Birmingham to Dublin and back again :D

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Member for

18 years 11 months

Posts: 841

Hi all

Went to DUB for the day, 21/2/06, as a bit of a one off visit. Anyway, as follows...

FR663 BHX-DUB
Ryanair EI-DCP 737-800
ETD: 8:00am
ATD: 7:50am

Arrived at Birmingham an hour before departure to leave plenty of time without rushing, but as soon as i got through security and eventually to departures, the final call was anounced for my flight :eek: There hadn't even been a call before this and was 30mins before our flight was to board....they don't hang around Ryanair :D Made my way to Gate A and then onto gate 58.
We boarded EI-DCP at 7.35am as the last few, but still managed to get a window seat. The first 6 rows were left empty for some reason, maybe as the flight wasn't full?
Before we knew it, we started our push-back and headed towards Rwy 33. We waited for a Flybe Dash 8 to land aswell as a BA 145.
We rocketed down the runway and climb steeply into cloud and eventually, sunshine :)
Climbed to 18,000 feet but seemed like we just got up there, and was time to come down again. We made a straight in arrival to Rwy 28 at Dublin Int. Quite a bumpy landing i have to say, but an uneventful flight....arrived at 8:30am, 25 mins ahead of schedule. Got off and headed into the terminal to look for a bus into the city.

After a great time looking around the city, started to make my way back to the airport at 4:20pm to catch the 6:15pm flight back to Birmingham

FR672 DUB-BHX
Ryanair EI-DCP again! 737-800
ETD: 6:15pm
ATD: 6:40pm

Got to the airport in plenty of time and checked in. Made my way to departures and on through security which took about 30mins :rolleyes:
As the flight home was at Gate A13, this area was new to me as previousuly went from gate A1.
Lots of people were in this area with flight going to Sligo, Derry, Manchester, Pisa etc. Grabbed a seat and a drink and watched the people hussle around for a while.
My flight had a bit of a delay as we were supposed to board at 5:45pm, but didn't until 6:30pm...yet people were pressed up against the glass when there was no aircraft!
Eventually after a wait, EI-DCP turns up again to make the return home. This time, the flight was full and ended up in an aisle seat. After quite a long wait, we started our push-back and headed towards Rwy 10. This seemed to take an age! A fellow FR aircraft had to land then an Aer Lingus A330 departed in front then it was our slot. After about 30 mins since leaving the terminal building, we started our take-off roll.
After quite a brisk trip down the runway, we were airborn but then had problems going through the clouds :D Major turbulence was felt and many screamed out in terror as the aircraft was tossed all over the place, personally i thought it wasn't that bad but obviously, other people are different ;)

After 45mins of flying, we made our decent to Birmingham for a North Westerly approach, which meant Rwy 33. The landing was a very breezy one as we didn't touch down until halfway down the runway. Full reverse thrust was then applied to slow us down.
We made our taxi to Gate 58, and got off after another enjoyable day :)

Ryanair going out was far better than coming back....the crew seemed very tired a didn't really want to serve anyone.

Overall a 7 out of 10 from me

Thanks for reading :D

Original post

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 3,394

Nice report mate, must be a BHX curse getting the same aircraft in both directions as I now know of more than one example! :D.

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Excellent report!

Myself and Paul got EI-DCP (Grrr....), on the way back, also about 20 minutes late, also from gate A13!

Did you have the really hot member of cabin crew 'Anna'? She seemed grumpy, but boy :D

Member for

18 years 11 months

Posts: 841


Did you have the really hot member of cabin crew 'Anna'? She seemed grumpy, but boy :D

Haha!Yeah we did!...They were all foreign on our flight, couldn't understand them sometimes :rolleyes:
But yes they were very grumpy and they only came down the aisle once during the whole flight!

Member for

19 years

Posts: 1,995

Practically all of Ryanair's Dublin based crew are foreign. Cheap for Ryanair and a stable job for the crew, I suppose.

You must have had a load of wimps on your flight if they don't like turbulence - it's the best bit.

Great report :)

Regards, Tom

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 186

Which ever aircraft operates FR662/663 also operates the FR672/673. This is everyday! So I will also get the same 738 both ways on the 11th April....

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 3,394

I ain't arguing with you Matt because I know you know your BHX stuff but that is't always the case is it, it can change even if it's a VERY slim chance! :D

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 186

Yeah when the plane goes tech!
Well even if that was the case, they would probabley delay the flight for hours with the passengers still onboard without food or drink like on that programme! :p

Member for

18 years 11 months

Posts: 841

Just a few pics to add on...

Just after push-back from Gate 58
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/Jon690/EI-DCPdepartJCH.jpg

Holding short of Rwy 33 as a Flybe Dash 8 lands
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/Jon690/EI-DCPdepart2JCH.jpg

Rocketing down Rwy 33 just before rotation
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/Jon690/EI-DCPdeparting.jpg

Climbing to FL180
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/Jon690/EI-DCPclimbing.jpg

Last few minutes before touching down on Rwy 28 at DUB
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/Jon690/EI-DCPdubJCH.jpg

On Rwy 28 after arrival
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/Jon690/EI-DCPlanding.jpg

The cabin after mostly everyone has disembarked
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/Jon690/FRCabin.jpg

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Nice shots Jon, the crew didnt seem that bad on our flight, definitly sounds like you had the same crew as you would expect on the same aircraft, and I imagine you had the same member of crew doing the announcements, very hard to understand!

Member for

20 years 11 months

Posts: 12,842

Great report and photos, i don't think it would have touched down halfway down the runway though Jon, if that had been the case it would have been a take off and go around!!!

Member for

18 years 11 months

Posts: 841

Great report and photos, i don't think it would have touched down halfway down the runway though Jon, if that had been the case it would have been a take off and go around!!!

Well ok, maybe not half way but a fair distance away from the threshold which resulted in a hard landing. Plus, most aircraft exit the runway at the last taxi-way but one....we didn't, we went right to the end of the runway and then onto to the taxi-way. Even 772's don't do that :D

Member for

18 years 9 months

Posts: 1,614

Nice photos there - looks like you got a decent seat over the wing.

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 1,670

Nice report and pics!

Member for

19 years

Posts: 1,995

Super pics as well!