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Trip Reports Forum | Trip Report - MAN - LGW - MAN with British Airways
1 - by Pole Hill Sid 
1158 posts -
on Friday 8th May, 2009 at 18:10 GMT
Following on in a similar vain to my trip to our Bristol office( http://www.plane-mad.com/view-topic.php?topic=1674 ), this time I had a meeting in Orpington, and so a perfect excuse to get someone to pay for a day out. Again as it was business only a camera phone for pictures.
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MAN - LGW: BA2901 06/05/09 d06:50 a08-05
Arrove at T3 on the APH bus service and as I had checked in yesterday online went straight through to security. This again was an absolute breeze, manged to avoid the dreaded shoes off, and straight through to the departure lounge without even showing any identification. Saw G-DOCS on stand a presumed this would be my aircraft, but took a seat between G-JECE on stand 50 and G-TOYM on stand 51 to watch the arrivals.
Viking SE-RHR departed which was a new airline for me to see but the rest were typical MAN movements.
At 6-20am we boarded at Gate 142 onto the previously mentioned G-DOCS, a Boeing 737-436.
http://www.photos.aero/photo-full-size.php?p=12752
I had picked seat 4F, which was the first row behind the curtain for what I presume was Club Europe. The leg room was very good and the seat was comfy, particularly the arm rests. G-JEDJ was parked to the right.
Pushback was at 06-52 and a taxi and wait to 23L meant that take-off roll commenced at 07-05, where we departed straight into cloud.
The cabin service began promptly and a cooked English breakfast was on offer but I refused (a colleague who travelled down with me said the breakfast was quite tasty) but the cabin crew were more than happy to just provide me with an orange juice and a cup of tea. A quick check round to see how full the flight was and I would say 50% at most. The flight was very smooth and the weather improved the further south we got.
The approach into Gatwick certainly wasn't as the crow flies, coming in over Brighton...
...turning left the right a few times before making a fantastically smooth landing on runway 26L at 07-52.
On the ground at Gatwick of note were the BA777s G-VIIA/B/C/F/P, VS 747s, an EK777, A QR330, and best of all Air Namibia A340 V5-NMF
We arrived a stand 61 @ 07-57 and bussed off to the terminal via the rear door at 08-03 were it was off to work.
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LGW - MAN: BA2910 06/05/09 d18:00 a19-00
Arrived at the airport early but couldn't transfer to an earlier flight as there weren't any. After 40 mins outside the terminal soaking up some rays, it was into security and after a little delay whilst a laptop was checked it was into the terminal itself. Always liked the look of bridge across the apron at Gatwick so went for a wander to check it out.
It has great views from up there but I didn't realise that it was meant to work as a one way system and had to be shown how to get back to the terminal.
Into the Lloyds bar for a work funded pint of Ruddles and finally got the gate call at 17-20, to 55B. Boarding began at 17-45 on G-DOCW, again a B737-436. This time I had selected seat 24F at the back and I noticed that there was a little less leg room here, but still adequate. The seats themselves also looked more worn than the one this morning and the arm rest wasn't a comfotable. However, I found the headrest here to be more comfy.
Pushback was at 17-59.
Saw some Spanish jets parked, presumably something to do with Barcelona football at Chelsea.
Take-off was at 18-06 on 26L and it was off into a patchy clouded sky. Didn't manage to catch any of the Heathrow heavies in my sights on climb out but did manage to spot a number of U2 planes whilst over Bedfordshire,
presumably from Luton (tiny dot is a Easyjet!)
I must say that it was noticibly noisier at the back from being behind the engine. I think that this flight was probably 75-80% full too.
The food given out was a couple of sandwiches, a breakaway biscuit and a drink of choice. I got double food cos I didn't like one of the two sandwiches in the pack
, The staff on the flight were very pleasant and helpful, particularly a lady called Fiona.
We landed at 18-43 on 23R after an approach over the Pennines and taxied to gate 48 at 18-49 before a brief walk to the outside of T3 and the end of my trip.
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Overall I was very impressed by BA. The flights were on time, the staff were excellent and the aircraft was clean. All food/drink was free (although I didn't sample myself) and staff were more than happy to cater to my fussy eating demands.
With regards to flying them again, I would pick a seat as far forward as possible as the engine noise is less and the seats are more comfy, presumably because they alter the size of club world (i.e. move the curtain) for different flights.
If you managed to get this far, you get a bonus fact as a prize/thank you:
'Bad-a-bing bad-a-boom' is the noise rice crispies make in New York.
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MAN - LGW: BA2901 06/05/09 d06:50 a08-05
Arrove at T3 on the APH bus service and as I had checked in yesterday online went straight through to security. This again was an absolute breeze, manged to avoid the dreaded shoes off, and straight through to the departure lounge without even showing any identification. Saw G-DOCS on stand a presumed this would be my aircraft, but took a seat between G-JECE on stand 50 and G-TOYM on stand 51 to watch the arrivals.
Viking SE-RHR departed which was a new airline for me to see but the rest were typical MAN movements.
