Flying from Brum? Tell us where you're going

[Karl C]

Hi all,

Flew DLM-BHX last night on the delayed ZB909. Storms over Germany causing planes to be rerouted further south, and a bottleneck formed causing delays.
141 + 2 pax on board G-OZBN. Smooth clear flight with plenty of spare seats!

Cheers

Karl

 

[IanFarquharson]

Off to Prague on Sunday on CSA hopefully not an ATR72 !

 

[Ray Finkle]

Seat guru shows an A319 so hopefully there won't be any late changes. Have a great time

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Taking BE101 to Amsterdam on Tuesday for the day. Be interesting as I've never used Schiphol before.

 

[aulty87]

Hi All

Arrived back yesterday from a weeks stay in Mahon.
Fly out with Thomas cook at 5am last Wednesday, must admit felt very rushed in airport. First check in said it would open at 2am but wasn't till 2,40am. Then couldn't get through departures until after 3,15am as duty free wasn't open. Once through like I said was very rushed, as we hadn't eaten so made our way to weatherspoons which was fine. But once we had finished as there was a group of us it was 4am so popped back to duty free and when we came out it was saying final call for our plane. The time was only 4,15am. Next time wont look to fly so early.
It was quite surreal on the way back yesterday, flying over france, just north of paris and could see a plane coming our way. When it got closer it was as if it was going sideways and that close it felt as though you could reach out and touch it. Tracked our flight on plane finder and it was a transvere (if I have remember right) from Ibiza to Rotterdam. Looking at the altitude we was at 36000ft and that was at 37000ft. Just a surreal moment to see.

All in all had a good weeks holiday

Stephen

 

[Ray Finkle]

Had something similar a few weeks ago, also with Thomas Cook and a 05:05 departure.

Check in and getting into departures was okay but only World Duty Free was open. Like you we went into Wetherspoons and waited in there till 4am as some wanted to have a look in the shops. We went into Boots when it eventually opened but by the time we'd done in there our flight was on final call, it must have been a similar time, around 04:15. We quickly nipped into Smiths and then made our way to the gate without looking anywhere else. A few were a bit disappointed as they'd planned to have a proper look and get a few bits and pieces, I wasn't too worried though as Mrs F can be dangerous once she gets going

Glad you had a good time though.

 

[Seasider]

That's the best time to take the wife shopping.

 

[Karl C]

Hi all,

As I couldn't get a night flight to Dalaman on the day I wanted from BHX, I flew out from LHR on Thursday night. Flew on a rammed to the gills TC-JTL A321 and then onwards on an equally rammed TC-JHC Star Alliance 738.
Although the A321 was brand spanking new, it was uncomfortable and for a 6 footer like me, not the best ride I've had.
The 738 on the other hand was a joy for legroom and a much better ride.
My point is, I hope they keep to the 738 at BHX, add a night flight to IST, then that would make me a happy chappy indeed.

One thing that Turkish have done the last three times I have flown with them this year, is change my seat at the gate.
Was due to fly IST-LHR back in March on a 77W. Got to the gate and they'd changed my seat and it was TC-JIZ...an A332. They did it yesterday too...was changed from a window to an aisle and there was nothing I could do about it.
They do advise that they can do this when you choose your seat, but the last three times is a bit much.
I tried every combination to fly out of BHX, but nothing worked for me but the LHR one.
Anyways, back to LHR on Monday.....the joys of the M40.

Afternoon all

Karl

 

[Ray Finkle]

Just booked a week in Menorca for 2017. It's been about 11 years since we've been so looking forward to going back, we really enjoyed it last time.

I'm now hoping that Monarch add Naples as the little one is doing about Pompeii at school and wants to visit.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Just booked a week in Menorca for 2017. It's been about 11 years since we've been so looking forward to going back, we really enjoyed it last time.

I'm now hoping that Monarch add Naples as the little one is doing about Pompeii at school and wants to visit.

Good shouts. We went to Menorca about 30 years ago for a week one September. Didn't see a cloud all the time we were there. It was rather warm.

Our son flew to Naples on a school trip when he was about 14 (he's now 48) and obviously took in Pompeii. From memory - which might be faulty - they flew from Heathrow with Japan Airlines.

 

[Barry Beeth]

LHR-NAP on JAL?
I'm willing to bet your memory IS faulty in this instance!
I've been wrong before though, 1984, I think it was...

 

[Ray Finkle]

Good shouts. We went to Menorca about 30 years ago for a week one September. Didn't see a cloud all the time we were there. It was rather warm.

We really enjoyed it the last time we were there and have often said we'd like to go back and explore the island further.

We've booked with Thomson so I'm hoping for another ride on a 757

 

[richard winterbourn]

Hi, as some of you know i am always pushing for greater connectivity to South America and i shall be 'flying down to Rio' again shortly.

As always to date, my journey starts at BHX with the 0600 KLM flight to Amsterdam. After a quick Dowe Eggberts coffee, its KLM again down to Rio de Janeiro, an approx 11 hour flight and then its gather my bags and out through the arrivals door.

