LGW – DUB on FR – 29th May 2006. Some Pics.

LGW-DUB
Monday 29th May 2006.
Boeing 737-800 EI-DHZ
FR113 – Ryanair

May I present my trip report for the above flight? It is fairly long (:D) and I hope you enjoy reading it. On reflection is perhaps too long – but hey, it’s written now!

Apologies for the poor quality of photos – I am not a photographer! Sorry also for the lack of photos – there are more for the return journey.

Enjoy…

Roughly two months ago, in mid March, my Mum, brother and I decided to look for a short break away during the May half term. I was initially unsure about this, with my GCSEs both sides of the half term and the inevitable revision (!), however my mind was settled with the prices for 3 return flights from Gatwick to Dublin at a outstandingly low £51.00, including all taxes and charges! Unfortunately, my sister and Dad were unable to come, due to work commitments (my sister is cabin crew for Excel Airways), but we booked anyway and looked forward to a visit to this popular city and a break from the usual activities of term time.
The time soon passed, and just a week before our departure we searched the web for a decent hotel in which to stay during our trip. Ryanair Hotels came to the rescue, with a hotel in central Dublin. Having booked this, we immediately received a phone call (on Sunday afternoon) to inform us that the system had made a mistake and that particular hotel had no availability. They suggested an alternative and we accepted. I don’t know whether Ryanair Hotels is handled ‘in-house’ by Ryanair or whether it is just branded as such, but the response and customer service was excellent, and the price wasn’t too bad either!
In the days before, I was browsing the Ryanair website when I came across a recent news item, stating that online check-in would be available on all UK – Ireland routes, starting 29th May – the day of our departure! Keen to use this service as we had elected not to pay to check luggage in, the Saturday morning I tried to ‘check’n’go’, however the flights hadn’t been loaded, despite our being within the 72 hour limit. I assumed then that the system would only be ready for UK – Ireland flights from Monday, and resigned myself to the fact that we would just have to use the desks at the airport! Giving the system one last try on the Sunday morning I was delighted, then, that it let me check in and print the boarding passes, with sequence numbers 001, 002 and 003. I will confess to printing two copies, with one for emergencies, as I guessed that would be easier than forking out the £13 Ryanair demand if you need to reprint at the airport. A quick measure of the suitcases to ensure that they fitted within the Ryanair cabin luggage dimensions (just!!) and I packed ready to go the next morning.
Dawn on Monday saw me awakening to a cloudy and distinctly overcast day. Despite the poor weather I leaped out of bed in anticipation for the flights, breakfasted and packed all those little things that I’m often prone to forgetting; there’s nothing more annoying than forgetting phone charger and toothbrush on holiday!
A short drive over to Gatwick saw us dropped off at the departures level (upstairs) by car, and entering the terminal through one of the long enclosed walkways that lead from the road, over the railway lines and into the check in zones.
Thankfully bypassing what looked to be a fairly lengthy queue at the Ryanair desks, we proceeded immediately through to security, located behind the check in area and besides the arrivals ‘chute’. As we passed the staircase to the Gatwick Village, I was reminded of the now closed “Skyview” area by the taped and crossed out signs on the distinctive yellow boards.
At security we waited for only a few minutes before reaching the metal detectors and x-ray machines. After having passed through without being apprehended, we reached the desks, where the boarding cards were inspected. I was first to go through, and upon presenting the printed out sheet of A4 he appeared somewhat confused. The following interchange took place:
“Sorry Sir, I think there must be some mistake. Ryanair aren’t using online check-in at Gatwick yet.”
“Oh, well we were able to check in online without a problem”
“Mmm, this is difficult”
“Right”
“(Turning to his colleague and explaining the situation) What do yo think I should do?”
“Just scan it mate – if it crashes the system it crashes the system”
“I suppose so! (Scans) Congratulations Sir, you’re the first Ryanair passenger to use online check in at Gatwick. Now smile for the camera”
Sadly, the camera in question wasn’t a press one but a security one, which takes the photo of UK and Ireland passengers travelling through. I believe the reason for this is that a passport isn’t required to travel domestically and between Ireland. In practice, however, Ryanair require all online check in passengers to enter a passport number.
Upon entering the departure lounge, we briefly checked the monitors to see whether a gate had been allocated yet. Of course, with 1 hour still until departure it wasn’t likely. At this point I wagered with my Commercial Aviation philistine of a brother as to which gate it would be. Selecting fairly confidently Gate 10 to his Gate 13, I was sure of victory as Ryanair always use this gate!
With Mum and Brother browsing Gatwick Shopping Centre, sorry Gatwick Airport’s finest wares, I went for a look out of the window by the sport’s bar on the third, mezzanine level. I remembered this to be a quiet area with just a few tables and seats, but to my horror there was a children’s play area – complete with lively toddlers in competition for the window!

