Norwegian replaced with HiFly flight
Jun 8, 2018, 3:55 am
#61
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,956
I wonder if they don't have replacement crews in OAK and just use the same crew on the OB and IB? Could that be the reason for the delay?
When do you think they process this downgrade? Do they do that as soon as they do the aircraft swap or is this an "at the gate" kind of thing?
(I hope you don't).What a great time to be a charter airline! So much business thanks to rolls royce!
Last edited by Palal; Jun 8, 2018 at 4:09 am
Jun 9, 2018, 9:20 am
#62
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 124
It's going to be either this plane or this plane.
They removed the first part of biz and converted it to economy. Rows 9 and 10 remain biz lie flat seats. Power should be working, IFE will be provided on tablets (bring your own headphones).
Overall a better hard product over DY's planes, but soft product will be terrible.
As there are fewer premium seats than on DY, about half of DY premium customers will get downgraded. Remember you're due a refund amounting to 75% of the purchase price per EU 261/2004.
They removed the first part of biz and converted it to economy. Rows 9 and 10 remain biz lie flat seats. Power should be working, IFE will be provided on tablets (bring your own headphones).
Overall a better hard product over DY's planes, but soft product will be terrible.
As there are fewer premium seats than on DY, about half of DY premium customers will get downgraded. Remember you're due a refund amounting to 75% of the purchase price per EU 261/2004.
Last edited by solosf; Jun 9, 2018 at 9:33 am Reason: grammar
Jun 10, 2018, 7:31 am
#63
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,171
These A345 were initially ordered by Kingfisher airlines to offer ULH flights from India to the US. Hence the bar and the red color scheme. Arik bought them after KFA couldn't take them and soon after 5K took them. A345 are essentially A330-300 with a A346 wing and some cargo space sacrificed for additional fuel tanks.
Jun 10, 2018, 3:53 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
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These A345 were initially ordered by Kingfisher airlines to offer ULH flights from India to the US. Hence the bar and the red color scheme. Arik bought them after KFA couldn't take them and soon after 5K took them. A345 are essentially A330-300 with a A346 wing and some cargo space sacrificed for additional fuel tanks.
Jun 26, 2018, 4:17 pm
#65
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: Southwest, United, Alaska
Posts: 1
Norwegian Barcelona to Oakland Switch to Fly High
Norwegian...beware of operator changes.
On Sunday, June 24, flew Premium, Barcelona to Oakland. The flight was fine, arrived on time and safely. Luggage took one hour to arrive.
A few months before the flight, the flight time had changed from an afternoon to a morning time. A month before take off, I received a text that the flight would be operated by Fly High, and that the aircraft was not a Boeing 787. Turned out it was an old Airbus A340-500. I tried calling to verify I still had Premium seats and it took two hours to get through. They confirmed the Premium seats, but they were not together. The only way to verify them was on the day of the flight. However, at check-in, they were two Premium adjacent seats. The good news was that they had a small Business Class section with lay flat seats! What a surprise. The bad news was that my seat's in-flight system wasn't working, and the flight attendants seemed overwhelmed, busy rushing back and forth down the aisles.
The woman sitting across the aisle said that her friend on another Norwegian flight had been bumped back to Economy although she had paid for Premium. So, just be aware that the operator could change and that the plane may not be the advertised newest and "greenest" aircraft staffed with Norwegian flight attendants and state of the art in-flight entertainment.
On Sunday, June 24, flew Premium, Barcelona to Oakland. The flight was fine, arrived on time and safely. Luggage took one hour to arrive.
A few months before the flight, the flight time had changed from an afternoon to a morning time. A month before take off, I received a text that the flight would be operated by Fly High, and that the aircraft was not a Boeing 787. Turned out it was an old Airbus A340-500. I tried calling to verify I still had Premium seats and it took two hours to get through. They confirmed the Premium seats, but they were not together. The only way to verify them was on the day of the flight. However, at check-in, they were two Premium adjacent seats. The good news was that they had a small Business Class section with lay flat seats! What a surprise. The bad news was that my seat's in-flight system wasn't working, and the flight attendants seemed overwhelmed, busy rushing back and forth down the aisles.
The woman sitting across the aisle said that her friend on another Norwegian flight had been bumped back to Economy although she had paid for Premium. So, just be aware that the operator could change and that the plane may not be the advertised newest and "greenest" aircraft staffed with Norwegian flight attendants and state of the art in-flight entertainment.
Jun 28, 2018, 5:35 pm
#67
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Pleasanton, CA
Programs: UA MM 1K; HA Pualani Gold, SWA A-List; Aloha Silver (RIP); HH Gold
Posts: 432
Arrived today in Barcelona on HiFly’s A340-500 that is replacing the OAK-BCN and EWR-BCN routes for a while (CS-TFX).
Prior or to this week, this plane was consistently delayed 2.5 to 3 hours. Since the plane’s turnaround time was around two hours, every scheduled flight was delayed until the plane has a longer layover to make up time (on Sundays). This week the plane was much better on schedule and there was only a 1.5 hour delay out of OAK.
