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Is a British Airways Charter Flight better than Low Cost Airlines?

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Every summer we usually take a week’s break in Europe. Perhaps the north of Mallorca, Portgual’s Algarve or France.

Although buckets of British Airways air miles means we could travel from Edinburgh via Heathrow or Gatwick and connect to a Club Europe flight, we’ve sacrificed the lounge access and slightly wider seats for more convennient direct flights with Jet2 or Easy Jet.

Until this year when I booked our villa in Mallorca’s Pollenca region through James Villas and they offered me a BA CityFlyer Charter.

British Airways Charter Flight
BA CityFlyer Embraer 190

I knew that CityFlyer use the spare capacity during London City Airport’s weekend downtime to offer charters, mainly through Barrhead Travel, and I immediately agreed to those flights and not Jet2.

The BA flights worked out at about £170 each which I thought was great value having paid nearly £1000 for three seats last year on Jet2.

Knowing that my BA silver card provided no advantage on a charter, I asked James Villas if I could pre-book seats.

They said, “No it’s not possible.”

Being a stubborn Edinburgh traveller, a quick Google search revealed a hidden BA CityFlyer Charter website where you can indeed book seats for £6 a pop.

BA CityFlyer Charter Website

I even had the courtesy to write back to James Villas and point out that you can, indeed, pre-book seats? They were kind enough to reply and tell me that I was wrong and it wasn’t possible to pre-book seats.

I enjoyed reading that email whilst clutching my seat confirmation with a wry smile.

British Airways Charter Flight
2×2 Seating with 34in pitch throughout

For the outbound at 7.30am on a Saturday, Edinburgh Airport bulged with people. We approached the usual BA check in desks. I asked the lady managing the queues if we could we check in here? She said that the charter check in was at the other end of the check in hall.

I mentioned we were travelling hand bags only and she very kindly used her work station to print our boarding cards. Great service.

British Airways Charter Flight
Menu Booklet

Without the benefit of lounge access we waited at the gate for BA to call the flight. Once onboard G-LCYS, one of the newest Embraer 190 aircraft in the BA fleet, we sank into our roomy 2×2 leather seats with their ample 34in pitch.

Once comfy, I heard the lady behind me moaning to the Purser that she and her husband and children had been split up at check in. The purser apologised and said that you can’t pre-book seats on BA charter services (strange that the cabin crew don’t know about the website where you can pre-book).

Anyway this lady whined to anyone who would listen about how upset she was. I was going to enlighten her about the website, but the child she was with was so badly behaved throughout the flight, kicking my seat back, that I decided they could carry on moaning.

Took off bang on time and the crew began the inflight buy on board service. You can see the menu in the photos.

British Airways Charter Flight
Menu Booklet

I drank a giant cup of tasty Saile and Sabga Gourmet Cafe Arabica coffee, and ate a hot bacon panini. The coffee could be the best I’ve ever had on an aircraft.

The crew came through the cabin on a second run towards the end of the three hour flight.

On the inbound, with only two BA flights, check in at Palma is civilised and not the multi-queue scrum you find for Jet2 or Thompson.

My only criticism of the operation at Palma is there was no facility for hand luggage only customers. We had to queue with those with luggage – actually we might have been the only passengers travelling without checked bags. Still we only waited about 15 minutes.

British Airways Charter Flight
Menu Booklet

Same aircraft and the same crew and the same service on the way home except I had a beer with my coffee and bacon buttie.

The moaning lady was also on the flight, and although sat with her husband and kids this time, all she did was moan about how they were split up on the flight out. Bet she’s a barrel of laughs in the pub.

Overall it was great flying on a BA CityFlyer Charter. You get the extra leg room and the professionalism of BA Mainline, with the extra quantities of food and drink from buy on board.

I’d do this over Jet2 any day.

Now it’s your turn:

Have you travelled on a British Airways Charter Flight? How do you think it compares to BA Mainline or other low-cost airlines like Jet2, Easy Jet and RyanAir? Please leave a comment or share a link to your own reviews.

Can you resist? Les Mills Body Combat release 61 Tracklist

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Can you resist? Do you want to know? I’m posting the tracklist for Body Combat release 61 just below.

Look away now if you don’t want spoilers.

Carry on reading if you would like to know which songs we’ll be working out to in Les Mills Body Combat release 61.

Les Mills Body Combat release 61 Tracklist

As always thanks to Simon Philp for pointing out the list. Check out his blog   – you’ll find much more Les Mills stuff here!

Now it’s your turn: What do you think of the Les Mills Body Combat release 61 tracklist? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.

If you want more spoilers you can click on the links above to see the music on Amazon. They won’t be exactly the same mixes because Les Mills often edit the tracks, and some are Les Mills cover versions and not available commercially. But it will give you a good feel for what’s on its way.

Do you want to know? Les Mills Body Balance release 66 Track List

Fitness and Yoga, , , , , , , ,

Do you want to know? Or not?

Look away now if you don’t want spoilers.

Carry on reading if you would like to know which songs we’ll be working out to in Les Mills Body Balance release 66.

Les Mills Body Balance release 66 Track List

Once again thanks to Simon Philp for pointing out the list. Check out his blog   – you’ll find much more Les Mills stuff here!

