Trip report with pics: LHR-MAD on BA’s Club Europe
I decided to pay a surprise visit to relatives in Madrid last week. Very few economy seats were available for the weekend, and they were anything but cheap. There were some seats left in business class so I decided to put my BA miles to good use.
First off, I was very impressed with the check-in facilities and lounge for premium BA travelers. The Club and First check-in desks are in an adjacent room to the main hall on T1, and there was no queuing for either checking in or clearing security. The lounge itself was superb. The only disappointment is that it did not offer hot food- as opposed to Virgin’s- but it was a very nice and relaxing experience: cloak room, unlimited continental breakfast, coffee/tea and juice, internet, fax, a full bar, a ‘sanctuary’ area, a blue light relaxation area with reclining chairs, every newspaper under the sun, a child-free area, TV… all absolutely free. It was very nice!
Little to report about the flight itself. Flew on an A319 and everything went smoothly. One thing I noticed, which I had not seen before with BA on short haul, was that they showed the flight on a map on the screens, with the usual speed/altitude/E.T.A. information you see on long haul fights.
I took some pictures while taxiing and on the air.. First off is this bizarre, cannibalized green aircraft next to the Virgin hangar. Does anyone know what on earth is it?
By: Bhoy - 16th June 2004 at 16:54
Ill be in Barcelona for a while in August only an hour or 2.Whats it like to spot from Inside the treminal in BCN?
BCN isn’t too bad, especially if you’re on a remote stand and get the bus out… for some sample photos, look for my trip report there from March.
By: RIPConcorde - 16th June 2004 at 15:56
***WARNING*** Bad Scottish accent joke coming up
If that’s where you ‘getafe’ – where do you ‘get on’? 😀 :rolleyes: 😮
YOU WERE WARNED!!!! 😀
Pure shockin’!
By: Mark L - 16th June 2004 at 11:10
ROFL!!! What are the chances of that happening!!!
By: 4 engines good - 16th June 2004 at 11:02
Which days did you fly?; I flew LHR-MAD on BA458(G-EUPG) on Friday 11th and returned on the BA457(G-BNWW) yesterday. I recognise the photo of the AV and AMX B767s..
We were on the same flights then! Left LHR at 10:10 on Friday, returned from Madrid at 12:30 on Monday.
By: Mark L - 16th June 2004 at 08:38
All the A319s have those pop down screens, and every IAE engined A320 has them too, that is all the G-EU** registered ones 🙂
By: Ren Frew - 16th June 2004 at 02:01
***WARNING*** Bad Scottish accent joke coming up
If that’s where you ‘getafe’ – where do you ‘get on’? 😀 :rolleyes: 😮
YOU WERE WARNED!!!! 😀
Jaysus ! 😀
By: Pablo - 16th June 2004 at 01:35
***WARNING*** Bad Scottish accent joke coming up
If that’s where you ‘getafe’ – where do you ‘get on’? 😀 :rolleyes: 😮
YOU WERE WARNED!!!! 😀
If we have to Getafe down there will BA provide parachutes? 😀
Most of the BA 319s seem to have Airshow now, at least in my experience
By: Duesseldwarf - 16th June 2004 at 00:05
***WARNING*** Bad Scottish accent joke coming up
1. 10 minutes to landing. This is Madrid-Getafe airfield.
If that’s where you ‘getafe’ – where do you ‘get on’? 😀 :rolleyes: 😮
YOU WERE WARNED!!!! 😀
By: MEA380 - 15th June 2004 at 22:44
wow, nice report and nice pics 4 engines good, I like that A346, but it looks so dirty 🙁
Pablo, madrid is a nice airport, and the pics are great !!
By: Pablo - 15th June 2004 at 22:32
There are some photos of the new terminal at MAD here. The basic idea is a new terminal for Schengen countries (38 airbridges) with the satellite serving non-Schengen countries (26 airbridges) connected via an underground light rail system for passengers and luggage. The new runway will be 15L/33R (3,500 x 60m) – 18L/36R will be improved along with the control tower.
