My plane was to be the same 734 that had brought me out (EI-BXI) this time I was in seat 20A and the plane was full. Andrew and Michael’s plane was also the same as had taken them to Dublin.

The flight left on time and made the journey in the same good time as it had outbound. Once again I boarded by the rear steps and found the plane to be in good order internally.

At around twenty past four we started on the half hour walk back to the terminal, so that Andrew and Micheal could get checked in and choose their own seats. I was already checked in for the return at Glasgow.

We went to McDonalds for a while to look at our piccies and then went through security to the departure lounge. Despite me removing everything metallic from my person, I still set off the alarm and had to take my shoes off, which were pretty ripe after all the walking about we’d done.

The departure hall was busy with lot’s of tea time commuters coming and going. It reminded me of a busy bus station, planes in and out like nobody’s business…

Eventually the wind changed and our spot in the field wasn’t much use for observing takeoffs, so we went for a walk for another 20 mins to the road opposite the airport threshold and found the famous embankment everyone talks about.

This was basically a little layby on the road with a raised muddy embankment at one end letting you see above the perimeter fence. This spot was also good as it had a little fast food van. I had the chips !:D

The embankment was good for observing movements from the terminal and also for takeoffs. Landings were happening a little further up the runway to the left, but you could view the traffic as they taxied off towards the terminal. Ryanair pilots sure taxi fast I can tell you !:D

I made my way back to the terminal to meet the lads, we then went back to this spot to spend a few hours snapping and spotting the inbound traffic. Here’s Michael and Andrew trying not to look cold…

It was around 9am and the other guys weren’t due until around 11am from Gatwick (not Stansted as I thought, doh !) I was hungry, the inflight service was complementary the last time I flew GLA-DUB in 2002. this time it wasn’t and it was too expensive for my liking.

So I headed for McDonalds in the upper terminal food court, Andrew texted me to say they would be arriving on Islandsflug 734, TF-ELV. After my “Big Breakfast” I headed out of the building to try and find a suitable vantage point for photography. Views from inside are rubbish to be honest, with just the tops of tails being visible from most spots. I could see at least three Aer Lingus A330’s on arrival, the only reg’s discernible were EI-LAX and EI-CRK.

From my seat in McDonald’s I could see back across to where my flight had parked up, just on the other side of the building from this 737…

On approach to DUB, I shot another m-peg movie of the final approach and touchdown, we quickly taxied to our stand at the busy Eurohub, shared by Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Aer Arran and one or two others. We disembarked via the front stair only this time and walked across the tarmac into the little reception area. This was the view from my seat as we powered down…