... One of these budget airlines is Buzz.
I decided to book a flight with Buzz after seeing a special offer “2 for 1” running in a national newspaper, after collecting the tokens I decided to give Buzz a try.
Buzz was launched in Nov. 1999 and is KLM (UK) low cost airline. ... Read review
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Advantages: cheap competitive prices, clear easy-to-use website, Return and one-way tickets, efficient service (operated by KLM!)hassle free check-in! Disadvantages: no refunds, slightly cramped seating
...to book a flight with Buzz after seeing a special offer “2 for 1” running in a national newspaper, after collecting the tokens I decided to give Buzz a try.
Buzz was launched in Nov. 1999 and is KLM (UK) low cost airline. Buzz fly’s to a range of European destinations such as Frankfurt, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Vienna, Paris, Milan etc. I was looking for an Italian destination so chose Milan!
I had not had the ... ...is an account of my Buzz experience.
Booking the flight~
Buzz is a ticketless airline. The flight can be booked either via the internet or by telephone. I booked my flight using the internet. The internet can be used for booking for up to 8 passengers. If there are more than 8 of you then the booking has to be made via telephone, some extra charges may apply for telephone booking, so please do check.
Within the last 10 years we have seen the emergence of a range of budget airlines that claim to fly you to international destinations - predominantly European at a fraction of the price of standard airlines! There are numerous budget airlines around such as Go, Ryan Air, EasyJet, etc. One of these budget airlines is Buzz.
I decided to book a flight with Buzz after seeing a special offer “2 for 1” running in a national newspaper, after collecting the tokens I decided to give Buzz a try.
Buzz was launched in Nov. 1999 and is KLM (UK) low cost airline. Buzz fly’s to a range of European destinations such as Frankfurt, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Vienna, Paris, Milan etc. I was looking for an Italian destination so chose Milan! I had not had the opportunity to fly Buzz before so I was slightly apprehensive not knowing what to expect ..what follows is an account of my Buzz experience.
Booking the flight~ Buzz is a ticketless airline. The flight can be booked either via the internet or by telephone. I booked my flight using the internet. The internet can be used for booking for up to 8 passengers. If there are more than 8 of you then the booking has to be made via telephone, some extra charges may apply for telephone booking, so please do check.
Internet Booking~ Booking the flight could not have been simpler; the website is clearly designed and easy to navigate. Buzz offer return trips i.e. round trip and one-way (single fares). As my offer was one from a National newspaper, the booking instructions were clearly indicated with the newspaper offer. I could choose any date of departure up to 30 June under this particular offer. After selecting my outbound and return dates, I was offered up to 4 times of departure. After all selections are made, you are asked to clearly check all the details and terms and conditions of the booking. The price is shown at this stage. Once you are satisfied you proceed by entering your credit card details via a secure socket layer system. It may take a few minutes to check your credit card and you are advised NOT to refresh your screen as if you do your booking will be lost, and you’ll have to start over again. You cannot save the page for security reasons but you can take a print out of the page confirming your booking at this stage if you wish. Within a few minutes I received a confirmatory e-mail with my booking reference and flight details. Please take a print out of this page.
The Price~ Under this offer the price of the ticket was £130 for two people, which makes it only £65 per person including all taxes. You may be thinking well this is the price under the newspaper offer and it must be much more expensive otherwise, well I have tried booking the same destination again just to see what price it gives me and it was only £75 per ticket including all taxes. However, please note as with any budget airline, at certain times these fares can be more expensive. For example: to do the same trip to Milan for Easter 2001 for 2 people would have cost £400 on budget airline Buzz. On British airways it would have cost £736 at Easter, at other times I have seen BA price at £90 including taxes.
The confirmation booking number and passport are all you need to check-in - that’s your ticket, simple!
Check-in and Ground Service~ All Buzz flights from Uk fly out from London’s Stanstead airport in Essex. Prior to my Buzz flight I had never been to Stanstead airport and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. The airport is well organised, not too busy and very easy to get too. I would recommend the long stay car parking there! The efficient organisation available at Stanstead was reflected in ease of check-in at Buzz. There were 5 check-in counters available –the ground floor check-in was operated by KLM UK. As soon as I saw KLM were handling the baggage and check-in I knew straightaway it would be a smooth operation..and it was! No queues, straightforward check-in. As the flight was running at the time of the Foot and mouth epidemic, the only additional security questions asked were if we were carrying any meat or dairy products! The baggage allowance with Buzz on European flights is 25Kg and 7kg hand-baggage. There is only one class - thats economy this keeps the overall fare low.
