Escaping Moscow with British Aiways – BA873

Welcome to my first trip report. As a long time reader, I’m glad to contribute here at last. This should serve as a practice trip report for a very special inaugural flight (for me) at the beginning of April. So I apologise in advance about the poor picture quality, as I was using a compact camera on auto mode. I had planned to do a trip report here, however I was surprised to see very few trip reports involving BA and Russia, so I hope this will be of interest to some.

Background

After having had a few fascinating days in Moscow and St Petersburg, I was more than happy to be returning home. However diverse a country Russia is, I had had enough of the yelloe, smelly tap water of St. Petersburg, and the unpleasant food provided at Hotel Cosmos in Moscow.

Having flown into St Petersburg on BA868, travelled to Mosow on the overnight train it was at last time for the return sector on BA 873 Moscow DME to LHR. Scheduled aircraft type was for this sector was the good old 767, a bit more interesting than the A320 on the outbound, and only my second sector on this type.

Airport

I arrived at the new terminal at DME. The building looks quite impressive from the outside, and although operational, did not appear to be finished from the outside. I apologise for the lack of pi8cs on the ground here but was reluctant to bring out the camera with the strict security measures around Russian airports.

Before you could access the check in area, it was necessary to pass through a metal detector, and have all baggage x-rayed. Apparently this is in respins to the bombing at arrivals at DME in January 2011.

Impressions inside were of a smart and modern terminal, with nice big windows even landside of the aircraft. At the BA check in area, the queue moved quickly, and I was invited over to check in at the Club Europe desk by a ‘typical Russian’ i.e. unfriendly agent. Such impressions may be since she had poor English, which is disappointing since she was working for British Airways. I note, that unlike some staff at the check in area, she was not wearing BA uniform, so perhaps she was some sort of contract worker?

It was after check in I discovered there was an hour delay on my flight

Next stop was passport control, where my boarding pass, passport, and exit section of my entry card were carefully scrutinised. Then I proceeded straight to security where my boarding pass and passport were checked a further 2 times in 30 seconds. No queues. Full body scanners were in place, which all passengers go through after passing through the metal detector. Unlike in the UK, the person screening you was sitting in front of you, and called me into the scanner.

Now, this is where all of these security measures are made to look farcical. A fellow passenger had left a bottle of water in his bag. The security agent searched through his bag and found it, but instead of insisting he should throw it away, said he was allowed to keep it, as long as he didn’t bring it on to the plane! Unbelievable, as that completely undermined all the other security measures.

The departures pier was mainly for international flights on foreign carriers. IT was modern and arranged along a couple of stories, very much any modern European airport. There were very big windows, even in the toilets. I visited a café at the end of the pier, where I had the most expensive almond croissant and orange juice of my life for 500 rubbles or £10! At least it was proper orange juice, unlike the synthetic stiff I had been subjected to in the hotel.

The Flight

I has been hopeful that I would get a long haul configured 767 on this flight. Having dilligentlyu been monitoring what aircraft had been flying BA873 on the BASource, I realised I had a pretty good chance of getting one. However the delays which according to BA.com was now 90 minutes, made me concerned that there might be some sort of aircraft substitution. Flightaware.com indicated the flight was to be operated by an A320 to my horror! Fortunately this was not the case, and I was very pleased to see a BA 767-336ER taxiing to the gate.


AN15 by CountVis, on Flickr

It turned out to be G-BNWD, which was I had hoped a long haul configured 767 with Personal IFE. Approaching 22 years of age, this is actually the oldest aircraft I have flown on. This is also a non ER version, along with WC the only non ER configured for long haul.

Loading up for the delayed service to Heathrow as it started to get dark.


AN16 by CountVis, on Flickr

Flight Info

Flight Number: BA 873
Route: Moscow Domodedovo to London Heathrow (DME-LHR)
Aircraft type Boeing 767-336
Registration: G-BNWD
Seat: 37E
ETD: 18:00
Airborne: 19:55
ETA: 18:20
Landed: 19:35 GMT
Scheduled Duration: 4 hours 20
Actual Duration: 4 hours 5 minutes

Unlike for other flights, there was no boarding call whatsoever at any point. So glancing at the departures board, I proceeded to gate no. 4. Unlike the some othe gates, it was enbclosed, and far too small for a fully loaded 767. I wonder how they will cope when BA starts flying long haul configured aircraft (including 747s from March this year.)

I was left with the stub of my boarding pass, and picked up a copy of the infamous Daily Mail at the entrance to the air bridge. Bas 767s have a bad reputation for being a bit long in the tooth, so I was pleasantly surprised to find the aircraft in very good condition on boarding. A friendly crew member directed me to my seat on the penultimate row on the window side of the aircraft.


