XLA4047 Arrecife - Newcastle

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Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 929

Flight Number: XLA4047
Boeing 737-800 - G-OXLA
Scheduled Departure time: 23:10
Actual Departure time: 00:15
Scheduled Landing Time: 03:25
Actual Landing Time: 04:15
After a brill holiday, we arrived at Arrecife Airport at 19.30 (the flight wasn't until 23:10 like, but me nanna was panicing :eek: ) for our return flight to Newcastle. After waiting for a couple of hours the departure boards finally had our flight on, but with 'DELAYED' next to it, but we were able to check in at 25 and 26. We got through to the departure lounge and I've never seen so many people crammed in one little space in my life! There was at least 20 odd flights going out and all were delayed. After watching flights depart and arrive for two hours, the telly said Gate 9. So we walked right the way down to the other end of the departure lounge to gate 9, and just waited and waited and waited until 23:50 and we were allowed to board. We got on board with our free Daily Express sat down in our seats which were 29 A, B, C, D, E, and F. These were 6 windows from the back. They were still loading luggage at 5 past twelve and we must have been the second last plane out of Lanzarote. We finally left the gate and began to taxi to Runway 03. On the ground at Arrecife I saw: C-GTDK, ZS-SJG, TF-ARE, G-BYAD (which I flew on last year!) and OY-VKF. Take off was very quick and smooth and it took us about 15 minutes to get to our cruise at FL360. But less than half an hour in to the flight, I looked behind me to see that at the back of the plane was an old man, who looked ill. Air Stewardesses were going like mental to help him, he was in his early 70's and was given an oxygen mask to help him breath. Ten minutes or so later, it got worse so a steward said 'If there is a doctor on board please make yourselves aware now.' Luckily there was two and the captain came over saying 'please be aware for a diversion if everything does not go to plan.' Luckily the fella was fine and we managed to carry on with the flight. The in-flight entertainment was Garfield the movie (which is rubbish) and The Stepford Wives (no one was that bothered about it like). The meal was chicken or beef, I chose chicken which included rice, gravy and peppers. Was very nice. Flying over Manchester and we began our descent into Newcastle and before we knew it, we could see the Tyne and Whitley Bay out of the window, then making a sharp turn onto the ILS for Runway 25. The landing again was bumpy, but was very quick. Spotted on the ground was G-JMCE, G-MAJI, G-DHJZ, G-FCLE or K, EI-JIV, G-DHJH, and G-CDUP (again, I flew on this aircraft last year too!) We got off the aircraft at the back when an Air Malta 737-300 9H-ABS had just landed and should of been at NCL at 23.05! We went through passport control and on to get our bags when the old fella actually collapsed while waiting for his bags. I don't know what happened to him but he was rushed to hospital. After getting the bags people were checking in, and I'm thinking, eh?! Then I realised the time, 5.30am! But the flight was superb, I'm glad to say I'm flying with them again in October and the photos will be on some time this week! ;)

Original post

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Great report Ben, hope the old man was OK. :)

I also flew on CDUP last year!

Nice to see XLA give you a paper and a choice of meals, and dont start DanAir!

Member for

19 years 7 months

Posts: 538

Good old Excel! I bet you ate your meal though LBA when you flew them, which incidentally, wouldnt have been from Yeadon with their 738 problem runway. Its hardly feasible or cost-effectrive to delay each departure to allow those brakes to cool!

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 1,098

Good report Ben, good to see you got one of the leased planes.

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Good old Excel! I bet you ate your meal though LBA when you flew them, which incidentally, wouldnt have been from Yeadon with their 738 problem runway. Its hardly feasible or cost-effectrive to delay each departure to allow those brakes to cool!

I have never flown on Excel :confused:

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

On another point DanAir, we have 6 (Thats right 6), 738 departures from LBA, including 2 to TFS (4 hours +) and 1 to Dalaman (4 hours +). 738s have no bother from LBA anymore as I have said. Excel have recently operated a number of flights to Brescia from LBA with 738s including last Thursday (Operated by G-XLAF.) So I dont think they have much trouble these days.

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 530

Hey.. I got gate 9 earlier that day on my spanking new Air Malta A320... 9H-AER, luckily for us it was one of the earlier flights out of ACE, 10-55 so wasn't too bad, especially when they loaded the 742 to Madrid!!!!

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 929

Lucky Bugger!!