The flight~ As someone who hasn’t much experience of flying short haul, apart from a few trips to Belfast on BA flights which use 737’s, I was curious to see what aircraft Buzz will use for this short flight. It turned out to be a 146! I was ecstatic at first as that is the model of car I used to own! But alas I don’t own a British aerospace 146! Most of Buzz fleet consists of British Aerospace 146's , they claim to be have a couple of Boeing 737's but I didn't see any! The 737's may operate on a certain sector only.
The plane itself was quite small comprising of 20 rows of 3 seater seats. The seats were quite small and slightly cramped. If you have long legs or broad shoulders I think you may feel slightly restricted. Apart from that the aircraft was clean , with bright purple upholstery with yellow contrasts. The air hostesses/steward’s were friendly and helpful. The flights left on time.
My Outbound flight~ was comfortable and clean and I could get the seat of my choice requested at time of check-in at Stanstead. However, on my return from Milan all the seats of my choice were taken, even though I checked in early about 90 minutes before departure and the aircraft had an awful smell of vomit in it. So some advice don’t take the afternoon flights!! It does not allow sufficient time to clean and air the aircraft before reboarding and flying back again.
The Service~ For the short duration of the flight (~less than 2 hours) a small selection of snacks and beverages were available for sale. A pot of fresh ground coffee cafetiere costs £1.50, which is quite reasonable and not bad taste either. Food started at £3.00 for cheese and ham muffin, salads etc. You can pay for any of the food either in cash (most major currency’s accepted) or if paying by credit card minimum amount must be £5.
Other services with Buzz~
Other than flights you can book car rental via Budget, travel insurance and various hotels at the Buzz site. I checked the prices of the hotel accommodation and found them expensive, why? Because Buzz had a handling fee in the price and all prices are quoted per person, and not per room as most hotels are in Italy. I booked my hotel requirements independently.
Would I fly Buzz again?~ Yes, I would definitely fly Buzz again because the service was efficient, check-in was so simple, stress free, no queues, very helpful ground staff, both at Stanstead airport operated by KLM_UK and at Milan’s Linate airport. The in-flight service was also acceptable with fresh coffee and snacks available.
I would like to point out that Buzz do not offer refunds so you may like to consider your own private travel insurance. I did not purchase any travel insurance myself. You can change your booking before your departure but there is £10 charge and other conditions may apply. Buzz may not be suited to elderly travellers who may have circulatory problems and may need more leg room and shoulder room, as seating is a bit tight. Fortunately all the flights are short haul and most destinations are reached within 3 hours.
Buzz provide a cheap effortless way to fly – a smooth operator!
A final note about the tokens I collected , it turned out I could have got this flight without collecting any of the tokens as under the offer one had to either post the tokens or submit them at time of check-in. I didnt have time to post mine and was not asked for them at check-in! The importance of booking "offers" is having the code mentioned at time of booking, nothing else really matters. Most of these flights cost around £75 return, all depends on availability and season. Do not try booking this flight around the time of an Italian Grand Prix ..the same ticket with Buzz for 14 Sept. 2001 will cost £238 instead of the normal £75!
Advantages: Cheap, Cheap, cheap and cheap Disadvantages: Only fly once or twice a day.....have too waite for next flight if yours is cancelled
...frill carriers. We flew with Buzz from its London base at Stansted to Vienna, on a nearly 2 hour service which I was quite impressed with.
We booked on Valentines day as I came across their special deals they were offering for that day only. They were advertising fares to any of their destinations for the bargain price of only £48 per person including tax, when you consider the airport tax for my journey was over £23.00 it shows was a small amount ... ...so I ended up ringing Buzz to make my booking, to be told they charge a credit card handling fee per person of £3.00. So to avoid this if possible pay by debit card....Bazzas money saving tip of the day!!!!
The ground service is an area which I think needs to be improved for the following reasons:-
1) Was the lack of a Queueing system at Stansted.One minute we were at the middle of one long q,ueue then we were at the back on now one of four queues ...
bazza1603 04.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Buzz
Advantages: Great prices,Good range of services, Some destinations offer very advanced booking, Booking a single is HALF the return price Disadvantages: Most destinations are in (or very close to) France
...cheap is all. I suspect buzz will be extending this period - possibly indefinitely - as they are not meant to be offer prices but rather the new prices. b) you don't leave it too late to book. Only a little more than 10% of the seats on each plane will be offered at this new low price. Don't worry though as most of the "more expensive" prices still constitute tremendous savings on the non-budget prices. It helps if you don't mind anti-social flying ... ...bill and hats off to buzz for a great service there. But I live miles away from Stansted airport! I live miles from it myself and I still have made massive savings flying from Stansted having travelled from as far afield as Leeds and Newcastle. You can get there cheaply by rail or by coach. Make sure you get the cheapest ticket possible (especially when going by rail as the operators haven't a clue themselves half the time!) but watch out for the ...
