This day was spent in Belgrade in its entirety. In the morning we did the Kalemegdan fortress together with Robert, when he had to leave for his flight around noon I went back and spent a couple of pleasant hours in the military museum inside the fortress before strolling around the city, returning to the hotel for a bit of a siesta and heading out again during the evening.
The Serbian Parliament building by day:
...and by night:
There are lots of fountains in the city - note the rainbow in this:
Dzoni Inglis:
Hmm, a Norwegian hot dog stand - must be the most expensive fast food around:
Hotel Moskva, a very impressive building:
This one’s for Jonas:
There’s some sort of youth volleyball tournament going on on many of the squares of the city:
This department store appers to be called “Jugoexport” - maybe a bit like GUM in Moscow:
Knez Mihailova or Улица кнез Михаилова, the main pedestrian street of Belgrade:
Somehow I really like this shot - a mix of old and new:
Yes, this restaurant is actually called “?” - there’s a nice anecdote regarding that:
The park surrounding the fortress:
These barges on the Sava river are world famous for the wild parties going on there:
Skyscrapers of Novi Beograd:
Bridges over the Sava:
Interesting idea to have the fortress moat turned into tennis courts:
The military museum - my kind of place:
The confluence of Danube and Sava rivers:
View towards Saint Sava, one of the largest orthodox churches in the world:
Belgrade is an amazing city! It’s hard to call it pretty (even though certain bits of it sure are!), but the vibe there is just amazing. Everybody seems to be out with the intention of having a good time and not caring about tomorrow or other earthly concerns. I’ve honestly never seen such a lively street scene at night, tons of bars, cafes and beer gardens, all full of people and fun! Heartily recommended.
It’s not a Yugo, but an Ugo:
Man, they are everywhere:
Brains, anyone?
Knez Mihailova by night - packed with people:
Sunday 18.9.2011
I was planning to catch the horribly early 5.20 shuttle bus to the airport from the Slavija Square near the hotel, but unfortunately my night was quite bad - the rock hard mattress and pillow gave me a nasty back ache which kept me awake for the better part of the night so by the time I actually managed to fall back asleep I should’ve already gotten up for the shuttle! So I slept a bit more, far too little though and had the reception call me a taxi instead.
Twenty minutes later we pull in front of the terminal building, the taxi driver pulls off the good old “no change” trick indicating that we should go inside to break my large notes but is very surprised after I just give him 2000 RSD (around 20 EUR), including around 400 RSD tip and tell him to enjoy life a bit.
Next I realize I’m here far too early, I wasn’t exactly sure how crowded it would be but checking in takes exactly one minute - the agent can hardly be called friendly but effective he sure is!
An old fashioned departure board - I wonder what that JAT flight to Kunovice, Czech Republic is all about:
I head upstairs to a cafe for some desperately needed coffee and other breakfast items. Next stop is the deserted security checkpoint and equally deserted passport counters, and in no time at all I’m in the middle of the airside area. First impressions: wow, there’s nothing here!
A couple of very overpriced duty free shops, two cafes and a newsstand. That’s it. Oh and a bunch of gates as well. I still have a bunch of Dinars left and try very hard to spend those on some choccies and a second breakfast with more coffee, but in the end I I still end up with a bunch of them to bring home as souvenirs...
The sun rising:
Hello, I believe I saw this Montenegro Airlines F100 in Naples in August:
All the bag scales lined up:
The boards are saying “go to gate” an hour ahead of departure, but the gate is not open (an agent is there, though) and there are almost no seats on the corridor so I sit down on the floor instead. In ten minutes or so the gate is opened and we walk... into a second security checkpoint! What’s the point I wonder - this one seems to be quite lax as nobody cares if I have liquids in my bag or don’t take my computer out, good for me.
The holding area is shared between two gates - ours is just a door with stairs down to the tarmac plus a jetway gate with a flight to AMS.
One ATR being prepared - not ours:
This 733 is heading to AMS:
More nice sunrise views:
The area gets quite crowded with our flight and the AMS passengers piling there. Also lots of confusion with many passengers on the OS service to VIE showing up here - that one is departing around the same time as ours and conveniently both flights are cross codeshared - wonder why they couldn’t spread out the schedules a bit more. Our boarding time comes and goes and nothing happens, but finally almost at our SDT boarding commences, and me being me I’m the first one to board.
