Round The World and other travels

This flight, which would normally have been a routine domestic hop, was interesting because it was my first experience of BA Connect, the new BA product for UK regional services that borrows some ideas from the low-cost carriers, while still retaining BA's high standards. (As they say in their ads : "We cut costs, not corners".) It was also my first prop-job flight in the big trip. Boarding started just a little bit on the late side, but was soon completed. When OLCI opened, I'd noticed that I'd been moved from 3A to 2D. I don't know who did it, but it was an excellent idea : 2D is definitely the place to be on the Dash 8 - especially with 2C empty!   We pushed back five minutes down at 0845, made our way out to 24L and took off at 0854.

A key element of the BA Connect service is that in-flight catering consists of a range of items for purchase. Menus were distributed and service started at the front. I paid £5 for a full English breakfast, consisting of two bacon slices, scrambled egg, sausage, mushrooms, tomato, hash browns, brown sauce, a roll and butter, marmalade, orange juice and a choice of hot drink - I had tea. I thought it was all very nicely done, with attractive menu cards and appealing, tasty food.

All too soon, we were making our approach into EDI, passing over Livingston and Newbridge, touching down at 0940 and pulling onto stand at 0942.