Now it’s your turn: What do you think of the Les Mills Body Balance release 66 track list? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

If you want more spoilers you can click on the links above to see the music on Amazon. They won’t be exactly the same mixes because Les Mills often edit the tracks, and some are Les Mills cover versions and not available commercially. But it will give you a good feel for what’s on its way.

Ordinary Love – Review of Les Mills Body Balance release 65

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Simply stunning. Challenging but achievable. Tough and beautiful.

Body Balance release 65 flows from one high to another.  A perfect blend of musical styles and a set of moves that challenge even the most flexible people without the “you are having a laugh” factor.

It’s well known that in my opinion the last Body Balance, number 64, was a clunker. The first dud release in almost 25. Here’s an astonishing return to form. 65 is poles apart from 64. They’re at opposite ends of the spectrum in every respect.

Teaching it is a joy.

And from the start of the Standing Strength track until the end of the Core Back track we see almost 27 minutes of intense hard work. Standing Strength, Balance and the Hips tracks all feel like standing strength tracks – but veered subtly towards their target goals. Relentless is the only way to describe the Core tracks. Only after halfway through the twists do we start to chill out into the final forward bends.

Let’s a look at the tracks.

review of les mills body balance release 65

Tai Chi: Dark Horse – Katy Perry feat. Juicy J

An addictive Katy Perry song (“Make me your Aphrodite.) starts us off with tai chi moves almost ballet like. We flow through only two repeated sequences, but keep low with bent knees and you’ll start to feel a burn in your legs straight away.

Simplicity wins and we’re warm within four minutes.

Sun Salutations: Take Care – Drake feat. Rihanna

Most sun salutation tracks start with feet together. Occasionally, as here, we start with feet wider than the yoga mat. Lunging back from a wide leg forward fold, and later stepping wide, introduces a hip opening challenge into this second warm up track.

And before each sun salutation sequence we flow through two spine roll ups before folding forward again. Known as the “Shiva” in previous Body Balance releases, this graceful sequence warms and mobilises the spine.

Bonus Sun Salutations: Myth – Delerium

If you aren’t keen on the Rhianna song, Les Mills provide us with an alternative piece of music by Delerium. Same sequence of moves but trance instead of rap. I could happily flip between the two songs and actually find myself tempted to use both back to back to create a super sun salutation.

review of les mills body balance release 65

Standing Strength: Ordinary Love – Peaceful Gate

A very passable cover version of U2’s Ordinary Love (from the Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom film) guides us through this standout standing strength track.

Your legs will burn in the squats, the warrior poses and the challenging bind during the extended warrior pose. We experience a new pose in the shape of the reverse triangle. The fusion of squat and forward fold in the introductory flowing sequence is exquisite, leading up to the start of the tougher moves once the drum beat kicks in.

I’m sorry but I can’t help singing along to this one. The best standing strength track for ages.

review of les mills body balance release 65

Balance: Strange Birds – Birdy

Aeroplane and half moon pose often appear in balance tracks. This time they feel tougher and much more challenging.

Why?

It’s because start the pose from low down with hands on the floor and open outwards and upwards. In the vast majority of their previous appearances we start high and aim to lower ourselves down. Such a simple reversal of direction transforms the poses and alters its intensity.

A great tune to appreciate as you wobble!

Hip Openers: Hold On, We’re Going Home – Drake feat. Majid Jordan

A huge hip openers. Just a few seconds short of 8 minutes long. Three legged dogs, wide lunges with the option to drop to your elbows and the always welcome swan pose.

In the few silent seconds when we’ve finished the right side and we’re about to go for the left, I’ve cued, “Take a deep breath. Look at the person next to you. Roll your eyes!”

And then the music starts again for round two.

review of les mills body balance release 65

Core Abs: Happy – C2C feat. Derek Martin

The last three tracks have blitzed our legs. We finally lie down for the abs but there’s no respite from the intensity.

Cycling crunch twists, reaching up for the feet with straight arms and legs and “seal feet claps” and crunching between wide legs can be summarised in one word.

Ouch.

The song’s called “Happy.” It will make you smile even if the exercises will make you grimace.

Core back: Counting Stars – OneRepublic

A busy core back track. Bridge pose with walking feet, side planks, pointers and the final barrage of chest raisers.

Counting Stars is a great song.

When the music stops you can collapse for a moment, proud at having made it through almost half an hour of hard work.

review of les mills body balance release 65

Twists: You – Nathaniel

Finally the pace lowers. A simple combination of twist lunges and seated twists set our fatigued bodies on the road to relaxation.

Forward Bends & Hamstrings 1: Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

And now the pace is chilled. I love the contrast between seated forward fold and twisting forward fold. However I would prefer to hold each for longer rather than alternating between the two several times.

Revisiting the tai chi moves brings this track to a graceful and satisfying conclusion.

Forward Bends & Hamstrings 2: How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding

We finish with a few more forward bends and hamstring stretches set to this beautiful song by Ellie Goulding.

Relaxation: Open Spaces – Stanton Lanier

We deserve this relaxation. And Stanton Lanier’s piano music is, as ever, amazing. Lie still and let your body recover with deep breaths.

Meditation: Imber – Rhian Sheehan

And wake yourself up to face the rest of the day energised and strong. A calming and to what is quite simply one of the best Body Balance releases yet.

Now It’s Your TurnDo you agree with my review of Les Mills Body Balance release 65? Let me know your thoughts. Please leave a comment or post a link to your own review.