The agent tags my rollaboard with an “delivery at aircraft” tag and I head downstairs to the apron.
Hello, notice something special in this picture:
Yes - this ATR has a front passenger door! This means it is one of the ex-Kar Air, Finnair and Aero ATRs, the only ones in the world to have such a feature. Of course it also means that I probably have flown on this bird before, and that indeed is the case here! This is my first flight with YU-ALS, but in her previous life she was known as ES-KRB (two times in my log) and OH-KRB (another two times in my log). Quite a vintage bird anyway, she was delivered factory fresh to Kar Air back in 1989!
I drop my rollaboard in the cart and head inside.
BEG - VIE JU314 ATR-72 200 YU-ALS Seat 16A 8.06 - 9.25
Two very senior FAs on this service as well - well, that was to be expected really! Also, a very familiar feeling to me as this plane still has the original AY seats:
Well almost, there are actually three different seat fabrics being used here, used to replace seats which have been too worn down:
Hmm:
Feels very worn and rundown in the cabin, but very cosy as well - like your old woollen socks you don’t want to throw away because they are just so damn nice even though they are full of holes and falling apart...
The load is quite good, 80% or so. Luckily an empty seat next to me.
Push back (under our own engine power, yay!) is 11 minutes late, no announcements from the flight deck at all. Following sistership:
The interestingly shaped Aviation Museum - something to do the next time:
The OS/VO F100 takes off before us - being a jet she will surely beat us to VIE.
Take off is from 12, followed by a lazy right hand turn over Novi Beograd (unfortunately facing the sun so no good photos) and overflying the airport again.
The Ada Ciganlija on the Sava river, once an island, nowadays a peninsula:
The Sava:
This “Kreuz” or cloverleaf interchange seems to be a bit unfinished:
Another Montenegro Airlines F100 on finals below us:
For the whole flight the views of the ground are covered with heat haze, so not many views to see:
Service is a cheese sandwich and soft drinks plus coffee/tea:
Not a very good sandwich - too dry and old. The service cart actually carries a Finnair logo, so it must’ve come as a freebie with the plane!
The feeling onboard for this flight is quite sleepy and relaxed - most of the passengers seem to be sleeping, the crew disappears somewhere and with not many views outside that’s what I try to do as well, unfortunately unsuccessfully, I might add...
The flight also seems to drag on forever, our descent doesn’t start until more than an hour after take off (BTW no announcements at all during the flight from the flight deck). Wind turbines - we must be in Austria:
Crossing the Danube - looks like we are landing from the north, never done that before:
VIE there:
Vienna in the distance:
Turning around to line up with runway 16:
This looks like a “Mini Holland” - houses lined up on that artificial looking channel:
Hello again, Danube:
Overflying the A4 motorway leading to the Hungarian border:
Landing on runway 16 is after a flight time of 1h15mins.
Polish double:
This BA 767 must’ve gone mech as it was still here when I left four hours later:
Bye:
The next time I’m at VIE I’ll be taking this flight:
Vienna Airport
A short bus ride to non-Schengen arrivals and I’m very happy to be in the possession of an EU ID card. The queue for non-Schengen passports is hideously long, but the EU counters are empty and in half a minute I’m through.
I have a four hour layover - I thought for a while about going to one of the nearby towns with the S-bahn for a bit of sightseeing but at this moment I decide against it - feeling far too rotten from the lack of sleep and not really wanting to drag my rollaboard with me. And besides Sunday mornings on small towns in Austria are probably as dead as it can get - apart from the churches (not my thing by a long shot!) of course! So I turn right and head up the transfer escalators to emerge in the middle of the shopping maze - at least the ceiling is impressive:
I decide to head to the transfer counters to see if I could get a hold of my onward boarding passes. I walk all the way to the C satellite terminal only to be told that there are no transfer desks for BT - it’s only at the gate or landside. Ok, let’s try the lounge then - hopefully the won’t need a boarding pass.
Gotta love 767 with winglets:
It’s been over two years since I was last at VIE but the place hasn’t changed a bit - still far too crowded, the shopping maze is still very annoying and the new terminal is still not open...
Heading to the JET lounge I ask “Do you need a boarding pass?” and show my Diners Club card. “No, not at all!” - “Ok, that’s good as I don’t have one!”. Phew, at least something works.
