Trip Report

I had an interesting trip this weekend to Lisbon(I am not mentioning a certain football match though). First off, flew on 4 different a/c; none of which I had been on previously.

Flight 1: 11/6/04 LHR-MAD BA A319 G-EUPG

Flight was full, @20 supporters also on this flight. Nice modern a/c; usual deli meal now served on BA european flights. Departed @1030 Arrived at Madrid @1230. MAD would be interesting for spotting; had 2 hours to spare and these were the best spotted:

Aerolineas Argentinas B747-200(new cols)
Aeromexico B767-200
Avianca B767-200(Allianza summa cols)
Iberia A340-600(4 of)
Iberia B747-300(recent addition in white c/s)
Air Europa B767(4 of)

Not really impressed with current terminal at Madrid; it’s more hotch-potch then LHR central area. The 2 new terminals look impressive though; they need opening like 10 years ago!!

Flight 2: 11/6/04 MAD-LIS IB B757 EC-HDM

Flight @3/4 full, sat next to overwing exits so plenty of legroom. Comedy/cartoons shown on overhead LCD screens(no sound though). Departed @1615. Arrived @1605 in Lisbon. Nice approach over Atlantic ocean then city; quite a hard landing. Strangely parked alongside terminal but no airbridge so bus required.(5 airbridge stands were vacant) Terminal seems small for premier airport in country.

Flight 3: 14/6/04 LIS-MAD IB MD88 EC-FGM

Flight nearly full; unfortunately 85 mins late with a tight connection at Madrid later that day. Departed @ 1010. Arrived at 1200. A/C looked/felt very dated; interesting flight with relatively steep approach into Madrid.
On arrival spotted the new Air Madrid A330. Made hurried connection for next flight that involved long walk and 2!! buses to next a/c.

Flight 4: 14/6/04 MAD-LHR BA B767-300 G-BNWW

Boarded aircraft along with @ 80 other supporters. I suspect a/c was held for @30mins for us. Why was a B767 parked on a remote stand when 737s/319s had airbridges? Good flight, decent food, nice approach over London(in the stack for about 10 mins though). Departed @1315. Arrived @1420. Sat in back cabin which wasn’t great as old cloth seats hadn’t been replaced by newer leather seats fitted in forward cabins. Approach seemed a bit bumpy; ac appeared to be repeatedly sinking below/rising above glidescope on finals.

Summarising:

Don’t connect at Madrid.
Don’t fly Iberia; cabin crew not great, no free food/drink, avoid the MD88s!! I’ve flown with them on 4 different a/c and each time experienced a hard landing.
Do fly BA; very professional cabin crew, clean/modern ac, free food/drinks, more organised regards connecting flights. Some Spanish passengers were connecting at LHR onto the Edinburgh shuttle and BA asked if other passengers would let them disembark first..nice touch and a bit radical for Iberia I suspect.