Sat here - watching the clock tick awaiting for someone at this event to make their minds up about tomorrow....
...if you have booked overnight accomodation as I have, I have already called them in advance of their cut off time to warn them that should RIAT cancel, then I would like to also cancel the booking with them.
As I have called in advance but may have to cancel after their own cut off time - they will honour my cancellation.
Now that is good customer service :)
I don't like Farnborough as it is not as focused on the public sector as it is on the military & sales to them.
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Just had an email response from the RIAT helpline it is still 50/50 for tomorrow (Sunday) @ 12.14pm.
All depends on how much rain falls at Fairford and the area between now and 4pm.
Edited by Tron on 12/07/2008 at 13:15
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Cancelled.
tinyurl.com/6rsb64
Bummer...
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Commiserations Tron.
Only pure luck i spotted that about the cancellation last night, else we'd have sailed off down there today without a second thought.
Glad you can get you accomodation cancelled though.
We've had a long weekend too for this, ah well never mind, its our fault for having gas guzzlers and causing global warming..;)
Mind you the lay-in Monday will be nice.....
Not sure about Farnborough either, the area is bad enough for traffic without the airshow
Thanks to Roy for the reminder though.
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Flying Legends at Duxford this weekend as well.
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I should have been in Swindon this week but could not get hotel accomodation anywhere near - like 20 mile radius. Assume it was due to the personnel involved with the airshow... which is cancelled.
All those planes coming and landing just for the RAF 90th annivesary on Friday seems a waste of money.
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GB,
Spoke with Travel Inn Express to cancel my bookings with them at 16.27hrs a few mins after I found out the event was off - the person I spoke with this morning or so I have been informed was not in a position of authority to make the decision that he did.
This is really bad customer service.
I am gutted. I am now facing paying out £140 if their operations manager decides to uphold their policy of cancellations after 16.00hrs are payable in full.
I tried to explain to them that I did not myself find out until 16.23hrs from RIAT Fairford that the event was too cancelled for Sunday.
They are going to call me back as soon as they can to let me know if I will be charged or not.
Refunds from RIAT could take as long as 8 weeks to happen so the web site says. I don't think I will send my request in until the end of July!
Tron.
Edited by Tron on 12/07/2008 at 18:10
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Tron
If the bod tells you that you are not getting a refund, i think you should write pronto to the chief general manager of the company.
Whether the person you spoke to thismorning had the authority or not makes not a jot of difference as far as i can see, they infomed you that it would not be a problem, and you took a course of action because of that. You would probably have cancelled early this afternoon otherwise....
Therefore, i believe they have to honour what you were told thismorning.
I hope you got a name.
Good luck with this.
Bromptonaut
I don't suppose off the top of your head you'd know if Vulcan is flying over?
I was at Bruntingthorpe last week and followed the beauty from the hanger, but couldn't hang around to watch the flight in the afternoon.
Disappointing days for many thousands of folk.
Next year it is then.
GB
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GB
XH558 was due at RIAT but Duxford was not planned. I'd be surprised if they'd take on something like that at short notice. Seems she ferrys to the display airfield and operates from there. Duxford's runway may be too short now (it ws shorn for he M11 in the seventies.
Details of planned outings are on the tvoc website www.tvoc.co.uk/.
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Thanks for that Bromptonaut.
Was sort of hoping if they came back from RIAT tomorrow, they could give the Duxford crowds a thrill with a fly past.
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>>the person I spoke with this morning or so I have been informed was not in a position of >>authority to make the decision that he did.
Then that's their problem, not yours! They are this persons employers and are in a position to be able to make that level of judgement, you are a customer and are not. The information which you were given was from an employee of the company and, as such, the company are now obliged to comply with it.
If they are unhappy with this, then it's for them to take the matter up with the employee who gave you this information, not to try to wriggle out of it with such a feeble excuse.
Don't stand for it!
