Scilly Helicopter prices 2007 (3 Viewers)

[DunnoKev]

The last time I went there many moons ago I went out of birder season - and got to hear what the inter-island skippers call us when we're not there.. you wouldn't like it...

They've got you by the short'uns - they know you'll pay it to get yer kicks'n'ticks, so just swallow hard and put up with it, it's capitalism m'friends...

 

[Archie Archer]

Not really Tristan. Imagine your Carbon footprint chasing every American bird in the Uk by car. That will rack up quite a lot of Carbon. I wonder what the differance would be.

Is anyone else out there sick and tired of the term 'carbon footprint' being banded around all the time!?! :C

Mind you whilst we're on the subject an over-weight, middle-aged chap sat down next to me outside the beer tent at Rutland on Saturday and proceeded to boast that he had just booked his FIFTH foreign birding trip of the day! Let's not knock the British birding scene it's the wealthy World Listers that are the evil ones.

 

[Woodchatshrike]

I reckon you would be doing a lot less miles with a fortnight on scillies than you would with a fortnight on the east coast of the USA. I think the emissions from the flight across the atlantic would pale everything else into insignificance!

I meant twitching American birds generally! :t:

 

[Woodchatshrike]

The last time I went there many moons ago I went out of birder season - and got to hear what the inter-island skippers call us when we're not there.. you wouldn't like it...

They've got you by the short'uns - they know you'll pay it to get yer kicks'n'ticks, so just swallow hard and put up with it, it's capitalism m'friends...

In 1999 I spent nearly 60 quid on boats. I did see some good birds that year I suppose.

 

[Binocularface]

Is anyone else out there sick and tired of the term 'carbon footprint' being banded around all the time!?! :C

No, not at all Archie. I think the more people consider this seriously everytime they plan a trip the more chance we have of not completely knackering up the planet.

 

[CornishExile]

The last time I went there many moons ago I went out of birder season - and got to hear what the inter-island skippers call us when we're not there.. you wouldn't like it...

They've got you by the short'uns - they know you'll pay it to get yer kicks'n'ticks, so just swallow hard and put up with it, it's capitalism m'friends...

Not just birders - folk from up-country can get bad press generally. Don't get me started on Devonians...

ce

 

[Archie Archer]

No, not at all Archie. I think the more people consider this seriously everytime they plan a trip the more chance we have of not completely knackering up the planet.

I agree Tristan we all have a reponsibility to reduce the negative impact we have on our beloved planet it's just these fashionable buzz words & phrases invented by middle class numpties that get on me nerves.

Anyway instead of planting a tree for every 1,000 miles I travel, I simply drown a chav in the Coventry Canal. It reduces the amount of fast food litter in my area, it takes a fossil fuel burning Vauxhall Corsa off my streets and it reduces child labour in developing Countries as the average chav will get through an estimated 76 branded polyester tracksuits in their limetime.

Anyways back to the thread...... Scillonians are ripping us off man!

 

[paulwfromtheden]

I agree Tristan we all have a reponsibility to reduce the negative impact we have on our beloved planet it's just these fashionable buzz words & phrases invented by middle class numpties that get on me nerves.

Anyway instead of planting a tree for every 1,000 miles I travel, I simply drown a chav in the Coventry Canal. It reduces the amount of fast food litter in my area, it takes a fossil fuel burning Vauxhall Corsa off my streets and it reduces child labour in developing Countries as the average chav will get through an estimated 76 branded polyester tracksuits in their limetime.

Anyways back to the thread...... Scillonians are ripping us off man!

I think you have to take the rough with the smooth. Once you have all your gear then birding is, by the hour, probably the cheapest pastime going. Compare it with say classic cars, or going abroad.
Be prepared to spend a bit when the time arises.

 

[Binocularface]

I agree Tristan we all have a reponsibility to reduce the negative impact we have on our beloved planet it's just these fashionable buzz words & phrases invented by middle class numpties that get on me nerves.

Yes, I get your point now! I blame Bill Oddie............no particular reason though!

 

[The Snapper]

Anyways back to the thread...... Scillonians are ripping us off man!

Hey yo wot up Archie!

I agree with ya!

I've never minded spending money on birding, but the whole 'Scilly holiday' just seems to cost so much nowadays.

Yes, they are alll businesses and inflation occurs, but surely not to the extent as the Scilly prices(in general).

Last year, I almost spent as much money on our week on the Scillies than on my 2 week hols in India the previous year!

The saying 'Biting the hand that feeds them' definitely spring to mind.

