Best value flights to Florida? Information on Flywho from Birmingham?

flightinfo

Has anyone booked or travelled with flywho? The flights certainly seem to be the best value to Florida but I'm worried about booking with them as they are a new company. I've spent hours on the internet and cannot find a better deal for direct flights for next summer. Any help/information would be greatly appreciated.

Bobsworlduk

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The above is linked from the homepage of the site. It doesn't make them sound too good.

There was an new airline due to start flying to Florida last year, they eventually folded before flying a single passenger. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for these flights.

budgetflyer

On the FAQ page, the first question "Is my booking protected with abta or something" suspiciously has no answer

flightinfo

Thanks - we weren't quite sure but will definitely look elsewhere now. Unfortunately, have already booked our accommodation so we are restricted on dates but would rather spend a bit more (hopefully not too much more) than be worried from now until next August about whether the flights existed.

dmg24

Looks like people need to do some more research before writing them off.

FlyWho are ATOL protected, it states it in their terms and conditions.

They may never take off (excuse the pun), but if they do then they will have had a good value flight from a convenient airport (if it is convenient for you!). If they don't materialise, then you can claim your money back (always advisable to book by credit card for extra protection).

Enjoy your holiday!

Bobsworlduk

dmg24 wrote:

Looks like people need to do some more research before writing them off.

FlyWho are ATOL protected, it states it in their terms and conditions.

They may never take off (excuse the pun), but if they do then they will have had a good value flight from a convenient airport (if it is convenient for you!). If they don't materialise, then you can claim your money back (always advisable to book by credit card for extra protection).

Enjoy your holiday!

The number they qoute and their name are not regognised on the ATOL site.

http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?categoryid=490&pagetype=65&applicationid=2

They were established in 2004 and originally planned to fly last year.

I'd rather book with an established carrier than worry for the next 10 months about my flight going or not.

trisontana

They were featured on Watchdog last night. Nicky Campbell interview the owner of FlyWho. One of the strangest interviews I have ever seen. It was on a par with those that Nicky had with the Greek bloke from Auctionworld. You can seem more information about the airline here :-


http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/reports/holidays_and_travel/holiday_20061121.shtml

bhxukman

flyblu to launch birmingham airport to florida flights next easter (as flywho)
13.12.04

FlyBlu, the UK start-up long haul low cost airline forced to abandon plans to fly from Birmingham Airport to Florida in the summer of 2004 after a financial backer pulled out, plans to start selling tickets for flights to the same destinations starting at Easter 2005.

FlyBlu has also changed it's name to FlyWho, it hasn't confirmed it's funding (again), has no planes and no license to fly them, the new tickets are ATOL protected and they are very expensive.

The new airline has experienced enough 'turbulence' to stop many a start up airline. Launched as FlyBlu, the airline announced plans in February of this year for scheduled services to start in the summer using a pair of aircraft in a two-class configuration, offering improved legroom over existing charter airlines. But the launch was then postponed after an investor who was to provide $8 million - two thirds of the required funding – pulled out.

Also, whilst it continued to seek funding, FlyBlu was forced to change its name to FlyWho, after US low-cost airline JetBlue threatened to sue because of the risk of confusion between the two names.

FlyWho now plans to start selling tickets via its website (https://www.flywho.co.uk) on Wednesday 15.12.04 for flights from Birmingham Airport to Orlando and St Petersburg starting Easter 2005 and to Fort Lauderdale starting July 2005.

FlyWho Chief executive Aden Murcutt said he was now 'pretty much home and dry' with between $10 -$12 million of funding for the venture, but a decision between two types of aircraft still to be made, plus the airline does not have its operators license yet.

Mr Murcutt said FlyWho would revert to run as a charter airline in order to offer passenger protection via a partner tour operator’s Air Travel Organisers’ Licence (ATOL). 'Having let people down we felt an issue of confidence was a real hurdle to overcome, so we must offer passenger protection,' said Mr Murcutt. 'We are to be selling through a bonded ATOL holder.'

FlyWho have reached an agreement with Cresta World Travel, which runs the Jetset tour programme and is bonded with the CAA. Tickets sold under this agreement will be ATOL protected.

Again, striving to be different, unlike most budget airlines, who tend to launch with a fanfare offering some very low prices, FlyWho's starting prices to Orlando start at £500 return plus £74.80 tax for flights in May 2005 – almost twice the price of the cheapest rival charter airline fares for the same route. The prices seem to reflect an 'airline' with funding not tied down, no planes and no license to operate them.

To book a birmingham airport hotel or birmingham airport parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great birmingham airport parking and birmingham airport hotels price comparison websites.

barron_2

Mr Murcutt was talking a load of old Bollo !!

ANY Flight booked with Accom,through a bonded (ATOL) agent /operator is covered.

A Flight IS NOT covered if booked on its own.

So,if you were to book a BA flight and an Hotel,on your own,your not covered.

BUT ,if you were to book both at the same time through ATOL agent,"bing bang bong " your covered.

COST = Not a lot more/same.

CC companies are possibly looking to stop refunding monies,in the case of flight/holiday companies failing.

They believe that the duty of care should lie with the customer.
So make sure you book with an ATOL and FULLY BONDED agent /operator,OR make sure you have adequate insurance.

Happy Hols.

trisontana

I have just been looking on the FlyWho website and things don't look very promising. If you click onto the timetable there are no flights showing. In the FAQ section, if you click onto the question "is my booking protected with ABTA or something?, there is no corresponding answer. There is also a long statement from the company talking about their staff being insulted when dealing with customers who have had their flights cancelled.

But they also come up with this extraordinary statement, when talking about the Watchdog programme :- "They were given permission to interview many happy customers"

How can they have had "happy customers" if they have never flown anyone to any destination ?

Donnie

Seems a bit of a 'Walter Mitty' character. Avoid.