BS: Cheap Flights are a blessing

Subject: RE: BS: Cheap Flights are a blessing
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 08:14 AM

"The best way to deal with the ups and downs of air travel (sorry, couldn't resist) is to keep your mind fixed on the fact that recreational travel of any kind is an outrageous luxury, like caviare."

Not to me, some will drink say 4 pints of beer on 4 days a week - every week. Compare the cost of that - approx £2,500 per year with say 2 comfortable return flights to south America. There is little difference!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Cheap Flights are a blessing
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 08:44 AM

I see your point Bonzo, what could be saved by not wasting money on too much drink, cigarettes, gambling or anything extravagant could be put aside to get the comfy return flights. Or put up with a bit of discomfort but enjoy the fact that we can get out of the country if only for a week or two.

Subject: RE: BS: Cheap Flights are a blessing
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 09:16 AM

"Or put up with a bit of discomfort "

Not for 14 hours - done it in cattle class and never again!!

Subject: RE: BS: Cheap Flights are a blessing
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 05:10 PM

I'm told that Air New Zealand (voice goes up!!) has 34" leg room in cattle class.

Subject: RE: BS: Cheap Flights are a blessing
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 05:35 PM

Afriqiya has proved in the past to be great for very cheap flights. Before all the trouble in Libya, Tripoli was the hub of their operations, and one could travel from UK to many African countries at about half the cost of BA, Air France etc., as long as you didn't mind a stop-off in Libya for a few hours. I always welcomed the break, you were shepherded into a little cafe in the transit area by a good dozen officials, all grinning. I was always amused at the half-dozen video screens showing Gadaffi in various heroic roles, (but it's not so funny now). The flight boards were always in Arabic, but I learned to recognise the country I was bound for, as Arabic is written right to left phonetically. The 'toilet' was a hole with footprints, but most African countries have these, I never minded. The lady who stamped the boarding past was completely veiled and even wore thick gloves! All these exotic things are a bonus when travelling. Luxury flights are not nearly so interesting, and twice the price.

Subject: RE: BS: Cheap Flights are a blessing
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 06:26 AM

"Luxury flights are not nearly so interesting, and twice the price."

Everything is relative!!

Subject: RE: BS: Cheap Flights are a blessing
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 02:01 PM

True, Bonzo3legs, and I'm not saying cheap is good if you're in a hurry, have a connection to catch or are travelling with young children etc. But if one can enjoy the journey for its own sake and like adventure, flights like Afriqiya can be fascinating. I've also been wedged between two very fat English ladies on the way to Banjul (Gambia) who talked quite unashamedly about the sexy African men they hoped to seduce, I was entertained for hours. (and educated!) This was with First Choice, and legroom is unknown with them. Even a sardine would get DVT. I'm lucky as I can sleep or catnap in any position anywhere, find everything hilariously funny and adore listening to anyone who wants to chat, so cheap flights are heaven to me! Long delays are there for us to explore the airport, try all the perfume testers, have a quick pray in the chapel, natter to old ladies, watch the interesting passers-by in their national dress and generally have a super time!

Subject: RE: BS: Cheap Flights are a blessing
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 03:31 PM

"Long delays are there for us to explore the airport, try all the perfume testers, have a quick pray in the chapel, natter to old ladies, watch the interesting passers-by in their national dress and generally have a super time!"

That must be great fun. We watch English passers-by in easyjet national dress at Alicante airport - that is sometimes very entertaining.

Subject: RE: BS: Cheap Flights are a blessing
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 04:11 PM

Actually Bonzo3legs, it is! I've been in Alicante airport (and other Spanish airports, eg Malaga, Madrid, Barcelona, Gerona etc etc) loads of times, and the Brits make me smile. They're always sunburnt bright red, too fat and bulging out of their shorts, so typically British! I suppose I'm a dedicated people-watcher, but I always find something to enjoy at airports, train and bus stations. It's one of the main reasons I love travelling.