AN19 by CountVis, on Flickr

A bright green S7 Airbus on the adjacent stand.

AN5 by CountVis, on Flickr

The amended estimated departure time came and went, with nothing from the crew. There some sort of passenger looking through the overhead lockers for a bag. Shortly afterwards the well spoken and professional CSD apologised for the selay, as some passengers were being offloaded. The crew later disclosed that the passengers in question were under the influence of a lot of alcohol! After a security check, the aircraft began the push back. Just as the audio from the safety demonstration came on, it decided to fail, forcing the crew to do a manual safety demonstration.

This took some time to organised, and we were well into the taxi to the runway, passing An12s before they started. The crew were quite rushed, and they were still on their feet when the aircraft had lined on Runway 11L. The CSD then addressed the crew to take their seats quickly as we were ‘lining up on the runway.’ Shortly after the wonderful noise of the RB211s kicked into action, and we were soon airborne.

After 20 minutes there was the introduction speech from the CSD outlining the service on this flight. Club Europe passengers had canapés and dinner, whilst drinks and a hot dinner were also to be provided in Euro Traveller.

Headphones, The Daily Mail and a toothbrush. I was surprised to see the latter on my seat for a relatively short flight.


AN6 by CountVis, on Flickr

The entertainment system still retained this message, and I my suspicions that it had crashed proved to be correct.


AN9 by CountVis, on Flickr

The CSD was on the microphone again, apologising, and said she wqas going to try and reboot the system.

This then appeared on the screen for around 20 minutes.


AN10 by CountVis, on Flickr

And finally the entertainment system decided to work! I was surprised to see full AVOD was available onb this 767. I had expected an archaic loop system, but instead the full version of High Life was available. It had a very extensive selection of recent film releases, television, radio, music even BBC news and surveys. Although it is no Kriss World, it was a very substantial offering which would be more than sufficient on a proper long haul flight.


AN18a by CountVis, on Flickr

Soon, the crew delivered drinks. I was very impressed with the crew, the best I have come across on my 8 sectors with BA. They were courteous, while being friendly and engaging with the passengers, making jokes etc. An example of BA crew at there very best.


AN8 by CountVis, on Flickr

After another 30 minutes, dinner was served. First those who had ordered special meals had their food taken out to them, and the trolley appeared from the back galley. No choice was available, the meal being chicken pasta, with salad and cake with custard. It is nice to see that on Band 4 European flights, BA has kept a proper meal.


AN18 by CountVis, on Flickr

IT may not look great, but this was a superb meal. Very tasty, with enough chicken, and the vegetables being crisp. The side salad was flavoursome, with the tomoto and olive tasting fresh. The cake and custard also tasted very nice too. A very impressive meal on such a flight, I, and also fellow passengers seemed pleased.


AN12 by CountVis, on Flickr

Another drinks run was made during the dinner service, and finally a tea and coffee run.


AN13 by CountVis, on Flickr

All in all, this was a very impressive service on this flight. Friendly crew, good food, good entertainment system and a great aircraft.

The lights remained on for an hour after the meal service only to be turned off when we were 40 minutes from Heathrow.

The winged headrest was better, and provided more support that the one which I had on QF.


AN7 by CountVis, on Flickr

Within a flash the flight was coming towards the end.


AN17 by CountVis, on Flickr

We approached over my home county of Essex, before doing a couple of holds over North London. It was only at this point, I first heard something from the cockpit, who had been surprisingly quiet throughout the flight. We landed on 27L at Heathrow an hour and fifteen minutes late, just in front of a SQ A380.

A relatively short taxi, where we docked at T5C. The transfer shuttle was relatively infrequent, with perhaps a 10 minute wait. Soon we were at the main terminal, where I quickly passed through passport control and collected my bag. The end of a momentous and thoroughly enjoyable trip thanks to BA!

Conclusion

I was very impressed with BA on this flight. The delay was unfortunate, however I didn’t mind an extra 90 minutes at DME, however it is disappointing there was never an explanation for the initial delay. However on all other aspects BA excelled. I was very pleased to get a long haul configured 767, and it is wonderful that BA is upgrading Moscow from a Euro to a long haul route next month, so that flights will always receive a vey solid product.

I hope this trip report has been of interest. I loo; forward to contributing again in April with a very special inaugural flight for me. Next time I will try and take some more photos than this time! I apologise for being so wordy, but I had to make up for the lack of photos somehow!

Comments and even criticisms welcome!