Going Away Just Got Better with Excel Airways

Hi,

Back in May my Sister got a job as a Creche and Transfer Representative with MyTravel's operating arm, Airtours and traveled out to Malaga on the Costa del Sol on June 6th with MyTravel Airways on flight MYT143. Shortly after returning from Bodrum, Turkey in June we decided that we would make our next holiday in Malaga in order to visit my Sister, so we did just that!

After a long search for a descent fare I came up with £100 return with Iberia via BCN and MAD, it was a good price but that dates where wrong so after hours of searching various travel sites and airlines I tried excelairways.com. The price was great and the dates where right so we booked it at just £96pp return including complimentary meals.

So here's my trip report...



Depart: Manchester, UK (MAN) Terminal 2 - 07 September 2004, 16:45
Arrive: Malaga, Spain (AGP) Terminal 2 - 07 September 2004, 20:45
Airline: Excel Airways
Flight: XLA2214
Aircraft: Boeing 737-8Q8 - G-XLAE
Duration: 2 Hours 45 Minutes

For our 16:45 departure we arrived at Manchester's, Terminal 2 at about 12:30, not expecting to be able to check-in for a while. Terminal 2 was very busy with flights for PIA, US Airways, First Choice Airways, KLM, Thomson Holidays, Air France, CSA Czech Airlines and not forgetting Excel Airways. Much to our surprise check-in was open between desks for XLA2030 to Alicante and US197 to Philadelphia and we weren't the first in line. In fact we where passengers 006 and 007. We asked for seats on Row 1 but as these weren't available the check-in assistant allocated us Seats 16EF on the exit row over the wing. Our boarding cards and passports where given to us and our suit cases rolled away along the conveyor belt.



We proceeded through to the departure lounge at this point. As we entered security a few passengers where being turned back as they where to early for their flights. I was also expecting to be but wasn't thankfully! So after my hand baggage was scanned I headed straight towards the windows to see what was on offer. A PIA 747-300 was the center piece of the line up with a few Astraeus B737-700s, First Choice Airways A320-200s, Thomson Holidays B757s and B767s and Excel Airways' B737-800s including ZS-SJG on lease from SAA which I was hoping would operate our flight but was instead heading out to Luqa as JN061. At this point we decided to browse the shops for a few books and some after shave. We had a look in Alpha Airport Shopping for the after shave and Waterstones for a book. The shopping facilities at Manchester are fantastic! We then headed for a coffee and something to eat at the old Virgin Sun cafe which affords great views of the apron but was unfortunately closed. We instead went to the main restaurant and got something there.





After this, I decided to get this months Airliner World and sit down somewhere to read it and take a few pictures. We sat down by Gate 208 where ZS-SJG was basking in the baking afternoon sun.



We remained here for about and hour or so. Approach was pretty busy onto 06R as where departures from 06L with many flight for MyTravel Airways, Thomas Cook Airlines, British Airways, bmi and Monarch Airlines. During this time I heard several announcements for passengers on the CSA flight to Prague to go to the restaurant where CSA had provided complimentary meals and drinks due to a lengthy delay.

With the time now approaching 15:20 we had a last look around duty free before seeing an all female Excel Cabin Crew of 5 walk through security. I presumed this would be our crew as I had seen the Alicante crew boarding their flight so we decided to follow them to our gate. My hunch was correct as at Gate 202 at the bottom of T2 they sat down and awaited the arrival of the inbound service. Sure enough at 15:40, Boeing 737-8Q8, G-XLAE as XLA2207 from Palma arrived on stand.



Being the only flight down at this end of T2, ourselves and the Cabin Crew where the only people there. Soon though, as over people had found the gate assigned the area filled up plus Ryanair's FR557 passengers joined us, at Gate 201. Soon our crew was cleared to board and walked down the air bridge to the aircraft. The Flight Deck crew soon passed by and also boarded.

