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darloscott

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The exact reason why there's a 777 on one round trip with BA on the Heathrow to Madrid sector isn't it. I really want to do that run just for the novelty, no interest in Madrid whatsoever!

Did BA872 0905 Heathrow-Kraków this morning, absolutely no issues whatsoever on that flight. Pushed back 8 late, but a beautiful day for flying above the clouds and past the UK. Put the brakes on just 1 minute late, not bad whatsoever.

Had a decent crew too, better than the lot I had over from LAX. Sadly I already know they're not due to be on BA873 on Friday, so hoping to hit the jackpot and have an amazing crew.

G-NEOP was a winner and was a 321neo as advertised when I booked the trip. I must remember to order the 2020 spotting book soon too!
The 777 is always on the BA460/461 which leaves Heathrow around lunchtime, leaving Madrid around 4pm on the return leg. I would certainly recommend Madrid as a city to visit, I've been numerous times, though the last trip I went for the day, using the 456 out (0600 ex LHR) and 461 back when they were running the A350 on 456/7 to try the new Club suite... returning in First on the 777. I went to the city of Toledo instead of Madrid yet again, and would highly recommend to people interested in both history and architecture, it's a stunning place.
 
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Techniquest

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Thanks, I honestly had no idea about Madrid being even remotely interesting. Toledo I had not heard of, certainly something to consider and definitely a Google search.

All prepped, de-ranced and had breakfast (fried up the remainder of last night's pierogi), will soon be ready to head to Kraków Airport. I don't take off for over 11 hours though, so it's now time to figure out something to do for the next few hours.

Pretty foggy outside today, so all I'm expecting to do is get something for lunch in town. I'd camp up somewhere in a cafe and people-watch, but the third part of my health improvement scheme is a caffeine reduction mission, so yeah :lol:

Can't complain at the seat I've got though, 6C for BA873 1940 Kraków-London Heathrow. I could have had 17F, with an excellent view of the engine, but it's going to be dark so not a lot of point. I'm also wanting to get to the hotel as soon as possible (easyHotel Heathrow again tonight) so being near the front is definitely a bonus. Will certainly help progress on another improvement mission, which is increasing my patience.

I've done two flights now with no appetite suppressants, in 2020 that would be extra strong mints, so that's left me ticking off the appetite control improvement part of the health improvement scheme :D Next parts are improving the quality and variety of food intake, better management of meal times and, finally, cut right back on the sugary stuff. So plenty to do yet!

Anyway, I'm clearly bored. Let's finish by commenting with a hope that I don't get NEOP again for the flight home!
 

flymo

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Looking at Flightradar24 it shows the outbound craft BA872 diverted to Warsaw and the BA873 now scheduled for early on the 18th. ? I know you mentioned fog, looks like it may have affected your flights? Hope things get moving soon.
 

WatcherZero

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Another new 737 MAX certification problem, apparently its already put recertification back by a week.

Theyve discovered the Flight Computers POST isnt detecting problems during boot up that it should be identifying (e.g. bad ram, corruption, hardware issues, etc..)
 

Techniquest

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Looking at Flightradar24 it shows the outbound craft BA872 diverted to Warsaw and the BA873 now scheduled for early on the 18th. ? I know you mentioned fog, looks like it may have affected your flights? Hope things get moving soon.

Sorry for the lack of reply until now, I'm finally not busy and cruising through Middle Earth on the way from London to Hereford. Final leg of a 12 day adventure, 2 days to recover before the return to reality on Tuesday morning!

Let's tell you then what happened from what I experienced at the airport. Heavy fog all day, although I hadn't seen how bad it was on the field, in Kraków but from landside it didn't seem too bad.

I went through security and waited in the packed Departures area, occasionally I had signal that worked and until just before landing there had been no sign of issues with my flight. I looked again a few minutes later, diverted to Warsaw!

Back through security to join the queue for BA assistance, which shared with the likes of Lufthansa, Brussels, Swiss and Austrian. I then remembered in the queue, having now found out I was due to depart at 2205, I had a 24 hour helpline with BA Holidays. Advice was just to hang around for now, and that may seem obvious but my plane being diverted last minute was a new experience for me. I needed to know if I had to get to Warsaw, if transport was to be laid on, all this kind of information.

After getting a coffee to keep me functional until gone midnight when I'd get to easyHotel, a little after that I got the text message to let me know of the rescheduling. Back on the phone, and much credit to the guy on the BA helpline, really friendly and helpful. He helped me get the accommodation sorted, again this was all a new experience for me. Very glad I'd organised as a package deal with BA Holidays, if I'd booked it all seperately I'd have a) not had such an amazing hotel in the first place and b) I'd have had to book all this stuff on my own.

