This is my second trip report here so please be kind  

Before I took this trip back to L.A I had flown with BA to ARN on the 17/18th December (2008) from LAX. I didn’t write a trip report on that part because I hadn’t time to do it unfortunately. But hey, here is a TR now!

After having a great new years eve I slept very late but Y had to wake up at 07:00 to check in online and get the best seats available for my flights. I chose seats 13F on BA 771 (ARN-LHR) and 37K on BA 279 (LHR-LAX). After I had checked in online I slept for a few more hours and later that day I packed my bags (ended up that my mother almost did all packing ).

I really looked forward for this trip as it would be the first time for me travelling all alone! I felt grown up  .

I got into bed quite late, around midnight, but I had to wake up at 03:40 for my 07:00 departure to London. The alarm went off on time and I left home around 04:10 with my mother. It was really cold outside this morning (-11C) so I assumed the aircraft would be deiced before we would take off. We reached ARN 50minutes later at 05:00.

The queue for check in was quite long but I wasn’t worried because I had plenty of time. About 40minutes later I checked in my 2pieces of bag and I was quite confident that the bags would show up at LAX. At around 06:00 I went through security which was a breeze, and went to gate 67 of course!

Few of this morning’s departures:


Besides the BA aircraft to LHR these where the other two parked at Terminal 2:




Boarding began at 06:30 and was completed 20minutes later. The flight to LHR was close to 100% full.



BA 0771
ARN-LHR
Date: 2nd January 2009
Departure Scheduled/Actual: 07:00/06:58
Airborne: 07:15
Runway: 01L
Touchdown: 08:23
Runway: 09L
Arrival Scheduled/Actual: 09:00/08:34
Flight duration Scheduled/Actual: 3hrs/2hrs 36min
Taxi time: 28minutes
Flight time in air: 2hrs 8minutes
Aircraft: Airbus A319-131 G-EUOH

Wing view from my seat (13F):


Pushback occurred 06:58. After pushback the pilot informed us that the aircraft would be deiced before take off. I was excited as it would be my first de icing ever. The whole de ice procedure went through really quick. We had a short taxi to runway 01L and took off at 07:15. The take off roll was really short. After a few sharp turns the seat belt sign went off.

Shortly after take off:


The initial flight level was 360. That changed over Denmark to FL 380 because we encountered some bad turbulence. It was really rough. The whole plane shook violently. This was probably moderate turbulence. At FL380 the turbulence smoothened.

Half way to London the sun went up:


When we reached the coast of England we descended to FL320, probably due to other traffic. After cruising at FL320 for a while we behan our decent into LHR.

Turning as we make our way down into LHR


The A319’s wing tip.



There were thick layers of clouds where ever yuo looked which was pity, because I would love to have a view of London. We were put in a hold for about 15 minutes before we could start our final decent into LHR.

This is how thick the clouds were this morning as we make our way down to LHR.




At 08:23 we touched down on 09L. The landing was the best I have had so far. You couldn’t tell if we had touched ground or not until the reverse were applied. We taxied around LHR for a while before parking at a remote gate next to a VS A340.

Few pictures of the taxing at LHR:






Parked next to this bird:


As we parked the buses were already there waiting for us. As I disembarked I took a few pictures of the aircraft. This is what I love with remote gates; you get up close to the aircraft.

Picture of the aircraft as I disembark:


The bus ride was rather rough because it was so packed and I didn’t have any seat. After a while I we arrived at T5. As my flight from Stockholm arrived early I had plenty of time in my hands for my next flight to LAX.

I went through security without any problems and bought a F1 magazine before I took the train to the B gates. The flight to LAX was to depart from gate B45. I went to the gate and saw that G-CIVL would operate the flight to LAX. I had already flown with G-CIVL earlier to LAX once, so I wasn’t happy to see this bird again. Would be nicer to catch a new reg. I don’t like to get the same aircraft (reg) twice!

