First Choice Airways BJV-MAN - A320! (Return)

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20 years 6 months

Posts: 113

Hi,

Airline: http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/images/fc_logo.gif
Flight: FCA194D Milas Bodrum Airport - Manchester U.K.
Date: 12th June 2004
Aircraft: Airbus A320-200 G-OOAU
Scheduled Departure Time: 22:30
Scheduled Arrival Time: 00:35 (next day)

The flight was First Choice Airways flight FCA194D on Saturday 12th June from Milas Bodrum Airport, Turkey to Manchester U.K onboard Airbus A320-200 - G-OOAU.

http://www.airliners.net/photos/small/8/6/3/601368.jpg

After a fantastic holiday in the area of Bodrum and Gumbet at the Hotel Club Bellaverde (Remember that name if you go and book a holiday - you won't regret a stay there!) it was time to return to Bodrum's Milas Airport for our return flight to the U.K scheduled to depart at 22.30.

The queues at the check-in where horrendous and didn't seem to move. After a good hour, we finally reached the front to meet a very nice check-in assistant. Although slightly slow at her job she was very pleasant and nicer than some of the Servisair assistants at Manchester. As we where close to the back of the queue we where allocated row 2 seats A + D, much to our suprise - they loaded this one from the back. Although we where separated we didn't mind and just hoped the person next to me would be kind enough to swap.

With a delayed Gatwick bound FCA, five flights to Amsterdam, a Vaso flight to Moscow and various internal traffic you can imagine how busy the small departure lounge was. Anyway, little more than 10 minutes after entering the departure hall, we where called to board. After passing the gate we boarded the busses which puzzled me as they shipped us over to the Vaso IL-86. Soon realising what they had done they backed up and returned us to our rightful carrier. First Choice Airways' Airbus A320 - G-OOAU - Basking in all her glory under a clear Turkish sky.

Waiting at the front door where Jane and John - good combination! :) . As I climbed the steps and got closer to the door I enjoyed a fantastic view into the flight deck and heard remarks from other passengers referring it to a computer game! I entered the cabin and was directed to my seat just around the corner. I took my place in, the once again, immaculate A320 and sat back into the soft plastic, non-slip (this time) seats. There was a slight delay due to the handlers failing to detach some bodies flight coupon - I wonder who this could have been? No, not me, my Mum who seemed a little baffled as they read her ticket number out as she thought she had won something!

http://www.airliners.net/photos/small/9/9/9/536999.jpg

Small mishap rectified and the cabin door was closed and the stairs removed. For the last time before pushback, I admired Bodrum Aiport and how it reminded me of Monastir to which I had been in February. Reminiscent to the outbound service the crew introduced themselves and updated us on weather back home, flight and route information. The service up to Manchester would last some 4 hours and 7 minutes. A familiar jolt in the cabin as push back commenced and the sound of the CFM-56-5 engines filled my ears as they where wound up again after their 1 hour rest. N1 slowly rising until they came back to life with the sudden, sharp increase in noise before they returned to their start up position.

The dispatcher waved us of as the safety briefing commenced and we soon began our short taxi to Runway 29. The IFE screens where retracted as the Cabin Crew put the doors to automatic. We where quickly approaching the threshold for departure. In the distance, a company, LGW bound 757-200 was rotating. The Cabin Crew took there seats as a Turkish Airlines A310 touched down. We proceeded to line up with the runway center line in preparation for our acceleration into the skies.

A short wait and the engines where advanced and stabilized to 40% beginning our roll. They where once again advanced, this time into TOGA power and roared as they raced us down the runway past 100 knots and up to V1 and VR. The nose gear drummed over the center line of R29 as we slowly lifted of Turkish soil and powered into Bodrum skies. The floor beneath us vibrating as the landing gear was retracted we began our climb out. Flying pretty much a straight route out of Bodrum the engines droned back into LVR CLB and flaps 2 retracted back to the UP position.

We climbed out for 35000 ft while the crew returned back to their work. They announced the entertainment programme for our return and the order of service. Tonight the main feature movie would be Cheaper by the Dozen followed by I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! Parts 2/4, The Office and to finish our journey - Timon & Pumbaa. Also, with 9 channels of music to select I don't think anyone could of felt bored. Anyway, the crew once again pushed for the sale of headsets but no game cards this time. One thing I did notice with FCA is there is an emphasis on a sell, sell, sell basis and even as you pull your tray table down you are greeted with the message ''For all your holiday needs - Firstchoice.co.uk''. A bar service was swiftly commenced followed by the movie preview. John - Cabin Supervisor, then informed us of our meal service for the evening. We would be served Sausage and Mashed Potato with the choice of Tea and Coffee plus Orange juice for the kids.

http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/images/uploaded/fca_mealserve.jpg

The movie began and as did the meal service. Being on row 2 we where once of the first to receive our meals. Also on the tray was a pizza bread, bread roll and butter and an extremely desirable desert name Chocolate Ugly Fudge Over. Once again a great meal and good value for money. This was served with a very good coffee to top it off. After the meal, our trays where collected in and the crew sat back and had a break for their meals as we where watching the movie. Once again a pretty uneventful flight with a little bit on turbulence as we passed over Germany.

3 hours after departure from BJV the crew where well into the duty free sales service from which I opted to get nothing on this leg. They had advised us that the trollies with tax free goods had to be locked away prior to descent into the U.K.

