Round The World and other travels

Flight Log 1: U26931

Edinburgh (EDI) - Cologne-Bonn (CGN)

In complete contrast to my most recent previous easyJet experience in 2010, I was first to board on this occasion. It seemed that hardly anyone had purchased the Speedy Boarding option. I sat in 1F with some trepidation, wondering if some of the family groups with babies and small children, who were due to board next, would be attracted to Row 2. Thankfully, they weren't, preferring to head well down the aircraft. Perhaps even more surprisingly, all four middle seats in Rows 1 and 2 remained empty. In fact, this outcome was positively encouraged by the cabin crew, who constantly advised boarding passengers that there was plenty of room for both them and their luggage further back. A large stag group consisting of young men with glazed eyes, but not too badly behaved, was next to board. As they filtered through the door, I overheard several of them saying to the others: "Right down the back!"

I had to admit that this seemed to be going very well indeed! Without any kind of seating policy other than the existence of Speedy Boarding, we had managed to achieve a situation where the front few rows consisted of solo travellers occupying window and aisle seats only, with the family groups further back and those at risk of exhibiting the most boisterous behaviour seated right at the back. A bit like the Internet, this little system appeared to have settled into its state of natural order without anyone to orchestrate the outcome!

Doors were closed at 1812 and we pushed back from stand six minutes later, a little ahead of schedule. We took off from Runway 24 at 1834. It was a clear, sunny evening and as we climbed out, I spotted Hopetoun House sitting majestically in its ample grounds below. Cabin service got underway very quickly. I bought a coffee to accompany a two-pack of Walker's biscuits that I'd brought on board, and a gin and tonic. Pondering once again that I was sitting in 1F with no seatmate, but with a Starbucks coffee and Bombay Sapphire gin in front of me, it occurred to me that I was experiencing a little slice of the good life right there on board easyJet. I almost felt ashamed that, over the past few years, I had taken to habitually referring to the airline as 'sleazyJet'. Almost, I said - almost!

I read an interesting article on the city of Amman in the in-flight magazine, which I thought might well prove to be relevant at some point.   There was a definite accent on on-board cleanliness: I counted a total of five rubbish clearance runs by the cabin crew.

Some excellent dusk views of Cologne were to be had as we made our approach to CGN, which lies roughly equidistant from Cologne and Bonn. Our 2053 touchdown was marked by a loud cheer from the stag group at the back, which had been fairly quiet throughout the flight. Two members of the group stood up during the taxi; my attention was drawn to this when the lead cabin crew member made an additional announcement warning passengers to remain seated with their seatbelts securely fastened, ending this with: "... and that means you, gentlemen!" The male cabin crew member was despatched to the rear of the cabin and apparently managed to achieve their compliance.

We arrived on our airbridge-equipped stand nice and early at one minute before the hour. That final minor taxiing incident apart, it had been an enjoyable short flight, suggesting that easyJet should now be regarded as part of the acceptable face of low-cost carriers.

Date: Fri 13 May 2011

Aircraft: Airbus A319

Scheduled dep: 1820

Actual departure: 1818

Scheduled arrival: 2110

Actual arrival: 2059

Cabin: Economy

Seat: 1F

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