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Look at the planned flypro for Duxford. How many Spitfires?!!!!
List of Participating Aircraft (subject to change)
North American P-51 Mustangs
P-51D-20 Mustang 44-72216 ? The Aerial Museum
P-51D-25 Mustang 44-72917 ? Rob Davies
P-51D-25 Mustang 44-73149 ? Old Flying Machine Company
P-51D-25 Mustang 44-73877 ? Scandinavian Historic Flight
P-51D-30 Mustang 44-74427 ? Christian Amara
TF-51D-25 Mustang 44-84847 ? The Fighter Collection
Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires
Spitfire IA AR213 ? Sheringham Aviation
Spitfire F VB BM597 ? Historic Aircraft Collection
Spitfire F VB EP120 ? The Fighter Collection
Spitfire F VIII MV154 ? The Aerial Museum
Spitfire F IX MH434 ? The Old Flying Machine Company
Spitfire F IXE PL344 ? Historic Flying Ltd
Spitfire FR XIVE MV293 ? The Fighter Collection
Spitfire F XIVE SM832 ? Christophe Jacquard
Spitfire LF XVIE TD248 ? Spitfire Ltd
Spitfire FR XVIII SM845 ? Historic Flying Ltd
Spitfire F XVIII SM969 ? The Fighter Collection
Seafire F XVII SX336 ? Kennet Aviation
Hawker Hurricanes
Hurricane XII RCAF 5711 ? Historic Aircraft Collection
Sea Hurricane IB Z7105 ? The Shuttleworth Trust
Gloster Gladiators
Gladiator I L8032 ? The Shuttleworth Trust
Gladiator II N5903 ? The Fighter Collection
Grumman Cats
FM 2 Wildcat BuNo 86711 ? The Fighter Collection
F6F-5K Hellcat BuNo 80141 ? The Fighter Collection
F8F-2P Bearcat BuNo 121714 ? The Fighter Collection
Curtiss Hawks
Hawk 75 No 82 ? The Fighter Collection
P-40B Warhawk 41-13297 ? The Fighter Collection
P-40N Warhawk 42-105915 ? Christian Amara
Yak Fighters
Yak-3UA 0470107 ? Chris Vogelgesang
Yak-9UM 0470406 ? R Boschung
Hawker Nimrods
Nimrod I S1581 ? The Fighter Collection
Nimrod II K3661 ? Historic Aircraft Collection
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses
B-17G-85 Flying Fortress 44-8846 ? Association Fortresse Toujours Volant en France
B-17G-105 Flying Fortress 44-85734 ? The Liberty Foundation
B-17G-105 Flying Fortress 44-85784 ? B-17 Preservation
Piper L-4 Grasshopper/Cub
L-4A Grasshopper 42-36375 ? Frazerblades
J-3C-65 Cub G-RRSR ? R Roberts
Douglas C-47/C-53 Skytrain/Dakota
C-53D 42-68823 (11750/LN-WND) ? Foundation Dakota Norway
C-47A Dakota ZA947 ? Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Other Participants
DH 84 Dragon I G-ECAN ? Norman Aeroplane Trust
DH 89A Dragon Rapide G-AJGS ? de Havilland Support
DH 90A Dragonfly G-AEDU ? Norman Aeroplane Trust
Ju 52/3mg2e Wk-Nr 5489 ? Lufthansa Traditionsflug
Bf 108 D-EBEI ? Lufthansa Traditionsflug
FG-1D Corsair BuNo 88297 ? The Fighter Collection
P-39Q Airacobra 42-19993 ? The Fighter Collection
UC-43 Traveller BuNo 23689 ? The Fighter Collection
B-25J-20 Mitchell 44-29507 ? Duke of Brabant Air Force
Hind ?K5414? ? The Shuttleworth Trust
Swordfish I W5856 ? Royal Navy Historic Flight
A-26B Invader 44-34602 ? Scandinavian Historic Flight
HA-1112-M1L Buchón C.4K-102 ? Spitfire Ltd
FW 190 (static) ? Spitfire Ltd
AD-4NA Skyraider BuNo 126933 ? Kennet Aviation
Stearman Kaydet x 5 ? Team Guinot
1-131E Jungman G-BSAJ ? Pete Kynsey
Lockheed 12A Electra Junior 1287/F-AZLL ? Bernard Chabbert
Thulin A/Blériot XI ? Mikael Carlson
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but no lancaster? i know its been busy lately , two trips to buck house and a low one over derwent water and didnt it recently celebrate that old bloke from south africa's 90th?... it must be in for an oil change
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Sorry but if you booked a hotel you should be aware of the cancellation policy. Certainly there are many different policies around, some bookings don't offer any refund once booked others do if cancelled before a certain time. This is all standard practice in the hotel business. If your decision to cancel is outside the agreement made at the time of booking, then sorry no refund. That's life!