This lounge seems to be quite a wildcard:
I’ve been in this lounge once before many years ago - it looks like it hasn’t changed a bit since that. It is quite large with many separate areas plus some of these weird rooms which are labeled according to different credit card vendors:
All the rooms are still accessible to anybody, though.
The offerings are quite good actually and I prefer the DC room as the main areas are very crowded but it is nice and quiet there.
I use the wifi to do OLCI for my BT flights, intending to get my BPs from the gate.
Since AY uses this lounge there are even some Finnish newspapers, albeit from yesterday but still a good read for me.
Yes, I’m sure it is very cute:
FIDS from the lounge - Palma on Niki seems to be all the rage today:
After I see the inbound status changing to landed on the airport website I decide to head to the gate - back to the C satellite. On the way I pass this LH E195, dedicated to my traveling companion Robert (read his upcoming report to learn why):
Vienna airport has this really annoying setup where the security screening is done at the gates. Since I want to hit the duty free shop for some of my favorite wine (Austrian Grüner Veltliner grapes) I try to tell the security screeners to get the gate agent to come and bring me my boarding passes. Well, they refuse to do so, pointing out that that I should go to the desk myself - I try to argue but to no avail so I ditch the idea of the wine (I checked with the store earlier - they definitely need a boarding pass to sell me anything!) and go through the security check instead.
I vent my frustration to the girl at the counter - she doesn’t seem to understand my point at all but at least manages to print me my both boarding passes. Not surprisingly there are quite a bunch Finns at the gate area - well this is BT after all, Finland being their largest country market and all that...
YL-BBE looking good in the sunshine, my fifth flight with this -500 model:
Boarding is called quite soon and as usual I’m among one of the first ones to board.
A very friendly blonde FA greets me in the front galley - I recognize her from some earlier flights. She will be serving the business class cabin today, and a very good job she does as well...
Three rows of business class, only me and a senior Austrian couple on 1AC so plenty of privacy. I get a lot of nasty (or maybe envious?) looks from th
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1488 posts, RR: 45 Reply 1, posted (8 months 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 5041 times:
Three rows of business class, only me and a senior Austrian couple on 1AC so plenty of privacy. I get a lot of nasty (or maybe envious?) looks from the folks heading to economy - the load there looks like around 90% or so.
Pillows and blankets are placed on every seat:
Pre departure drink offers are only water and orange juice, but the FA also proactively offers “I can get you champagne as well if you want?” - well, I can’t say no to that, can I?
Next I’m very surprised to be handed a menu card - never had this with BT before - but I certainly like it:
The menu transcribed (I skipped the drink parts, let me assure you they have a very good selection of booze available!):
Today We Offer:
Appetizer
Marinated fillet of eel with saffron poached pear
Hot Meal
Coq au vin - free-range chicken in red wine sauce with butter beans
Dessert
Moist spiced cake with Rusona cream cheese
The same is repeated in Latvian and Russian.
Flight time is announced as 1h40m with push back a nice five minutes early. Vueling and crap legroom next to us:
There seems to be a bit of rush ahead wth plenty of planes in front of us - curiously all are OS!
Wonder how a F100 would look with winglets:
Take off from 16 is finally almost twenty minutes after push back. The new terminal (when will it finally open???) and the distinctive ATC tower:
I keep hoping we would turn left after take off, as that would mean overflying Bratislava and with the clear weather today that should afford some nice views. So my heart jumps with joy after we bank left!
This is Neusiedler See, a familiar sign to anybody who’s ever landed on runway 34 at VIE (during daytime at least):
Austrian-Slovakian border crossing:
And I’m definitely not disappointed, first the infamous concrete suburb of Petržalka comes into view:
Followed by the Danube and the impressive Nový Most bridge - I’ve actually crossed it on foot:
The old town and the castle up on the hill:
BTS:
This one flew parallel to us for a long time, couldn’t identify it, though:
More heavy industry:
Service starts with the customary hot towel:
Followed by drinks - champagne, what else:
When the FA opens the middle table to put the drink on it is quite dirty - she is visibly embarrassed and apologizes, getting some tissues to wipe it clean before putting the drink on top of it - these BT girls are getting better all the time! That BalticMiles ad sticker is a new one and quite cheap for business class IMHO:
Ahh, this is the life - sipping champagne and enjoying a view like this:
The Tatras, while not as impressive as the Alps by a long shot are still quite beautiful:
Soon the food tray is served:
The starter - I don’t think I’ve ever eaten eel before:
This is good - the pear is a nice contrast to the somewhat dry and heavily marinated eel.