Now here's the tip for anyone planning to stay in Rio. I always stay in the district of Lapa (the lively district) and an easy and the cheapest way to get there is to avoid the 80 - 90 Real by taxi. Take the Onibus local bus service which runs from Rio International Airport down to the city's other airport Santos Dumont for 12 Real. From there take a local taxi to you hostel/hotel for about 10 Real, a saving of about 70 Real - enough for a good dinner in Rio...

The Onibus service also goes on down to Copacabana so the savings can also be made if your hotel is in that district.

Now the interesting bit, after a good lunch the following day i take the taxi back to Santos Dumont and then fly into central Brazil to a city called Goiania, the principal city in the district of Goias. This flight is generally via Sao Paulo and if you've never flown into Sao Paulo you have missed one of the most amazing flying experiences. Congonhas Airport is right in the city and the skyscrapers are so many and tall that as you descend you can look into people's living rooms....

This visit i am going to take a car to drive down to Matto Grosso do Sul and the Pantanal, the swamp lands, where i hope for the first time to see a Jaguar.

And no, it won't be one made in Solihull....

 

[TheLocalYokel]

LHR-NAP on JAL?
I'm willing to bet your memory IS faulty in this instance!
I've been wrong before though, 1984, I think it was...

I've spoken to my son and he says it was Japan Airlines. He nicked a spoon engraved JAL.

 

[Barry Beeth]

Brilliant! 1984 and 2016 then!

 

[Karl C]

Hey all,

Flew out on the Thomas Cook G-TCDK to Dalaman last night from Brum. Security a breeze but still packed...well done guys n gals. 40 mins late departing, even though everyone bar 2 pax were on board for on time departure. Two fellas finally got on and we departed with 207 + 4 on board.
Quick 3hr 27min flight....only to be told to stay seated by the captain on arrival. Police boarded and hauled same late two fellas off, no idea what for.
Back on the Monarch on Monday night.

Cheers all

Karl

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Sound like they've had a very costly p155up.

A number of years ago, I flew to Prague on a Friday evening.
I remember, the bar takings must have well up on that flight with the stags and hens!

 

[richard winterbourn]

A few years ago i was flying back from Budapest with BA and in the departure lounge two guys, already well oiled, were breaching security and causing mayhem. On boarding the plane i had a quiet word with the purser to keep an eye on them, which he did, speaking to them very forcibly to the point that they would not be served alcohol and if there was any trouble from them, they would be arrested at Heathrow.

I did what i did in the interests of safety, mine, the other passengers and for the crew.

Later, and i admit it came as quiet a surprise, the purser came to me quietly and handed me a carrier back full of goodies - including some miniature wines.

Forewarned is forearmed....

 

[JENNYJET]

I recall an incident at Colombo during check in for my journey back to LHR. Some of you will, I am sure, know that a departure fee is charged and it is/was £10 Stirling payable only with a Bank of England treasury note., I.e. IN CASH!

One passenger, a US citizen on a US passport but traveling as part of the Kuoni group I was with, decided that he was not liable to pay the fee and claimed that he would only pay, by force, in US Dollars.

The airport authority refused as he was part of a British travel group. He got louder and foolishly threatened the CIA upon these lovely and kindly Sri Lankans upon which soldiers appeared with rifles at readiness. This was during the Civil War with the Tamil Tigers and tensions were very high.

One well spoken lady stepped in and offered to pay this American's fee so that the flight could board and a fully booked A340 takes a while to board and checklists etc. need to be actioned.

Two hours late and a seething group of travelers to boot, we left Colombo and most of us settled into a regime of lowered lights and the hope of some sleep on the 12 hour flight.

Not this blowhard American, demanding this, that, and whatever whims that came to mind. His seatback screen did not work. Actually none of them did as this was an AirLanka aircraft and probably one of the earliest A340-300 built. After what appeared to be forever, most of us were thinking about ways to neutralize this fellow when the Captain announced that we had to land in Frankfurt due to technical reasons and we should remain in our seats as the stoppage would be brief.

We landed and several US Air Force police came on board and took the gentleman into custody and removed him from the airplane. Don't ask! I have no idea what he was doing on a Kuoni tour group, his connection to the USAF and how he slipped past USAF security.

The remaining 2 hours of the flight was an airborne party and the cabin crew were fully engaged with us.

Drinks were free of charge and after landing, Kuoni issued vouchers of £200 pounds off the same holiday as an apology for inconvenience and any unpleasantness.


It could have been much worse but the sheer relief could not be contained.

It remains clear to me that a great deal of activity occurs behind the screens, eyes are watching every step we take, and I offer one personal example.

Landing at BHX from Monastir Tunisia, I left the aircraft via the airbridge, toddling along with my significant limp and somewhat slower than everyone else.

Needing an urgent toilet break, I 'dived' into the first that came into sight and did my business and took an extra few minutes to rest my leg.

I resumed my trek to Passport and was greeted by several Police Officers, armed, and immigration officers. They enquired into why it took me nearly 30 minutes to reach Passport control.

Needlessly to say this but I was very impressed how the Airport can manage passenger flow to such detail that if someone had difficulties, they would find you.

Eyes behind walls, eyes everywhere! What a wonderful airport be BHX.

My apologies to Sir Raymond but I fear I have somewhat strayed off topic, my respects sir!!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Please, no apologies needed.

They are both great stories and perfectly on topic