At 16:25 pre-boards where announced and calls for PRMs and passengers with children under 2 to board where made. Calls where then made for passengers seated in rows 22-32 to come forward for boarding. Shortly afterwards all remaining passengers where called, which included myself. I handed my boarding card over to the Servisair assistant and received my stub back before proceeding down the air bridge to the aircraft door. There was a small queue which moved quickly. At the door I was greeted by Purser Jennifer and Cabin Crew Kimberly looking extremely smart and professional in their uniforms. They directed me to the center of the cabin where Cabin Crew Nicola was waiting. I placed my bag in the stowage bin and took my seat. Announcements welcoming us onboard where made in between the boarding music which was a variety of 'Pop' as well as the buzzing sound from the APU. The seats where very comfortable and the leg room superb as I was on the exit row. The seats where dark blue leather with a turquoise head rest which had an 'e' on the front and said excelairways.com on the back.



The time was coming up to 16:40, all the passengers on this almost fully booked 737 service where seated and the doors where closed. The announcement "Cabin Crew please arm the doors, cross check and report" was made and the Captain (who's first name was Pete, didn't catch his second name) welcomed us onboard and told us that we where trying to leave a little ahead of schedule and gave us some route information telling us we would be departing from Manchester's 06L and climbing out for a few minutes before making some sharp turns and then climbing out to 37,000 Ft. He then told us to sit back relax and he would speak to us after take-off. The call "Cabin Crew demo positions" was made and the LCD screens dropped down. The cartoon type safety video started and as it ran a Ryanair B737-200 from Dublin arrived on stand next to us.



Within just 2 minutes the cabin door was open...



The Cabin Crew made there final seat belt checks and at 16:46 we began to push and start. The familiar whining sound from our number 2 CFM56-7B26 filled the cabin as the start switch was turned and the vibrations that could be felt in the center of the aircraft where amazing. The start lever was lifted and the engine noise increased before returning to idle with the cabin going quiet. The same process was repeated for the number 1 engine. Now with both engines started and operating correctly the push back truck was removed and the dispatcher waved us off. The flaps where then set to 5 degrees.





Power was then applied and a sudden influx of noise surrounded the cabin before the engines return back to idle and we began to roll. As we where taxiing I noticed a lot of 'spotters' on Level 13 of the car park! We continued out past T1 and past the MyTravel Aircraft Engineering facility. A fast taxi out past Northern Executive Aviation NEA and past the engine test bay was to be had before the announcement "Cabin Crew seats for take-off" followed by a quick pass by of the Aviation Viewing Park and then over the bridge that cars pass under the runways from (which unsurprisingly had heavy traffic during the rush hour).



A KTHY A321 bound for Ercan via Istanbul was taxing in front of us. As we approached the entrance for 06L I noticed that Thomas Cook's A320 G-BXKA was parked blocking the bottom section of the 06L taxiway with its engines switched off and a crew of maintenance vehicles around it. It was operating the TCX639K to Palma. Does anybody know what the problem was?



We stopped at the holding point whilst awaiting the KTHYs departure and then taxied onto the 06L and held for about 2 minutes.



The engine power was then slowly increased and stabilized at around 30-40%. With the brakes now released we began to roll and after 3 or 4 seconds TOGA power was initiated and the CFM56s delivered around their 26,300 lbs of thrust each. We where pushed back into our seats as we began a long, powerful roll down 06L. We powered past an arriving bmi baby B737-300 as WW5506 from Belfast Aldergorve. At exactly 17:00 and after a good 40 second roll we gently rotated into a shallow climb out of Manchester past an Eastern J41.



We rotated around here:



The gear was retracted and we began a very shallow and slow climb out to 5000 Ft originally. The flaps came back in and about 5 miles out we turned sharply left and leveled back out before climbing up to 10,000 Ft and making another sharp bank to the left.



We leveled out and continued to climb out now to FL200 adjacent to Manchester Airport. The Cabin Crew where soon given the signal that they had been released and quickly got to work. They announced the order of service which would be the sale of head sets, a drinks and snack service followed by a complimentary choice of meal with tea, coffee or orange juice for the children and finally a duty free sales service prior to descent into Malaga.

We climbed out over the Manchester Shipping Canal where we were then cleared up to FL370.