The main course:
I am impressed - well a bit overwhelmed by the amount of meat in this dish! It is decent, but the meat is a bit too dry and the red wine sauce tastes like anything but red wine...
I ask for a glass of German Riesling to go with it:
KRK:
The dessert - quite divine:
I complement on the dessert to the FA (who is mightly confused by me speaking in English but thanking her in Latvian - I explain my principle of learning two words in every language: “Thank you” and “Beer” - it gets you far ) who offers me a second one, but I decline and suggest that she eats it herself...
Coffee with Bailey’s (poured in - Eric, that’s the way to do it):
Once she learns that I like Bailey’s I end up drinking three of those mini bottles during this flight...
The paintjob on the engine logo is getting a bit long in the tooth:
Time flies when you’re flying, so I’m in the middle of my second bottle of champagne when we suddenly start descending. The sight of the Riga Reservoir on the right confirms that we are doing a downwind leg today and landing from the north:
Passing over Jurmala to the Gulf of Riga:
The distinct shape of the Baltic Beach Hotel in Majori is easily recognizable - looks like there are still some people at the beach today:
After turning around we land on runway 18 after a flight time of exactly 1h35mins.
We stop at a jetway gate.
Bye YL-BBE - what a nice flight this was:
Riga Airport
Since I missed the shopping at VIE I hit the store for some wine and stuff. Next stop is my second home or the BT lounge. Some snacks, drinks, wifi and newspapers later it is time to board the final flight of the day back home. This flight was scheduled to be a 733 for a while but is now back to the original Fokker, so a bus ride from the A gates bunker it is.
The ride turns out to be YL-BAC, my fifth flight with her and something which I’m not really looking forward to...
RIX - HEL BT339 F50 YL-BAC Seat 3D 18.36 - 19.45
...as this is an ex-Skyways bird and is in a somewhat different configuration than most of the fleet. Thus my seat 3D is actually a bulkhead one (something which is NOT apparent from the OLCI seatmap). And the flight is completely packed as well, so there’s nowhere to change to. The problem is that my camera battery runs out right after take off and my bag with the spare is stored somewhere far away, so I manage to snap only a few photos on take off and that’s it.
My American seatmate asks “Excuse me, but which country this is?” - sounds weird but he and his colleague actually are flying ORD-CDG-RIX-HEL today, so I share some BT anecdotes and war stories with him.
After take off from 18 we overfly the Riga city centre, so a couple of photos from there:
After the camera battery dies I try to read my paper but the sleepless night starts getting to me and I crash for the rest of the flight.
Landing at HEL is on runway 15 after around an hour of flight time. A bus ride to the terminal and another home where I’m at a decent hour for a chance, but extremely tired anyway...
Conclusions
Well, first of all Belgrade: WOW! An amazing city. I had heard many good things about it, but wasn’t really prepared for the lively vibe that oozed from everything around there. Everybody was just so full of life and ready to have a good time - that kind of atmosphere has a great effect on you! The hot (30 degrees all throughout) September weather was a great bonus, too!
JAT provided another quite mediocre short flight, service was nothing to write home about and ground handling at BEG a bit of a mess, but at least the equipment was very interesting and had a nice history to it. Of course it also meant that it was worn down and quite long in the tooth, but yeah, for me having another flight with an old friend from yesteryears is always very interesting.
BT in business class was even better than their usual high standards - I really enjoyed my flight onboard them. A great staff, quite nice food and free flowing drinks - what more could I ask for? The Fokker ride on the other hand - just your standard packed short hop, and besides I was asleep for most of it .
Some small flying ahead of me in the coming weeks, but nothing special to write a report about (unless something special happens), so the next trip worth reporting about will be in a month’s time, catching another new small commuter aircraft type for my log and doing a nice daytrip to Sweden, including another a.net meet. The route is HEL-ARN-KSD/TYF-HFS-ARN-HEL. Happy contrails!
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): Feels very worn and rundown in the cabin, but very cosy as well - like your old woollen socks you don’t want to throw away because they are just so damn nice even though they are full of holes and falling apart...
Ah, hopefully it looks better in safety-critical areas...
LXM83 From Switzerland, joined May 2005, 518 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (8 months 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 4859 times:
Hi FlyingFinn76
Nice to read you had a good time in BEG. I was there twice in the autumn and weather conditions and temperature were as great as on your trip.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): Yes - this ATR has a front passenger door! This means it is one of the ex-Kar Air, Finnair and Aero ATRs, the only ones in the world to have such a feature.
Didn't know that. It sure is unusual for the ATR now that you mention it.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): The interestingly shaped Aviation Museum - something to do the next time
Can only recommend it, it's quite enjoyable.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): This one flew parallel to us for a long time, couldn’t identify it, though
It looks like a Yakutia 757-200, but I could be wrong.
sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 747 posts, RR: 27 Reply 5, posted (8 months 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 4827 times:
Hi Petteri,
Nice continuation of your trip to Belgrade. Not many positive words on JAT, according to your pics and story rightfully so maybe? BEG looks like a dump, glad the city itself was very nice. BT again to your almost total satisfaction, that C class looks mighty fine, but again it is with the F/A's nice attitude it scores this high on your list. Hopefully this airline keeps it up...
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): These barges on the Sava river are world famous for the wild parties going on there:
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 1421 posts, RR: 14 Reply 6, posted (8 months 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 4747 times:
Hi P
Thanks for sharing some insight of BEG, looks like a nice place to be.
I'm quite surprised about the service in BT's business. Nice you got the F50 as well.
Greetings
Marc
Next trip report: Spectacular Southeastern sunset takeoff, US ATL-CLT-CDG!
deltamartin From Sweden, joined Dec 2010, 684 posts, RR: 7 Reply 7, posted (8 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 4522 times:
Hi FF!
Great continuation of your tripreport, Belgrade sure looks like an interesting destination, I hope I get a chance to visit it some day.
That BT flight in business sure looks really nice. I have an upcoming flight LHR-ARN flight in BA Business coming up in January. It will be my first flight in business if none of my upcoming Optiontown upgrades pays off!
I thought the front door looked a bit odd. Why did they make some of these planes like this? Any benefit one way or another? I suppose they can be hooked up to airbridges.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): This BA 767 must’ve gone mech as it was still here when I left four hours later:
Is that a schedueld 767 flight? Or an ATH/LCA/IST diversion?
I flew with her sistership PVG-VIE back in 2005 (not long before goign to BEG actually).
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): Pre departure drink offers are only water and orange juice, but the FA also proactively offers “I can get you champagne as well if you want?” - well, I can’t say no to that, can I?
Seems like excellent service on such a short flight.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): My American seatmate asks “Excuse me, but which country this is?” - sounds weird but he and his colleague actually are flying ORD-CDG-RIX-HEL today, so I share some BT anecdotes and war stories with him.
Seems like a horrible itinerary for someone who isn't an a.netter. Doesn't AA fly direct? I;m sure you had lots of (horror) stories to tell him!
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 5564 posts, RR: 58 Reply 9, posted (8 months 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4319 times:
Hi FlyingFinn!
Very nice report with nice pictures ! Belgrade looks nice but it most be a bit difficult to figure out the purpose of different establishments with cyrillic letters AND a different language.......
BEG looks like it really needs a big renovation or perhaps they could just build a new terminal. Too bad you didn't visit the aviation museum. Next trime perhaps ?
Flight on BT looks nice and good that you finally got some sleep on the last leg. !
I agree with LXM83 that is probably a Yakutia airplane you got a picture of inflight.
knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1051 posts, RR: 14 Reply 10, posted (8 months 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4302 times:
Hi FlyingFinn
Thanks for the interesting report. With this trip I think you have well and truly redefined the meaning of the expression 'taking the long way home'.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): Belgrade is an amazing city! It’s hard to call it pretty (even though certain bits of it sure are!), but the vibe there is just amazing. Everybody seems to be out with the intention of having a good time and not caring about tomorrow or other earthly concerns. I’ve honestly never seen such a lively street scene at night, tons of bars, cafes and beer gardens, all full of people and fun! Heartily recommended.
That's exactly what I thought when I went to Belgrade. To be honest at the time I really did not fancy going there but once I arrived, I liked the place very much. The people ware very welcoming and have a very positive attitude and the food is simply divine. But pretty it is certainly not!
