Round The World and other travels

Flight Log 1 : BD55

Edinburgh (EDI) - London Heathrow (LHR)

The lounge staff announced around 1140 that the aircraft had arrived and that boarding would be called once it had been cleaned, refuelled and catered for BD55. Soon enough we were boarding the A321 that had been substituted for the scheduled A319. Despite the larger aircraft, it became clear that the flight was going to be very busy. Rumours were circulating that many of the passengers were BA refugees; what was certainly true was that there were BA cabin crew on board (travelling as passengers, obviously!) I took my allocated seat (1F) and was slightly dismayed to see that 1D and 1E were also taken, while 2D/E/F were completely empty. Boarding was completed at 1213 and my jacket was hung. The Captain apologised for the late departure, explaining that they were still trying to catch up with the backlog from the previous day's weather delays (compounded by the widely reported story that the airport operator, BAA, ran out of de-icing fluid!)

The safety video was shown at the gate and we pushed back at 1227, making our way to the easterly runway for a 1237 take-off. I couldn't help noticing that British Airways had no planes at all at the main terminal, while most unusually, two of their A319s were parked up in remote corners of the airport. It all appeared to suggest that BA was, once again, not having a good day. As soon as the seat belt signs were switched off, I decided to move into 2F, which also allowed my former seatmates to spread out a bit in Row 1. The food boxes were handed out, containing two egg & cress sandwiches, some apple pieces and grapes and a fun-size Twix bar. I had coffee with my sandwiches and a gin & tonic when the crew did the bar run.

Towards the end of the flight, the cabin crew asked me if I would mind if a couple of passengers moved forward into 2D/E as they now had a tight connection at Heathrow. I didn't mind at all, but the question was sweetened with the offer of a further G&T, which I accepted anyway

We made the approach to 27L over a grey and cloudy Central London, touching down at 1337 and making it round to the Republic of Ireland pier in Terminal 1 some six minutes later. Two things occurred to me : there hadn't been a hot towels service and there was no opportunity to purchase discounted HEX tickets. (The latter point would later prove to be particularly relevant!) 

Date: Mon 07 Apr 2008
Aircraft : Airbus A321
Scheduled dep : 1100
Actual departure : 1225
Scheduled arrival : 1227
Actual arrival : 1343
Cabin : Business
Seat : 1F / 2F



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