bob b Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 I've just flown back from the Canaries following a pleasent winter break. The only 'fly in the ointment' as far as I'm concerned is the flying part. The airline (Thomson) charged me £44.00 for being 3.5 kgs over weight on the case. I was sat next to a woman with a small child on her lap, the row opposite contained one man with two empty seats next to him. I wasn't allowed to move over as the aircraft is 'balanced' and everybody had to stay in their allocated seats. The Stewardess kept calling me "my love". Only one coffee...no refills. All in all, flying is a miserable experience. If I owned a cat....I'd kick it !Motorhoming is really so much better. Next year I'll clear off to Southern Spain for a month in March and and save money to boot !. I spotted a nice site in Mojacar a few years ago. I'll trail the motorbike, base myself on the site and spend a relaxing few weeks bimbling along the coast on the bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 But you won't get the good weather in Spain, that you got in the Canaries. We went in January and just picked the right weeks to go, missed all the snow etc. and had 27 deg There must have been a VERY Large person on your plane, if you coudn't change your seat, for one of the empty ones!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Losos Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 bob b - 2009-03-14 10:45 PM All in all, flying is a miserable experience. If I owned a cat....I'd kick it !I must agree with you, and you didn't mention the delays, paying more than double the fare in taxes and 'charges' and running the risk of the flight being cancelled at the last minute. Easyjet did this last year at Prague at 23:50 all passengers (Not me thank God) were at the gate, by the time they had reveresed back to the check in desk all the Easyjet staff had gone home!!I have done 16 flights in the last four years on BMI Baby and only 9 of those were on time, last one was a 7 hour delay ggrrrrrrrrrr.So I am now committed to buying a MH and taking a little longer to get from Czechland to England but enjoying the journey so much more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliveH Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 After a particularly bad experience flying some years ago we decided to use the caravan more. Certainly do not miss flying! My favourite way of getting to Spain is in the Plymouth Santander ferry - not done it that often because sadly it is pricy - BUT - a nice meal, a few drinks in s good bar with a bit of entertainment, a good sleep in a comfortable bed and a piping hot shower in your own cabin, then a superb breakfast and coffee that tastes like coffee should and you disembark refreshed and ready for the "adventure" of touring. Flying???? Not for me anymore. Apart from when we have to go to Australia later this year of course (lol) (lol) (lol) But for us we would rather but up with the less warm weather and stay in the UK or use the Ferries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usinmyknaus Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 I have not flown commercially since I bought the MH 22 months ago and have no intention of ever doing so again. I used to fly very regularly both on business and holiday trips but the whole experience became ghastly. Worst of all, was the airport part of every journey - excessive charges for everything, overcrowding, noise and of course, jack-booted, intrusive security. I was surprised to be stopped for a full body search every time I travelled through a major UK airport - EVEN THOUGH the scanner had not "pinged". After the umpteenth search in one year I demanded to see a supervisor. To his credit, he 'fessed up immediately and said that he if he stopped and searched half a dozen people like me (I presume he meant smartly-dressed, white, middle class male) he could justify stopping one of those he wanted to stop. Naturally, the equalities industry prevents the use of risk-profiling and common sense. In comparison, travelling by MH is a doddle and even if there is a delay I can usually remain in my own comfortable, civilised cocoon and not be forced to rub shoulders with people whose conversation principally consists of a universal noun, adjective and verb beginning with "f", and who, in recent years, have formed a growing proportion of most airports' clientelle. Bob :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Losos Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Usinmyknaus - 2009-03-16 10:06 AM I was surprised to be stopped for a full body search every time I travelled through a major UK airport - EVEN THOUGH the scanner had not "pinged". After the umpteenth search in one year I demanded to see a supervisor. To his credit, he 'fessed up immediately and said that he if he stopped and searched half a dozen people like me (I presume he meant smartly-dressed, white, middle class male) he could justify stopping one of those he wanted to stop. Naturally, the equalities industry prevents the use of risk-profiling and common sense. Bob - I just had to come back and say you've given me yet another reason to continue with my plan to buy a MH. I've had the full search a couple of times and it's really disgraceful that our security people have to resort to such tactics in order to find the really dangerous people!!!I don't know how old you are but I still remember my first business flight when I was about 25 going to Sweden, terminal quiet, check in quick and courteous, aircraft half full, and meal and drinks served with a smile. You were someone a little bit special in those days, now, as you say it's just a cattle train in the air. ETA :-Just remembered no need to remove shoes and get 'frisked' every so often, in fact in those days no security checks at all. (Gives you some idea how old I am lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usinmyknaus Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Losos - 2009-03-17 10:06 AMUsinmyknaus - 2009-03-16 10:06 AM I was surprised to be stopped for a full body search every time I travelled through a major UK airport - EVEN THOUGH the scanner had not "pinged". After the umpteenth search in one year I demanded to see a supervisor. To his credit, he 'fessed up immediately and said that he if he stopped and searched half a dozen people