I will fly with you at any time (flybe.com)

Member Name: wearsidelass

Product:	flybe.com
Date:	04/01/05 (2344 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Saves you quite a substantial amount of money

Disadvantages: None at present

Late last year I received an email stating that Flybe were introducing a new service from Southampton to Newcastle and I just literally jumped for joy. You see I had been paying £154 to travel this route with Eastern Airways and that was the cheapest price I could get! So, as far as I was concerned, competition on this route would be good – especially for the customers. I hadn’t actually used Flybe (as far as I can remember anyway) for any travel for my boss so I hadn’t actually had any form of personal experience with the transactions of this airline.

So, straightaway, I logged onto their site - http://www1.flybe.com - which is very colourful.

Their homepage gives a section with the latest news, for example, “Go ski with flybe” and you just click onto the relevant section and read what they have to offer. Car hire, hotels, parking (saving of up to 50%), insurance, win gift vouchers, 75% off perfume and onboard duty free plus all your flybe extras which include information on taxis, train tickets, airport transfers, accommodation, internet access, ski equipment hire, resorts guide. So, lots of information given for all your needs.

Impressive so far.

The most important feature for me was Steps 1-4 in searching for flights and prices.

Step 1
Involves selecting your departure airport (in my case Southampton) and then selecting the airport you wish to travel to. Then you must fill in the outbound/return dates and select the number of adults/children travelling. The last part of this step involves selecting your fare type – economy or economy plus.

Step 2
Shows the outbound/return flights that you can choose. In my case there was only one flight operating both ways but this didn’t matter. You still have to tick the fare section but it must be noted that the fares shown at this step do not include taxes or surcharges so please remember this.

Step 3
Shows all the necessary details of your selected itinerary including flight numbers, flight departure times, flight arrival times plus the TOTAL fare (this is the final price which includes all taxes and surcharges). It does also state that this fare cannot be guaranteed until your booking is confirmed. Rules are also printed stating that the fare is non-refundable.

However, Flybe do allow changes to your flights – in fact up to 2 hours before your departure – but do charge GBP25.00 per sector. They also allow name changes on unused tickets up to 6 days before the departure date but this is subject to an upgrade fee and a GBP25.00 per sector charge.

I found this feature particularly appealing – Eastern Airways do not allow any of the above. As I use the Southampton to Newcastle flight to visit my 84 years old mother, it is very reassuring to know that should I need to change my return flight, for example, if my mam takes ill whilst I am visiting, then I know I only have to pay GBP25.00. I found this to be a great comfort to me.

Also in this step of the procedure you are informed that you can have 20kg baggage allowance per person (and I think 5kg hand luggage) although it should be noted that infants’ luggage is included in the parent’s allowance which I always find strange. Anyone who has dealings with children know that they carry the most clothing etc! I really do think that all airlines should reassess this particular point on baggage allowances.

Step 4
You must now give a list of all passengers and insert your credit/debt card details, billing address and contact details. This page is protected by their security system – SSL Secured 128 Bit.

Once you have submitted your card details a confirmation number will appear but they also send you confirmation by email.

You are advised to print out the confirmation details to produce at the Flybe check-in desk at the airport.

You are also advised that you need photo ID which is very important – if you don’t have it then you will not be allowed to travel irrespective that you produce your confirmation details.

I was charged in total approximately £52 which is a great saving compared to £154 with Eastern Airways. I have also noticed that if you travel on a Saturday then the cost is greatly reduced too - £38 return including all charges!

So far, so good. The test was yet to come – flying with Flybe.

My date of travel duly arrived and I went to check-in at the Flybe desk at Southampton Airport. I produced my passport and was just about to hand over my confirmation details when I was told that they were not needed, my passport would suffice as she had all my details on her screen. I must add that the same occurred on my return journey from Newcastle – only my passport (photo ID) needed to be produced. My luggage was weighed and went through to the baggage department. I was given a boarding pass and seat allocation which surprised me because I had heard tales that you have to scramble to get seats on budget airlines but Flybe was very professional and very civilised.

I was now free to go for a coffee and wait for my flight.

We had a slight delay of about 10 minutes but this did not concern me.

Passengers started to embark on the aircraft and we were greeted by a very friendly air hostess and guided to our seats. The only difference from this flight to Eastern Airways is that you have to pay for your refreshments. These were quite expensive – a sandwich cost £4 and a coffee was about £2 but, even if you spend £6, look at the vast saving you are making so what is £6? Nothing really. However, I wasn’t hungry so didn’t buy anything as I knew my mam would have a meal ready for me when I arrived at her home. Well, aren’t all mothers like this? I did however, purchase a hot chocolate on my return journey which cost, I think, £1.80, and it was OK.

Arrived at Newcastle Airport and luggage arrived safely.

Both flights were very pleasant. The only problem I had was with the descent into Newcastle as my ears really did hurt and normally I don’t have this problem on this short flight. However, my ears didn’t hurt on the return descent into Southampton which I was thankful for!

Flybe’s Economy Plus fare type provides Executive Lounges away from the main airport and they provide complimentary drinks, magazines and snacks. These lounges are available at Belfast City, Bristol, Edinburgh, Guernsey, Glasgow, Jersey, Leeds Bradford, Gatwick, Newcastle and Southampton. You can even the lounges on the Flybe website.

A good feature of the Economy Plus fare is that the departure time can be changed up to 2 hours before departure without any cost implication.

On board the flight, Economy Plus passengers receive complimentary refreshments from their “Deli in the Sky” selection which, as I remember, were quite expensive.

Also, Economy Plus passengers receive 10 Freedom points (Freedom is Flybe’s frequent flyer scheme for which you need to register on their website).

There is also a dedicated check-in for this class of traveller AND they have a more generous baggage allowance of 30kg plus 10kg of hand baggage.

Now for those of you who are wondering how much Economy Plus fares would be, I have just been onto Flybe’s website and requested fare details on both Economy and Economy Plus for an imaginary return journey travelling from Southampton to Newcastle on 16 March returning Newcastle to Southampton on 21 March.

Here is the price difference:-

Economy: £38
Economy Plus: £282

Wow! Is that not a big difference or what! As the journey takes approximately one hour I really wouldn’t wish to pay £282 for complimentary drinks and a little bit extra leg room! In fact, Flybe claim their aircraft have more legroom than other low fare airlines – 32”.

I will keep to Economy!

Flybe do take a pride in their claim that their website is very straightforward and easy to use and that their aim to make booking a flight quick and easy.

All I can say is that I totally agree with their claim.

It was very quick and easy to book and their staff were brilliant.

The only problem I had was that, at one point, their website crashed if I took a little time to fill in all the details relevant to the booking. You know what it is like, you are half way through ticking boxes etc and the phone rings, you take the call but when you go back to the web page it crashes and you have to start all over again. This annoyed me but once “my flow” got going again it was quick and easy and painless.

Therefore, I have only given 4* because of the system crashing but I will definitely be travelling with Flybe in future.

Summary: