akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 1961 posts, RR: 54 Posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 5461 times:
IN RETROSPECT
Dear fellow A.netters,
I do hope you have enjoyed my earlier covering about my partner’s and my long weekend in Paris. In case you have missed it, feel free to take a look by clicking Paris, Le Bourget And Outward Mission 12th July (by akhmad Jul 16 2010 in Trip Reports)
This part of my trip report will show you our return journey to Paris. If you find any time reference during our stay in London, that will be the English time.
AT THE AIRPORT
I was surprised that Heathrow Terminal 4 was empty that Monday afternoon.
Security was a breeze. There were only two passengers before us. After five minutes we were through and went upstairs to the gate area.
Our gate was not displayed yet
I let Tim know by a SMS that we were inside.
Shopping arcade
We went towards gate 1 where I could get some window view out of T4.
Malaysian B744
Wide-bodies at T3, One Qantas A380 was substituted by Air India B77W
Air Canada B763 just landed
Emirates A380
My attempt to capture the A380’s of three different airlines
In the meantime, our departure gate was announced.
FIDS
I sent another message to Tim that we were going to the gate. He replied that he would be meeting us there.
First prize of an airport lucky draw
Gate signage
Distance indicator
Typically London
FLIGHT STATUS
Our itinerary:
Route: LHR-CDG
Date: 12 July 2010
ETD/ATD: 12.50 / 12.50
ETA/ATA: 15.05 / 15.07
Flight number: AF 1981
Plane: Airbus 321-211
Registration: F-GTAK
Delivered: First delivered 18 January 2002 to Air France
My partner and I recognized Tim immediately. Tim’s summer holiday has just started that Monday. He flew in at the morning from Amsterdam.
Both Tim and I were curious about each other’s seat assignments. It turned out that Tim got assigned the window seat at the last row on the right. We would be his neighbor on the other left. Someone has for sure inspired us.
“I thought that there would be more A.netters for this flight,” I said to Tim.
“Probably. But we do not know how they look like,” Tim replied.
“Well, at least there were two of us, plus one,”
Until now, I am still wondering whether fellow A.netters Stylo777 and Bobby might have their flights rescheduled.
Boarding
Boarding call was made at 12.20. Almost everyone stood up and started queuing.
After waiting for fifteen minutes, we decided to go on board.
Going down
Turning right at the far end
Just before the aerobridge, newspaper rack was available.
Before entrance
ON BOARD
Captain Langdeur and two cabin attendants greeted us at the door. There was another crew set on duty. They flew in together with us from Paris earlier.
After scrutinizing our boarding passes, we were waived through. For some reasons, one cabin attendant tapped my partner on the shoulder because she did not look at his boarding pass thoroughly.
The Voyageur cabin
Up to the last row
My seat 35A
Legroom
Neighbor view
Boarding process went faster this time.
Pushback commenced on time. From now on let me take you along the experience from the taxiing until the lift-off from runway 09R-27L.
JAT B733
Tarom B73G winglet
Aeroflot A319
We had to wait for a landing BA B744 before crossing the runway.
SQ A380 had been substituted by EK A380
It was a busy afternoon as many aircrafts were waiting in line for take-off.
BMI A319, AI B77W and AC B763
US Airways A333
BA A320
Two aircrafts were cleared for take-off.
AC A319
Cathay B744
Then two another aircrafts were allowed to proceed.
AI B77W
AC B763
Then, US A333 was overtaking us.
A long queue
Again, two aircrafts from the queue were allowed to enter the runway before us.
BMI A319
Transaero B73H
Apparently we were at the back of the pecking order just like the Kuwait Airways aircraft with which fellow A.netter Sandeep (AI151) was traveling to New York.
Finally our Airbus started moving, passing an American B772.
Sorry, it is our turn now
As soon as we entered the runway, the engines spooled up and we were accelerating down the runway.
Lifting off at 13.12 (14.12 French time).
Terminal 5B
Terminal 5A
Artificial lakes near LHR
Green English landscape
We banked to the left and flew southeast.
LHR on the background
Gatwick with an aircraft taking off
The cloud layers became thicker. But you could still spot some scenery on the horizon.
After about five minutes from lift-off, the fasten seatbelt signs were switched off and the cabin crew sprung into action.
There were some turbulences after three minutes, but the service kept going on. We had got a charming attendant serving our row.
“Hello, sir. What would you like to drink?” he asked.
“Can we have beer please,” I and my partner replied.
“Certainly,”
While handing out our beer, he proceeded, “Do you want biscuits or crackers to go with it?”
“Crackers, please,” my partner said.
“No thank, you,” I replied.
“Do you want only beer? Is that all?” he verified.
I nodded.
After handing out the crackers, the attendant went on.
My partner’s beer and crackers
Soon enough, we were approaching the French coastline.
At 14.35, Captain Langdeur came to the intercom to announce our descent.
The clouds opened up bit by bit, revealing the French landscape.
From now on, I take you along the experience from approaching CDG until getting docked.
CDG in sight
CDG T2 on the background
Wide-bodies waiting for take-off clearance
We touched down at 13.55 (14.55 French time).
A shot of particular aircraft dedicated to FlyingFinn76
We vacated the runway immediately towards T2.
Crossing over the highway
No, they were not parked, but waiting for take-off clearance
Customers of T3
Mint Airways B752
Meridiana MD80 and Air Méditerranée A321
Then the glimpse of third Concorde came in sight.
Just in the neighborhood of our Ibis hotel.
As we were entering the platform of T2, we got the glimpse of another interesting birds.
CX B744
Etihad A345
Air Austral B772
Armavia A319
Emirates A380
We were docked right on time at 14.05 (15.05 French time).
After saying goodbye to the male cabin attendant serving us, My partner and I left the aircraft along with Tim.
As we were disembarking at T2S3, we had to take the automatic mini train to the T2 main bulding.
Mini train
Rail view
Signage
Underway, you could have an excellent view on the platform.
Our ride from LHR
It went even above the level of aircraft tails.
Cityjet Avro
We then proceeded to the exit. It might seem a confusing long walk, but in fact you just have to follow the signage’s.
The corridor
Interesting design with windows towards the basement
The upper departure level
My partner and I will be shortly visiting one of the displayed countries
Tim decided to take the train straight to the city from the T2 main station, so my partner and I said goodbye to him and made our way back to Roissypôle.
VERDICT
I must say that CDG is not as bad as many people especially on Skytrax are pretending. We experienced the airport as easy to navigate and hassle-free. Perhaps, it could be our luck being there outside the peak hours.
Regarding AF, everything was fine except the inquiry about our flight itinerary after the equipment change which still remained unanswered. Was it a big deal? Perhaps. Would we fly with AF again? Most probably if their schedules fit our needs.
With the last thoughts above, I put a conclusion to my trip report. I do hope you have been enjoying it as much as I did while writing in. Please do not hesitate to drop any comments or suggestions. I certainly appreciate it.
Contact Air From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 1154 posts, RR: 16 Reply 1, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 5304 times:
Hello Suryo,
Fantastic report about your return flight as well. If you didn't get the A380, you got at least two great airports for spotting. Your pictures show impressively the variety of aircraft at LHR and at CDG. And you met some nice A.Netters which must have been fun as well.
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1488 posts, RR: 45 Reply 2, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 5132 times:
Hi Suryo,
Nice to read the second half as well - you sure are fast getting these up! Looks like the weather over at CDG was improving during your short London visit - in the evening it was warm and sunshine again...
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): Both Tim and I were curious about each other’s seat assignments. It turned out that Tim got assigned the window seat at the last row on the right. We would be his neighbor on the other left. Someone has for sure inspired us.
Hey, I kept that seat warm for Tim! Hope he appreciated it
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): A shot of particular aircraft dedicated to FlyingFinn76
Whoa, thanks. Nice to see a 75W flying to CDG as well.