like me (I presume he meant smartly-dressed, white, middle class male) he could justify stopping one of those he wanted to stop. Naturally, the equalities industry prevents the use of risk-profiling and common sense. Bob - I just had to come back and say you've given me yet another reason to continue with my plan to buy a MH. I've had the full search a couple of times and it's really disgraceful that our security people have to resort to such tactics in order to find the really dangerous people!!!I don't know how old you are but I still remember my first business flight when I was about 25 going to Sweden, terminal quiet, check in quick and courteous, aircraft half full, and meal and drinks served with a smile. You were someone a little bit special in those days, now, as you say it's just a cattle train in the air. ETA :-Just remembered no need to remove shoes and get 'frisked' every so often, in fact in those days no security checks at all. (Gives you some idea how old I am lol)Those were the days! They seem like another age entirely now. I used to travel 18 weeks a year and it was relatively pleasurable and comfortable. Full service airlines' business class meant something then. Security was so relaxed (except at Aldergrove, understandably) I usually managed to get into the jump seat for landing and take-off at places I had not visited before. Try doing that now!Recently, even when I fly myself in a four-seater I avoid the larger airfields - those with "International" pretentions - as security procedures and associated hassle/delays extend to frisking aircrew!I know security has become inevitable and necessary in our sad, mad society but at least we can escape the madhouse in our motorhomes.Bob :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J9withdogs Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I've never been strip-searched *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliveH Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 J9 - If you are keen I could fit you in next friday at about 2pm Any idea what I might find? I find it helps if I have a bit of a hint. 8-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usinmyknaus Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 CliveH - 2009-03-17 9:43 PM J9 - If you are keen I could fit you in next friday at about 2pm Any idea what I might find? I find it helps if I have a bit of a hint. 8-) Clive, but you could make the search last longer if you aren't given a clue what to look for? 8-) ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Yes - but I think even Janine would get fed up - she's got to give him a clue of some sort otherwise it'll never end!!!!!!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob b Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 I've complained to the Mod's regarding the introduction of 'smut' into my bitter thread. Anyway, if anyone's going to strip search on my thread.....it should be me....surely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I've never strip searched a thread before ... do you unravel it very slowly???? 8-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Mel B - 2009-03-18 8:37 PM I've never strip searched a thread before ... do you unravel it very slowly???? 8-) ....until it's thread bare ? :-| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I've sometimes stripped a thread - does that count? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob b Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 Ok...it's a draw. We're all as daft as each other! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliveH Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Would we want it anyother way? Off for a long w/e today - going to grab some sun at last! Can't wait - but have to clear the desk first - what a pain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly58 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Last year when we went to the I.O.M to visit our daughter flying from Manchester Airport our outbound flight for 8.00am eventually took off around 6.00pm and our return flight should have taken off at 4.00pm but eventually got away at around 7.30pm as we do not like ferry travel we have no other choice but to fly we are going again in a couple of weeks time so it will no doubt be a long boring day at the airport ,but at around £100 return for the both of us you only get what you pay for the sooner they build a bridge or tunnell the better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordThornber Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 kelly58 - 2009-03-19 8:49 AM Last year when we went to the I.O.M to visit our daughter flying from Manchester Airport our outbound flight for 8.00am eventually took off around 6.00pm and our return flight should have taken off at 4.00pm but eventually got away at around 7.30pm as we do not like ferry travel we have no other choice but to fly we are going again in a couple of weeks time so it will no doubt be a long boring day at the airport ,but at around £100 return for the both of us you only get what you pay for the sooner they build a bridge or tunnell the better In the 13.5 hours of waiting time , you could have swum there and back :D :D Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W3526602 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Hi, We once flew from Stanstead to Dinan (where we have a cottage). We started from Swansea. Effectively, it took longer than driving from Swansea to Dover, Chunnel, Calais to Dinan. About 600 miles, 12 hours door to door without knowingly exceeding any speed limits. By the time we had factored in a hire car in France, it was definitly cheaper to go by road. Its also quicker and cheaper than going by Britanny Ferries. 602 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 bob b - 2009-03-18 10:08 PM Ok...it's a draw. We're all as daft as each other! I represent that remark? I'm dafter than wot you are - so there! Wot's more I've been a lot dafter for a lot longer than you have too as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Why not combine the two?Flying camper.bmp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Since this is "Chatterbox" not "MH matters," we mustn't leave anyone out!Flying caravan.bmpFlying tent.bmp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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