And please don't take it out on the person on the end of the phone, they are only doing their job, they don't make the policy.
Snipquote
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 12/07/2008 at 21:42
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Sorry but if you booked a hotel you should be aware of the cancellation policy. >> And please don't take it out on the person on the end of the phone they are only doing their job they don't make the policy.
Avtur,
I think you're missing the point. If you are aware of a company's cancellation policy, ring up before the time you'd need to cancel and explain a dilemma...then get told by an employee that they are willing to be flexible.. then eventually ring back 27 minutes after the deadline to be told, sorry you've been given duff info by an employee who shouldn't have said that...then you've a right to be a tad miffed, because even inadvertently, you've been had over.
I wouldn't pay. I'd instruct my credit card company not to pay or deal with a fraudulent claim if they took the money anyway...because.. an employee of that company said it wasn't a problem. That's their issue to sort out, not the customer.
If more people stood up for their rights in situations like this, the rest of us might get better service.
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Tron - the very best of luck: maybe someone will realise that this chain's reputation matters more than strict observance of rules, when something is not the customer's fault. Otherwise several hundred of us will know where not to stay!
Avtur - you have just joined us and have posted twice. The first time was to call me stupid; now you are having a sanctimonious go at Tron who is in a very frustrating situation which deserves our sympathy. Clearly on both occasions you haven't taken the trouble to read earlier posts: you may not realise it but one follows on from another.
And you are again joining two sentences with a comma.
If you haven't anything constructive to say, please don't say anything.
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Avtur - If you haven't anything constructive to say please don't say anything.
Avant, please recall you used the word stupid first not me. I was looking at the i10 thread because I'm specifically interested in the automatic version, it is a cracking little car no doubt. I'm sorry but it was you who called autoexpress stupid for choosing the auto, the very car I am interested in.
As an avid aircraft enthusiast myself I can only imagine the upset that has been caused by the cancellation at Fairford. No doubt the problem with the hotel only adds to the disappointment, but as a business traveller spending about 100 nights a year in hotels I am perhaps more familiar than some in dealing with the need to cancel bookings, I was merely trying to share that experience and be realistic about the outcome.
As for making a punctation mistake in my post then I'm sorry if that is a problem to you, the comma and fullstop are next to each other on my keyboard. I think I made what is commonly known as a mistake, sorry I'm human that happens.
My reason for joing this site is to become involved in conversations about motoring matters, my specific areas of interest are diesel cars with the new powershift gearbox and small automatics. I look forward to discussing these topics further.
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Less of the bickering and more motoring please.
DD.
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Apparently the best free show of this type was at Farnborough today
I drove past Heathrow Terminal 4 twice this afternoon. Normally there are about 10 to 20 anoraks outside the perimeter fence watching the planes coming in to land. Today they were maybe around 200 or so along quite a longer distance. I wonder if there was some special plane[s] they were waiting for due to come in either from Farnborough or Fairford ?
