NHL Schedule Released

[Vapor 0]

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=Schedule

Is it me or does that sound like the most boring game ever?

[ThePurpleCobra 0]

the bruins first 5 games are from western teams hmm..

[pantherfan 0]

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=Schedule

Is it me or does that sound like the most boring game ever?

It better not be becuase I'll be there, mainly hoping to catch glimpses of the cup etc. :P

[Chadd 916]

Time to start planning my road trips and start working on tickets for the Wings game during the show.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Who do they play?

Trust me, won't be a problem scoring tix for that.

[Chadd 916]

Who do they play?

Trust me, won't be a problem scoring tix for that.

BJ's

I'm also thinking of heading over for the London games, lots of empty seats on those flights as of right now.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Who do they play?

Trust me, won't be a problem scoring tix for that.

BJ's

I'm also thinking of heading over for the London games, lots of empty seats on those flights as of right now.

Don't book until after september 5th, when the open skies act kicks in, you will get a cheaper flight. They are already reduced, but are expected to fall even more when the act is offically in place and effective.

Normally costs us $1500ish to fly into dublin (more into belfast, which is much closer to home, but priceier), she is getting back home in september for $465.

Was told it could be as low as $380 after sept 5th, but she just booked anyway, to make sure she got the flight she wanted

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

He works for an airline.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Gotta Love Leafs-Habs on the first HNIC of the season.

[Chadd 916]

Open skies does not go into effect until March and since I work for an airline, all I need is an empty seat and my cost is very low. After the summer travel rush, prices go down quite a bit for the fall.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Open skies does not go into effect until March and since I work for an airline, all I need is an empty seat and my cost is very low. After the summer travel rush, prices go down quite a bit for the fall.

Was that always the plan, for it to go into effect in march, or was it originally september, because I'm pretty sure they had a press release saying they were flying to dulles because of the open skies act, because the last 2 times we went home, was september and november, and the prices were $1500ish, but it's only $465 now.

And from september 5, Aer Lingus is reinstating it's direct flight to dulles

[kosydar 0]

Nice, the Leafs are actually making a west coast road trip this season.

...obligatory question- When do tickets go on sale? September?

[Chadd 916]

Open skies does not go into effect until March and since I work for an airline, all I need is an empty seat and my cost is very low. After the summer travel rush, prices go down quite a bit for the fall.

Was that always the plan, for it to go into effect in march, or was it originally september, because I'm pretty sure they had a press release saying they were flying to dulles because of the open skies act, because the last 2 times we went home, was september and november, and the prices were $1500ish, but it's only $465 now.

And from september 5, Aer Lingus is reinstating it's direct flight to dulles

I don't recall September as the date at any point, but I'm not aware of all of the negotiations. Assuming it was Aer Lingus, or a US airline there was no need for the open skies agreement for that routing in the first place. The only open skies related reason to drop costs is because of competition and I'm not aware of any EU based airlines starting that routing.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I don't recall September as the date at any point, but I'm not aware of all of the negotiations. Assuming it was Aer Lingus, or a US airline there was no need for the open skies agreement for that routing in the first place. The only open skies related reason to drop costs is because of competition and I'm not aware of any EU based airlines starting that routing.

Ryan Air (Irish buget carrier, you can get flights from dublin to pretty much any major european city for about $20) are talking about doing a transatlantic flight

Here are some of the snippets I read previously, and this is how I got my info, so don't know how accurate it is...

http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2007/03/aer_lingus_to_a.html

Aer Lingus announced plans to begin three new U.S. routes by the end of the year. That announcement came Thursday, the same day EU officials ratified an Open Skies agreement with the USA. Aer Lingus officials called that "a momentous development for Irish aviation." As for the new routes, Aer Lignus plans to fly from Dublin to San Francisco, Orlando and Washington Dulles. Reuters quotes Irish Transport Minister Martin as saying the service to Dulles would begin in September while the other two routes would launch in October.

...