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 1961 posts, RR: 54 Reply 3, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 4599 times:
Hi fellows,
Thanks for your reply.
@Christoph:
Quoting Contact Air (Reply 1): Fantastic report about your return flight as well.
Thank you.
Quoting Contact Air (Reply 1): If you didn't get the A380, you got at least two great airports for spotting.
You are right. I just have to look on the bright side of the whole trip.
Quoting Contact Air (Reply 1): And you met some nice A.Netters which must have been fun as well.
That is for sure. I have had a great time with them. I am now looking forward to my following A.net meeting elsewhere. Hopefully it will work out.
@P.:
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 2): Nice to read the second half as well - you sure are fast getting these up!
Thank you.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 2): Looks like the weather over at CDG was improving during your short London visit - in the evening it was warm and sunshine again...
So was it in Holland. It looks like the countries needed some cooling down for a while after being overheated for several days.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 2): Whoa, thanks. Nice to see a 75W flying to CDG as well.
You are welcome. Glad you like it.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 2): That bird was parked on the very same spot the previous night when I arrived, I don't think it ever left during that time anywhere.
You are right. I was browsing through my photos and spotted this bird even earlier in the afternoon.
airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 3735 posts, RR: 52 Reply 5, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 4425 times:
Hoi Suryo,
good continuation of the first part. Nice to see similar views as what I had yesterday myself. But not from an A321 though
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): I must say that CDG is not as bad as many people especially on Skytrax are pretending. We experienced the airport as easy to navigate and hassle-free.
CDG is basically a great airport. Only Terminal 1 is a real pain in the ass. It's old, dirty, hot,... T2 is very well ok. Even the toilets are kept clean (I noticed!). Not sure about baggage handling though. I hear many missing cases from CDG. So far this might be a problem when in transit...
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): Would we fly with AF again? Most probably if their schedules fit our needs.
Oh yes! AF is a great airline. They always smiled to me and were always friendly (I flew them quite a few times already). Also the inflight service is given in a friendly way, and I find cabin crew doing the job very serious, especially I have a 'safe feeling' with this airline and crew, something I can't say about some other airline companies.
Regards
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
AI151 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2009, 303 posts, RR: 17 Reply 9, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 3521 times:
Hi Suryo, I enjoyed the 2nd part of the TR. Some great pictures and seeing T4 at LHR brought back some memories from when I travelled the America.
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): Apparently we were at the back of the pecking order just like the Kuwait Airways aircraft with which fellow A.netter Sandeep (AI151) was traveling to New York.
I left on a Saturday afternoon and thought that was bad, however despite you leaving on a Monday afternoon when it should be quieter, it seemed even busier! If I were the pilot, I would have lost my patience with having to wait that long. But on the plus side it gave you some good shots of other aircrafts.
lychemsa From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 686 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 3034 times:
Funny to see an AC 319 in London. I believe it's their flight to Halifax.
JL418 From Italy, joined Jun 2009, 491 posts, RR: 10 Reply 12, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 2895 times:
Hi Suryo,
thanks for the TR, it was so dense with pictures! As usual for your TRs, I get the feeling I am doing the trip as well, since everything is so well documented.
Anyway, what was an Air Canada 319 doing at Heathrow? Doing some short route over the Atlantic? Does anybody know where?
CrimsonNL From Netherlands, joined Dec 2007, 1435 posts, RR: 43 Reply 13, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 3 days ago) and read 2856 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
Hey Suryo, nice report. Sorry to hear you didn't get on the A380, aircraft changes suck! I must agree with you that CDG (at least airside) isn't half as bad as you read on most sides, and I can say that after being stuck there for 7 hours.
eicvd From Ireland, joined Mar 2008, 1951 posts, RR: 5 Reply 14, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 2801 times:
Hi Suryo
Just like the first part of your trip report, I really enjoyed this one. I never knew CDG had such a variety of airline's flying there. Also your pics from around LHR have me looking forward to my trip there next week even more, hope to be at the end of a long line of departing traffic on my return trip too, ive yet to experience that at LHR yet .