Once I had that organised, checked what I needed for expenses claims, I went to deal with everything else. Thankfully I'd leftover funds from other budgets, so I wasn't stuck there. Onto the 2017 train to Kraków Glówny, I didn't see the need for an overpriced taxi, as I'd been rebooked into the same hotel (Corner Hotel, as my trip report will discuss too, is awesome. Highly recommended, as is Kraków in general) which was easy to access from the railway station.

Since BA were paying, I had a Burger King tea! :lol: Was less than £6 for a large meal anyway, yes a country where BK is reasonably priced! I just hope they'll be kind enough to reimburse me for my easyHotel stay at £24.

On the way back to town, I got confirmation of the new departure time, 1105. I had expected to need a super early alarm! Took the bus to the airport this morning at half 8, as it was close to my hotel, 38 minutes to get through bag drop in my queue. The one next to me moved far quicker! 25 zloty refreshment voucher, which is only around £5 without checking. Only saw one place accepting vouchers, and I spent 30 minutes at security. Outrageous, although I suspect on a normal day it wouldn't be much time at all. The food and drink in that cafe, So! Coffee, was seriously overpriced and all I ended up with was a large mocha with cream. Strongly recommend NOT having a mocha with cream!

By now it was 1042 so the queue to get on a bus to the plane was not long at all. G-NEOP took me home with a very good crew, no complaints about BA here whatsoever. Pushback was at 1107, 15 hours and 32 minutes late. It was a bit foggy again by now, but not as bad.

Arrived Heathrow with the brakes on at 1234, having recovered 13 minutes to arrive 15 hours and 19 minutes late. Beautiful sunshine to welcome us back, and I even got 2 BA 747s and 3 BA short-haul craft for sight on the way in from the runway/walking to passport control, so I was unsurprisingly very happy about that!
 

Techniquest

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Jet2, not as good as easyJet? Ooh that riles me, where's my pitchfork?!

I've been in Trip Planning Process Mode today, and after much exploring of options with BA Holidays I've had to cut my losses with BA as I can't realistically afford any of those options for March 2020. Too many other things to spend money on at the moment, that's not to say the magic plastic won't come out later to put a deposit down on my October break, but for March I just can't justify almost filling the magic plastic with a Euro trip.

So I was about to give up, and I found the Wizz Air app hiding away. With making it a short trip, I've booked Luton to Iceland (I will have to get better at spelling the city's name!) and back with Wizz Air for just £38.98! Small bag on-board only granted, and no hotel booked with it, but that task is for this afternoon.

Either way, in just 63 days time I'll be jetting off to the next item on my Bucket List! Get there on the Monday afternoon, takeoff on the Wednesday evening. Yes I know that isn't long at all, but it will be enough to do what I want there, so it's all good.

Hopefully two nights accommodation won't cost *too* much...
 
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Aictos

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I’ve never used Jet2 so no idea what they’re like, am curious to hear from people here who have used them.

As to BA Holidays, used them a lot a few years back but at the moment am looking at value more so travelling around the Eastern Bloc more for example there’s a night in a hotel in Sofia for £16 which is pretty cheap.
 

Zerothebrake!

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The bus from Keflavik airport to Reykavik and back will be the same price as your Wizz flights...

Both of the YHA Hostels in the city are good and take the breakfast there for the cheapest food option.

There is a local bus No55 that runs to and from the airport with an erratic schedule but it will save you a couple of quid - and book yourself onto one of the coach tours to see the northern lights on the first night (£30 ish) as you'll get another go for free on the second night if they don't show.

..and have a great trip.
 
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Tetchytyke

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I’ve never used Jet2 so no idea what they’re like, am curious to hear from people here who have used them.

Used them a few times from Newcastle to Ibiza on a package holiday. Check in is very professional, lots of staff directing passengers and lots of desks open, both in the UK and Spain. Last time Newcastle had had a power cut causing mayhem but lots of staff telling people what was going on, they weren't hiding away.

Cabin crew very friendly- they recognised me and the family from the outbound flight- and none of the EasyJet arsiness about cabin baggage.

Onboard catering very mediocre, though- take your own food. The planes are old but you generally wouldn't know, except the toilets (clean but clearly old).

Infinitely better than my recent package experiences with Thomas Cook and TUI.
 