Photo 1: Sterling and BA 737s. You can see Gate 10 from where I would soon depart. It is the one on the end.

Photo 2: Early morning long-haul rush at the South Terminal. You can just make out the Qatar Airways special games livery on the tail of the A330.

Photo 3: Shot from ground level at Gate 10, BA 737-300 holds short at 26L.

Bypassing the entrances to the Continental and US Airways Club Lounges, I returned downstairs where, to my delight, Gate 10 was displaying on the screens. We then walked to the gate, which took considerably less time than the 15 minutes suggested. Entry to the pier is restricted by another security desk, where the boarding passes were once again scanned and the photograph from earlier appeared on the computer. After verification that I hadn’t somehow dramatically evolved in the space of half an hour, we were allowed through. An easyJet employee was busy shouting for passengers for the Edinburgh departure at such a volume that I was tempted to go just to keep her quiet!
At the gate area, which is shared with Gate 9, I looked from the windows and observed several landings and take-offs, nothing out of the ordinary just the standard EZY and BA mix.
I then sat down and watched Kirsten O Brien, of BBC “SmArt” fame enter with her small child and husband. A brush with celebrity. How exciting. I was struck by how small the gate area was; it was full with only, at a guess, one hundred passengers and the seating area is totally inadequate. I dread to imagine what it would be like with a flight departing from Gate 9 simultaneously.
I soon received a text message from “tomfellows” who was at the threshold of 26L, informing me that the flight was on finals with a foreign crew, and that it was possibly EI-DHL. As the flight taxied round to stand and opened, I observed HZ on the nose gear door, and realised it was in fact EI-DHZ. I’ll forgive him – it was pouring rain with equally poor visibility!
After a few minutes the passengers from the inbound flight had departed, and 10 minutes after that the pre-boards were called to board. Interestingly, the usual Ryanair practice of sending a cabin crew member to the gate to assist boarding didn’t occur, and instead two Gate Agents began checking boarding cards and passports.
Once again, the ‘check’n’go’ pass caused a slight delay. He seemed unsure, then with a firm resolve detached the counterfoil and handed me back the small stub from the bottom. Just as I was leaving the lounge he called me back and asked “Just the 1 bag is it?” I was nervous at having it weighed and measured and cautiously replied “Yes…” “OK Sir, sorry I gave you the wrong bit” Then swapping the two pieces of paper round I left with the large “Passenger Copy” tucked into my Passport.
This interruption meant my Mum and Brother were well gone and heading for the rear stairs. I instead boarded by the front airstairs and was greeted by Eva, the ‘Number 1’. I then passed through the cabin until reaching Row 12, which was empty so I placed the rather large and bulky hand baggage into the overheads. It was a tight fit but went in without trouble. Boarding was soon completed, and the Load Factor was 100%, 189 Passengers. Not, I gather, unusual for a LON-DUB flight. While I observed from the window, I listened to the boarding music being played, complete with adverts for Ryanair “Credit cards, car hire, hotels and much much more”. The doors were then shut, armed and cross checked swiftly followed by a welcome aboard announcement from the captain and Number 1. Sadly, the cockpit announcements were very faint and crackly, and I was unable to decipher what was being said. The Number 1 gave an apology for the small delay and introduced the crew of herself, Zoltan, Marco and Viktoria. I was happy with this, as it loosely fitted my theory of Ryanair cabin crew; Women from Eastern Europe and Men from the Med. We then pushed back as the safety announcement was read and impeccably performed by the crew. I am particularly fond of the flashing lights on the overheads and exit rows – no reason except I guess that simple things please simple minds!
We waited for a Virgin Atlantic 747-400, G-VTOP to land before leapfrogging a TOM 757-200, EZY A319 and FCA 757-200 to takeoff on 26L. I attempted a shot of Tom from the window as I saw the group of spotters over the fence, but was sadly unsuccessful.

