BA/GB Airways ABZ to AGP via LGW and Return

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Member for

19 years 10 months

Posts: 624

Saturday 9th July
Well the day I'd been waiting for for weeks had finally arrived - Saturday July 9th.
Today was the day that I was flying to Malaga (AGP) via London Gatwick (LGW).
It wasn't the first time that I'd changed flights at Gatwick so I was used to that, although "Aeroporto de Malaga" is a new airport for me.
I arrived at Aberdeen Dyce Airport at around 12:45 which gave me plenty of time to check-in for my 15:00 departure.
Check-in at Aberdeen is always smooth as there are about 6 check-in desks for British Airways, which usually means there is very rarely any queues to contend with.
Check-in was efficient and we were soon sat in the departure lounge only to be greeted with a 30 minute delay, which wasn't really anything that bothered me too much.
My carriage arrived - B737-400 G-GBTB, which was very swiftly turned around. Everybody was seated and we had to wait around 10 minutes before we pushed back and took off using runway 16.
Our meal was a sweet thing that consisted of a mini Kit-Kat, a muffin and something else very tasty. I also had a drink of Coca-cola.
Arrival into London gatwick was at 17:00 which meant we had lost only 25 minutes.
Saturday 9th July
My next flight of the day was to take me to Malaga itself, with a schedule departure time of 20:20 however due to some problems - with ATC or baggage services in Cyprus or Greece, meant that 2 aircraft had to overnight, which caused a Knock on effect for the next days services - we were greeted with a delay up until 21:50.
I thought that this was acceptable as long as the delay wasn't increased.
But in true bad luck, the delay was increased until 23:00, though we were called to gate 63 to board at around 22:00.
Even though everybody was onboard for 22:20, we still had to wait for the baggage handlers to get a move on.
During the delay though, I enjoyed a delicious magarita pizza at Garfunkels.
My aircraft was A320-200 G-TTOI.
Onboard I was seated in row 18 and departure that evening was on the easterly runway at 23:00 BST/ 00:00 Malaga time.
As I had never had a pizza onboard an aircraft, to my great surprise I was presented with a tasty pizza and Greek salad and a complementary drink from the bar- I chose Coca-Cola!
Another thing that impressed me onboard the aircraft was the PTV's ( I think thats what there called) that tell you the altitude, speed and outside temperature.
Local time in Malaga upon arrival was 01:30 which was 1hr 35minutes late!
Overall I was very impressed with GB Airways:- The seats were very comfortable and I wouldn't hessitate to travel with them again in the near or distant future.

Saturday 23rd July
After two very enjoyable weeks of staying in the sun soaked, fantastic food and beautifully landscaped region of Andalucia, I had to return home.
We arrived at Malaga Airport at 15:15 which was 4 hours before our schedule ontime departure.
However unlike other airports that I have travelled through, e.g. Faro, we were told that we were not allowed to check-in earlier than the 2 hours before departure, compared to Faro where you can check-in within a reasonable amount of time longer than 2 hours before departure.
In my opinion, Malaga is quite a nice airport offering some fairly good views accross the apron.
Our aircraft A320-200 G-TTOE arrived and was running ontime. We left Malaga at 19:25 but still arrived in London Gatwick at 20:45 local time, 5 minutes ahead of schedule.
We departed over the sea, banked left and over Granada before flying over central Spain, Bay of Biscay and then into London Gatwick.
The meal onboard again was a scrumptous Pizza, but surprisingly I drank Sprite rather that Coca-Cola.
I asked one of the Cabin Crew members where they had flown today, she replied:" LGW to AGP, AGP to MAN, MAN to AGP then AGP back to LGW.
Saturday 24th July
After and overnight stay in the Europa Hotel near Crawley (I think thats where it was) we returned to the North Terminal at 07:35 to check in for our 08:35 departure to Aberdeen.
After a little shopping for a new watch, and seeing a few inbound transatlantic flights, it was time to proceed to gate 57 for boarding to commence.
This time the aircraft was a B737-300 G-LGTG.
A very detailed welcome announcement by our captain Sally Gunnel (I think thats how you spell her surname), we pushed back and the safety demo began by our fairly young crew.
After departure from a very wet Gatwick we were 3rd in a queue that began with 5 aircraft.
Once in our initial climb, I heard another passenger say that there were 11 aircraft awaiting take-off clearance.
Once we had cleared through the thick rain clouds we were served a piping hot cooked breakfast with orange and either tea or coffee.
Unfortunately though, there was no drinks service.
After a very smooth flight we began our decent between Newcastle and Edinburgh before coming over the City of Aberdeen and Buckburns Macdonald's (See Photo below) before touching down on runway 32.
Overall a very pleasant flight.
Photos
Sorry Unfortunately I'm having problems resizing the photographs that I took - there are seven and so once I rectify this problem they shall be posted on here.

