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By: - 27th September 2010 at 18:16 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
At 12:18 we were pushed back and taxied to the runway whilst the safety demonstration was carried out. At 12:25 we took off and I was finally on my way to Brussels!
The Captain said that the flight conditions were OK, with some bumpy conditions at the lower altitude but good higher up. He said that he expected the flight to last around 55 minutes and that he hoped we would be landing early in Brussels.
Views just after take off.
As we climbed we went through some turbulence, it became clear before we flew into cloud.
Coastline.
Then it was time for the snack. In the past, BMI have served truly awful snacks on their flights, but this time I was pleasantly surprised. I had cheese ploughmans sandwich with onion chutney, and it was actually quite acceptable!
The snack.
Rotterdam.
By: - 27th September 2010 at 18:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
We flew over Rotterdam and then over Belgium. All hopes of an early landing in BRU were dashed when the Captain announced that BRU was very busy and we would be flying in a holding stack to the west of Brussels. The cloud had also increased.
Antwerp.
Belgium.
My first sighting of this beauty for two years!
We made a different approach to the 25L one we had become so used to. We flew near the Atomium instead of past the watertower, which provided some great views of Brussels. We touched down on this different runway at 14:42, and I was so glad to be back!!!
We taxied to the terminal where the Flight Attendant made the best announcement I have heard for two years: "A very warm welcome to Brussels!" It was so nice to be back again.
At the BRU terminal. The ERJ is a former British Airways aircraft.
We caught the train from the Airport to Brussels Noord (a double decker train hauled by a heavy duty thing - very nice!) Our train to Oostende was a little bit late, and very busy but I still managed the time to enjoy a Sloeber that night!
We had a very good flight, as I do enjoy flying on BMI. We enjoyed the holiday and experienced new things such as a trip to Germany and going up a watertower!
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By: Comet - 27th September 2010 at 18:15
After losing our Christmas 2009 holiday (and therefore having no holiday in 2009), we vowed never again to use the filthy ferry or the ghastly thing which runs under the English Channel, and go back to our preferred method of getting away on holiday. We booked our flight from Leeds via a travel agent just outside Scarborough (useless Scarborough having no proper independent travel agents we could use) and he booked tickets for us through Brussels Airlines. This was the first time we had a ticket from a codeshare partner instead of the airline operating the flight, so for us flight BD1613 from Leeds Bradford to Brussels was flight SN5272.
We had never flown from LBA before and so had no idea what to expect. We spent Sunday 5th September in Bewleys in Leeds (this hotel chain had really gone down the pan from when we last stayed in a Bewleys a few years ago). On Monday 6th September we caught the bus from Leeds Station at just after 9am and enjoyed a pleasant journey to LBA.
The terminal at Leeds Bradford.
When we arrived in the check in area, the self-check in machine was being repaired and we expected having to check in at the nearby desk, but it was soon fixed and we were able to check in. We each got a window seat - I was in 6A and my Mum was in 7A. The ERJ135 is three abreast - one seat on the left and two seats on the right of the aircraft.
After dropping off our hold luggage we went through passport control and security and into the departure lounge. There was a reasonable range of shops and places to eat and drink, but the one thing wrong with LBA was the fact that it is practically impossible to see the aircraft from the departure lounge, which did not please me one bit.
We were to depart from gate 010, so we made our way there and eventually caught a glimpse of our aircraft, BMI ERJ-135 G-RJXK.
Our aircraft being prepared for flight.
Just before boarding.
At 11:55 came the moment we had been waiting for - we were finally called to board, nice to know that this holiday had not been totally spoilt like the last one!
Boarding on the ERJ is via steps built into the door, these planes are very low to ground, the smallest airliners I have ever been in.
We were greeted by Flight Attendant Wendy and settled into our seats. The little ERJ has a surprising number of rows, and reasonable legroom for such a small aircraft.
The August issue of the inflight magazine.
The view from my seat at LBA.