davey 13.11.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Buzz
I didn't really rate my trip on the low-cost airline, Buzz. Although the fare was very cheap, the seats were cramped and the aircraft had an unusual and little unpleasant smell. They have a lounge which you can pay £10 to sit in if you would like to enhance your experience. However, I did not see this as necessary for my 50 minute flight from London Stansted (STN) to Paris Charles-De-Gaulle (CDG) Airport. The aircraft have a colourful yellow and ...
mark152 05.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Buzz
Advantages: Cheap, comfortable, and friendly Disadvantages: Flies from Stansted
I was attracted to Buzz purely on the basis of price. The Daily Mail had an offer which allowed me to fly to Hamburg for £25 each way, inc. taxes. It was a great deal, so I booked it without hesitation. The website is very clean and simple, and seems to be updated very frequently. With this offer, I had to call the airline direct to check availability and book. I waited no more than 20 seconds for an agent, and he was very helpful and courteous. ... ...airport was a tad more difficult than it would be to Gatwick or Heathrow - and more expensive as it is not on the tube. The airport was small, with limited services, but we didn't spend long there anyway. The planes are all new, and decked out in stylish purple and lots of yellow. The seats are surprisingly spacious - with far more legroom than on any other charter I have been on. Inflight service is virtually nonexistent, as the airline boasts a ...
Vistaway 04.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Buzz
Advantages: Great cheap flights Disadvantages: None
...could tell you how wonderful Buzz are seen as i work for them (hence my dooyoo name) but i wont. That would look too biased. What I will tell you about is what they offer. They fly to various locations in Europe without treading on the toes of other budget airlines too much. For example, they do not fly to Ireland as this Market is flooded by Aer Lingus and Ryan Air. They are based at Stansted and Stansted only, so its handy for the London commuter ... ...or Heathrow. They use the old fleet of BAe 146 jets that used to be Air UK. Now redecorated with Bright colours. The planes are Yellow with Green and Purple insides. My Uniform is Grey with Green Shirts. Where they do fly to is Milan,Vienna,Dussledorf,Jerez,Lyon,Barcelona, Paris,Amsterdam and Helsinki so ther are no shortage of destinations to choose from. Beinhg a budget airline there are no in flight meals provided but foods can be purchased on ...
buzzplane 13.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Buzz
Advantages: FUN, CHEAP, YOUNG, FRESH! The Hidden party Place! Disadvantages: Closes early and men over-do the Sleez sometimes!
If I wasn't told about this venue before I set out to Leicester Square, I'd never have found this place!
DIRECTIONS:
If you come out of Leicester Square Station, head towards the main square with the big cinemas. Once you pass this, head for the big corner McDonalds and turn left! Walk 100 metres, cross to the otherside of the road. and you;ll see a small entrance with a vertical sign saying BUZZ BAR - You're there!
BUZZ BAR:
Everytime I've been there, I've had loads of fun! If you're going with a group of friends, get there for about 8pm. That way you'll have time to have a few drinks before the dance floor opens. I've only been there on Fridays and Saturdays and each time it's only been £2 entry fee! Bargain! You pay at the counter on the left as you enter the venue. If you have any excess items, there is a cloak-room just ...
Advantages: Cheap drinks and entrance, good music, finishes early Disadvantages: sleazy men
If it hadn't been for my dear friend we would have never discovered this little place in Leicester square, the Buzz Bar. Its quite hard to find and isnt a well known place, this is where the Londoners hang out. If you come out of Leicester Sq station, walk past the Hippodrome and Equinox and when you see the big MacDonalds on the corner, turn left down a small side street. You will see 'Buzz Bar' lit up (it's next to a hotel and the Gass Club).
It cost only £2 to get in and £1 per item for the cloakroom. Inside there are 2 bars, one in a separate room which serves various cocktail shots such as, 'Blow job' and 'Orgasm' and the main bar which serves an array of bottled drinks and mixers. During happy hour which is up to 8pm drinks are £1.50 but after that drinks are £2.50. There is also a pool table and lots of seating up here.
At 9pm ...
Advantages: fun for all the family Disadvantages: flashing lights may annoy some people
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Ride
I went on this ride when I was in Disney in Hong Kong and I have to admit it was in my opinion the best attraction/ride in the whole place (I am not a big fan of the large roller coasters!) My husband and I queued up a few times to go on it.
This ride is based on Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear and he is fighting his arch villain Emperor Zerg. At the start of the ride you get to meet a huge Buzz Light year while you are waiting in the queue which is especially nice for young children. While on the ride you get to see the evil Emperor Zerg.
You are put in a car, which 3 people (two adults and possibly a child) can sit at the front however there were only two guns and it will twist and turn you around the ride. The movements of the car when it turns were reasonably smooth.
The aim the ride is to ...
