Monarch Airlines

[Aviador]

OK thanks.

 

[imagineif]

Some alternative Monarch metal on the ramp at Leeds today with G-ZBAP based as of Sunday evening.

Not quite as young as our sharklet equipped frames, this is a 2001 build and has flown for Air 2000, Skyservice, Saga and Onur before joining the ZB fleet in January of this year.

 

[LBA787]

I see G-ZBAA is back after a stint in the BHX hangar.

I just wonder if it was receiving the new seats while down there?

Is there anybody able to go on the a/c today and have a look? I won't be airside again for a week or so but when I do I'll take a look if no one else can.

:crazy:

 

[airforced]

I see G-ZBAA is back after a stint in the BHX hangar.

I just wonder if it was receiving the new seats while down there?

Is there anybody able to go on the a/c today and have a look? I won't be airside again for a week or so but when I do I'll take a look if no one else can.

:crazy:

Why would they want to replace the seats on a virtually new aircraft? I know they have a programme running to fit new slimline seats to the fleet but surely they wouldn't do that to new airframes would they? Those new seats are very comfortable and I for one will be very disappointed if they scrap them so soon.

 

[LBA787]

Monarch really need to create a good consistent product on all their a/c. Just look at jet2 as an example all a/c look the same creating a very professional feel.

Secondly airlines are now seriously looking at viable ways to cut weight onboard a/c. New lightweight seats and catering equipment are the main savers but also removing some ovens, hot water brewers and even reducing onboard magazine sizes save a lot of fuel.

I was speaking to one of jet2's inflight retail managers last week. She excitedly talked about the new lightweight catering carts they were starting to roll out fleet wide. With the near million pound investment apparently recouped in only 2 years! According to her they're going to be “quids in"!!

:crazy:

 

[Tarn Spotter]

having light weight trollies must be great for the flight attendants. The old trollies were a nightmare to control in flight turbalence, last year they could not even bring them out for a the whole flight as the conditions to dangerous for there use. I would think hot water being thrown about an issue as well.
Was an interesting flight also for all those fuel up in the airport and needed the toilet after 30 minutes, seat belt light on the whole flight, the flight attendants got a lot of flack not letting people use the toilets.

 

[ChurchFenton]

I for one will welcome Monarch adding new slimmer seats, even more so if they are the type which don't recline. I used to think the gripes about poor legroom on Monarch were perhaps exaggerated and harked back to the days when they were more charter orientated. That was until I sampled it for myself last year from LBA on both of the new A320's which were based. I'm only 5ft 8, but my knees were touching the seat in front and can only sympathise for the many people taller than myself who had to endure this seat pitch. Then, of course, came the inevitable recline from the seat in front which just added more discomfort. I can honestly say I have not felt such dissatisfaction from a economy class seat during the past 10 years.

Whilst I think Monarch as an airline are fine and will happily continue to keep them in the equation when making travel plans, I will now only price up their flights with extra legroom factored in, which invariably then usually makes them more expensive than Jet2 on many of the routes both airlines compete on, so they lose my business to Jet2.

Whilst Jet2's seats appear somewhat basic, and a few have commented that they find them slightly uncomfortable (though I've not had any issue with them whatsoever), the slimline nature means they offer noticeably more legroom from the seat in front at the standard price and don't recline. I can't be the only person who Monarch lose business to for these same reasons and will look forward to the day the slim seats arrive, meaning I could consider using their standard economy seating again and may then mean they begin to win more of my bookings vs Jet2.

 

[airforced]

I am one of those who have commented unfavourably on the Jet2 Acro seats and will continue to do so for any journey of more than 2 hours or so. I understand that the seats Monarch are fitting are better than the Acros but will need to try them before I am convinced. Whilst we still have the new A320s at LBA it is well worth paying the, relatively small extra charge (compared with the Jet2 charges) for extra legroom seats. There are very good and the most comfortable economy seats I have traveled in (Crete & back) for a long time.

As an aside. Are AA and AB going to be fitted with the new seats and does anyone have any details on whose seats they are etc?

 

[yorkie40]

Flew with monarch to egypt in dec on an a321 G-ZBAG and to be honest the legroom was fine better than thompsons 757 I flew on the year before from LBA, and in 6ft tall.

 

[White Heather]

In my experience, Airbus seats, period, are better than those on Boeing Aircraft. I have flown quite a few times on the A320 and A321 mostly on sectors of over 4 hours, and transatlantic twice on the A330, and find them very comfortable. Having said that, I find the Jet2 acro seats a little hard, but otherwise very good. I also appreciate that I can stretch my legs out so they are right underneath the seat in front and the fact that the person in front cannot recline their seat into space I have paid for!

 

[yorkie40]

@white heather I agree with you on the airbus seats much better than beoing, slightly wider I think to? Well they feel it

 

[imagineif]

Think people need to realise the biggest leg room gain/illusion on the model Jet2 use comes from the fact that the seat cushion is also smaller and not just that the seats are slimmer. Also the squished feeling on Monarch in the standard seats is due to the space at the front rows having an increase so they can be sold as an upgrade - this comes at the expense of pushing the seats closer as you go down the cabin. Lots of carriers doing this now.

 

[LBA787]

Just to report back the current LBA based 320 G-ZBAA still has the old seats fitted.

:crazy:

 

[Aviador]

Rumour has it the airport will be hosting a huge reverse bungee to be set up in the car park to be used for the Ant & Deck Saturday Night Live show on the day of the Monarch Orlando flight.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4PwsV743wA[/video]

As I say it is just a rumour at this stage but it will be a huge scoop for the airport if it's true with all the associated air time.

 

[ryan]

having light weight trollies must be great for the flight attendants. The old trollies were a nightmare to control in flight turbalence, last year they could not even bring them out for a the whole flight as the conditions to dangerous for there use. I would think hot water being thrown about an issue as well.
Was an interesting flight also for all those fuel up in the airport and needed the toilet after 30 minutes, seat belt light on the whole flight, the flight attendants got a lot of flack not letting people use the toilets.

Lightweight trolleys are awful, very unstable in turbulence and generally a lot harder to control. They also need two crew to operate them at all times due to their tendency to leave the floor. Fortunately only our newer generation aircraft have them so I don't have to deal with them that often!

 

[ChurchFenton]

Just noticed on Flightradar 24 that G-ZBAA has positioned out a short time ago from LBA to Humberside. Thought this seemed bit unusual given Monarch don't normally operate out of HUY. Looking at HUY's website it's due to depart there at 21:00 this evening arriving back at HUY again at 00.10. LBA website then shows it due arrive back here at 01.35. Anyone know the reason for this, Northern Lights charter perhaps?

 

[lbaspotter]

You've answered your own question ChurchFenton...

 

[yorkie40]

When the 2nd based a320 due back at lba

 

[lbaspotter]

I think the 2nd base Monarch Airbus A320 should position in to Leeds either Saturday evening or in early hours of Sunday morning because it's required in service on Sunday... I suspect it will be G-ZBAB returning from East Midlands..

 

[LBA787]

I think the 2nd base Monarch Airbus A320 should position in to Leeds either Saturday evening or in early hours of Sunday morning because it's required in service on Sunday... I suspect it will be G-ZBAB returning from East Midlands..

It should be AB.

There are 4 flights operating on Sunday using both based a/c.

:crazy: