I have completed five separate return trips with 'Hapag-Lloyd Express' (HLX) over the last 18 months, as both a business and leisure traveller, and I have to say that my opinions of the airline continue to gain some altitude! All of my journeys have been from Manchester, including the early-evening route to Cologne and three to Stuttgart, which depart at a similar time. There are in fact three flights with the airline that leave Manchester's terminal 2 within five minutes of each other, including HLX's third route to Hannover, the company's headquarters.
HLX took to the skies in 2002 and is slowly beginning to expand its network around Europe, including flights to the Med with the airlines bigger sisters, 'ThomsonFly' (formerly BritanniaAirlines) and the German equivalent 'HapagFly'. This summer HLX have been flying 18 aircraft to 36 destinations, and here is my first tip for fellow Brits...if you have the time, check the price of flights to Germany with the airline early, or during 'HLX Happy-Hour' (6pm Tuesdays) to pick up real bargains, and then book connections further a field from Germany onwards, as the prices of seats really can be considerably lower on some routes from mainland Europe.
One of the great things about HLX, in my view, is that it is part of the 'TUI AG' group, which in the UK owns brands such as 'Thomson', 'TV Travel Shop', and '1-2-Fly', companies that are well-established, experienced and presumably share resources/infrastructure. This, and the modern fleet of 'Boeing' and 'Fokker' aircraft that HLX utilise, are perhaps behind the punctuality of the airline and my positive experiences.
I have arrived in Germany ahead of time with HLX on three occasions, and have never encountered any delays as of yet. The check-in, boarding and cabin crew are always polite and helpful, and unlike other budget airlines, the aircraft itself is always in a more-than-comfortable condition, with leather seats, route (speed and altitude) on drop-down LCD TV's, free newspapers/magazine, and a mint during landing! The captain always seems to welcome you once at 30,000ft, which I feel is important, and the on-board prices really aren't that bad for a budget carrier, for example you have a choice of baguette, alcoholic/soft drink and chocolate bar/cake for 6 EUROs (£4), which is the most costly thing on the menu.
It is at this point that you may be thinking; well what are his other tips? Well, HLX from Manchester at least, seems to have cornered a lot of regular fliers and this can make check-in on this side of the pond a bit of a scrum. Be early if you want to get the seat of your choice, as like other "budgets", HLX does tend to split the boarding procedure at the gate into three (e.g. boarding passes 1-50 first). I always get to check-in 3 hours beforehand, though I realise some may find this ridiculous! Similarly, get to your gate and wait nearest the door as there will almost certainly be a further rugby tackle required to get onto the air bridge. The airline is fantastic, it is the fellow travellers that can often make the start of the journey less than pleasant...throw stones at them!
The last bit was wise advice if ever i heard it :) Lisa x
painty 30.08.2006 20:05
I would love to be able to throw stones at some of the people I have had to shair a plane with before now, but I dont think I would get through security with a bag full of rocks ;-)
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Advantages: Excellent Value for Money. Good Service. In-flight route map. Flight information screens. Disadvantages: A shame they don't fly to more destinations from Manchester
simon1287 16.06.2004 (16.06.2004)
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Review of Hapag Lloyd
Advantages: Excellent Value for Money. Good Service. In-flight route map. Flight information screens. Disadvantages: A shame they don't fly to more destinations from Manchester
simon1287 16.06.2004 (16.06.2004)
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Review of Hapag Lloyd
Advantages: Safe and comfortable new aircraft, much improved service, Business Class for a bargain. Disadvantages: Some routes still operated with old Tupolevs, can't book through travel agents.
From_The_Continent 06.05.2001 (06.05.2001)
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