Manchester to Verona with Thomsonfly, *detailed*

(Sorry, no pics, we packed 1 camera by mistake and our digi one ran out of battery! Doh!)

Well, after a two month wait since my last minute holiday to Croatia, August the 5th slowly crept up until suddenly I was last minute packing at 4am on the Saturday morning!

We booked the holiday to Lake Garda, Italy in April with Thomson. There would be 7 of us travelling, Me, my mum, dad, sister, my auntie and uncle and grandad. The flights we chose were with Thomsonfly departing Manchester, which is only 1 hour away from where I live in West Yorkshire.

So, after wakeing up at 4am, we set off at about 0445 to my grandads house to pick him up. We got there in about 10 mins and then we were off to Manchester! The journey only took 1 hour and so we pulled into Premier Parking which was heaving! There were loads of people waiting for the bus to the terminals, and everyone was heading to Terminal 2. We arrived at Terminal 2 at about 0620. The thomsonfly check in was very overcrowded, only 6 desks for 6 flights to Gerona, Alicante, Palma, Malaga, Varadero and Verona.

We met my aunt and uncle in the queue. More desks were opened to ease the congestion, but as I looked around the Terminal, every airline seemed to e very busy at check in. I suggested uesing the new lime green self express checkin but we were soon checked in at desk 26. We were give seats 19ABCD and 20ABC.

We then proceeded through security, the queues were bigger than I’ve ever seen them, there were two lines of people stretching the full length of the retail area. I think saturday morning must be one of manchesters busiest times.We were in the departure lounge at 0710.

Me and my dad went for a walk along the long pier whilst my sister, mum and others got a bite to eat and drink in the food court. At 0750 we were asked to go down to gate 300 which is in the bowels of Terminal 2. All of Thomsonflys flights were using these gates this morning. After a 20 minute wait, boarding was called at 300D for rows 32-41, then 21-31, and finally everyone else was called.

Flight: TOM5201 Manchester EGCC to Verona LIPX
Gate: 300D
Seats: 19ABCD, 20ABC
STD: 0840
ATD: 0910
STA: 1205
ATA: 1200
Flight Time: 1 hour 45 mins
Aircraft: Boeing 757-204ER G-BYAF cn 26266
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1041704/M/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1008936/M/

We got to Gate 300D, and proceed through to the bus. The bus drive to the remote stand gave a nice view of the airport ramp. We finally pulled up at stand 218 where G-BYAF, looking very bright in the dull, rainy weather, was waiting in between two FCA 767’s. Door 2L was the only door used for boarding. We entered the cabin and the air steward pointed us our seats. I had seat 19A, my dad and sister next to me and my mum across the aisle. My other relatives where sat behind in 20ABC.

Doors were closed at 0840, and the pilot welcomed us on board and thanked us for boarding on time. His name was John Turner. He gave us an estimated flight time of 1 hour 50 mins, a bit shorter than the scheduled 2 hours 25 mins. The new cabin looked really great, I’ve seen it once before on my way home from Dubrovnik. The seats are very comfy, but, as with all charter airlines, offer litte legroom.

Pushback commenced at 0850, whilst the saftey video was shown. The engines were started, which made the lights flicker a few times. Lights were dimmed for takeoff due to there being poor visibility. The taxi to runway 24L was quite slow, as we had a long wait to cross 24R. Many people thought we were begining take off as a lot of power was added to make us croos 24R quickly. At the threshold, we waited for a BA DHC8 and a Thomas Cook 757-300 to take off. It was nowour turn so we aligned up and take off power was applied. I love the 757 at takeoff, the power is immense, and you really do get thrown back into your seats. ‘AF only used about 5000ft due to it not having a lot of fuel for the short sector, before we yook off very steeply directy into cloud cover. The cloud cover remained until about 10,000ft. The climb was very quick, within about 5 mins the seat belt sign was off. The cabin crew (3 males and 3 females) began to sell head sets to everyone, we didnt buy any as we had some from an Air 2000 flight in 2001! Over Birmingham, we were already cruising. I don’t know the cruising altitude as we wern’t give it but I would estimate about 38,000ft because the descent began very early.

We flew southwards and made a left turn once we were ove London so we flew directly along the Thames, overing great views. We follwed to Thames out into the sea where we made a right turn. Breakfast was now being served, it comprised of: A hot meal of Omlette, 2 sausages, a smal portion of baked beans and 2 hash browns, A carton of orange juice, a bread roll and some jam? marmalade preserves. It was quite tasty, but I hadn’t eaten for ages so I ate most of it.

The TV was showing programmes such as Friends, Futurama, Creature Comforts. The Born Free charity advert was shown, with Martin Cunes dressed as a Thomsonfly Check In agent, It is quite funny. Some poeple don’t like the TV’s being in the aisle, but I prefer them to the LCD screens above your head. Sometimes LCD screens have a blurry picture or go strange colours if sunlight gets to them. I had no problem seeing the TV’s from my window seat.

The flight went on, The pilot said we were flying down southern Germany and we crossed the Belgian coast at ostend. We were now to the right of Stuttgart.

With the meals taken away, a bar service folllowed. We were at a heading 120 and then we banked to 140 over the alps. I had a small travel compass so I could see our headings. Once ove the alps, speed brakes were deployed and dthe descent began. A qyuick duty free service commenced whilst descending. The speedbrakes remained up until final approach.

We flew down Lake Garda, where I would be staying for a week, offering great views. Flaps began be lowered, and soon we were quite low, about 5000ft, just passing the shore line from the Lake. I could see Verona airport to the left of us, so I new we would be using runway 04. We carried on flying at a right angle to the runway, before a wide left turn was used to align us. I could hear the gear being lowered and full flaps being lowered. The speedbrakes were finally lowered and we got lower and lower. We flew over fields and small Tradional Italian Houses before we were flaring over runway 04. We touched down very smoothly at 1200, 5 mins early. I could see the engine cowling retract slightly for reverse thrust but I couldn’t hear it as you normallly can. This is because Verona has a very long runway and the terminal is at the far end so we didn’t need to exit in a hurry.

‘AF Vacated the runway on the last taxiway and taxied to stand 63. Next to us was a 757, G-CPEV of First Choice from Gatwick. The outside temperature was a very nice 28 degrees. The engines were switched off, as were the seat belt signs. Everyone scrambled for their belongings in the overhead lockers. Door 2L was opened, but we couldn’t yet dismbark. The crew told us the handling agent wasn’t ready yet. We waited about 10 mins and we disembarked onto buses, Door 4L was also opened. We were bussed to what seemed like a new arrivals building, as It was very differnt to what I came to the last time I arrived in 2004. Passport control was very swift and we were in the baggage hall at 1215. We waited 5 mins and bags started to appear. We got most of ours in about 20 mins, but we still had 1 to get. We waited and waited, the same bags were still on the carousel and the people waiting lowered. At 1300, another Flight, FCA2602, from manchester arrived and all the passengers were using out carousel. We gave up hope and went to report the bag at lost and found. A few others from our flight were there aswell. A lady had lost her wedding dress! We reported the bag and it would be sent to us when it was recovered.

We entered arrivals and found the rep who pointed to us our coach.

All in all it was an average, but nice flight. This time I’ll give Thomsonfly 7/10.

*Return Trip report will be up later in the week.*

Thanks for reading.