Round The World and other travels
A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries
This is: Portugal - California 2004
Flight Log 1 : BA2935
Edinburgh (EDI) - London Gatwick (LGW)
Boarding was via the aircraft
steps. As I settled into 2A, the Captain explained that the delay
was due to a minor technical problem that had occurred prior to the
outward leg from LGW earlier in the morning. (This was amusing as I
had heard someone in the lounge yakking into his mobile, trying to
sound very knowledgeable, explaining that the reason for the delay
was that LGW was in chaos because of all the cancelled flights to
Orlando, as a result of Hurricane Frances
) Pushback was at 0916 and it was just a short taxi out to the
westerly runway. As we lifted into the skies at 0926, I observed the
current state of progress on the new taxi-ways ... would these
ever be finished? We climbed over Newbridge and Livingston,
making the big left turn over Whitburn.
Catering consisted of the traditional hot breakfast, comprising
scrambled egg, bacon, sausage, grilled tomato and mushrooms,
accompanied by orange juice, a small roll with butter and marmalade,
and a choice of tea of coffee. I found the bacon to be a little bit
watery and underdone - it looks better in the photo than it actually
was! However, this was made up for by the mushrooms, which were just
right and absolutely delicious. I remembered that there were signs
of a sinister, anti-mushroom movement appearing on the BA board in
FT. Incomprehensible! Ah well, far be it from me to criticise
diversity
Seconds of tea and coffee were forthcoming at just the right time.
With considerable anticipation, I read a short piece in Highlife giving some details of service improvements and new meal choices in Club Europe. I was looking forward to sampling the revised product on my next flight. As we got closer to London, Row 1 - which had been held back - started to get used for re-seating passengers with tight connections, who were presumably now entering the advanced stages of panic mode.
We touched down on Gatwick's easterly runway at 1021 and were on-stand just five minutes later at 1026.
Date: Fri 03 Sep 2004
Aircraft : Boeing 737-500
Scheduled dep : 0825
Actual departure : 0916
Scheduled arrival : 0955
Actual arrival : 1026
Cabin : Economy
Seat : 2A
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