PRG-HRG Travel Service

Introduction:

This trip report was written in April 2008 only a week after i got back from my trip to Hurghada. This is m first trip report so i hope i can deliver to the standards on this site.
Thanks for giving your time to read this report.

This time my family decided we needed a little week off during the Easter holiday. We went to the Czech Travel Company Blue Style and got a great last minute booking. We have done the same for the past three years. The only downside is that they don't tell you the flight times. In the past this has always been in the middle of the night. Travel Service is a small Czech charter airline mainly operating 737-800's. They are a charter airline but partners with smartwings





(Operated by Air Via)
QS 0624
22nd March 2008
Prague Terminal 1 - Hurghada International
13:00 - 18:00
Economy 19A
Airbus A320-200 LZ-MDT


Prague Ruyzne Airport





With our three big suitcases packed full we left for the airport with AAA Taxis. When we arrived we had to go to the blue style office where we could collect the plane tickets. The queue took a while so I went to get in the queue for check in. I thought it would be really long but it wasn't and before I knew it I was at the front with no tickets or passports. After another five minutes my parents turned up and we were being checked in. We opted for two on two seats with a window view. 19A is perfect as its just behind the wing, my favourite place to sit.

After check in we headed to McDonalds for a quick snack before the flight. For some reason I crave fast food before a flight, anyone else share this same craving? Boarding was at gate B8 so we headed over there. We went through security and into the big lounge that has gates B8, B9, B10. Really good view of landing and departing aircraft.


CSA Airbus A320-200 OK-MEH


Jet2 Boeing 737-300 G-CELX


Jet2 Boeing 737-300 G-CELX


CSA Airbus A319 OK-NEM (First CSA A319 in new colours)


Alitalia Airbus A319 I-BIMB (I wonder how long we will see Alitalia?)


Avro RJ100 at the gate


Air France Embraer EMB-146 F-GVHD


Polet flight Saab 2000 from Ukraine


CSA Airbus A319 OK-MEL


Germania A319 - Taxiing for departure


CSA Airbus A319 OK-MEL

I noticed there was no Travel Service Boeing 737-800 but instead an Air Via A320-200. I assumed there might be a gate change but there wasn’t. I also notice the engine cowling on the right engine was open and it looked as though they were doing maintenance on the engine. We were then notified of a 15 minute delay which must have been because of the maintainance work going on. Finally after a 45 minute delay the gate opened. We then sat on a rather hot and cramped A320 for another 30 minutes. I just sat at the window drinking water given out due to the heat. There was a sigh of relief when we started to push back at 14:15.


Sitting at seat 19A


Departing Lufthansa Airbus A320


Dark clouds

The relief of pushback was soon over as the engines were shut down. The chief cabin crew member told us we were having a technical fault and we were going to be toed to a remote stand where further information would be provided. We reached the stand and maintenance vehicles arrived shortly afterwards. It turned out to be a problem with the air conditioning, which would explain the heat when we boarded. We sat there for about 30 minutes with all possible exits open even the overwing exits! Maintainance mechanics came o board and looked as though they replaced a part in the cockpit.


Beoing toed to remote stand


Cirus Boeing 737-500 D-ACIN


KLM City Hopper Fokker 100 on final Runway 24


EasyJet Airbus A319 G-EZEJ


Two EasyJet Airbus A319 departing runway 24


Aerosvit Ukrainian Airlines UR-VVI

Then they restarted the engines and to everyone’s delight cold air came through the air conditioning. Doors were closed and once all the maintenance vehicles had gone we throttled up and taxied to the runway. Taxi was very short and took no more than 3 minutes. We held at runway 24.


Testing the flight controls on our Airbus A320


Being followed by SkyEurope Boeing 737-700


SkyEurope Boeing 737-700

We got clearance to enter runway 24 where we waited about a minute for further clearance



Video of Takeoff


After takeoff below the clouds


In turbulent cloud

Take off at 14: 58 and was quite long because we must have had close to full fuel and with every seat taken, lots of luggage to. Take off was around 45 seconds long. Quite a bit of cloud cover was over Prague that day so after about 2 minutes airborne we headed into turbulent cloud. When we emerged from the cloud we had the most amazing view of the clouds.


Exiting the clouds


Climbing to our cruise altitude

A smell of food flooded the cabin about 30 minutes into the flight and at 45 minutes into the flight the first of many drink services started. As my mum is a vegetarian she gave me her meal which was a bonus as it was actually really good. For some of you it might look bland and cheap but the chicken was nice and juicy and soft and the rice was perfect. Good job to Travel Service caterers.






Meal consisted of:
Chicken with rice coated in a gravy sauce
Bread roll
Cake with cream
Coca Cola
and all the extras such as milk, sugar, salt, pepper, hand wipes etc.

The flight was uneventful. I was annoyed the screens didn’t came down because I like to see where we are flying over. My sister took out her laptop and we watched Pink Panther…no comment. I had forgotten how dark it becomes so early in Africa. We were just between Greece and Africa (my guess) when it started to get dark. There must have been at least 3 or 4 more drinks services on this flight. Cabin crew were giving it their all. In the cabin there was an excited mood and everyone was ready for the holiday. But the Czech’s are not the type to get drunk on these flights so everything was relaxed. Only complaint is that about 7 rows in front of us was this odorous old man who looked like he didn’t know what shower was!


Sun Setting somewhere over the Greek Islands



Decent started at about 18:00. We must have been quite high because it was at least 40 minutes before landing. Nothing to see out the window because of the darkness so hence no photos. We were set for runway 34 at Hurghada International Airport. We flew directly over the airport in the direction of Makardi Bay where our hotel was and then make a huge “U” turn and line up with runway 34. Because of the darkness inside and outside the cabin I had no idea what height we were at. Then suddenly we flared over a poorly lit runway and flared for what seemed like ages. Obviously we flared to long and they First officer saw urgency so slammed us onto the runway. It wasn’t that bad but what seemed like a good landing turned out to be poor but it doesn't bother me, adds to the excitement!
Landing time: 18:45 GMT+1 (CZ time) 19:45 GMT+2 (Egyptian time)


Hurghada Airport

Taxi was short as Hurghada is a very small airport. There are no proper gates in Hurghada so we parked at a remote stand just short of the terminal. Engines shut down and cabin crew preparing for disembarkation of the aircraft. The lead flight attendant made an announcement to say the temperature was 13°C. She then was told by another flight attendant it was close to 30°C. The cabin was in hysterics!

We got off the plane and it really was 30°C! We got bussed to the terminal building in hot stuffy busses. We met our Egyptian friend who we knew well from other trips to Egypt and he pushed through the entire queue to get us our visa’s. hehe. We proceeded through the confusing immigration desks and to baggage where we waited about 15 minutes for all 3 bags.

So I always enjoy flying travel service and although it wasn’t their plane, it was their flight attendants and caterers. The service on this flight was beyond excellent. Nothing was too much trouble! I still can't believe there were 4 or so drink services. One thing I forgot to mention above is that we were the only English on the flight and because of that they did Czech and English announcements. Despite the delay which wasn’t the fault of Travel Service (Not their aircraft) we arrived in a comfortable environment and ready for another fantastic holiday with Blue Style.

Thanks for reading and remember if you thought this TR was crap, let me know!!

Seb Jacques