Worst Spotting Trips/Experiences

For me, it would have to have been the trip to Glasgow in June 2004. Myself and Andy (A330Crazy) flew up to Glasgow from Heathrow with bmi. Unfortunately, it was just our luck to find that an air traffic control system crash was causing lengthy delays and cancellations to the majority of all domestic flights.

We sat at Heathrow for a few hours, listening as different airlines announced that particular flights were being cancelled and really expected ours to be, too. However, it didn’t get cancelled and did eventually depart for Scotland, albeit 90 minutes later than scheduled.

We arrived in Glasgow where Allen (Ren Frew) had been waiting for us and trotted round to the mound where we enjoyed the views for a little while before being stopped and questioned by police. They asked for identification from all of us and then got onto their radios to check that we weren’t terrorists. How embarrassing!

Going to Brussels with a positive weather forecast only to find it completely fogged up. Went in town to do some sightseeing instead for 10 minutes…. but when even the middle row of balls on the Atomium is not visible you know the fog is too bad.

More fog on a one-day trip from Niederrhein (Ryanair: Dusseldorf-West) to Hamburg. Plane left 5 hours late due to fog. On the way back another 3 hours delay thereby missing the last bus home so I had to find a last minute hotel. Once I finally arrived back at the local trainstation (next day) I got a fine because my train ticket had expired, and found my bike to be stolen. Some days you should just not get out.

Can’t believe how many rare planes I missed because they took of from another runway. Having 6 runways at the local airport tends to screw things up badly. To give you and idea:

However, the things I most regret not having done:

On a spot in Brussels near 25L with a gang from Airliners.net/Luchtzak, we got moved on by the police as they thought we were targeting the fuel tanks or helping illegal immigrants escape from the neaby detention centre 😡

The spot wasn’t totally ruined, as I did get some good footage, but it could have been.

Not so much a spotting trip, but it was a “pleasure” trip just to fly on a plane. It’s a long one, so ye be warned.

Back in 2003 when Air-Scotland.com were just launching, I entered a competition to correctly guess the name of their first aircraft from a choice of 4. Having just seen the thing on A.net as an exclusive photo I had a significant advantage. So I entered “Caledonia”. I didn’t think much of it as I had never won anything before. A week later an e-mail from Air Scotland arrive, I thought it was the usual “thanks but you’re unlucky this time” standard notification. But no, it was a personal e-mail from some manager telling me I was one of 5 that guessed correctly and had won a free return flight.

Thing is, they only gave me 6 days notice. The original itinerary was for me to fly out on the maiden flight and return a week later. But I told them there was no way I could organise myself a holiday in that time, not to mention being unable afford it. So I asked if I could simply fly back the same day as flying out, the plane had to return, didn’t it. “No Problem, just turn up Friday morning at the airport and we’ll get you your tickets”

So I turn up the day of the Maiden flight and at the ticket counter, I’m reassured that returning on the aircraft after it arrive in Palma was ok as it was what the press and staff onboard would be doing. Great stuff I thought.

The flight to Palma was interesting, free champagne for the passengers and a few speeches from the man behind the venture, I forget his name. I even got a free meal as I was a prize winner. Embarrassingly, the call for me to identify myself went over the PA system, so I had to press the F/A button on the overhead, as requested. I got a few funny looks and a few evil ones from hungry passengers. The food though was good, lovely bangers n mash with gravy.

Anyway, I wanted to head up front to chat to someone to see what happens when we arrive, do I stay on the plane or do I get off and reboard once the plane is refuelled? But I could get no where near anyone and before long, we were descending and I was strapped in my seat. We greased a landing and taxied to stand. Again, I attempted to make contact with the manager that greeted me at the ticket desk, but no luck she was surrounded by press people. I was herded off the plane with the rest of the pax.

That’s when it all went belly up. I raced around the enormous interior of the airport desperately looking for a representative of the airline, but no one even knew they existed. Airport Information were about as helpful as a chocolate radiator and other airline reps were as useful as ashtrays on motorcycles. All in all, not much help was to be found. Before long 3 hours had passed, I knew I was up an unpleasant creek without a paddle. I managed to collar some flight dispatch manager type person who spoke enough English to understand my dilemma. He took me behind scenes to his office where he had boxes upon boxes of flight strips and schedules for 2003/4. He found Air Scotland, but the next flight was in a week, as had originally been planned when I was notified of winning. I then told him that with £70 in my pocket, I could stay more than a day and needed to go home.

I eventually spent the night there and when the shops opened the following morning, I was able to get some Euros and use a phone to call home and get some help. My rich Aunt came through and ordered me a ticket to Luton with easyJet.

Superb! I was on my way home… so about 20 hours after arriving, I left Palma.
Once I arrived in Luton, I checked my cash reserves, £62. Hmm… I check the departure boards and the next flight to Glasgow was only an hour away, it was already checking in. I raced to the easyJet ticket desk and asked how much it was to get on that flight… and I only have £60.
The agent tapped away at his computer, smiled, looked up at me and said £60. I slapped the cash on the counter and received my print out.
That’s it really, the rest of the way home was uneventful. Apart from spotting that young guy who features a lot in “airline” and that tall woman too.

Air-Scotland are still to apologise to me for the fiasco. Total cost to me was about £150.

Trip to French airforce show at Chateanudune & French navy show at Landiveasu on same weekend. Got on ferry at Portsmouth and we just sat for several hours (boat had a mech problem) Eventually left some 6 hours late meaning that after arriving we just managed to get to the AF show before it closed. Long drive to hotel which was again very quiet with no food etc available. Up early the following day to go to Landviseau in the pouring rain – nothing moved all day and spent it shivering in a hangar.

Also had the coach break down in Amsterdam which meant waiting for a man to fix it. Got on / off ferry ok but on the M20 one pax had a seizure and we waited on hardshoulder for ambulence to collect. Got held up in a queue after an RTA in front. A few miles further down M3 another RTA which did clear after a while but the car in front and by that time overheated / expired so we had to push that one out of the way before we could move – 6 hours from Dover to Southampton

Thanks for that Tom 🙂

For Gatwick, from the South, go towards check in area A (Thomsonfly & Easyjet Ticket desk). At the Easyjet desk, turn right and there will be the toilets on the left and some double doors ahead with a sign saying ‘Concorde House’. Go through these & go down the stairs one level and exit via the double doors ahead. Walk straight ahead for about 5 minutes and then it’s obvious where you are (i.e you see the yellow approach lights)