I have not been to the island for over 10 years andI reckoned I would try and use my Amex points to help offsent ticket costs - well forget that! Amex travel use a franchise agency apparently - they were very helpful and I have no complaints on that score but when they told me that instead of a one for one exchange rate to buy our economy tickets it was more like eight for one I baulked!
So I tried Momondo (part of Cheapflights Media and excellent for finding flights to fit a schedule). I ended up with flying with Flybe from Gatwick usuing their "New Economy" price package. This got me preselected seats and 20kgs of hold luggage plus up to 10 Kgs of hand luggage. Note though that means one carry-on item only - no handbag or laptop case in addition to the 10 Kgs carry on bag..... Flybe use DASH 400s on the route. These are very handy prop-jet twin engine aircraft with the cabin arranged 2 seats on either side of the 'plane's narrow cabin. Being a high wing design there is great downward visability from all windows which is great when crossing the Channel. Personally I enjoyed the flight. Tho' for those of a nervous disposition avoid row 8 as the propellors are right alongside your window.
The trip did not start well as we arrived at Gatwick in good time when the bag drop person told us we would have to pay for the two hold luggage bags. Check-in hold luggage being invariably a necessity when travelling with my better half this threatened to be an expensive situation. (Well you never know what the weather is going to do when you intend to watch an outdoor event like Beach Polo. To give her credit she had cut down the wardrobe to the bone and she only had 12 Kgs! It took a while for the problem to be sorted and the gremlin in the computer to be overuled. We then discovered that the 11.15 flight was delayed until (at least) 12.30 due to a technical problem. As we only had the "New Economy" tickets, the Flybe lounge was not available to us. However, fortunately we have Priority Pass lounge cards and were able to rest up and refresh in the Serviceair lounge. In the event the plane finally took off just before 13.00.
Jersey is a very pleasant place to visit with great beaches, fishing villages and local restaurants as well as smart hotels if you wish. Supposedly it also has the highest daily sunshine record in the UK. It certainly did not disappoint on the latter point and our 3 days there provided lovely weather and wonderful visability. We could see France easily as well as Guernsey and Sark from Sorel point on the North coast. We borrowed my sister's car and noted that 95 unleaded petrol (gasoline for any American cousins reading this) was £1.17 per litre - a nearly 20p cheaper than in the UK. Being a tax-haven and offshore financial centre Jersey is awash with sporty saloons and sportscar. They must be fairly frustrated drivers as the maximum speed there is 40mph and there are "Green Lanes" criss-crossing the countryside where cars must give way to pedestrians, horses, and cyclists - Jersey also has a very sensible road regulation. If you see a sign at a roundabout or where two lanes merge into one saying 'Filter by Turn', every alternate car takes priority. Its a very efficient way of keeping a bottle-neck moving even at the even rush hour outside St Helier the main town.
Our return journey was also marked by a one hour delay and the Flybe executive lounge was unmanned, unavailable and very uninviting looking. So I pitched up at the BA lounge and used our Priority Passes again to while away the time in a modicum of comfort. The DASH 400 arrived just outside the lounge window, disgorged its passengers and immediately boarded us without delay. After landing the pilot most proably exceeded Gatwick's taxiing speed limit as we fairly whizzed along to our stand heeling over as we took the corners on the taxi-ways. Gatwick is carrying out a multi million pound rebuild and refurb of facilities and it is very evident in the main areas. The airport is a very different, more modern and pleasing place to what it was before BAA was forced by the Competition Commission to sell it. However, unfortunately for Flybe, the walk from the Flybe stand through the terminal was simply miles to walk to the Border and Baggage reclaim areas. It initially passed through a covered exterior pathway which reminded me of several third world country airports I have passed through a few years back - peeling paint on corrugated arches supported by equally ancient scaffolding bars with accompanying rubbish on the ground before reaching the main terminal areas- not a good impression of the airport at all.
Apart from the delays (the locals call Flybe "FlayMaybe") its is an easy trip and one that can reward with good food, especially seafood and lovely beaches.
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| Me & Sis |
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| 'Images of Polo' in Action |
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| 1727 Farmhouse Nr St Aubin |
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| Mt Orguil - Gorey Castle |
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