3 hours and 30 minutes into the flight the captain spoke to us once again and advised us that we where just 5 minutes from our top of descent into Manchester. True to his word, at the 5 minute mark the engines retarded back to idle and we began an almost constant descent. At 10,000 ft the Landing Lights shone brightly reflecting against the engine cowlings. With the seat belt sign now back in action the Cabin Crew where making final preparations for landing. The drag could clearly be felt as the speed brakes where deployed to slow us on our approach. Now retracted at just over 3000 ft the Captain briefed us of just over 5 minutes to go and the Cabin Crew took their seats. Once again as we where landing in the hours of darkness the cabin lights where dimmed. Flaps 1 now extended followed by 2 and 3 the landing gear was lowered.

As we flew over the City of Manchester and turned on our final approach to Runway 24R. Flaps Full now selected following the sequence we where fully prepared for touchdown. On our rapid descent over factories, housing estates and familiar British motorways with the thought now all to present in our minds that in around half an hour we would be driving on them, we edged closer the threshold. With just a few hundred feet remaining we passed over the airport border and down towards the touchdown point. At 20 ft the engines came back to idle and we gently descended the last few feet to make a smooth touchdown on 24R. The engines swinging back into life in the form of full reverse thrust and brakes and speed brakes all in action we came to a speedily deceleration as we taxied off 24R and onto the taxiway passing the Concorde exhibition and the Avro RJX which where brightly lit up for arrived passengers to view. The strobes where now visibly pulsing against the ground.

At 12.20am we had arrived 15 minutes ahead of schedule and where on our final leg to the stand at Terminal 2. The Flaps being retracted and Speed Brake already in, the engines where now in forward power taking us slowly over to the terminal. We arrived on stand besides a KLM 737-300 and an Excel Airways 757-200. The cabin lights once again beaming the seats belt sign was turned off as where the engines as a bustle of passengers jumped out their seats to exit the aircraft via the air bridge. Once again I was in no hurry, as earlier on in the flight I was chatting to Jane (Cabin Crew) and she had said if I didn't mind waiting behind I could go up front again.

So as the last of the passengers disembarked I made my way into the flight deck to meet the Captain and First Officer. They showed me around the flight deck and where telling me about where G-OOAU was off to next and equally where they where off to. At the same time my Mum was once again chatting to the Cabin Crew and they told her that the entire crew really appreciates it when somebody shows an interest and acknowledges the work they do.

Well, I took a few pictures of the flight deck which they lit back up for me and had to say goodbye as I didn't want to keep them too long. Me and my Mum being the final passengers off, and with that an end to our Turkish Delight!

http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/images/uploaded/fcacrew_coffee.jpg

Once again another great flight with First Choice Airways who I would highly recommend to anyone. I would also like to commend the crew for the excellent service they provided.

How would I rate the return?

Excellent crew
Excellent food
Excellent magazine
Good IFE
Good comfort
Good on-time preformance

9/10

Same as the outbound!

Feedback very welcome!

Thanks
Thomas Cook

Original post

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 3,124

Outstanding report! For a second I thought I was there with you it was so detailed! :)

Chocolate Ugly Fudge Over

What!? :confused: :D Weird.

Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 2,114

brilliant report so detailed a great pleasure to read mine wont be that detailed but exellent glad you had good flights :)

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 3,539

Very detailed and interesting report! Thanks a lot, made a great plesure reading :D

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Very, very good report, really enjoyed it :)

Member for

20 years 11 months

Posts: 12,842

Very comprehensive and enjoyable report

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 1,670

great report! I flew with first choice this year to TFS from LGW (757) and we had exactly the same entertainment programmes!

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 1,098

Awesome trip report Thomas Cook!! Interesting to see you used reverse thrust at 12.20am though!!

Member for

20 years 6 months

Posts: 113

Hi,
I was going to ask the Flight Deck Crew about that but I thought I would leave the questioning until I'm up front.

Out of interest how did you find Thomas Cook

Thanks
Thomas Cook

Working my way up to the Thomas Cook ladder!

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20 years 1 month

Posts: 1,098

Not quite as good as Excel Airways, but still impressive!! The delay inbound was out of their control!!

Member for

20 years 6 months

Posts: 113

Hi,
We will have to see about that after September! :) I am very much so swayed towards TCX though. No wonder! I always make sure things go perfect!

Thanks
Thomas Cook

Working my way up the Thomas Cook ladder

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20 years 1 month

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It would have been strange if we had seen each other though!!!

Member for

20 years 6 months

Posts: 113

Hi,
That's very true!

Thanks
Thomas Cook

Working my way up the Thomas Cook ladder!

Member for

20 years 1 month

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What time did you leave again?

Member for

20 years 6 months

Posts: 113

Hi,
Departed at 15:40 slightly late. I do remeber seeing a Thomas Cook 757 taxing out behind us. I couldn't get a good view of it so I'm unsure what series it was but I think it pushed back from Stand 8.

Thanks
Thomas Cook

Working my way up the Thomas Cook ladder!

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20 years 1 month

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You said you pushed back at 15:40, which meant it would be about 15:50 when you left!!

Member for

20 years 6 months

Posts: 113

Hi,
We rotated at about 15:40.

Thanks
Thomas Cook

Working my way up the Thomas Cook ladder!

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 1,098

It must have been the other FCA A320 then!!

Member for

20 years 6 months

Posts: 113

Hi,
There was another FCA A320 arrival from INN simultaniously to ours from AGP. I'm not sure where it was going but that was most likely what you saw. It's reg was G-OOAU (my return aircraft) where as my outbound was G-OOAP.

Thanks
Thomas Cook

Working my way up the Thomas Cook ladder!

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 1,098

Must be!!

Member for

20 years 6 months

Posts: 113

Hi,
It's very true that I would love be in the flight deck!

Thanks
Thomas Cook

Working my way up the Thomas Cook ladder!