Teesside Airport Rockcliffe Lounge

asredastheycome said:
Would love the airport to succeed and grow but there is just not enough flights or locations for my choice. And they havei the room to fit more passengers in on some days if there was extra flights.

It's choice of flights I want at competitive prices. Could not care less about the lounges as like someone said above being local you don't need to spend 3 hours in there.
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It’s slowly building up flights and destinations as confidence returns. The non passenger airport activity has risen massively and will help bring losses down.
 
Fangdale Beck said:
Anyone used it?
40 notes a head for 3hrs
Would have to neck the ale quick and fill bag with goodies to get money's worth I imagine?
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I always book these when taking Mrs H anywhere - never if flying alone.

I book this to guarantee a comfortable place to sit and wait for our flight to be called. We've experienced Manchester Leeds and Amsterdam completely swamped with travellers, to the point there is no where to sit down. It's not the atmosphere to start a trip off with.

Our Airport is the one that justifies it the least. But I still book it, just to be sure.

Do you get value for money in food and drink - of course not, not even close. But it's worth it to me and she appreciates it.
 
We flew from Teesside 2 weeks ago to Bulgaria, and yes it was hassle free and a pleasure. Full English was priced at £15, and a pint was £7, we had a pint and didn't bother with the breakfast. :)
Sadly the flight wasn't full, it was great for us as we have 3 seats between us, even though it was only a 3.5 hour flight.
Coming back it was even worse 74 people on the flight and everyone of us could have had 3 seats each, many did.
August to a very popular beach destination was very disappointing, the gate next door was going to Humberside and that flight was full.

Not sure why it wasn't used, the airport was lovely and a great experience, but sadly I doubt there is a market for it.

I really don't think we should be spending public money on it at the rate that we are when Houchen himself said he doesn't have a local bus policy, mainly because he chooses to spend the cash on the airport.
If you want a flight then sorry it shouldn't be subsidised by the poorest in our country.
 
ThatFragranceGuy said:
Which was nothing to do with peel, who initially
Invested in the airport as promised and drove it to double digit growth and enjoyed the airports record passenger numbers just shy of 1 million.

The spanner in the works was the financial crisis which decimated the travel industry - for some reason peer doesn't get a pass for that despite airports retreating to the larger hubs yet everyone teeside passenger figures or losses are spoken about someone taps their nose though and says "ah but Covid", probably work through another 5 years of that before something else gets the blame

2022 passenger numbers 173k and with much fanfare about being highest in a decade but no mention of being 5.3x less than Peel's much maligned peak or even the 700k the airport enjoyed before anyone heard of peel.

Now how much has been spent to get us from the 35k to the 173k and what will it cost to get it to 700 or 900k? Keep in mind that when it was 900k the airport was still losing money as it has never turned a profit - this is money that is meant to be invested in our area. Isn't value for money? For a few people it is because they get a flight to their destination but for most Teessiders I doubt it it is beyond a bit of local pride.


As for lounges, there's generally public lounges and airline lounges which are far better. The public lounges are decent for the money - Newcastle for example used to be about £25 for standard and £35 for the plus which is far better, but now £39 std and £45 plus, for the £5 I'd take the plus. Better drinks, food menu, quieter, comfort seats etc

For the small cost of a lounge we always take one outbound as it starts the trip off on the right foot. I've used dozens and only had one bad experience - and that was midlands airport and we got a full refund after complaining.

I've never experienced the tales of stag dos or hen dos or really drunk people. Not saying it doesn't happen but it's overstated - they usually dont even allow stag and hen parties and if people are being loud they are usually told to keep it down. We plan it so we get max time in the lounge so for 2-3 usually it covers food in the airport, keep
Phone charged, chill out while waiting on the flight and it's easy enough to get value on the drinks given the prices of pints or spirits in the airport.

You aren't supposed to, but we've always taken crisps snacks and a drink for the plane too which adds to the value further.

Much rather that than save the money and sit in the uncomfortable chairs while two sprogs hit each other in front of you.

Oh and if your flight is delayed you're usually ok to remain in the lounge but depends on the specific lounge
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TFG, thanks for your very informative and enlightening reply to my post. You obviously have access to details and a greater knowledge of Teesside Airport and it's business structure. I guess many on here, and the greater Teesside area, want it to succeed but are frustrated by what is seen as lack of progress.

#UTB
 
I wish they would stop having paid for lounges in airports. Lounges used to be such nice, quiet places to relax before a flight. The thought of people going in then to see how much free alcohol they can pour down their neck really ruins them
 
TheLodger said:
I really don't think we should be spending public money on it at the rate that we are when Houchen himself said he doesn't have a local bus policy, mainly because he chooses to spend the cash on the airport.
If you want a flight then sorry it shouldn't be subsidised by the poorest in our country.
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I doubt Houchen has ever said he doesn't have a bus policy. He's been squabbling with Arriva lately about cuts to services. There may not be a strategy, but he's at the mercy of several councils and a privately owned bus company.

Are the poorest really subsidising people taking flights, and specifically flights from Teesside? Hard to say. But is the region better off from having an airport to bring people into the area? Definitely. Again, if the airport goes, it will have big repercussions.
 
Hap said:
You seemed to have to join a club, but they weren’t accepting new applications- they were suspended, when I looked in May. We couldn’t book.
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Usually a extra when you book a flight, like a seat upgrade. Used it in June when I can from Thailand to UK .... Hopefully can book when I go back soon ...
 
Soutra said:
I doubt Houchen has ever said he doesn't have a bus policy. He's been squabbling with Arriva lately about cuts to services. There may not be a strategy, but he's at the mercy of several councils and a privately owned bus company.

Are the poorest really subsidising people taking flights, and specifically flights from Teesside? Hard to say. But is the region better off from having an airport to bring people into the area? Definitely. Again, if the airport goes, it will have big repercussions.
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Out of curiosity what would the repercussions be?
 
NYboro said:
So it's costing the investment group. Teesside is costing us, the taxpayers.
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It just shows how a busy airport spunks money away.

At least we’re diversifying away from just passenger business. Its going to be interesting where the finances are in 5 years.

The North East only needs 1 airport really, but Newcastle is in a bad location. Can we not just flatten Washington and build a super duper NE airport?
 
Soutra said:
I doubt Houchen has ever said he doesn't have a bus policy. He's been squabbling with Arriva lately about cuts to services. There may not be a strategy, but he's at the mercy of several councils and a privately owned bus company.

Are the poorest really subsidising people taking flights, and specifically flights from Teesside? Hard to say. But is the region better off from having an airport to bring people into the area? Definitely. Again, if the airport goes, it will have big repercussions.
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He has admitted not having a proper transport plan. Arriva cut services because he reduced the funding all metro mayors pay bus companies to keep fares at £2 a trip. Teesside now pay the lowest in the country.
And yes the poorest are paying if it is subsidised by the tax payer. Pro rata they are paying the most.

I want an Airport on Teesside, but only if it can pay for itself, tax payers shouldn't subsidise expensive travel when other options are available. If the wealthy want to use it, then they should pay for it all.
 
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