And finally, the meal you had on air Baltic: what on earth was it and what did it taste like? It doesn't exactly look very appetizing for sure.
reifel From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 819 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (8 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4230 times:
Great report. Your pictures show quite well how awful BEG airport is. It's so old fashioned, the ceiling, the walls, the plastic floor with the black dots they used to have at Kai-Tak as well
Flying such a special ATR and JAT in general is cool. However the unregular traveller will be shocked by the state of the plane I think it's cool. Thanks for sharing
Continental From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 5445 posts, RR: 24 Reply 13, posted (8 months 2 days ago) and read 4195 times:
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): Yes, this restaurant is actually called “?” - there’s a nice anecdote regarding that:
Question Mark Cafe! I went there last summer with my Serbian friend and had the best cevapcici and kajmak I've ever had. Did you have time to eat there?
FLIEGER67 From France, joined Sep 2003, 3759 posts, RR: 58 Reply 14, posted (8 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 4071 times:
Hey, P.,
that´s another really well written story. Nice pictures especiallyfrom Belgrade, well done.
I´ve been there also but not in the city, maybe worth a second visit together with a new airport sometimes.
You know that JAT machine is also in my log.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): Some small flying ahead of me in the coming weeks, but nothing special to write a report about (unless something special happens), so the next trip worth reporting about will be in a month’s time, catching another new small commuter aircraft type for my log and doing a nice daytrip to Sweden, including another a.net meet. The route is HEL-ARN-KSD/TYF-HFS-ARN-HEL. Happy contrails!
SPLTA From Poland, joined Jun 2011, 121 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (8 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3714 times:
Hi FF,
Very interesting continuation of your Serbian trip, as expected.
Had no idea Belgrade is such an attractive place for a weekend trip. Sadly, LO's decided to terminate BEG eff the start of the winter season, but I hope they will relaunch it next March and offer as attractive fares as they did this summer.
It's really sad to see BEG has become such a quiet airport. The terminal interiors don't look good as well...I can imagine things were quite different like 20 or so years ago.
As for your flight to VIE, the aircraft interior looks to be in a desperate need of refurnbishment. It's incredible it hasn't been done yet. Definitely interesting ride for enthusiast, but I can imagine how shocked regural pax must be when taking flights on this bird (especially the ones travelling on OS tickets).
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1488 posts, RR: 45 Reply 18, posted (8 months 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 3607 times:
Hi all, good to see so many comments, thank you!
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 2): Vueling and crap legroom next to us:
The same can be said about the livery.
Good point!
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 2): Interesting, I first thought it's a large piece of bread.
Heh, indeed it looks a bit like one!
Quoting LXM83 (Reply 3): Didn't know that. It sure is unusual for the ATR now that you mention it.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 8): I thought the front door looked a bit odd. Why did they make some of these planes like this? Any benefit one way or another? I suppose they can be hooked up to airbridges.
Yeah, the story I heard was that Kar Air originally specified them like that in order to be able to use the jetbridges at HEL. And indeed I have boarded these ATRs that way at HEL some times back in the days. I guess they reasoned the climate is harsh enough to try to give the passengers some comfort. Of course nowadays you might end up with a bus ride even from an A330 at HEL so who knows...
Quoting LXM83 (Reply 3): It looks like a Yakutia 757-200, but I could be wrong.
Quoting MH017 (Reply 15): The plane trailing looks like a Yakutia 757 to me...you agree ?
Could be Yakutia, but to me it looks more like an Airbus - it's a bit too short for a 757?
Quoting SloAir (Reply 4): Except in a city a bit to the north west, where we have no Costa, no Starbucks, but at least Burger King decided to try their luck in Ljubljana.
Hey, no BK or Costa in Finland either. At least we are getting to Starbucks. At the airport, just like Sweden and Denmark....
Quoting sultanils (Reply 5): Not many positive words on JAT, according to your pics and story rightfully so maybe?
Yeah well, certainly an interesting, very old fashioned experience but yeah, not exactly a very nice one, servicewise etc.
Quoting sultanils (Reply 5): that C class looks mighty fine, but again it is with the F/A's nice attitude it scores this high on your list.
Yep, that's exactly how it is - on any given flight it is the cabin crew who make it or break it. Even a Ryanair flight can be quite nice if you have a perfect crew, unfortunately it doesn't happen too often with them!