By: Pablo - 15th June 2004 at 22:12
Ill be in Barcelona for a while in August only an hour or 2.Whats it like to spot from Inside the treminal in BCN?
I was at BCN last summer – its quite good for spotting as the terminal frontage looks out towards the whole apron. If my memory serves me correctly, the windows are quite tinted and full of fingerprints, however, you should be able to get shots of the aircraft on stands (most use airbridges). Only problem is: different airlines use different lounges so you may be restricted by what you get to see. However, our EZY was parked next to a Ukraine 737.
I also went on a behind the scenes tour of BCN in 1996 and remember getting up close and personal with an IB 727 and DHL 727s in the cargo terminal.
By: dc10fan - 15th June 2004 at 19:05
Which days did you fly?; I flew LHR-MAD on BA458(G-EUPG) on Friday 11th and returned on the BA457(G-BNWW) yesterday. I recognise the photo of the AV and AMX B767s..
By: LBARULES - 15th June 2004 at 15:33
Very nice report and pictures 🙂
By: SHAMROCK321 - 15th June 2004 at 15:09
Ill be in Barcelona for a while in August only an hour or 2.Whats it like to spot from Inside the treminal in BCN?
By: T5 - 15th June 2004 at 15:05
the worlds favourite airline 😛
The world’s favourite airline my arse!
By: 4 engines good - 15th June 2004 at 14:48
Yes Madrid is pretty good from spotting, even from within the terminals.
Another reason to be angry for not getting a window seat was because of the new satellite terminal being built there as part of the expansion plan. The exterior of the building is already compleated and it looks one impressive structure. They’re building 2 new runways as well (one brand new, one replacement) if memory serves.
By: Mark L - 15th June 2004 at 14:44
Those 767s are interesting for spotters, but pretty grubby for passengers. MAD looks a really good airport for spotting, last time I was there I was 3 years old 😀
Interesting report, and glad you had some good flights with the worlds favourite airline 😛
By: 4 engines good - 15th June 2004 at 14:37
The flight was delayed for almost an hour. It was practically full with England football supporters returning home as well, so I was glad to be in club. The captain offered no apology or explanation for the delay (in fact he did not address the passengers at all until well into the flight), which was a bit disappointing. However the crew were great, the food was very good and they kept bringing me wine. The interior of the plane looked old and tired, and as widebodies go the 767 actually feels rather small. I must say I do not like that model very much…
Did not have to wait over Heathrow much at all so at least we weren’t further delayed. It’s a damn shame I wasn’t by the window as you can now see the new Wembley arch erected as you come to land.
A good round trip all in all. I was very pleased to enjoy the perks of business club travelling for once. It cost me 40,000 BA miles- which had taken me forever to accumulate- but I wanted to travel on those dates anyway so there was no way around it. It’s going to be hard now to go back to economy travel.
By: 4 engines good - 15th June 2004 at 14:36
On the return leg I made the mistake of not checking if I had a window seat because I was given an ‘F’ seat. However it turned out we were flying back on a 767 so I got an aisle seat. Before getting into that, the Club lounge in Madrid was very basic. It is run by Iberia with 4 or 5 other airlines also using it. The ONLY thing to eat available was peanuts, there was no internet, Spanish newspapers only and obviously no relaxation areas. It’s saving grace was the views over the airport.
These are the last two pics:
1. An Iberia A346 on a gate with many other models and airlines parked in the background.
2. A side view of the A346 (this time from the general public area of the terminal).
By: 4 engines good - 15th June 2004 at 14:32
Yes it is nice to have such info displayed…
Now that the boards are back…
Next 3 pics:
1. 10 minutes to landing. This is Madrid-Getafe airfield.
2. Welcome to Madrid
3. N998 AN and XA-TOJ
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June 15, 2004 at 1:39 pm