The plane interior is showing its age. The inflight entertainment works on some seats but not on others along with the in seat power. As another person has noted, there is a small premium section with lie flat seats. Surprisingly the regular economy section had good legroom comparable to United Economy Plus. When reclining the seat back does recline and seat bottom moves forward. There is an adjustable foot rest below the front tray. The headrests do not move up and down but the sides do fold in. With the recline and headrest folds, some may not need a neck pillow.
They brought out pre ordered meals but did not have other food for passengers until the last 1/3 of the flight where they handed out everyone a bag which had a turkey ham and cheese sandwich, stale cinnamon roll and a bottle of Tropicana apple juice. Just make sure you bring your own food.
The ground/gate crew along with the inflight crew were nice.
Being non stop and for $270 one way, it definitely was worth it. Just don’t expect much from a low cost carrier.
For this specific plane, you can track it here:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/cs-tfx
Prior or to this week, this plane was consistently delayed 2.5 to 3 hours. Since the plane’s turnaround time was around two hours, every scheduled flight was delayed until the plane has a longer layover to make up time (on Sundays). This week the plane was much better on schedule and there was only a 1.5 hour delay out of OAK.
The plane interior is showing its age. The inflight entertainment works on some seats but not on others along with the in seat power. As another person has noted, there is a small premium section with lie flat seats. Surprisingly the regular economy section had good legroom comparable to United Economy Plus. When reclining the seat back does recline and seat bottom moves forward. There is an adjustable foot rest below the front tray. The headrests do not move up and down but the sides do fold in. With the recline and headrest folds, some may not need a neck pillow.
They brought out pre ordered meals but did not have other food for passengers until the last 1/3 of the flight where they handed out everyone a bag which had a turkey ham and cheese sandwich, stale cinnamon roll and a bottle of Tropicana apple juice. Just make sure you bring your own food.
The ground/gate crew along with the inflight crew were nice.
Being non stop and for $270 one way, it definitely was worth it. Just don’t expect much from a low cost carrier.
For this specific plane, you can track it here:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/cs-tfx
Jul 13, 2018, 4:44 am
#68
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 1
My sister and I are on a Hi Fly operated flight from BCN - OAK on July 16th. I am confused about the seat map... my tickets say 1E and 1F. I did the “bid for an upgrade” for premium seats but haven’t heard anything back. Is row 1 a standard seat or a premium?
On July 1st I flew Norwegian (regular plane aka no Hi Fly) out of OAK to Gatwick. I originally booked a standard seat but then did the “bid for an upgrade” and was upgraded to premium in row 8. So I am confused about row 1 for Hi Fly... normally the first couple rows are premium or first class... help please!
On July 1st I flew Norwegian (regular plane aka no Hi Fly) out of OAK to Gatwick. I originally booked a standard seat but then did the “bid for an upgrade” and was upgraded to premium in row 8. So I am confused about row 1 for Hi Fly... normally the first couple rows are premium or first class... help please!
Jul 13, 2018, 6:37 am
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,163
My sister and I are on a Hi Fly operated flight from BCN - OAK on July 16th. I am confused about the seat map... my tickets say 1E and 1F. I did the “bid for an upgrade” for premium seats but haven’t heard anything back. Is row 1 a standard seat or a premium?
On July 1st I flew Norwegian (regular plane aka no Hi Fly) out of OAK to Gatwick. I originally booked a standard seat but then did the “bid for an upgrade” and was upgraded to premium in row 8. So I am confused about row 1 for Hi Fly... normally the first couple rows are premium or first class... help please!
On July 1st I flew Norwegian (regular plane aka no Hi Fly) out of OAK to Gatwick. I originally booked a standard seat but then did the “bid for an upgrade” and was upgraded to premium in row 8. So I am confused about row 1 for Hi Fly... normally the first couple rows are premium or first class... help please!
Aug 3, 2018, 6:55 am
#71
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 24
Norwegian flight replaced by HIFLY
I have just had a text advising us that our flight to JFK 19th August is being replaced with HIFLY and that entertainment will be limited - we booked Premium Economy seats for this, can anyone tell me what we can expect? I noticed an article in the Telegraph stating it is a luxury aircraft? Not sure if that's correct?! I am being offered the choice of a refund if I wish to have one but want to find out how this will be first in comparison to what we booked originally if anyone can help. (Bit late to search alternatives anyway!) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/n...ndon-new-york/
Aug 3, 2018, 11:55 am
#73
Suspended
Join Date: May 2017
Location: In the Swiss amoeba's head
Programs: Lowest level possible
Posts: 2,829
Well, that's one way for Norwegian to speed up their economical problems...
I'm pretty sure that Norwegian's cost for wet leasing an A380 surpasses their forecasted cost to operate the route themselves with a 787, and they won't get any additional revenue if the switch was made late and they can't sell the additional seat capacity.
I'm pretty sure that Norwegian's cost for wet leasing an A380 surpasses their forecasted cost to operate the route themselves with a 787, and they won't get any additional revenue if the switch was made late and they can't sell the additional seat capacity.
Aug 3, 2018, 1:10 pm
#75
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 331
So far it is just a rumour that Norwegian might lease HiFly's A380 at some point. Little Internet browsing reveals that the first HiFly A380 customer was Thomas Cook Scandinavia for one off charter to replace a broken A321 on CPH-LCA route and the next customer for this plane looks to be Air Austral on CDG-RUN route.