Quoting sultanils (Reply 5): These barges on the Sava river are world famous for the wild parties going on there:
Did you attend 1?
Nope, not this time.
Quoting sultanils (Reply 5): Hello, notice something special in this picture:
Rampers taking a nap?
Well, now that you mentioned it... But I meant the front pax door.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 8): Is that a schedueld 767 flight? Or an AND CURRENT: Athens - Eleftherios Venizelos (Spata) (ATH / LGAV), Greece">ATH/LCA/IST diversion?
I thought that they send a 767 daily there, but now that you pointed it out AND considering VIE goes out of Heathrow T3 I think it might have indeed been a diversion, or maybe a special charter for somebody.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 8): Seems like a horrible itinerary for someone who isn't an a.netter. Doesn't AA fly direct? I;m sure you had lots of (horror) stories to tell him!
Yeah, he explained that they had a fairly complex itinerary where they spent a couple of days at HEL and then fly back to Paris for a few weeks before heading back to the states so I think ticketing it this way with BT is the cheapest.
Quoting The777Man (Reply 9): Belgrade looks nice but it most be a bit difficult to figure out the purpose of different establishments with cyrillic letters AND a different language.......
That's kind of funny as they seem to use both the western and cyrillic alphabet in many places side by side. Highly confusing, but easier than e.g. Russia or Ukraine for sure!
Quoting knightsofmalta (Reply 10): With this trip I think you have well and truly redefined the meaning of the expression 'taking the long way home'.
What? Come on! I was moving in the correct (general) direction the whole time, I've done a lot weirder things, how about flying home from Memmingen, Bavaria by doing FMM-NYO-GDN-CPH-HEL like I did this spring
Quoting knightsofmalta (Reply 10): And finally, the meal you had on air Baltic: what on earth was it and what did it taste like? It doesn't exactly look very appetizing for sure.
Didn't you read the menu transcript? Coq au vin, the French classic. So basically huge chunks of chicken meat, a bit dry but edible, beans and some sauce that was supposed to be red wine sauce but was nothing like it in the end.
Quoting tobbry (Reply 11): Great report as usuall! Always nice to read reports containing ARN!
There is no ARN in this report . But I guess you mean part I...
Quoting tobbry (Reply 11): As the huge BT fan you are. Have you experienced ant BT cancellations yet?
Nope, not many BT segments this autumn actually for me, just two booked for November. I've had my fair share of misconnects and late flights, but not many actual (last minute) cancellations.
Quoting Continental (Reply 13): Question Mark Cafe! I went there last summer with my Serbian friend and had the best cevapcici and kajmak I've ever had. Did you have time to eat there?
Nope, foolishly I decided to go some other place where the cevapici wasn't that good so I think I should've done the ? instead...
Quoting MH017 (Reply 15): The catering on BT Business-Class looks VERY nice; indeed, never seen so much meat on one plate (for an airline meal)...
Heh yeah, me neither! Reminds me of this one time I ate at this Brazilian charcuterie in Lisbon - I think I ate around a kilo of meat that evening and could hardly walk back to the hotel afterwards. I had some weird nightmares that night...!
Quoting SPLTA (Reply 16): but I hope they will relaunch it next March and offer as attractive fares as they did this summer.
Here's hoping to that! Belgrade certainly is worth a visit.
Quoting SPLTA (Reply 16): I'm not an expert, but comparing to what I read/see in other reports, BT's C class product looks really good.
Yes, the soft product is IMHO one of the better business class products in Europe. Surprising, but true.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 17): The Serbian Parliament building by day
Shades of Helsinki...?
Hmm, I guess you mean the white color and the cupola. Maybe a bit, but remember that thing over here is a church, not the parliament...
Quoting infodesk (Reply 17): Imagine trying to find that one in the phonebook.
Google Maps listed it as "Cafe Question Mark"
Imagine trying to find "The artist formerly known as Prince" in the phonebook, though.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 17): I was a bit concerned when I saw your plate of lounge food: pain au chocolat & water, but thankfully you went back for seconds!
Trying to become Markus, I guess.
Seriously speaking it was a bit too for drinking early even for me and since I had two breakfasts at the airport plus the sandwich onboard I wasn't exactly hungry either... Those tasty tomato, mozzarella & pesto plates they brought out nearer to lunchtime won me over, though, as did the excellent Grüner Veltliner...
