Unfortunately ORB the advent of cheap flights means that everyone is on the move. There don't seem to any quiet times any longer. Of course when drinks are availabe 24/7 then drinks will be taken. Most are fine but a few do abuse the privilege and spoil it for everyone else. We like a drink or two before we fly and I would be sorry to see that facility withdrawn. I must admit we only fly as a last resort i.e Majorca etc, otherwise we use our car and often the caravan to visit Europe. Much more relaxed and civilised. Roll on retirement ORB.

Cheers Concrete

I am indeed retired, but our obstacle to driving is Suicide Alley.. (the A12) followed by M25 and M2 or M20.. then all the fun in Europe... No I am sad to say that Flying is the lesser evil from where we live.. I don't even hire a car anymore in europe as most airports we go to now have a cheapish bus/train/metro service and there are usually leisure offers on trains offpeak. Which also avoids the hassle of the car return. 2 months ago 4 of us with bags took the taxi from near the vatican for 55 euros inc tip to Ciampino. No hassle at all.

Even here my mileage has dropped to 7000ish a year, so the avoidance of stansted parking will do nicely for me.

Be at least glad you weren't (presumably) flying with BA...

For where we want to fly, europe or mid east,there are plenty of better options with better service.

I stopped flying BA when the cabin "crew" decided that they would not clean up the aisle after a small child had vomited,forcing everyone including their trolley service to walk through it AND remonstrated with the parents. I asked for tissues to clean it, but was refused. And anyway last week was Nuremberg for £12.99 each way, next week salzburg 3 days, train to linz 2 days there return from linz £43 eack return and 9 euros train each. (westbahn online)

Why go BA, and why go to Thiefrow unless necessary for the mideast,and we can now fly there from stansted with Turkish or Pegasus,both of whom have good service onboard.

When we used to fly twice a year to the med we found it cheaper to get a taxi instead of driving and paying for parking plus all the hassle of getting from and to the normally distant long stay car park.

Once went with the brother in law to Stanstead, they insisted it was cheaper than a taxi. Head gasket started leaking on the A1/A14/A11 and we had to stop at virtually every service to top up the water. On the way home he just hammered it hoping (I think) it would blow and catch fire. Guess what, made it intact probably dry as a bone.