paula 1

Just looking to book flights to Oz for August 2009.

Etihad airlines are the cheapest by far, but i can not see if they are ATOL protected. I've seen a few threads on here stating they are a really good airline, but just worried that there's no mention of ATOL on their website.

Can anyone help.
Thanks

UncleKev

I received this from a friend in england yesterday. Not sure how accurate it is but it would make me think twice about flying on this airline.

This brand spanking new Airbus 340-600, one of the largest passenger airplane ever built, sits just outside it's hangar in Toulouse ,France, without a single hour of airtime on the clock....

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_97xiVJFB8j...-340-600_5.JPG

Enter the Arab flight crew of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies

(ADAT) to conduct pre-delivery tests on the ground, such as

engine run-ups prior to delivery to Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi .

The ADAT crew taxied the A340-600 to the run-up area.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_97xiVJFB8j...8833-800wi.jpg

Then they took all Four engines to takeoff power with a virtually empty aircraft.

Not having Read the run-up

manuals, they had no clue just how light

an empty A340-600 really is.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_97xiVJFB8j...interior04.jpg

The take-off warning horn was blaring away in the cockpit

because they had All 4 engines at full power.

The aircraft computers thought they were trying to take off,

but it had not been configured properly (flaps/slats, etc.)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_97xiVJFB8j...irlines_12.jpg

Then one of the ADAT crew decided to pull the circuit

breaker on the Ground Proximity Sensor to silence the alarm.

This fools the aircraft into thinking it is in the air.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_97xiVJFB8j...us-a380_12.jpg

The computers automatically released all the brakes -

and set the aircraft rocketing forward !!

With the following result..........

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_97xiVJFB8j...h/etihad06.jpg

The Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technology crew had no idea

that this is a safety feature so that pilots can't land with the brakes on.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_97xiVJFB8j...h/etihad05.jpg

Not one member of the seven-man Arab crew was smart enough

to throttle back the engines from their max power setting,

so the £250 million brand-new aircraft

crashed into a blast barrier, totalling it.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_97xiVJFB8j...h/etihad04.jpg

The extent of injuries to the crew is unknown due to the

news blackout in the major media.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_97xiVJFB8j...h/etihad03.jpg

This was because coverage of the story was

deemed insulting to Muslim Arabs.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_97xiVJFB8j...h/etihad02.jpg

Finally, the photos are starting to leak out.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_97xiVJFB8j...h/etihad01.jpg

peggy76

My in laws came over last month with Etihad, And they didn't have one bad word to say about them. i cant say for certain that they are ATOL protected but i would be very surprised if they weren't. Because they wouldn't have gone with them. I will skype them later and let you know if somebody hasn't already done so.

Centurion

Actually correct in part, however you should note that the plane was actually still owned by Airbus at the time and had not been delivered to Etihad and was being tested still by the manufacturer. The comment about Muslims etc is just crap of course.

Here are the details of it http://www.snopes.com/photos/airplane/etihad.asp

Etihad have a very good safety record and have one of the most modern fleets around. The crew can be a bit of a lucky dip but thats the same with any airline (try flying a US airline for a taste of true diservice). Adu Dhabi airport I found rubbish and were it not that I was travelling business and could use the lounge would have made for a few unpleasant hours.

The reason you don't find ATOL numbers on Airlines is that it's a UK based organisation - Air Travel Organisers Licence, for the use of UK travel agents and so on. IATA covers airlines internationally, of which Etihad are members.

I'd fly Etihad again but as I often say I still stand by Singapore Airlines for consistency and quality of service.

bcworld

You don't like muslims much do you?

What a crock....the aircraft was not under the control of Etihad pilots....the only relevance to Etihad Airways is the paintwork!

Not sure what the relevance is also of all the pictures of the Singapore Airlines A380 in the links? Seems like someone whos knows bugger all about aviation wrote it.

Wol

Although there was an Etihad guy in the flight deck the run was conducted I believe by an Airbus engineering crew.

Centurion

I'll bet some insurer somewhere had a really bad day at the office.

UncleKev

OK, my apologies to the Original Poster.

I got that information this morning in an email from a usually trusted source in England. I rushed off to work and did not get time to double check it.

This evening I have done some more research and found quite a few articles debunking the story, and blaming the French for the crash.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/airplane/etihad.asp

According to Snopes.com:


There is still plenty of chatter on the net that says that there has been some sort of cover up, but as its hard to know who to believe, I will accept for the moment that the trained French Airbus testers crashed their own plane, and that there was no involvement of any Etihad employees in the crash.

Personally I have no problems flying with Arab airlines. My second favourite airline (after Singapore Airlines) is Emirates. Nice new planes and excellent service. I even got upgraded to business class once and drank several bottles of excellent Champagne on the leg between London and Singapore.

My only bad experience was with Air Brunei, which operated an alcohol free policy at the time. That was the longest flight I have ever been on.

My personal recommendation to anyone flying from London to Australia would be Singapore Airlines. Excellent service with a smile, and ideally a couple of days stopover in Singapore. You dont fly to Australia every day, so dont take the el cheapo option. Pay a few extra dollars and enjoy the trip.

moneypenny20

It seems to have a good reputation on here and value for money is all important. Unless you can afford to go first class on Singapore they are much of a muchness and down to how the staff respond to an individual on any particular day

Congrats on coming back again. Where are you headed this time?

paula 1

Thanks everyone for your replies, i really appreciate them all, we are just going to do a little more research but Etihad are looking good.

Hi Penny, we are actually going back to Coffs, i am now qualified in Manicures, Pedicures, waxing & just trying to get a few more treatments under my belt before the BIG move again!!! Holly is now 6 years & will be at school, so hopefully be easier to work. Hubby qualified in Plastering now, & has higher qualifications badges in Football (sorry soccer). So hopefully things might be better for us.
Been back 2 years in June, time has flown by, but its made us realised that Oz is where we want to be, also callum starts senior school september so we need to make the move back asap.
My mum & hopefully sister will start the emigration process once we are back, so i'll have some family over there too.
How are you going, i have read your blog & things seem to be going well for you & the family.
Would hear to hear from you, take care xxxx

paula 1

Moneypenny are you there!!!!!!
xx

moneypenny20

Sorry hon. Half wrote a PM, then had to do something else and forgot I'll do it now

paula 1

Hi
No worries, just read pm, will reply soon
Thanks Paula xx