Round The World and other travels
A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries
This is: Indian Ocean 2012
Flight Log 2: BA792
London Heathrow (LHR) - Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT)
Once again, I was first on board. I'd managed to
grab the coveted first 'A' seat in Economy, which of course on
standard-configuration BA planes is in Club format. Despite being
fully boarded by 1535, there followed a delay in departure, during
most of which there was an uncomfortable lack of fresh air in the
cabin - a fault that was eventually rectified. When we were ready to
go, the captain explained that unfortunately it had just been
decided to switch the airport round to using westerly runways, so a
further delay of 12 minutes would be required while they sorted out
all the taxiing aircraft that were currently heading for the wrong
point of departure.
As we waited, I noted that while the aircraft was definitely not full,
there was a reasonably good load in Business Class.
Pushback finally came at 1600. I almost nodded off while waiting at the holding point for 27L: LHR can be such a hideous airport to get in and out of. We finally escaped at 1620 and, after all the hassle just to get off the ground, were told that the flight time would be a mere 1hr 35mins. We turned right quickly after after take-off and then right again to take up an appropriate north-easterly course.
As the senior cabin crew member shut the curtains, I noticed that all four 'A' seats in Business Class were empty - how unusual! No sooner had I made the observation, however, than a Dr Who-style cyberman - or at least, a young chap with the most enormous set of headphones I'd ever seen - moved over into 1A. The bar service soon got underway in the Economy cabin. I had a coffee (to be accompanied by yet another two-pack of my favourite Walker's biscuits, safely stashed in my shirt pocket) and a gin and tonic, with my second helping of the day of what I now knew to be yellow pea tubes.
The cloud over the UK dissipated as we moved out
over the North Sea, to the extent that ships and their wakes were
clearly visible, far below. It occurred to me that this was one of
the quietest flights that I'd ever been on - what a civilised
clientele!
Thick cloud returned as we approached the west coast of Jutland,
allowing only the occasional glimpse of the exceptionally
flat-looking Danish mainland. I once more had clear views of
shipping as we descended while crossing the Kattegat, as well as
some superbly clear views of the city when we reached the Swedish
coast - why hadn't I seen to it that my camera was to hand?!
As we headed out past the city towards Landvetter airport, the landscape looked pretty much as I had imagined: rolling countryside with dense forest cover and a myriad of small lakes - and all of this bathed in glorious sunshine! The expected temperature on arrival was given as 11C. We touched down at 1850 local time and were parked up on stand just four minutes later.
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| Date: Fri 18 May 2012 |
| Aircraft: Airbus A319 |
| Scheduled dep: 1545 |
| Actual departure: 1600 |
| Scheduled arrival: 1845 |
| Actual arrival: 1854 |
| Cabin: Euro Traveller (Economy) |
| Seat: 5A |