In pursuit of cheap tickets

...6am at Heathrows building site that is Terminal 1. What used to be known as British Airways' "Europier", is being turned into just a walkway to a new pier for the new home of the Star Alliance carriers coming Heathrow in what will be the new Terminal 2.

Surrounded by a collection of suited travellers and people going to a car show, we are all waiting for our flight on Swiss flight LX359 to Geneva. Strange thing is that I am heading to Zurich and my meetings start at 1230! So why via GVA??, why the early start??

Well the simple truth is money. It's over £200 cheaper to travel on a connecting Swiss flight via Geneva to reach Zurich. Inconvenient as it is by being flexible and by trying to enjoy the journey despite the connection I will have saved enough money to be able to go later on this year on the same trip to Switzerland for yet more meetings.

Often when the airlines and travel agents, even the airlines own website tell you a round trip will be £300 or $450, if you are prepared to use a bit of patience and look at multi-city, or to go via somewhere else (usually another hub for the airline or the alliance) then often the price is half for double the flying! check out www.expedia.co.uk for the ticket I booked or have a look direct at www.swiss.com

For a selection of pictures from the trip including some love shots of the alps, have a look at www.plane-sight-images.photoshelter.com

Heathrow weather frustrates on American Airlines Boeing777

Arh the great British weather. Its a very British thing to say. But when trying to get some pictures of a brand new visitor to your local airport, spotting in the cold is exhilarating, taking pictures at night can be challenging but rewarding, spotting a grey plane, in grey cloud... well that just sucks. So today i ventured down to Heathrow Airport to see the inaugural departure of American Airlines shiny new, Boeing 777-300ER from LHR to DFW, operated by N718AN. 

Below is the image of it departing runway 09R, but after an hour there was a sliver of clear blue sky that kept expanding so much so that it stayed around for clear blue sky shots such as the below Virgin A330-300X departure flying the same departure sequence around 1 hour 10 after the AA. Still thats what keeps spotting so interesting.... sort of!

MP 

Anticipation of a new plane and new livery! (AA B777-300 @ LHR)

Some people anticipate the arrival of their new born child or their wedding day, even a small arrival like a package containing something they bought from EBAY causes a flutter. But for those chasing planes it's normally a new plane that sends us all into a frenzy. Over 2 years since the initial order and a few months on from the launch of their new livery, the arrival of the first new coloured American Airlines plane is exciting, even more so in when it's a new type to the fleet! So tomorrow afternoon I will be in the path of the take off of N718AN from Heathrows southern runway 09R.

Check back tomorrow for some pics.... I hope anyway

MP