BA1326 LHR-NCL
Dep: 0950 Arr 1100
Aircraft G-EUUU
Type: A320
Arrived at LHR around 0750 for my flight to newcastle, first flight from terminal 5 for me. All I can really say is that it failed to impress me, however, the secuirty procedures were quicker than I expected, all of 5 minutes. The dissapointment came when I went through security, why do airports insist on giving so much space to retail outlets. Have gone through Singapore Changi recently and LHR T5 is no way near close to SIN standards, way too small and lacking and in major space in my opinion. However, the views were impressive. Gate was called around 0900 and boarding started around 0920, everyone on around 0935, was hoping to swap my aisle seat for a window, but it was a full flight. Plane pushed back on time, and then joined the queue for takeoff. Flight smooth, execllent egg and ham baguette on board. Landed into newcastle ontime and out of airport and on the newcastle metro within 5 minutes. Excellent flight all round.
BA1337 NCL-LHR
Dep: 2010 arr 2125
Aircraft: G-EUUH
Type: A320
Arrived at NCL around 18:30 and I found this regionaln airport the best I have used within England. Check in was swift and easy, given same seat as one on way up. Proceeded through security around 1900 with no queing at all, duty free shopping at NCL is excellent, and food choices superb, but didnt bother as I knew I would get something on the flight. Views of the runway are all clear, and aa nice all round regional airport, runway seems a bit short, so I wouldnt want to be on the NCL-DXB A330 flight going off that runway!, Got to the gate around 1950, but boarded delayed due to a medical problem on the flight up from london. Got on board around 2035 and assigned an aisle seat, but as only 37 passengers were only the flight I promplty moved to a window seat. Pushed back 2040, seemed to be on the runway for a very short time compared to the take off run earlier in the day from LHR, super flight, very nice sandwich on way back washed down with a very good italian red wine, routed over manbchester and birmingham on way back before flying over london to arrive at the gate at 2140 and on Heathrow Express within 10 minutes. Excellent flight all round.
Overall super service, far better in my opinion than any low cost airline and what I consider to be cheaper as I received food and drink and a huge 23kg baggage allowance, and if I had to pay for that on a low-cost airline I beleive it would have cost more money for this flight, doubt I will never step foot on a low cost airline ever again.
5 Stars to BA, top marks
Roll on my next flight on BA to Edinburgh.
By: FrequentFlyer - 8th July 2009 at 13:15
I couldn’t agree more about the width of the seats. When sat watching the TV or doing anything else that didn’t require the use of my arms, it wasn’t too much of a problem. But when you eat or read a magazine, you find yourself bashing the elbows of your fellow passengers.
It is great news about their increase in baggage allowance though. My parents have just booked flights for October with them, from Heathrow to Bangkok (via Dubai, obviously). Fortunately for them, two of their four flights will be aboard the A380 and I am rather envious!
Couldnt agree more about the armspace when doing anything else other than using IFE. I’ve had the delight of the A380 (alas SQ A380) its a big improvement on economy class (I was on the upper deck) but I did go downstairs to see the main economy deck and it seemed nice, and the space is bliss on a longhaul flight, just seats by the doors I think I was in 70/71 (the seats behind business) and I was freezing for virtually the whole flight!
By: T5 - 8th July 2009 at 05:14
A source has just told me that emirates has recently increased its economy baggage allowance from 20kg to 30kg – at no extra charge to passengers, even though that sounds great lots of EK flights are 10 abrest boeing 777 flights, which I have tried and ok yes the leg room on emirates is good, after 8 hours you do notice the seat width and begin to think I wish I was on a 9 abrest boeing 777.
Here is the information about Emirates baggage allowances changes:
http://www.emirates.com/uk/english/help/faqs/FAQDetails.aspx?faqId=214912
I couldn’t agree more about the width of the seats. When sat watching the TV or doing anything else that didn’t require the use of my arms, it wasn’t too much of a problem. But when you eat or read a magazine, you find yourself bashing the elbows of your fellow passengers.
It is great news about their increase in baggage allowance though. My parents have just booked flights for October with them, from Heathrow to Bangkok (via Dubai, obviously). Fortunately for them, two of their four flights will be aboard the A380 and I am rather envious!
