Round The World and other travels

A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries

This is: Round The World 2006-07

Flight Log 3 : BA869

Budapest (BUD) - London Heathrow (LHR)

Once again, I was in seat 3A on a 757 and once again, the curtain was positioned immediately behind Row 6. This time, however, instead of 6 passengers up front, we had 16 - a very creditable load for a Sunday evening, I thought. Boarding was completed in good time and the Captain announced that he hoped to get us underway ahead of time, in view of the strong headwinds against which we would be doing battle on our way to London. ATC at Heathrow had other ideas, however, as tends to be the case these days. The cabin crew carried out the safety demonstration at the gate, but it was 1941 when we eventually got clearance to push back. It was a relatively short taxi and we were airborne and London-bound by 1950.

The cabin crew soon had the service underway, starting with drinks and spicy tomato nibbles. I had some Champagne - the usual Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top. It's not the greatest and indeed I used to dislike it intensely, yet I've found myself starting to think that maybe it's not so bad. A case of familiarity breeding content, perhaps?

When the trays were distributed, I was given the choice of penne pasta with prawns or chicken salad. I immediately recognised the pasta dish as the one I had enjoyed so much on my recent LHR-FCO flight and so, even though I'd had a prawn salad for lunch, I decided to repeat the experience. The main course was accompanied by a choice of rolls, a chocolate and summer fruits mini-dessert and some oatcakes and cheese (Brie and Stilton). I washed it all down with more of the Monopole and some coffee. A most enjoyable in-flight meal!

The rest of the flight passed uneventfully and as we crossed the Belgian coast at 2040 UK time, the Captain announced that we had made up the lost time and that if we could avoid holding, it would mean an on-schedule arrival. In the event we touched down on 09L at 2112, but due to some kerfuffle with gates - not entirely unusual at LHR - it was 2126 before we parked on-stand.

 


Date: Sun 09 Apr 2006
Aircraft : Boeing 757-200
Scheduled dep : 1930
Actual departure : 1941
Scheduled arrival : 2115
Actual arrival : 2126
Cabin : Club Europe (Business Class)
Seat : 3A





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