BA Boeing 772ER G-RAES, awaiting its passengers to ORD as BA295




My aircaft, G-CIVL, to LAX as BA279:






Another BA 747, G-CIVN, parked next to our 747 would actually serve the 2nd daily flight to LAX as BA283 later that day:



As the time for departure came closer, no announcements were made. At 10:15, scheduled departure time, I could see that they still loaded the aircraft with food. At about 10:40 an announcement was made that all First/Business and disable passengers could board. But as they made that announcement all the passengers rushed and formed a really long line. I seriously don’t get this, why does this happen on every flight? The gate agent in LAX, when I flew LAX-LHR two weeks earlier said; no need for rush, all will board the same flight to London, and we will not leave anyone behind. Wish they could same something similar now. I boarded this flight amongst the last ones, after watching the rush.

Boarding the aircraft:


BA 0279
LHR-LAX
Date: 2nd January 2009
Depart scheduled/actual: 10:15/11:08
Airborne: 11:22
Runway: 09R
Touchdown: 13:54
Runway: 24R
Arrive scheduled/actual: 13:25/13:58
Flight duration scheduled/actual: 11hrs 10min/10hrs 50min
Taxi time: 18 minutes
Flight time in air: 30hrs 32min
Aircraft: Boeing 747-436 G-CIVL

View from the exit window in the first economy section:


View from my seat 37K:


At about 11:00 boarding was completed and the captain excused for the delay and said that they had taken little extra fuel to be able to fly faster and make up some of the lost time. He also said that we had to wait for a while before push back because of heavy traffic at LHR.
At 11:08 we pushed back and made a short taxi to the active runway: 09R.

Testing spoilers:


Seven BA 747s parked at T5.


Almost turning into the runway:


At 11:22, 1hr 7minutes late, the four RR engines began to spoil up and move this heavy machin.

Shortly after take off we made a sharp right turn and flew close to LHR. I could see a Air Malta A320 take off and several aircrafts landing.

Turning sharply to the right after departure:


Flying close to LHR after take off:


First flight level was 320. When we reached the cruise altitude the crew served us a snack with drink.

At FL 320:


Crew served us with snack and drink shortly after departure:


When I turned on the PTV I noted I had about 17 channels. I was really frustrated because I was the only one with the old PTV system! I don’t know why it was like this.
When we left the Irish coast we hit very strong headwinds which continued all the way to Los Angeles. Sometimes the headwinds were so bad that we only flew about 780km/h.
As food service commenced we changed our cruise to FL340 and shortly after to FL360. The food today was either lasagna or chicken. I chose chicken which was really good.

Midway through the flight I went out of my seat and didn’t return first after an hour and half. Over Canada we changed the cruise altitude to 38,000 feet. The view of Canada was really nice until it became too cloudy to see anything.

Few pictures as we fly over Canada:










Picture taken from 37K:


About an hour and half out of LAX the crew served us a sandwich which was nothing to write home about. The descent began shortly afterwards and as we passed the snowy mountain tops one could see LA. I always love the view of LA when I pass the mountains!

Cruising at FL380:


Anyone know which airport this is?


Pictures of Grand Canyon:
.





Descending for Los Angeles:


As we descended I saw this on one of the mountains:


Some pictures of our descend:


Anyone know the airport?








Touching down on runway 24R at 13:54:


As usual we landed on runway 24R, at 13:54. It was another smooth landing. We used the whole runway because as I would know later, we parked at a remote gate. But this wasn’t one of the usual remote gates. It was like a small free standing building with a jet way. As you left the building there were buses waiting for you. The bus ride was short and we passed two QF A380s parked next to each other.

When we arrived at TBIT there were already long queues to passport control, but as a Visa holder it went all smooth and quick. But to get my bags wasn’t that smooth! My bags came out as the last, literally. I was really frustrated because I had to wait over an hour to get my two bags! About an hour and half after landing I left TBIT and was on my way home, all exhausted.

All in all I had a good flight with BA, but somehow it didn’t feel as good as it usually does. Maybe it was the crew, but I don’t know, something was missing. And the fact that my PTV was of the old type didn’t help!

Upcoming flights:

April 7th: AA1928 LAX-SFO MD80

April 7th: WN 2448 SFO-LAX 737-300

Flying between Los Angeles and Sweden sometime during the summer.

Feel free to leave a comment.