At 6-20am we boarded at Gate 142 onto the previously mentioned G-DOCS, a Boeing 737-436.
http://www.photos.aero/photo-full-size.php?p=12752
I had picked seat 4F, which was the first row behind the curtain for what I presume was Club Europe. The leg room was very good and the seat was comfy, particularly the arm rests. G-JEDJ was parked to the right.
Pushback was at 06-52 and a taxi and wait to 23L meant that take-off roll commenced at 07-05, where we departed straight into cloud.
The cabin service began promptly and a cooked English breakfast was on offer but I refused (a colleague who travelled down with me said the breakfast was quite tasty) but the cabin crew were more than happy to just provide me with an orange juice and a cup of tea. A quick check round to see how full the flight was and I would say 50% at most. The flight was very smooth and the weather improved the further south we got.
The approach into Gatwick certainly wasn't as the crow flies, coming in over Brighton...
...turning left the right a few times before making a fantastically smooth landing on runway 26L at 07-52.
On the ground at Gatwick of note were the BA777s G-VIIA/B/C/F/P, VS 747s, an EK777, A QR330, and best of all Air Namibia A340 V5-NMF
We arrived a stand 61 @ 07-57 and bussed off to the terminal via the rear door at 08-03 were it was off to work.
------------------
LGW - MAN: BA2910 06/05/09 d18:00 a19-00
Arrived at the airport early but couldn't transfer to an earlier flight as there weren't any. After 40 mins outside the terminal soaking up some rays, it was into security and after a little delay whilst a laptop was checked it was into the terminal itself. Always liked the look of bridge across the apron at Gatwick so went for a wander to check it out.
It has great views from up there but I didn't realise that it was meant to work as a one way system and had to be shown how to get back to the terminal.
Into the Lloyds bar for a work funded pint of Ruddles and finally got the gate call at 17-20, to 55B. Boarding began at 17-45 on G-DOCW, again a B737-436. This time I had selected seat 24F at the back and I noticed that there was a little less leg room here, but still adequate. The seats themselves also looked more worn than the one this morning and the arm rest wasn't a comfotable. However, I found the headrest here to be more comfy.
Pushback was at 17-59.
Saw some Spanish jets parked, presumably something to do with Barcelona football at Chelsea.
Take-off was at 18-06 on 26L and it was off into a patchy clouded sky. Didn't manage to catch any of the Heathrow heavies in my sights on climb out but did manage to spot a number of U2 planes whilst over Bedfordshire,
presumably from Luton (tiny dot is a Easyjet!)
I must say that it was noticibly noisier at the back from being behind the engine. I think that this flight was probably 75-80% full too.
The food given out was a couple of sandwiches, a breakaway biscuit and a drink of choice. I got double food cos I didn't like one of the two sandwiches in the pack
, The staff on the flight were very pleasant and helpful, particularly a lady called Fiona.We landed at 18-43 on 23R after an approach over the Pennines and taxied to gate 48 at 18-49 before a brief walk to the outside of T3 and the end of my trip.
-----------------------
Overall I was very impressed by BA. The flights were on time, the staff were excellent and the aircraft was clean. All food/drink was free (although I didn't sample myself) and staff were more than happy to cater to my fussy eating demands.
With regards to flying them again, I would pick a seat as far forward as possible as the engine noise is less and the seats are more comfy, presumably because they alter the size of club world (i.e. move the curtain) for different flights.
If you managed to get this far, you get a bonus fact as a prize/thank you:
'Bad-a-bing bad-a-boom' is the noise rice crispies make in New York.
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2 - by Sam-at-MAN 3314 posts -
on Friday 8th May, 2009 at 18:36 GMT
Great report Sid. Was hoping you'd make a detailed trip report to so I could see if the service you received was similar to what i've had in the past, and it sounds like it was
Had an English breakie a few times before, very nice indeed. 'tis good to get a bit of hot grub down your neck on such a short flight.
Most of the classic 737s are a bit battered inside, wobbly seats and well worn seats but always seem fairly comfortable to me, plenty of legroom for such short flights too.
Cheers for the report!
Sam
Had an English breakie a few times before, very nice indeed. 'tis good to get a bit of hot grub down your neck on such a short flight.
Most of the classic 737s are a bit battered inside, wobbly seats and well worn seats but always seem fairly comfortable to me, plenty of legroom for such short flights too.
Cheers for the report!
Sam
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3 - by Pole Hill Sid 1158 posts -
on Saturday 9th May, 2009 at 20:35 GMT
Well there's a small chance of another coming up soon, but will keep that under my hat for now as I don't want to jinx it ;)
Quoting Sam-at-MAN, from a previous postHad an English breakie a few times before, very nice indeed. 'tis good to get a bit of hot grub down your neck on such a short flight.
Would be for me if I wasn't so fussy. Don't like eggs, bacon, mushrooms, sausage, black puddings... Beans on toast is the closest I get.
Your welcome.
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4 - by Flying Red Fox 1160 posts -
on Saturday 9th May, 2009 at 21:46 GMT
Lovelly trip report i enjoyed that! 
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