arrivals hall at Mahon was a bit of a social club.
Only time I had a tech issue was on one of these winter flights - we levelled off over Sussex with ears popping everywhere. The pilot confirmed there was an issue with pressurisation, we dumped fuel for 30 mins and landed back at LGW. Ground staff had sorted coffee and snacks at the gate while we waited for the replacement aircraft.
In the summer months, a lot of the seat only flights (for villa owners and people renting) were the infamous 0600 /0630 departures on Fridays and Mondays. Usually with 1-111 or 727 100/200s. Rarely on time, but a lot of fun. Cold food only as the planes had no ovens. If it was a 1-11 then a 15 kg bag allowance as there was a performance issue (presumably at Mahon)
Occasionally we did the Monday afternoon flight which for a number of years was one of the two A300's that Dan Air operated for a number of years.
My only negative memory (and please correct me if I'm wrong), is that for a while Dan Air would not recruit male cabin crew, and were taken to court? I could be wrong but it was definately rare to see male crew.
Only time I had a tech issue was on one of these winter flights - we levelled off over Sussex with ears popping everywhere. The pilot confirmed there was an issue with pressurisation, we dumped fuel for 30 mins and landed back at LGW. Ground staff had sorted coffee and snacks at the gate while we waited for the replacement aircraft.
In the summer months, a lot of the seat only flights (for villa owners and people renting) were the infamous 0600 /0630 departures on Fridays and Mondays. Usually with 1-111 or 727 100/200s. Rarely on time, but a lot of fun. Cold food only as the planes had no ovens. If it was a 1-11 then a 15 kg bag allowance as there was a performance issue (presumably at Mahon)
Occasionally we did the Monday afternoon flight which for a number of years was one of the two A300's that Dan Air operated for a number of years.
My only negative memory (and please correct me if I'm wrong), is that for a while Dan Air would not recruit male cabin crew, and were taken to court? I could be wrong but it was definately rare to see male crew.
You are correct, no male cabin crew until they were forced by the courts, it was a rather silly policy, but then Cathay Pacific had no female pilots until a similar ruling.
I used to fly with a lady Captain in DAN-AIR, and she was great fun for a week.
Jun 1, 2019, 6:19 pm
#88
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AAdvantage Asia Miles Air China
Posts: 870
I only ever flew a DanAir flight once from Munich to LGW. There was no snow at the time so I flew to the UK and DanAir was the cheapest available.
What made it memorable for me I was sitting in the front row of the 1-11 and the curtain in the front was closed because one of the stewardesses was changing. The guy sitting next to me tried to peak and got a wonderfiully hearty slap around his face for his troubles from the stewardess.
What made it memorable for me I was sitting in the front row of the 1-11 and the curtain in the front was closed because one of the stewardesses was changing. The guy sitting next to me tried to peak and got a wonderfiully hearty slap around his face for his troubles from the stewardess.
Jun 1, 2019, 11:04 pm
#89
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,047
I remember their channel island operations. BAC 1-11/BAe 146 out of LGW and HS748 out of BOH
Also remember seeing their Comets operate out of Luton as a kid.
Flew their 727 on a charter to Dalaman shortly before their demise..
Also remember seeing their Comets operate out of Luton as a kid.
Flew their 727 on a charter to Dalaman shortly before their demise..
Jun 2, 2019, 12:14 am
#90
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, EK Gold, GF Silver, IC Royal Ambass, Marriott Gold, TK Elite
Posts: 902
I remember it very well as it was my very first flight. Flew on a 727 LGW to ATH for a school trip in 1985/86. I still have a dan air tea spoon at home!