Or maybe they were just the disappointed punters who diverted to Heathrow when they found Fairford was cancelled?
Edited by jbif on 12/07/2008 at 22:31
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According to the news the Air Tattoo has also been cancelled on Sunday due to the state of the airfield's grounds following the heavy rain; it would have been difficult or impossible for vehicles to get on and off the airfield's car parks.
A great shame about the loss of the air show.
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I feel sorry for all those who were about to attend the Air Tattoo, the actual flying weather is forecast to be fine tomorrow, maybe the relevant authorities will sort out the land drainage for next time!
My family and i have tickets for Farnborough next weekend so we hope the weather is kind to us because we are planning to camp at a pub in nearby Hambledon ( the pub has its own campsite).
Still, i can enjoy the fine real ales on offer if it goes belly up!!!
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Disappointed Fairford flying fans could do worse than head north east for the Sunderland International Airshow on July 26/27.
Proper airshow, as far as I can gather, good viewing on the seafront at Seaburn, plenty of room and no traffic - compared to the south east.
And it's free - or are they all?
Google Sunderland airshow and the show according to Sunderland City Council will be revealed.
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Had a surprise treat yesterday, while helping on a tour for historic cars here in South Herefordshire. We saw a plane approaching low over the tree line and assumed it was the usual Hercules - turned out to be the Lancaster at <200ft
I'll NEVER forget that sight & sound.....
Regards
Mapsimus
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Ohhhh Ahhhhhh!
Not...
I plan all year for this event and I look forward to it more than I do actually going on holiday.
Not a happy Tron today :(
Well, I managed to get the hotel payment sorted - as I called before 10.30hrs I am not liable :)
Duxford etc., their events are are not as magnificient or as plane filled as Fairford is.
Farnborough is a real nightmare of a location for me to get to.
Sunderland, because it is free can be a real squeeze...
...I think I will look at a different type of air display this year - one I have most certainly never been to before.
That being large models (hopefully see a couple of Bristols there).
Large Flying Model Association.
Date: Sunday 21st September 2008.
Location: IWM Duxford.
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Glad you had a result with the hotel Tron.
More power to their elbow too.
Maybe double up next year and get a weekend pass, we probably will...
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I am gutted. I am now facing paying out £140 if their operations manager decides to uphold their policy of cancellations after 16.00hrs are payable in full.
Appreciate that you've had no value from that money, but if you'd stayed then you'd have spent that, and a lot more, on the whole trip. It's not the hotel's fault.
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My home town has an annual Air Show during September and the Red Arrows are one of the biggest attractions.
It originally became an annual event a decade or so ago when the Red Arrows' appearance on the last day of the Flower Show each year during August proved a big draw.
From quite humble beginnings, the Air Show now takes place over two days and is attended by many, many thousands of residents and visitors; it used to be free but now a charge is made in certain top viewing areas which include the beach.
Details of this year's show:
www.visitsouthport.com/airshow/home
BAe Systems, of course, has two main manufacturing centres just across the Ribble estuary at Warton and Salmesbury; the Red Arrows comprise nine of the company's Hawk aircraft.
Edited by Stuartli on 13/07/2008 at 13:59
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Are the Red Arrows due at any air show today? Four of them have just flown at fairly low level over my house going south towards Hampshire. Quite a deafening roar!
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Seems they are appearing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed:
www.raf.mod.uk/reds/displayinfo/july08.cfm
Quite often do two shows a day.
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During the two days they are at Southport, we watch the Red Arrows from the back garden.
During the various manoeuvres they often fly very low over our property and, as you say, it's not quiet...:-)
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Always got the Lowestoft airshow coming up on the 24/25 July:
tinyurl.com/5mt6rp
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I had my own personal flypast from the Reds on Friday morning en-route to the RAF Colours parade at Fairford. Almost straight over the top of the house at about 1500' - high enough to see them for a few seconds, but low enough to make a goodly amount of noise.
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