WestCoast

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Coming back from my sister's house in Cyprus last week decided to buy a ticket with Air Malta and route back via Malta. Had my eye on this for a while as Larnaca - Malta is actually operated by Emirates on a 777 as part of the route Dubai - Larnaca - Malta. Absolutely fantastic experience with only about 70 passengers on the entire 350 seater aircraft, never been on a 777 that managed such a short takeoff roll! I've somehow never flown with Emirates but the crew was very pleasant and they offered a very respectable cold meal and full bar which was way better than anything you'd normally get on a European flight.

However, have to say the economy seating on the Emirates 777 seemed pretty tight to me and the business class looked very outdated (no lie flat seats and three seats in the middle) - I think BA's old club world business class looks better! o_O

It seems that Qatar Airways would be superior for long flights (flew them to/from Asia last year and they were outstanding), even BA seems on a par if we are comparing to what I saw. Although they were excellent on my short flight, I am not sure what the hype is about for Emirates? :?:
 

Techniquest

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The bus from Keflavik airport to Reykavik and back will be the same price as your Wizz flights...

Ouch! That said, I once spent 55€ on a taxi (pre-booked thankfully, would have been about 80€ off the rank) from Knock Airport to Ballina one way so yeah, I suppose it could be worse!

Both of the YHA Hostels in the city are good and take the breakfast there for the cheapest food option.

After my trip to LA and the hostel there I'm going nowhere near hostels again. Especially not after staying in some stunning places since then, I'm reverting back to the older mindset of preferring a hotel to have my own space and be more secure.

There is a local bus No55 that runs to and from the airport with an erratic schedule but it will save you a couple of quid - and book yourself onto one of the coach tours to see the northern lights on the first night (£30 ish) as you'll get another go for free on the second night if they don't show.

..and have a great trip.

The flight into KEF arrives at 6pm, so I don't know yet if I'll make it onto one of those trips for the Northern Lights, but if I do then I will definitely be on it. One of the key reasons for going to Iceland after all!

Thanks for the advice on Iceland, most appreciated! :D
 

Tetchytyke

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have to say the economy seating on the Emirates 777 seemed pretty tight to me and the business class looked very outdated (no lie flat seats and three seats in the middle

IIRC they are lie flat but it is 2-3-2.

And yes, economy seat width is a very snug 17" on the 777s, as Emirates fly them 10-abreast.
 

darloscott

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Ouch! That said, I once spent 55€ on a taxi (pre-booked thankfully, would have been about 80€ off the rank) from Knock Airport to Ballina one way so yeah, I suppose it could be worse!

I prebooked mine with Reykjavik Excursions - the Airport link has its own Flybus brand - and indeed my Northern Lights trip too. They do a very handy hotel drop off around town if you require it (though you pay a bit more, obviously)

The flight into KEF arrives at 6pm, so I don't know yet if I'll make it onto one of those trips for the Northern Lights, but if I do then I will definitely be on it. One of the key reasons for going to Iceland after all!

Thanks for the advice on Iceland, most appreciated! :D

The RE Northern Lights trip picked me up from my hotel around 2130-2200 if I remember right so you should be fine time wise. It's only 45 mins from Keflavik into town.
 

Mojo

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The bus from Keflavik airport to Reykavik and back will be the same price as your Wizz flights...
Ouch! That said, I once spent 55€ on a taxi (pre-booked thankfully, would have been about 80€ off the rank) from Knock Airport to Ballina one way so yeah, I suppose it could be worse!

After my trip to LA and the hostel there I'm going nowhere near hostels again. Especially not after staying in some stunning places since then, I'm reverting back to the older mindset of preferring a hotel to have my own space and be more secure.

The flight into KEF arrives at 6pm, so I don't know yet if I'll make it onto one of those trips for the Northern Lights, but if I do then I will definitely be on it. One of the key reasons for going to Iceland after all!

Thanks for the advice on Iceland, most appreciated! :D
I’ve been to Iceland a few times, hope you enjoy your visit.

If you have a driving license then I’d seriously recommend hiring a car instead. It gives you so much more freedom to see places and if necessary stay at somewhere out of the city so will be a big cheaper. Looking at the dates you’re travelling (I’m guessing 23-25 March given that’s 63 days from Monday when you posted), you can hire a car for two days from Kef airport for £43, which is only £4 or so more than the bus from the Airport to the City alone!

When I’ve done some of the major attractions (Golden Circle, and others) the people seem to get herded along and look really miserable, the buses at the airport were also packed when I’ve been there! And unlike most countries, as a tourist you don’t feel like you’re getting ripped off, although a very small number of attractions have added parking fees since my first visit, the number is small and the price isn’t too expensive.
 

telstarbox

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Teesside are launching a bunch of new routes: London City, Dublin, Belfast, Southampton, Cardiff and Isle of Man. These will be operated by Eastern Airways who already fly the Teesside - Aberdeen route.
 

joncombe

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I’ve been to Iceland a few times, hope you enjoy your visit.