Palmjet From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 803 posts, RR: 17 Reply 19, posted (8 months 1 day ago) and read 3509 times:
Hi FF - very nice report and pics - thanks for posting the return sector.
As soon as you published the pic of the ATR at BEG, and before you said it - my first thought was why the main passenger door was at the front? Thanks for clarifying that one. Do you know why Karair deviated from the main ATR design of having the main passenger door at the rear? Where does all the baggage and freight go in these birds?
Nice to see some pics of Belgrade too - yes, I'd hardly call it an attractive city but it seems like a very lively one in any case. Thanks for posting these destination pics too.
I totally agree with your sentiments about VIE. It's such a disappointing experience from a traveller's perspective - from the lack of good views, the cramped seating areas, the small gate areas with security at each gate - the list goes on. I am no fan of that airport at all and yes, when will that new terminal open???
Looks like a nice flight in J for you too - I don't think I've ever seen eel on the menu before.
Looking forward to your next report.
Cheers for now P/jet
Ozark Airlines - When Three Swallows Would Get You There
signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2753 posts, RR: 8 Reply 20, posted (7 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 3255 times:
Hi FlyingFinn,
another nice series of reports, thanks!
Belgrade is certain off the tourist radar, but looks like a nice place, and from your descriptions the vibe is certainly happening!
I saw one in AUH airport, they doubled as the airport bar, but at EUR7 for a bottle of Budweiser I waited until the service on board the flight!
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 1): This one flew parallel to us for a long time, couldn’t identify it, though:
I do like air-to-air shots, shame I'm usually too slow to get my camera out! I just got a new compact, so hopefully will be easier to keep in my pocket for such an eventuality
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 1): The starter - I don’t think I’ve ever eaten eel before:
It doesn't look like any eel I've had before (admittedly only rarely), perhaps it was a fillet from a large one. The eel I had resembled a slice, like a sushi roll (actually from a cafe in Chile, where I wasn't sure of what everything on the meny was, so picked randomly - from the "fish" section of the menu.)
alexeu From Serbia, joined Oct 2007, 1779 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (7 months 4 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 3136 times:
Hi,
Great report, I am glad you like my hometown!
I hope that Finnair will start BEG-HEL direct with their E-jets...Btw, BT already flies BEG-RIX with Q400! They seem like the best connection from BEG to Baltic states and Finland.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): So I turn right and head up the transfer escalators to emerge in the middle of the shopping maze - at least the ceiling is impressive:
Ceiling looks very similar to the ceiling in AUH.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): That BalticMiles ad sticker is a new one and quite cheap for business class IMHO:
It actually makes sense since Business Class is the only class where you actually earn some mileage.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Thread starter): Coffee with Bailey’s (poured in - Eric, that’s the way to do it):
I tried that once, complete waste as you loose all the taste.
Thanks for sharing!
//Jonas
I won't stop complaining until SAS reintroduces free service in Economy Class!
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 23092 posts, RR: 60 Reply 24, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 2616 times:
Great report and fab photos of Beograd! Brings back memories and I need to go back soon. Always had good nightlife even when I was there during the Milosevic and sanction days! Some great food to be had and some very nice bars. Nothing like being in Kalemagdan on a August night having a cold drink.
Did you go into St Savva? I had been visiting each time I went there and watching its progress. Is it finished yet?
Thanks for the report.
Regards
Philip
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
25 akhmad: Hi P., Very nice continuation of your journey to Serbia! Thank you for sharing us this wonderful insight review of Belgrade. Gorgeous! What is that? N
26 FlyingFinn76: Hi guys, good to see more comments. Thank you very much! The story goes that they really wanted the planes to be able to use the jetbridges at their h
27 stipica: Hi FF ! I think you covered Belgrade very well ... Old Town ...čevapčići ...Nikšićko pivo ... barges and people ... and JAT hehhe OU is very conf
28 Fabo: I think that is in fact a nuclear powerplant, Jaslovske Bohunice There is on every variant. Maybe it is bigger in these birds? Or they have the big d
29 parton87: Hello Petteri! Thanks for the nice follow up of our trip to BEG The ATR to VIE looks horrible! How long have it been flying for JAT? Beautiful! I wish
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