ATVB

ps I remember that women asking if the female Blackbird was the Yankee Robin. I don't mind beginners, but this is a garden bird :h?:

 

[dantheman]

My brother (non-birder) lives down in Falmouth and has a boat (he rescued it from a farmer's field, the farmer was about to make it one big bonfire, he paid £5 for the privilege and had to pay to get it to a boatyard, (although he's spent a bit extra restoring it since))

Anyway, I'll see if I can persuade him to let me borrow it for a month or two this autumn, I'm sure it could make it to the scillies at a pinch . . .

 

[Rob Laughton]

Err... rising fuel prices, anyone? Increasing insurance burdens? And they're all at the end of the day businesses, be they limited or sole traders, that have to make a profit. They're not there to offer us a charitable service.

We've (and this is birder and non-birder alike) got no right to cheap transport. About time we faced up to that on so many levels.

ce

What planet are you living on mate? £158 to go 60 miles. The cost of rising fuel prices and insurance burdens to blame?

You dont actually work for them do you? Or maybe your the MD.

Next you will be telling me its all the improvements they have made at the heliport in penzance. Yes, the airport lounge last updated when England won the world cup in 1966 and the stone chipping improvments in the car park which gets worse every year.

Im not saying it should be dirt cheap for birders, or that the company should not make any money, where did I say that? All I was saying is that British Internatonal are obviously ripping birders off. The same as the boatmen do between the islands.

 

[MSA]

What planet are you living on mate? £158 to go 60 miles. The cost of rising fuel prices and insurance burdens to blame?

You dont actually work for them do you? Or maybe your the MD.

Next you will be telling me its all the improvements they have made at the heliport in penzance. Yes, the airport lounge last updated when England won the world cup in 1966 and the stone chipping improvments in the car park which gets worse every year.

Im not saying it should be dirt cheap for birders, or that the company should not make any money, where did I say that? All I was saying is that British Internatonal are obviously ripping birders off. The same as the boatmen do between the islands.

I suspect the cost of the big fat Sea King comes in to the equation somewhere

Basic economics dictate that the best price the Company can charge is the highest it can get away with before driving customers away. As long as the flights are full, or near full, it knows its prices are too low or just right. They're not "ripping off birders", they're pricing according to a seasonal "blip". If you think you can do it cheaper (and want to, rather than make money for yourself), charter a chopper/plane and fill it yourself, or get your PPL!

It is too expensive to justify though - I gave up many years ago, and have had great trips to Israel, Spain, Iceland etc for far less money.

 

[Rob Laughton]

I suspect the cost of the big fat Sea King comes in to the equation somewhere

Basic economics dictate that the best price the Company can charge is the highest it can get away with before driving customers away. As long as the flights are full, or near full, it knows its prices are too low or just right. They're not "ripping off birders", they're pricing according to a seasonal "blip". If you think you can do it cheaper (and want to, rather than make money for yourself), charter a chopper/plane and fill it yourself, or get your PPL!

It is too expensive to justify though - I gave up many years ago, and have had great trips to Israel, Spain, Iceland etc for far less money.

A company already has tried to offer cheaper flights, from Penzance heliport. But they were told they would not be allowed to fly from there, because of Bristish International.

Anyway they are already driving customers away in October. The airport is empty nowadays.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Anyway they are already driving customers away in October.

Agreed but their economists have presumably worked out the pricing to maximise what they can make? Higher prices and less customers probably better than a few more customers with lower prices.

Used to go to the Scillies every year when I lived in the UK and was planning a trip there last autumn (nostalga and all that), but almost had a heart attack when I saw the prices ...went to Spain instead! But if you're a UK lister, nothing to do, pay or stay away!

 

[Jos Stratford]

Birders with one or two exceptions are IMOHO the meanest,tightest, penny pinching,pound stretching,group God ever put breath into.:gn:

Or perhaps £158, plus £8 per inter-island boat, on top of accommodation and other costs, is actually quite a lot of money for some people. Wondering why it is so expensive, as is the Scillonian, does not brand them mean in my book.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

It's basic supply and demand. It's busy, they can charge it and poeple will pay it. Why do holidays cost more in the summer holdiays? Why does food cost more in service stations? Why do peak trains cost more than off peak?
Not even sre why you would find it so surprising. If you were selling some old gear or books and more poeple wanted it you would sell them for more. No problem.

It's a peak time, so they charge it.

 

[Woodchatshrike]

Don't the inter Island boats fit 60 or seventy folk on board? That must be nearly 500 quid a trip. Good money I'd say and who would complain about the price if there was a Philidelphia Verio on Tresco.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Or perhaps £158, plus £8 per inter-island boat, on top of accommodation and other costs, is actually quite a lot of money for some people. Wondering why it is so expensive, as is the Scillonian, does not brand them mean in my book.

Bit of a shame that the cheapest form of sheltered accommodation on Mary's, ie. the drying rooms on the Garrison at £0 / night, appear to be no more

 

[screaming piha]

You mean the moistening rooms and crane fly hatchery, Larry?