Photo 4: A view over towards the threshold of 26L.

Photo 5: Tom’s shot of my aircraft on stand…

Photo 6: With the 1L open and airstairs down:

The takeoff was de-rated and fairly ‘sluggish’ but we were soon off the ground, passing a BA 757-200 in maintenance, despite the fact that BA do not operate any of the type from their Gatwick hub.
A fairly steep climb profile saw us ascend out towards the west, on a fairly straight path. The crew immediately set to with the bar service, followed shortly by the Tax Free savings cart. I looked out of the window and was able to see the mouth of the River Severn, with its distinctive bridges.
This was followed by the scratch cards, which is a pre-recorded announcement. I was trying to decipher the prize through the thick Irish accent, when I realised an OOrdi TT was in fact an Audi TT! I guess you say tomato I say tomato, or something like that.
The final service was an offer for tickets for Dublin buses and city guides. My mum purchased some for the Airbus from the airport to the city – the same price we would have paid anyway at €12 return.
I was surprised to hear the announcement offering Stansted Express tickets; this was after all a flight from Gatwick to Dublin, but this may be explained by the fact that the a/c positioned in to Dublin from Stansted early that morning. Maybe they’re told to sell whatever they’ve got?
Finally, they passed through the cabin with clear bags to collect rubbish, and implored people to clear their seat to aid in a quick turnaround.
Ten minutes later, with jackets on, the “Cabin Crew seats for Landing” call was given, and I watched our approach into Dublin’s runway 28, over the Bay of Dublin.
We landed smoothly and with a small amount of reverse thrust, before turning onto the taxiway, and the standard Ryanair welcome:
“Ladies and Gentlemen Ryanair is delighted to welcome you to Dublin Airport where the local time is 11.59 and we are a whole 5 minutes ahead of schedule”.
This done we taxied past the Fire Station, and I was pleasantly surprised to see an ex Ryanair 737-200 (EI-CJD) in the eircell livery in its new life as a fire trainer.
We pulled up to Gate A1 at Pier A and I waited before disembarking and getting the suitcase from the overheads. A pilot had emerged from the flightdeck and was wearing his Hi-vis jacket, I assume for an a/c inspection. He and Eva wished me farewell – both were very friendly!
Having disembarked from the front airstairs, and taken a quick look over at the Futura 737-800W headed for Reus, I entered the terminal building, and was surprised to find myself in the departure lounge with the waiting passengers – as Pier A has no segregation between arriving and departing PAX.

Photo 7: Futura 737-800W showing what an overcast morning it was!

We were quickly through passport control and, being without hold luggage, could proceed through the ‘dead’ customs area to the arrivals level outside, where the aircoach was waiting for Dublin City. The three drivers/ticket salesmen that gathered round us to load the cases and ensure we knew where we were going were most helpful and welcoming – just like all the Irish people we met during our stay! It was a wonderful welcome to a wonderful city – and we were soon off to the city – and our hotel in O’Connell street. Again, the driver showed us where to go and was extremely helpful. Highly recommended.

I hope I haven’t bored you too much with this report! I enjoyed the flight and have enjoyed writing about it! Any comments or questions happily received!
Part 2 coming soon.