By: FrequentFlyer - 7th July 2009 at 09:36
one note regarding excess though with BA, if its long haul depending on the route if you check more bags than you allowance it is a £90 charge for an extra bag but you get a full 23kg for that bag
A source has just told me that emirates has recently increased its economy baggage allowance from 20kg to 30kg – at no extra charge to passengers, even though that sounds great lots of EK flights are 10 abrest boeing 777 flights, which I have tried and ok yes the leg room on emirates is good, after 8 hours you do notice the seat width and begin to think I wish I was on a 9 abrest boeing 777.
Here is the information about Emirates baggage allowances changes:
http://www.emirates.com/uk/english/help/faqs/FAQDetails.aspx?faqId=214912
By: T5 - 1st July 2009 at 03:34
one note regarding excess though with BA, if its long haul depending on the route if you check more bags than you allowance it is a £90 charge for an extra bag but you get a full 23kg for that bag
I only found out about this recently and it is a great deal. Passengers travelling to/from North America are entitled to two 23kg bags anyway, which I took full advantage of when I flew out to Orlando with them in January but I have bought an awful lot of junk since arriving here and will need the extra weight allowance to get it all home again the new year!
By: steve rowell - 30th June 2009 at 05:30
Nice report…a pictorial is the only thing missing!!!
By: Homer09001 - 2nd June 2009 at 14:44
one note regarding excess though with BA, if its long haul depending on the route if you check more bags than you allowance it is a £90 charge for an extra bag but you get a full 23kg for that bag
By: FrequentFlyer - 2nd June 2009 at 14:42
We make an effort at NCL now and again 😀
You’ll never be that lucky again 😛
the other advantage with BA over low cost is if you go over your 23kg instead of charging £25 per kg we charge you £25 for an extra 9 kilos so that’s: less than £3 a kilo find an airline that charges you less than that per kg
Thanks for the tip, will be taking full advantage of that will probably start to use BA again on my long haul flights as that is a very good price for excess luggage.
By: Homer09001 - 2nd June 2009 at 00:02
Check in was swift and easy
We make an effort at NCL now and again 😀
Proceeded through security around 1900 with no queing at all
You’ll never be that lucky again 😛
the other advantage with BA over low cost is if you go over your 23kg instead of charging £25 per kg we charge you £25 for an extra 9 kilos so that’s: less than £3 a kilo find an airline that charges you less than that per kg
By: OneLeft - 28th May 2009 at 20:13
Perhaps because a retail unit generates more money for BAA than a few rows of seats for passengers.
Or indeed than the aircraft that fly in and out.
1L.
By: T5 - 28th May 2009 at 20:06
why do airports insist on giving so much space to retail outlets..
Perhaps because a retail unit generates more money for BAA than a few rows of seats for passengers.
By: OneLeft - 28th May 2009 at 20:05
FrequentFlyer, really glad to hear you enjoyed your flights. Always good to hear people say when they enjoy it.
1L.
By: FrequentFlyer - 28th May 2009 at 16:05
Did you use the 23Kgs of baggage allowance? Did you have a drink/refreshments in the Airport at either end?
Had a drink at LHR and NCL and had 1 bag checked in on way back, had to wait all of 5 minutes after landing at LHR until I was reunited with it.
Trouble is if you look at low cost airlines, some:
1: Charge you to check in
2: Charge you to select a seat
3: Charge you for baggage
4: Give you a small amount of hold baggage (have seen 15kg for some LCC’s)
5: Dont fly from a central location from London
6: The mad scram for seats
7: Charge for food and drink on board (some flights I do in europe are 3 hours)
8: Land miles from major city centres
Flown lots of LCCs up to the end of 2008, Have not flown 1 LCC in 2009, and I have actually enjoyed flying in Europe this year, Full service airlines are just more relaxing to fly on, stress free in my opinion and have a better level of service, and dont try and charge me one price for a flight, and then add on all the extras, which, I have found sometimes to be a lot more than the price of the flight
By: rdc1000 - 28th May 2009 at 14:56
Overall super service, far better in my opinion than any low cost airline and what I consider to be cheaper as I received food and drink and a huge 23kg baggage allowance, and if I had to pay for that on a low-cost airline I beleive it would have cost more money for this flight, doubt I will never step foot on a low cost airline ever again.
Did you use the 23Kgs of baggage allowance? Did you have a drink/refreshments in the Airport at either end?
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May 28, 2009 at 1:33 pm