Blackpool (BLK) – London Stansted (STN)
Fri 26th Mar
This Ryanair flight was operated by Buzz Stansted Ltd on Boeing 737-3Q8 G-BZZF, operating in full Buzz livery. Arrvied at BLK in plenty of time so i abandoned my case in the Emerald Hanger so as to pop around the corner to Morrisons for a slap up tea.
Upon my return check-in was quick (no que). My only quarm would be the as the Ryanair flight to Dublin was departing ahead of us we were not allowed to go through to departures, from where you can see the airfield. Once the DUB flight had boarded we were invited through awaiting the inbound aircraft.
The inbound aircraft was slightly late on chocks, but this was made up as we departed just a couple of mins late. Taxi to the end of Rwy 10 was short and we were airbourne in no time, climbing to FL190 en-route. A drinks pass was conducted on the hop and the offer of the usual in flight shop conducted before we were back in the descent into Stansted. Time was fully made up with us ending up on chocks at the scheduled 21:15.
Blackpool (BLK) – London Stansted (STN)
Mon 29th Mar
Arrived at Stansted early and had a wonder around outside – how many Ryanair aircraft can you seein daylight! WOW!!
Check-in and security at STN i find horrendous! 20mins in the que to check in with one desk open… and then when you are at the front they decided that it might be an idea to open the second! As for security screening that was another 20min or so queing. So if your minimum report time is 40mins and you have to que for 40mins just to get through security, how are you supposed to get to the far away gates in time for boarding?
G-BZZF of Buzz Stansted operated the service, as on the outbound. Aircraft was boarded in plenty of time, and we just had to wait for refuelling to finishing before we could go on an on-time departure. Was quite busy at this time at STN and we had quite a long taxi out to the end of Rwy 23 for departure. Once airbourne the usual services were commenced although no hot drinks were served due to a broken boiler. Landing was 10 mins early and once of the aircraft it was only 10mins or so for the baggage to arrive on the belts.
Both flights well worth the fare of £27 return – 99p one way, 49p the other plus taxes.
By: EGNM - 30th March 2004 at 19:04
yea – the novalty must wear off very quickly – same as it does at LPL with EZY B737s – i only need 2 – 300s (G-EZYD and G-IGOK) and 2 of the new G-EZK -700s 🙁
By: wannabe pilot - 30th March 2004 at 18:51
Lol yeah you should live here, you get bored of them! When they had their batch of aircraft delivered in their new colours, i thought for once maybe I’d have some new Ryanair registrations to look out for. Rode upto Stansted one weekend, saw them all in a couple of hours! Now it’s just the same old ones again……
By: EGNM - 30th March 2004 at 18:37
i managed to find a little spot for spotting next to the passenger drop off ppoint where i could get all the aircraft landing and taxiing out, and then at the opposite end of the terminal there is another area landside to view from. All in all i got 21 new RYR B738s in about a 2 hours period – i already had a few as they do a daily roation through LPL but i was well chuffed to clock so many!!!
By: martin_EGTK - 30th March 2004 at 18:02
As Preston said I’ve flown the morning STN-BLK service before, three times in all to be exact! The loads have always been very good, I’ve also flown BLK-DUB and that flight was sold out!
By: wannabe pilot - 30th March 2004 at 17:45
Originally posted by Speedbird 12T
What is Stansted like? Is it a good airport? and is it good for viewing at all?
Me being very biased towards Stansted, would say it’s an absolutely fantastic airport! :p All jokes aside, a lot of people I’ve spoken to all like the airport, with it’s unique, spacious terminal and cheap flights!
Since quite a young age I have visited the airport just by riding there on my bike, and know it very well as it’s only 3 miles from my home. I even watch the arrivals/departures (depending on what runway they’re on) from my window, and if anyone’s interested there’s an Air Polonia 737 now landing! 😀
As regards to spotting, don’t go there! There are no dedicated facilities as it stands, and unless you fancy a long trek then you can’t really do much spotting from the terminal. Unless you are a local, you’ll find it very hard to get to the spotting places if you don’t know the country roads, and the police can be very unfair if you go to certain places they don’t like. The only way really if you want a good days spotting at STN, is to get in contact with me and I’ll tell ya all that I know.
PS. EGNM, great report, thanks! I really wanted to fly that route to go on the 146, doesn’t look like I can do that any more though 🙁
By: Airline owner - 30th March 2004 at 17:27
i wouldnt mind a trip to ant of these airports
By: SHAMROCK321 - 30th March 2004 at 17:07
geat trip report Im glad you had a good time.I find it interesting that FR fly to Blackpool from Dublin and Stansted.Was the flight full or empty.LOL i forget but what do they call the amount of passengers that an airline carriers in a fixed period.On average.I just cant remeber.
By: Speedbird 12T - 30th March 2004 at 16:57
What is Stansted like? Is it a good airport? and is it good for viewing at all?
By: A380!! - 30th March 2004 at 16:48
great report;) ive been to Blackpool and i must say the place is a s,h,i,thole compared to spanish resorts!
By: EGNM - 30th March 2004 at 14:10
LOL – Sorry i never noticed i did the BLK-STN, BLK-STN twice – hmmm sorry for any confusion!
By: Mark L - 30th March 2004 at 13:52
LGKR, I believe he flew BLK-STN-BLK, despite his flight report ACTUALY saying BLK-STN BLK-STN !
Nice report EGNM, its a flight I’ve wanted to do before, but as it takes me 3 hours to get to STN sometimes the antisocial flight times make it a nono 🙁
By: EGNM - 30th March 2004 at 13:52
Hi LGKR,
I know on the outbound sector there were exactly 100 people on the service, but on the return i would say it was around the same – estimating 80% full.
The reason this service is a winner is the fact there is no way of getting to Stansted from the North at a reasonable flight other than this service with Ryanair, or the Easyjet Service from Newcastle. Eastern do operate it from MAN but it is approx £120 return as your cheapest fare! As for when it was a BAe 146-300, on which i had travelled the route before (october) i have to say these secotrs were also both fairly full. All my flights have been on the evening rotations though, but i think Martin EGTK has flown the morning service previously?
The reason i choose Blackpool is i always fly down after my work shift finishes in Liverpool, from here it is easy enough to get to Blackpool, and when i go back home to yorkshire it is only 50mins to an hours drive away.
As for your lo-co hops, I only do day return day trips – such as a day in Amsterdam or Dublin, Belfast etc (Belfast next i think!). I do not do the hopping around on Lo-cos for the day, the best person to ask for this would again be Martin_EGTK who does that fairly regularly.
Hope that helps!
By: LGKR - 30th March 2004 at 13:39
cool EGNM, a fantastic report!! a few questions though if i will….
how long did you stay in blackpool? i’ve quite fancied doing a miniature UK tour with the locos but have always been really worried about what i’ll actually do when im left at the destination for hours and hours on end – i love the birds, honest. just get bored with them after an hour sometimes :D.
roughly how full was the flight? i’ve alwyas imagined the flights to not be that full in all honesty – afterall a 146 was previously used and with Manchester and Liverpool airports so close i’ve often wondered… :rolleyes:
cheers,
LGKR
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March 30, 2004 at 1:19 pm