Original post

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

Great report mate!

I take it the Sally Gunnel is not the same one as the athlete?? :p

Member for

19 years 10 months

Posts: 624

Thanks for that, thats exactly what my grandad said. I dont think it was the athlete anyway.

Member for

19 years 8 months

Posts: 679

Nice report. :)

Another thing that impressed me onboard the aircraft was the PTV's ( I think thats what there called) that tell you the altitude, speed and outside temperature.

GB Airways don't have PTV's fitted on there A320s, PTV's are mounted in the seat in-front of you. GB Airways just have nice looking drop-down LCD screens instead.

I love this feature on BA/GB too, I rather have that any day then pointless Friends and Will and Grace repeats. :rolleyes:

Regards
Flex 35

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 6,503

Nice report you've posted there, just a shame about the outbound delay and the non-existent drink service on the London Gatwick/Aberdeen flight.

Would be great to see your photos once you get them sorted. There are lots of people on this forum (myself included) who will happily help you get them to the right size for posting.

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Absolutely superb report, glad you enjoyed yourself :).

Member for

19 years 10 months

Posts: 624

Thats one done, just a view over the wing when we left Aberdeen.

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Member for

20 years 11 months

Posts: 12,842

Nice report, nice advert for Coca Cola as well

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 1,089

Saturday 9th July
Our meal was a sweet thing that consisted of a mini Kit-Kat, a muffin and something else very tasty.

That other thing would be flapjack Tom.

A drinks service isn't offered on the domestic breakfast service flights as not too many people have Coke or G&T with their bacon and eggs. You would of course have been welcome to ask for a Coke if you had wanted one.

Glad you enjoyed your flights. I flew with GT for the first time earlier this year and was also very impressed, despite recieving mixed reactions about them from passengers on my own flights.

1L.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 748

Just think, from November you can fly non-stop ABZ/AGP with Monarch Scheduled. ;)

Member for

19 years 10 months

Posts: 624

Just think, from November you can fly non-stop ABZ/AGP with Monarch Scheduled. ;)

My parents are looking into ABZ-AGP for next summer although you cant book flights yet, only up until March 06.
Oneleft- Yeah FlapJacks what it was, lovely stuff. Do you know that captain on my LGW to ABZ flight or not? Also do you know if they serve them pizzas on any BA flight or just GB? They were absolutely Delicious.
Thanks for the comments everybody.

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 1,089

Tom,

I haven't worked at LGW for over 4 years now so I don't know all of the flight crew by a long way. I can't think who that Captain was but I'll ask an F/O friend who flies at LGW if he knows who she is for you.

The pizzas served on GB flights are a BA All-Day-Deli thing, and are served on all BA mid-range (or band 3 as we call them) shorthaul flights from LHR and LGW. This would be anything from say NCE to VIE.

GB adopted the standard BA catering products in March of this year, the only exception being breakfast flights on these routes where we serve a hot french baguette but they still serve a hot breakfast. The breakfast I had on my recent LGW-PMI flight was awful though. I would rather have had our baguette.

1L.