iaflyer

Sure, I was just talking about seat counts and changing out a A320 for A319 if the market is better.

One airplane might be a bit more expensive to operate per seat but the acquisition cost might be low enough to make it worthwhile. (ie, a 737-900 might be as efficient as a new A321, but maybe Delta went to Boeing and said if you drop the price enough, we'll buy some of your older products)

The MD-88s will have to be replaced too, but I guess let's get the DC-9 replaced first. It's the plane that just won't die!

JungleBus

Last time I flew from London to the states was in 2009, when it was like $2.05/£. The UK hadjust doubled their departure tax - at that time for Heathrow only - as a way of making up budget shortfalls due to the market crash, and later expanded the increase across the country. Departure tax, fees, etc came to something like $180pp, but with today's exchange rate should be around $130-140. Since then, I've flown through Heathrow enroute to other European destinations, and departure taxes are considerably lower, around $40 - pretty much on par with AMS or CDG connecting to other EU countries.

London City is the only really convenient airport to central London, Stansted and Gatwick both have express trains but are fairly far out, and Luton's a pain to get to. The differences in departure tax aren't enough to justify going to the extra effort of flying out of another airport. Heathrow now has the most flights to the US, by far, although its stupid terminal system still makes it a bit of a pain in the butt to creatively nonrev out of.

orvil

I non-reved out of LHR in September. The departure tax came to $120.00. I'm going back in January to see the stuff I missed. Screw the tax, life's too short. Go do what you want to do.

hoserpilot

Thanks, I'm so used to jumpseating threw hoops on other carriers I forgot how easy it was on my own. Btw, heading to Ogden in January. Ski/drinking trip at Casa de Porsche.

JungleBus

Amen! What we do pay is a pretty small fraction of what we'd spend if we were buying tickets everywhere - I know my wife and I wouldn't have done remotely as much traveling if not for non-rev bennies. I'm just glad lots of other airline employees consider it a total PITA or I'd never get anywhere!

georgetg

That is a "preferred" destination...
I might see you out there!

Cheers
George

P.S. Goodluck on the trip!

Scoop

We had a MD-90 that Captains used to call "Flipper" all the way back in 2005/2006 when I was flying the 90's out of SLC. It would very mildly, yet constantly porpoise up and down when at cruise with the AP on, thus the "Flipper" moniker.

Also, this was before we got the 90s from China, so unless there is another Flipper I'm not sure the "China" part is deserved.

Scoop

shiznit

The China part IS deserved... unfortunately there is more than one that earns that moniker.

The DAL 90's are pretty decent, except for that particular one with the porpoise. The Chinese 90's tend to almost ALL do the "upndown"....

sinca3

Deserved and funny as all get out!! I've flown'em both now....

iaflyer

"Oh that porpoising... this one does that." said no one on the 7ER ever. <sigh>

More of the Boeing builds airplanes...Douglas builds Character stuff huh?