DUB-SXF-DUB with pics

Hey everybody.

I planned this trip months ago just after EI announced that they were increasing frequencey on the DUB-SXF route enabling a day return on tuesdays, thursday and saturdays so we booked for thursday 14th December.

Germany is a country I have come to love in the last year. I had never been before but have now been 6 times in the last year and I plan to return to Berlin. Hamburg and Munich are also high on my list of cities I want to see.

The flight was scheduled to leave at 0645 so I picked my freind up at 0420. Its a pity we only really get to see each othet when we plan to go away. We have taken day trips to London and Dusseldorf and the following day were going to Madrid for a 1 night stay.

We arrived in DUB and used the self-service check in machines. This was the first time that when flying day return with EI I didnt recieve a return boarding card which was very annoying. We went to the ticket desk to see if it was possible to get one but were rudely told it wasnt possible!! Ive taken lots of day trips with EI LHR,FRA,AMS,MAN and DUS and have always been able to get one. EI are going head to head with FR on this route and if they want to attract the business traveller who will only be away for a day then they need to offer this service espeically as they now offer 2 flights a day on selected days to SXF.

Anyway we headed for airport secuirity which as usual was busy but moved quickly. I would normally jump through staff secuirity but I had a mate with me.

Once airside we picked up a paper and noted that our flight would be departing from A66 which requires a good 15-20 minute walk down the prefabs. They were crammed with early morning FR flights which included their SXF flight aswell as CRL, MAN and EMA. I could make out that EI-DEL was waiting outside for us which was slightly dissapointing as I was hoping for one I hadnt flown on before, it was even worse because it was exactly the same aircraft I flew on the last time I flew EI AMS-DUB back in August.

We had seats 15E and F and D remained empty. The load was quite good about 90-95% mainly made up of Polish and a few Irish. Announcement were done in English, German and Polish. The Polish announcement were done my a Polish cabin crew member.

The flight departed on time and we headed for 28 for takeoff with a few to depart before us including EI, BD and AF aswell as a FCA 757 off to the North Pole.

Shortly after takeoff the inflight service began and I had the full Irish breakfast which was rudley slammed in front of me by a male member of cabin crew who I recognised from work. Maybe I should run him over with a trolley when I see him next. We climbed to 37,000 feet and flew over Liverpool, Manchester, Amsterdam and Hannover before descending towards Schonefeld. Descent was quick and not too bumpy. We came out of the clouds already lined up on the ILS and had a great view of Berlin to our right.

Touchdown was very smooth on runway 25L and very little breaks were applied with no reverse thrust. We left the runway and began our taxi towards the terminal. Just after us the Germanwings Mhhhh Baden-Wurtenburg logo jet landed and then 2 Ryanair 737s departed.

Other traffic on the ground at the time were 2 other 4U A319s an EasyJet A319 and a 737-700 about to depart as well as EL AL 737 and not forgetting sister ship EI-DEO who arrived just before us from Cork.

All the airbridges were occupied so we had to deplane using steps which is always nice. Passport control took about 10 minutes and we headed towards the train station for a great day in Berlin.

For those of you who have never been to Berlin I would highly reccomend a vist, it is an awesome place and Im already planning a 2-3 trip back to see as much as possible.

We arrived back to SXF a bit early and check-in hadnt opened so we had somthing to eat quicky. When it did open we were the first to check in and were assigned 12A and B which is an exit row. Secuirity was empty but at the same time efficent. We bought the normal duty free items which are all the more important coming up to christmas. I had seen the computer at check in and saw that EI-DEG would be operating our flight tonight and that there was only 56 passengers booked. They were using the CODECO check in system which we use in work so I was able to quickly glimpse at it and get all that information.

EI-DEG who is pictured on the front of Airliner World this month arrived on time and soon we were ready to board. The load was obviously very light and everyone was boarded quickly. A few passengers including me moved to another seat to give ourselves some extra room but were told to move back as it would effect the trim of the aircraft. The cabin crew were in disagreement about this. The way we were seated was way out of balance anyway with about 90% of us in the front half and the rest in the very last row.

The crew allowed everyone to sit where they wanted after takeoff which was again on 25L. Inflight service was the norm and I had a ham and cheese panini and a coffee which was heavenly after not eating much during the day.

This evening we climbed to 38,000 and flew a similar route to the one that morning. The remainder of the flight was pretty routine and very relaxed. I bought a cross pen from the Sky shopping service for €15. Descent into DUB was again quick and easy and we landed on time and taxied again to the A peir 2 spaces away from EI-CVC who we would climb aboard in 8 hours time on our way to MAD.

Overall EI were again very good and ontime which is nice. Staff were mostly freindly with the exception of the girl at the ticket desk and one member of cabin crew.

I hope you enjoed it and I will post the pictures just below.