Hi Robby .. I appreciate that you may like clarification on the presence of XL at Newcastle in 2008, and hopefully forum users may be able to help clarify that fact.

However, we just have to be careful with the choice of words used on the forum, especially if terms like "kicked out" are based on no more than rumour.

David

I am flying out of Newcastle Airport next August with Airtours to Sanford and have been reading through some of the messages on the forum! Slightly worried now as most of it seems negative? I was hoping it would be easier than Manchester as it is smaller! Can anybody reassure me, I will not be pulling out the remainder of my hair with the service at the airport?

Just got back on sunday morning from Sanford and after touching down at 3.15AM finally left the airport with our luggage at 4.50AM.

There were still loads of people waiting for their luggage as well when we got away.

Ours was the only flight arriving and the luggage was coming in dribs and drabs, 2 or 3 cases and then nothing for ages and then another 2 or 3.

I flew from Newcastle rather than Manchester to avoid the long drive home after an overnight transatlantic flight, but the length of time you wait for your luggage makes you wonder if its worth it.

I also don't like the way the belt is configured at Newcastle. The luggage comes up and then slams down a slope onto the belt. Our Pushchair narrowly avoided being slammed by a big suitcase coming down the ramp after it.

omg am flying from newcastle on the 7 and reutrning on the 14 i really hope i dont have to wait that long as i will have a taxie boked for comming back if i have to i will charge the airport for the taxie fair home.

To clarify for the benefit of David and in the interests of fairness towards airlines on these forums

I think the problem relating to XL which was 'suggested' in another media forum was that XL had subcontracted out some flights to FlyJet, which as many of you will be aware, had major operational issues out of Newcastle last year and suffered an average mean delay time of around 6.5hours per flight. XL's name suddenly got tangled into this and the rumour sort of spiralled and XL seem to have bore the brunt of the airports' anger at the Flyjet debacles

However...I rang Excel today to book flights to Alicante and was told Newcastle was not available at all. I pressed for alternative dates and destinations and was told directly 'Newcastle bookings are unavailable'

I'd hope this is a temporary breakdown in communications between Newcastle Airport and XL

Thanks JK, which other media site posted this??
I have heard only word of mouth, second hand admittedly, that NCL airport wanted XL out of NCL. They were unhappy with the adverse publicity which XL brought and failed to rectify, according to airport employees.

Robby

I flew from Newcastle to Dublin last weekend and had checked in online and printed my boarding pass off from the website. Not only was this not scanned at all at the airport, my passport was also not checked. I flew with my boyfriend so that flight had two passengers on board who really could have been anyone. This is very dodgy considering what goes on these days. Anyone think I should write to complain and who should I write it to?

Are you really saying that at both security on your way into the departures and at the gate that nobody even looked at the boarding pass and nor was your passport checked at the gate? If this is the case you should write to both the airport management and the airline but I have never heard of this happening anywhere, even with on-line check-in.

SM

Yes no-one looked at either of them. At the gate we had our boarding passes torn in half by the cabin crew but they were not scanned at all so the info. stored on the bar code could have been fake for all they knew. When I had gone through security I asked if anyone was going to check our boarding passes but no-one wanted to know. I do think something odd was going on that day as the usual security point had been moved (i.e the one where they would normaly check your passport and card) and there were lots of strange undercover looking people standing in corners staring!

I fly regularly from Newcastle and the security has always been a bit of a joke compared to other airports. Quite often they don't bother to look at the screen whn scanning your bags through security!

I have stopped flying from Newcastle although it is the nearest airport to me.We flew from Teeside in June and the security there was the most thorough I have ever encountered.Im off to Sharm next month from Gatwick!

got back to newcastle airport last week at 5.15 in the evening by the time thy brought the steps for us and we got through ssecurity we had to wait about 15 mins for our baggage which was fab as the last 2 years e have had to wait a long time i was so happy with that good on you newcastle keep it up .

Just had a look on Formule 1 hotels website and they don`t seem to have a hotel near to Newcastle aiport anymore. Can anyone reccomend a hotel close or withina 10 min drive.

their is a travel in straight opposit the airport a five min walk

.............and a couple of Innkeepers Lodge's close by.

http://www.innkeeperslodge.com/

Robby

Formule 1 hotel has changed names - can't remember off top of my head but will try and find out for you. It's next to the Novotel and there's a Inkeepers Lodge next door attached to Toby Carvery - all 3 are literally a 5 minute drive to airport thru' Woolsington.

There is a hotel opposite airport and one a mile down the road adjoined to the Wheatsheaf pub (think they are Premier Inn's). My parents stayed at the former and it was fine.

There is also a Britannia Hotel opposite airport but it's supposed to be naff and expensive.

Tis

the hotel across the road from the airport is now called premier inn and their number is 08709906338 amd they web site is http://www.premier inn newcastleairport.com or it could be .co.uk not sure you could always try both but you can see that inn from the airport and vis verser, hope it helps .

Flybe steps in to maintain Gatwick-Newcastle service

Flybe is to maintain an air link between Gatwick and Newcastle.

The airline is to fly three times a day on weekdays from March 30

The move follows Jet2.com announcing it will cease flying between Newcastle and Gatwick on March 29. Passengers booked on this service from March 30 can transfer to Flybe at no additional cost, the airline said.

Flybe's fares start at £21.99 one way including taxes and charges.

The airline is also to start Newcastle-Aberdeen flights six days a week from March 30 and is to serve Rennes in France with a weekly summer service from the North East from May 24.

Referring to the Gatwick connection, Flybe chief commercial officer Mike Rutter said: "We recognise the strategic importance of this key route to the capital and are pleased to be in a position to step in and maintain this lifeline service for the people of Newcastle and the North East.

"Indeed, we purchased these Gatwick slots in the teeth of opposition from other carriers who wanted to use those slots to serve European destinations, not Newcastle."


With permission from Travelmole

Seems FlyBe are setting up a base on Tyneside.

All good news

Ahuh - but is all well with Jet 2 one asks.......?

Nivsy