Even though the implementation of the new Open Skies deal was delayed by about five months (until March), that "will not delay Aer Lingus' plans" for its new U.S. routes, writes the Irish Emigrant. Aer Lingus' other U.S. destinations are Los Angeles, New York, Boston and Chicago. The publication adds that the Open Skies talk also has spurred talk of other new routes between Ireland and the USA. Though it offered no source, the Emigrant writes "it is reported that United … is considering a Washington-Dublin service while Northwest is looking at a Detroit-Dublin route."

and on ryan air (if you ever fly them, you will hate their service, it's the very defination of barebones service.)

http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaig..._557_112538.jsp

Low-cost airline Ryanair has said it is planning flights to the US from the UK for less than £7.

The Irish airline intends to make the most of the 'open-skies' agreement signed between the US and Europe to launch services to a number of secondary airports such as Long Island in New York, Rhode Island in New England and Baltimore.

Flights would also operate to other US destinations including Florida, Dallas and San Francisco under plans outlined by the airline today.

Under the open-skies deal, more US-Europe flights will be allowed from March 2008.

Open-skies deal

Ryanair said it was looking at purchasing a fleet of up to 50 long-haul planes to get the service up and running in the next three to four years, but would be waiting for the price of aircraft to drop.

The US-bound flights would operate from existing Ryanair hubs in Europe, including London Stansted and Dublin, but would be run as a separate airline.

The long-haul carrier will have its own executives and brand name, and will not allow for cross-ticketing or connecting luggage with Ryanair.

Ryanair's Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said the cheapest fares would be 10 euros (£6.80) and he expects sales of food, drink, goods and in-flight entertainment to be a major earner.

[Chadd 916]

I don't think the Ryan model will work well in the US or with transatlantic travel. Skybus is already getting a ton of complaints and they aren't as bad as Ryan.

Aer Lingus is going to have to compete with more airlines now that the Shannon rule isn't going to apply. Without any infrastructure in the US or codesharing agreement, it will be hard to draw passengers in smaller US markets. It's nice that we have a ZED agreement with them, I've been planning to go over with my father.

[Jason Harris 31]

I've never heard of the Open Skies Act. Why is it going to lower prices? Is it allowing more competition for international flights?

[Chadd 916]

I've never heard of the Open Skies Act. Why is it going to lower prices? Is it allowing more competition for international flights?

Any EU based carrier can fly from any EU city to the US, American carriers can fly to any EU airport. THis eliminates the LHR restrictions as well as the Shannon rule in Ireland. It will create more competition and lower rates somewhat.

[willy0314 0]

what do you guys think of the probable outdoor game on New years here (Pitt @ Buffalo) at ralph wilson stadium (buffalo bills). Local media has been talking about it for 3 days now.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I don't think the Ryan model will work well in the US or with transatlantic travel. Skybus is already getting a ton of complaints and they aren't as bad as Ryan.

Aer Lingus is going to have to compete with more airlines now that the Shannon rule isn't going to apply. Without any infrastructure in the US or codesharing agreement, it will be hard to draw passengers in smaller US markets. It's nice that we have a ZED agreement with them, I've been planning to go over with my father.

Ryanair is fine for a 1 or 2 hour hop from dublin to croatia or such, but you still leave the plane fuming at the service, space and such. On a 6-8 hour flight, it just won't work, I agree 100%, for the most part.

But you put say, students who want to go to Ireland, and don't mind no in flight meal, or any type of customer service, and they may pick up some business. But I think it will be short lived

Salming, I only heard of it, because I fly home almost every year, so it benefits me to keep looking for anything that might lower costs for us

[precursor 0]

what do you guys think of the probable outdoor game on New years here (Pitt @ Buffalo) at ralph wilson stadium (buffalo bills). Local media has been talking about it for 3 days now.

I am so there.. I really really hope they do it.

They could definitely sell it out without a problem.

I would just worry about the weather.. I could have golfed last New Years =/

[Cobra2717 0]

what do you guys think of the probable outdoor game on New years here (Pitt @ Buffalo) at ralph wilson stadium (buffalo bills). Local media has been talking about it for 3 days now.

Im crazy excited for that game. I really hope it happens. Ill be at the Blackhawks game for sure too, to see one of my buds play :D

[RadioGaGa 162]

TSN has released it's Broadcast Sched for this year:

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=216198&hubname=