Thanks for sharing.
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 1961 posts, RR: 54 Reply 15, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 2639 times:
Quoting lychemsa (Reply 11): Funny to see an AC 319 in London. I believe it's their flight to Halifax.
Quoting JL418 (Reply 12): Anyway, what was an Air Canada 319 doing at Heathrow? Doing some short route over the Atlantic? Does anybody know where?
Could the AC 319 be flying to St. John's during the summer season?
@JL418:
Quoting JL418 (Reply 12): thanks for the TR, it was so dense with pictures! As usual for your TRs, I get the feeling I am doing the trip as well, since everything is so well documented.
Quoting CrimsonNL (Reply 13): and I can say that after being stuck there for 7 hours.
Really? What was during the vulcanic ash period?
Quoting CrimsonNL (Reply 13): Hope you have better luck on your next trip!
I do hope se. But in return, I have had an enjoyable meeting with FlyingFinn76 and Tim.
@eicvd:
Quoting eicvd (Reply 14): Just like the first part of your trip report, I really enjoyed this one. I never knew CDG had such a variety of airline's flying there.
Thank you. Glad you liked it.
Quoting eicvd (Reply 14): Also your pics from around LHR have me looking forward to my trip there next week even more, hope to be at the end of a long line of departing traffic on my return trip too, ive yet to experience that at LHR yet
I hope your wish will come true. May I ask where you are going to?
NZ107 From New Zealand, joined Jul 2005, 4894 posts, RR: 50 Reply 18, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 2393 times:
Hi Suryo,
Nice continuation from the first part. Thanks for sharing! So you ended up getting the A321 twice..! Service doesn't look too bad onboard.
Looks like I'd have heaps of fun spotting at any of these big airports!
I'm sure you'd enjoy a longer first flight on the A380 than a 1 hour experience.. I know you wouldn't be able to go exploring much but 1 hour is not enough to savour an experience that won't be matched by future A380 flights!
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 1961 posts, RR: 54 Reply 19, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 2304 times:
Hi Nicholas,
Nice to hear you enjoyed this part of my report. Thank you.
AF in flight service was a satisfactory on both legs of the short hop.
CDG and LHR are really spotter's heavens, especially airside.
You are right that I would be enjoying a longer first flight with the A380. It was just the meeting with other A.netters that made that particular flight to LHR more special.
I will post my future reports after my summer holiday in Indonesia. I am leaving within two weeks.
vandenheuvel From Netherlands, joined Dec 2008, 447 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1888 times:
Hi Suryo,
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): I do hope you have enjoyed my earlier covering about my partner’s and my long weekend in Paris.
I did enjoy reading it, I also liked being a part of it
Quoting akhmad (Thread starter): It turned out that Tim got assigned the window seat at the last row on the right. We would be his neighbor on the other left. Someone has for sure inspired us.
He really did. So far it turned out great with having empty middle seats.
This is another great coverage of a shared flight experience. It seems like you were seated on the right side during our wait at LHR. FA's were indeed very professional. They were quickly serving the passengers and were very friendly.
Quoting vandenheuvel (Reply 20): This is another great coverage of a shared flight experience.
Thank you.
Quoting vandenheuvel (Reply 20): It seems like you were seated on the right side during our wait at LHR.
It was just a lucky guess. I hope you have got yourself a nice view on the way back from CDG.
@Hannah:
Quoting infodesk (Reply 21): Nice continuation of the first part. I particularly enjoyed your many shots of LHR & CDG, some of the ones you took from the air are really good.
Thank you. Glad you liked it.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 21): some of the older ones leave a lot to be desired - at least that was the impression I got walking through.
Pity about that. I do not know why CDG airport authority does not seem to care.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 21): The last row seems to be getting more & more popular...
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