If you have a driving license then I’d seriously recommend hiring a car instead. It gives you so much more freedom to see places and if necessary stay at somewhere out of the city so will be a big cheaper. Looking at the dates you’re travelling (I’m guessing 23-25 March given that’s 63 days from Monday when you posted), you can hire a car for two days from Kef airport for £43, which is only £4 or so more than the bus from the Airport to the City alone!

I'd second this advice. I've been there a couple of times and hired a car both times because when I looked into the prices of the excursion vs the cost of the hire car (and airport transfer), it was cheaper to hire a car even factoring in paying for fuel and gives much more flexibility. That said I did book two excursions. The first I booked was to go to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon (highly recommended by the way) because I was staying in Reykjavík and I felt that was further than I wanted to drive there and back in a day. I also suspect if I had tried to do so I'd probably not have got there at a sensible time because the temptation to keep stopping the car to take photos of the amazing scenery on the way there would have probably proved too much! The second was the Northern Lights because I didn't really know where was a good place to go and felt given the cost of getting there I'd stand a much better chance of seeing them on a tour (which I did). Also the guide was quite good at helping set up cameras to get good photos too.
 

joncombe

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A shame I can't drive then really! That's an interesting point on the tours, something I need to look out for in reviews.
Ah sorry yes I'd missed this when I made my last comment, sorry. Well on the couple of excursions I did book it was all quite well organised. I just gave the name of the hotel and a minibus arrives about 30 minutes before the tour starts to take you to the main bus depot (I used Reykjavík excursions) where you swap onto the coach for your booked excursion and the reverse applies on the way back.

The only thing to be aware of is on the Northern Lights trip because we got back so late (think it was about 2-3am) the minibus drivers had finished for the night so the main coach we had travelled on did all the hotel drop offs on the way back. I was unlucky in that mine was the last hotel served, so took a while to get back to the hotel, but it was at least door-to-door.
 

sharpley

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Boeing 777X is about to have its maiden flight. Can watch it live on YouTube..
Flight cancelled due to weather, although it did taxi out to the runway and sit there for 3 hours waiting for a break in the wind and rain, You'd have thought Boeing would have checked the forecast. It was also cancelled yesterday for weather. The folding wingtips on the 777X are pretty cool though.
 

Techniquest

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A shame the 777X has not yet made it up into the air, but surely it's got to happen soon. Pesky weather!

joncombe, thanks for the advice there. The drop-off at the hotel (guesthouse for me) after the tour certainly would be beneficial, given the late return. I'll see what I can get when funds are more available, certainly plenty of choice out there.

I also discovered Grand Canyon Airlines by chance yesterday, during the filling in of my new ST Publications book. There's certainly an interesting idea for the Grand Canyon adventure when it finally happens!
 

sprunt

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In terms of carbon footprint, are prop planes more or less efficient than jets, or is there not much difference?
 

sharpley

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A shame the 777X has not yet made it up into the air, but surely it's got to happen soon. Pesky weather
Boeing will try again today weather permitting. 3rd time lucky for the 777X hopefully. From 1800 UK time, 1000 Seattle time. No doubt there will be a live stream on YouTube.
 

cactustwirly

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Boeing will try again today weather permitting. 3rd time lucky for the 777X hopefully. From 1800 UK time, 1000 Seattle time. No doubt there will be a live stream on YouTube.
Interesting to see, but it could be a while until it's flying in commercial service given the 737 Max issues, there's rumours going around that it also has has similar problems.
 

sharpley

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Interesting to see, but it could be a while until it's flying in commercial service given the 737 Max issues, there's rumours going around that it also has has similar problems.
Im sure the FAA will be all over this certification process with a fine toothcomb. Im not sure how much older 777 tech has been 'grandfathered' into the new 777X. It has a new fuselage, wings (plus folding wingtips) and engines. I did read that the 737 Max wouldn't have been certified at current standards if it wasn't for grandfathering allowances on older tech.
 

sharpley

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777X finally took off on its maiden flight. Its a handsome plane, sort of a 777 / 787 hybrid
 

Shaw S Hunter

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I also discovered Grand Canyon Airlines by chance yesterday, during the filling in of my new ST Publications book. There's certainly an interesting idea for the Grand Canyon adventure when it finally happens!

Totally recommend that particular trip, in fact I would go as far as to say that anyone who likes travel and intends visiting the western US should have to go. There's a reason why the Grand Canyon is considered to be one of the world's natural wonders.
 
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