5th December 2011 SU582 (VP-BWH) SVO-LHR A320
Although it is the same flight number, it is also a change in equipment in SVO, so down from an A333 to an A320. This example was also showing its age a little! After pushing back we departed from the same arrival runway of 07L. It was a spirited take-off, and I noticed from my aisle seat, a few tight banks to the right, before a heading towards the west and onto LHR.
Another drinks service, delayed dinner service and a delayed coffee service was had, and before to long, we had started our decent into LHR. We arrived on runway 27L and taxied to terminal 4, bay11. Again, on this flight as with the prior long-haul flight, the Captain came over the PA, told us the name of the aircraft and who/why it was named after the person. He thanked us for using Aeroflot, and wished us a pleasant stay or onward journey. The crews on both flights were friendly, and pleasant enough as well! Whilst waiting to see if my bag had made it into LHR, I was optimistic at best given the tightness of connecting in SVO, I with my fellow passengers escorted through SVO headed for the lost luggage desk. I waited to last, no point being angry at this stage I thought, filled out paperwork and assured they be delivered the following day to my hotel. I was told that if I need any emergency items, I could spend/claim up to 60EURO, so I was good. The Heathrow Express had me in Paddington in no time at all, ready for bed! My bag arrived the following day as promised!
London itself was good, the meeting itself went well, and I got in some spotting at 27R, which is always a good location! I met up with a few spotters that were out there, and swapped contact details for if/when we visit each other.
AEROFLOT A320 VQ-BAX
ALITALIA A320 EI-DSI
ICELANDAIR B752 TF-FII
I also had to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew (work thing…), and it was my first winter visit there, and as usual, loved it!
RBG Kew
Next up, was up to Liverpool and Manchester – Liverpool is where my dad’s side of family came from and I visited and stayed with my aunty, whilst I had arranged a meeting with a turf colleague who came down from Newcastle. I also managed to fit in some spotting (of course) at Manchester Ringway, where I visited the spotting park. I found out, it has a bus running to it ever hour, and it was a pound each way (I think). It is so easy to get to, and as a viewing park, historical centre, Sydney could take a leaf out of its book (with exception to the parking rates which I hear are quite large – but its fed back into the park itself, which is good!).
There are a few grassy knolls within the area, with sealed standing areas with binoculars as well, which get you well above the fence line. It gives you that sense of being very close to the taxiways in-front and of course, the main runway itself. The day itself mind you, was bitter, and I mean brass spanner!! Winds were straight off the Irish sea, hitting the snow covered Pennines and straight back over the airfield! But, the lighting was good…
SWISS Bae-146 HB-IXT
Thompson Fly B738 G-FDZG
G-URRU
US Airways A333 (Heavy) N278AY
US Airways A333 (Heavy) N278AY (rear)
Monarch G-MAJS A300B4-605R
United B752 N14121
Germanwings A319 D-AGWK
G-GMPB
EK A388 A6-EDQ
The rest of my time up north consisted of visiting my aunt and a trip to Anfield, home of Liverpool Football Club!!
It was soon time to head back to London on the train, which a good experience. The return in First Class was 35GBP in off-peak times (which suited me to economy at 187GBP in peak). Virgin trains were comfy, fast and efficient and the meal service on both legs was good! London, upon my return, was again cold and wet as it had been when I left, but at least the winds had ceased. They were recorded up to 165mph up in Scotland!
16th December 2011 BA 556 (G-TTOB) LHR-FCO (A320)
This was to be my first BA short-haul flight. AND, my first flight out of T5 at LHR! The terminal itself was quite nice, access into it was easy thanks to the Heathrow Express from Paddington! Clearing immigration was a breeze thanks to my UK passport, and I found a spot to watch the FIDS for gate information and to have some lunch at Waggama (Katsu Curry). Soon enough, it was time to board, and from gate 23 right out the back of T5A thankfully!! It appeared that domestic short-haul and International short-haul leave her, whilst long-haul operations are out of T5B & C respectively, so no connecting train for me!
Luckily, my window seat request was still available, but alas, I had a junior Miss 7 with mum and junior Master 5 behind with dad to contend with. Arguments over iPad were frequent, whilst both mum & dad slept… Meal was a ham and cheese roll, with a coffee. We taxied out for a lengthy wait at 27R departure, tracked out towards Bristol and headed for the coast over Portsmouth district and tracked south/East for Rome. We had more than a few bumps along the way, with the Captain having the lights on more than a few times! Arrival into FCO on runway 16R, would have to have been the smoothest landing I have experienced – EVER! Clearing immigration in FCO was nothing short of a NIGHTMARE! On the European Union line, there was a single immigration officer processing. Luckily for me, the line was not that long, and I got through in around 40 minutes. However, the line for non EU was back to a set of escalators, where airport officials were stopping people at the top, as there was no room for them at the bottom! Again, a single officer was there. Smiles were non-existent, and about the only word (if you can call it that) was a grunt to go through! It pays to be a dual citizen!
Getting from the airport into Rome was a breeze, the Leonardo Express was my journey! I found my hotel in no time, tucked away in a little alleyway of cobblestones in a district of cafes, restaurants and bars. It was an old hotel, with a spiral well worn stone staircase to the third floor.
This was my third time in Rome, and yet again it was raining off and on. The following morning, I did a bus tour, saw the sights to be seen (Coliseum etc…), and I got to catch up with JP and his dad for dinner and a walk to the Trevi Fountain. Had a great diner, great company, thanks JP for the offer to catch up in Rome, and it was a pity of your delays!!!
18th December 2011 BA 555 FCO-LHR (G-EUUO) A320
Time to head back across the ditch to London, this time aboard another A320. We departed off the cross runway 25 straight over the water! Again, meal service was the ham and cheese roll with coffee, sans irritable children fighting over an iPad! Flight itself was uneventful and we arrived on 27R and headed for bay 15 in T5. Now here was the best experience I’ve had in an airport, especially LHR. Deplaned and out of the airport in just over 5 mins!!!!!! No-one was at immigration, and as I had no bags, I was out in record time! I had a brief stay in London, so not much to say really…