UK television documentary
 

HI,
Randy has kindly allowed me to post this message! (thanks Randy). I'm researching for a Channel 4 (UK) TV documentary for the "Cutting Edge" series, which is looking at the great panorama of air travel today. We're constructing the narrative around strong characters with stories to tell about passenger flight, and are looking for a UK based "frequent flyer" for the programme. You're likely to have travelled the equivalent of the moon and back in your career, and have a treasure trove of stories to tell about your flight experiences. If you're interested (or know someone who is) please send me an email, at [email protected] And by the way I'm also interested in funny or incredible stories any of you may have - I'm not prejudiced about nationality on this one!!Thanks for your time.

it is time for merry's come-back, isn't it?

Well I don't quite qualify, but some of the Cutting Edge programs can be top class documentary. Just don't sensationalise this one, please.

Merry would be your man! Does anyone know when he might be back home?

Where did Merry go anyhow?

Who is Merry - and how can I get hold of him!
Cheers!

Dear RDFTV

I don't quite qualify as a UK frequent Flier but you may be interested in a rumor I heard today. By the way the source is reliable and honest and I have no reason to doubt her or her sources.

My friend has colleagues in the Travel Industry in the UK who give her advice from time - eg fly this airline, don't fly that airline etc etc.

I was querying my friend about which airlines her friends had recommended or not recommended when the subject of Malaysian Airlines came up. I, like my friend had the general impression that Malaysian was a comparitively safe airline to fly on. Accordingly to the people in travel industry however they recommended otherwise.

The reason they gave was a flight to the UK by Malaysian (I presume ex Kuala Lumpur) in March this year. When the plane landed it had only enough fuel on board for one attempt at a landing - fuel was at critically low levels. The Travel Industry people attributed this to cost cutting due to the Asian crisis. Apparently the incident was hushed up but the Travel people advised my friend to avoid Malaysian.

Maybe somebody else on Webflyer knows more about this incident but it seems to me to be a lead worth a little investigative reporting. Who know there may be a potential air crisis waiting in the wings a la the Kapton incident.

Hope this helps

cheers Peter

ffhound: I read that story too in a travel journal recently. Apparently, this was not an isolated incident and groundstaff at LHR were getting used to finding planes coming in at critically low levels. Apparently, it also happened at other airports that Malaysian Airlines flies to across Europe. I'll try to post a link to the story if I can find it.

Yep - apparently Malaysian do (did?) this more or less sytemataically as a matter of course. The (UK) CAA are invstigating and ISTR that teh Malaysian government were as well.

Well that's another airline to cross off my list

Malaysian - No (no fuel)
Aeroflot - No (I'm yet to be convinced)
Korean - No (Real problems here)
Anything vaguely Taiwanese - NO WAY!
CAAC - No (bad record)
Garuda - No (another bad record)
Silk Air - No (kamikaze pilots)
Any US airline - No (Olympics terrorism)
Swissair - No (not yet convinced they are a safe airline)

At this rate all I'll be left with is Ansett & Qantas!

cheers Peter




[This message has been edited by ffhound (edited 08-27-1999).]

Further to the above
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/3399/sg1769.html
http://www.asia2000.org.nz/news/_R11999052502232.html
http://www.thetrip.com/completetrave...3_2002,00.html

If you fly Malaysian be afraid, be VERY afraid...

cheers Peter

For all the problems with safety, flying is still probably safer than driving your car. For some of Flyer Talkers near misses, see:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/000665.html

[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 06-01-2000).]

I don't know whether flying on a Taiwanese airline would be safer than driving.

Given the choice I'd take the car.

cheers peter

I beg to differ with some of the assertions made above - I thought Swissair was one of the world's safest airlines - its crash a couple of years ago was the first in a long time. Also, in a recent thread posted by Rudi, Swissair was one of the world's safest airlines in a magazine article.

Also, is Silkair really that bad - I thought they were a subsidiary of SQ.

Leroy - Swissair was voted the world's safest airline in Rudi's recent article. Perception being all when compared with QF, for instance.

Here's Swissair's safety record
http://www.airsafe.com/events/airlines/swissair.htm

It is not hugely bad but at the same time not hugely good either.

cheers Peter

How nice of you to think of me. I have been busy... well flying... recently so haven't had chance to look at FT for about 3 weeks. I look at FT and there is my name on the very first page I look at.

If anyone wants to hook-up, Bab's has my schedule for the next few weeks (but remember I am the worst person in the world for breaking appointments).

As for Cutting Edge, it is a fine series, and it would be an honour to offer any assistance.

Right, I am going to have a fudge 'round the BA thread and see what insults you have been throwing at 'The Worlds Favorite Airline'.

Nick

Glad to see that you're safe and still ready to lash out with that sharp tongue Merry! http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Ta BB.

My tongue is not as sharp as it was. It took a lot of work, but I have managed to make no comment about some of the ego-bildge in the "Ask Randy" thread... I must be getting old.

But whilst I am here, I have a question someone may be able to help me with.

On Tuesday I am booked on SR 5115 which is obviously a Swissair flight, but it is operated by Debonair. I have a Debonair Destinations card (they stamp the card at check-in and when you have 20 stamps you get a free flight). Is there anything to stop me getting the book stamped and then later claiming the flight through Qualiflyer as well - the old double credit dodge?

By the way, Jenny, if you are looking for funny stories for your documentary, you may be better asking for Air France FF's, Air France is always good for a laugh.


Nick

It has been quite a while but on some other schemes that had used something similar, my boarding pass was also marked. If they don't mark the boarding passes, there may be nothing to stop you. If there are no rules on the Debonair passport then maybe you can double dip legally! There is nothing on Debonair's website to indicate anything to the contrary . . . . and Swissair codeshares on Debonair are not specifically excluded in a long list of codeshares in Swissair's web member guide.

Even my petrol station has taken to stamping my gas receipts when they give me a bonus buck--just so there is no double dipping!

Thanks BB,

As a thank-you are you interested in Aeroplan North American upgrade certificates, I only have four left, but they are gathering dust. If so let me know and I will forward them as before.

Nick

Merry, currently Debonair does not have a "hot link" to the Qualiflyer database, which means they are operating on a best efforts measure and the double dip will probably work for you. Actually, double dips are currently still possible for most programs, if you know how. The key to this is that Debonair does not have an active database of that flight for Qualiflyer to link to since they are simply stamping the card.