REU-LGW FCA4203

Well im not too keen on these trip report things so apolgyse if it is rubbish:S

Anyway

Date:- 05-05-07
Flight #:- FCA4203
Route:- REU-LGW
Registration:- G-OOOX
Aircraft:- Boeing 757-200

After a nice relaxing(rollercoaster)full week at the Costa Daurada over, it was time to go home. We were initially ment to go home on the evening flight but due to my mum getting ill we got changed to the morning one instead. I was plesently suprised to how well it had turned out as we only changed the flights the morning we came home.

So we got picked up from our hotel at 0815 for the 20 minute bus ride to Reus airport. When the bus arrived I was horified. It was almost full. And full after we got on. I had very little hope for getting the seats we wanted. But fate reveals all.

A little time before 0835(0830 to be precise) we arrived at the airport. The departures terminal building at Reus is split into two. With Check-in desks 1-8 on one half(Were the LCCs check in) and 9-16(For everyone else) in the other half of the building. And like many airports, there was a morning rush, of charter flights back off to the UK. Between these 7 Check-in desks there was, 9,10 and 11 for our flight, 12 for a TCX to Newcastle, 13 and 14 for a TUI to Gatwick and finally 15 and 16 for an Astraeus flight to Manchester. It was manic in that very small building(I guess it was around 50meters long x 10 meters wide). So we joined the line to check-in for our flight, we were at the back. I had not even the slightest bit of hope to be sitting with my mum and brother.

But then one of the First Choice reps appeared, and told us that our pre booked seats had gone. “No” was my impression. “But we have moved all 3 of you to seats 18D,E,F.” She continued. Those seats were great i thought. Right over the wing.

Around 30 mins from joining the check-in line we were still far from the desks. but 10 minutes later we finally were able to check-in. They asked us the usual questions and we later walked away from the desk, our bags were on there way home. But as we turned around even more horror struck us. The queue to get through customs was a like snake going all around the terminal building. the time was roughly 1000. Our flight was at 1045. No way i thought. But a mere 35 minutes later we finally got to the x-ray machines etc. Now i knew why the queue was so long. They was opening up everyones bags.

“What!!!!”

No way did i want that guard looking through my bag. In it consisted of my bins, camera, note book, log book, pen, magazine and god knows what else. I started to get really worried when i saw him open up my dads bag and throw away a newspaper he had bought. Along with some suncream. Next up was me. I approached very anxiously. He asked for me to take off my bag and give hime my passport. i did so. Suprisingly(due to how heavy it was) he didnt look in my bag. I was realived.

All of use were through with only time to go to the toilet to spare. we headed off to gate 3. We then had to get bussed all the way accross the apron to that gate. Didnt take much time. And everyone had boarded and the doors were closed within 15 minutes. The time was 1102 when we began to taxi to the runway. Not long later we were air born. We began our climb to 38000ft and done an immediate right turn after departure. Headed over the Pyrenees. Within the first half hour of the 1h45m flight meals were brought around. I was again very suprised that we had got our meals. Very pleased indeed. Was a Shepherds pie with Crackers a roll and a Strawberry sponge cake for pudding. Very nice i thought. Then i was offered orange squash. Lovely:p

I ate all my food up and withdrew my mp3 player out of my bag. started listening to a bit of tenacious D. Then my tray was taken away. We were then informed of a scratch card thing that all airlines seem to do these days. And i thought what the hell. Lets break the bank a little bit hear and buy one. Costed me a bargin of 1 euro. Of which i won back:) Then they handed out Customer Satisfacition forms out. The Cabin Crew man gave one to my mum and i asked one, and his response was. “Only grown men! and…….er ….women… are alloud to do these.” He wondered off down the cabin and i immediatly turned to my mum and we both said “He must be Gay!” Any after they had finished. We were bombarded by the Duty Free trolly. I had a look through the brouche and decided to buy a model 757 FCA for the grand some of £7:o Very nice model it is too. Found a new home on my shelves in my room with a company 767 and UL 330/340s and Airbus A380. But thats another story.

Anyway, soon enough we began our decent into LGW. Decending we flew over Brigton, Haywards Heath, My town and Crawley. As we turned onto the ILS for 08R the final stage of flaps and the gear went down. We were nearly home. As the ground got closer and closer i knew it could only be a mile or so left to go. Then all the Drama started. Those two overpowerful engines were pushed to the max. Go Around!!

We began our Go around right above the Approach lights. Then we had to do an imediate right hand break off. Turning us over Bewbush i beleive and Down back over my town. The first officer then came on the tanoy. He said that the go around was caused by LGW tower making the patten too tight and we were forced to go around. Fair does i thought. So we came around for number two!!! Similar approach. Infact it was the same. And we then got to the approach lights. And the engines began to rise again. The nose raised. Oh no was my mums expression. But it wasn’t another go around. I presumed it was due to being to slow. But the touchdown was very very smooth. We then exited the runway just over half way down. We began our taxi to the gate. We then got attached to the airbridge and Disembarking began. Me my mum and my brother waited though. And my mum looked around her handbag for her staff ID card thing. Then she asked the Cheif Cabin crew that when everyone had gone if i could go up to the flight deck to see it. Yes was the answer. Wohoo. And then i started to walk up there. The door opened, and so did my mouth. My jaw just dropped. It looked so cool. I then had i nice talk to the Captin and First Officer. I then left and got escorted off the plane and into the terminal building by the Gay Cabin Crew.

We then arrived at Customs. Went through there within 5 minutes. And went off to the baggage hall. Which is were i left my family to head off to the perimeter road to grab some shots:)

All in all was a great flight and cant wait to fly them again in august to Egypt:p

Note. I will add pictures asap. At the moment im having probelms transferring them from the computer to the laptop.

Hope you enjoyed the read:D
Regards
Josh