The First Officer spoke to us at this point informing us of our route. He told us that we where continuing a slow climb to 37,000 Ft and would be cruising at just over 500 mph. We where to fly out towards Cardiff and Bristol and then towards Bournmouth. We would then continue towards the Brest Peninsular and then over the Bay of Biscay before entering Spanish airspace by Bilbao and flying towards Madrid were we would begin our descent into Malaga. Our approximate time on route from here on would be around 2 hours 13 minutes. At this point the 'Fasten Seat Belt' sign was switched off. The IFE began with a Destination Report from Excel Airways as shown on Sky News with the slogan "Destination Report by excelairways.com - Going Away Just Got Better" being aired a few times. This was followed by a DVT prevention video.



If we wanted head sets we were asked to press the crew call button on the overhead panel so I did just that and received two head sets for £5. The IFE was 'Planet Rock Profiles - The Darkness', 'Timon & Pumba', a variety of music videos, 'Faking It' and Disney's 'Recess'. The drinks service commenced as planned when we reached our cruising altitude over Bristol. From this I purchased a tub of Sour Cream & Onion Pringles priced £1 and a Mango Smoothie at £1.80.

As I was on an exit row I had the added benefit of two tray tables: 1 in the armrest and the other from the seat in front.



We continued our cruise over the Bay of Biscay where I took this picture. Note the ice forming on the window:



At 18:25, just under 1 hour 30 minutes en route the meal service commenced. There was a choice between: Pasta, a Baked Bean dish and Sausage, Mash and Peas. I opted for the latter. This came complete with bread roll and butter, double chocolate desert and after tea/coffee chocolate.



Proceeded by Coffee...



Very nice!

Here is a picture of the reading apparel provided:



At 18:50 the First Officer spoke to us again informing us that in 20 minutes we would commence descent into Malaga in preparation for a 19:30 landing and informed us of weather in Malaga. There would be slight cirrus cloud and the temperature would be 27 degrees with no wind.

At 17:10 sure enough the engines wound back to idle and the aircraft pointed into a slightly nose down attitude. The spoilers were soon deployed to help slow us. At this point the duty free sales trolleys were making there way through the cabin. From this I wanted the 'Excel Branded Playing Cards' from the duty free magazine but instead just received some regular brand for £3.00. Oh well!





The seat belt sign was illuminated once again at around 15,000 Ft as we entered some more tight bank angles. The Cabin Crew did a seat belt check and then locked the toilets and galley equipment away.

The sun was now rapidly setting on the horizon which made for some nice shots.



The Cabin Crew where asked to take their seats for landing as we began a smooth approach into Malaga. The spoilers were retracted and the first stage of flap deployed. For much of this time the engines remained just above idle. We turned on to the heading of Runway 14.



The stages of flap continued to deploy until reaching 40 degrees.



As we continued into Malaga only slight adjustments were made to the power settings and we made a very quiet approach. I could see airleron input albeit quiet minimal. A vortex could now be seen trailing from the wing.



At about 30 Ft above the runway the nose began to edge back and a perfectly smooth touchdown came at a speed of 144 knots. The spoilers bounced into life and the reverse swung into action. Combined with the autobrake we made a speedily slowdown.



The reverse came back to forward idle and the spoilers dropped down. We used about 6000 Ft of the 10,500 Ft runway. The flaps moaned as they retracted and we began a slow taxi to stand C40.

The Cabin Crew welcomed us to Malaga and wished us a safe onward journey. The Captain spoke to us also thanking us for flying Excel Airways and just informed of updated weather.

We taxied past some Iberia Regional Air Nostrum CRJs parked on remote stands, a Saudi Arabian 777-200 on Pier B as well as some Spanair A320s, British Airways A319s, a Thomsonfly.com 737-500 (looked disgusting!) and easyJet Airline 737s before being met by the 'Follow Me' car which lead us to stand. The Purser then announced "Cabin Crew disarm doors, cross check and report."

Once on stand the engine levers were cut-off and the CFM56s wound down. The seat belt sign was turned off and as always people where jumping out of their seats trying to be first off... only to be stood in a queue for around 10 minutes. I on the other hand had different plans. Yep, that's right a flight deck visit!

After the last of the passengers walked by, we made our way to the front of the aircraft where the Cabin Crew where saying their farewells. I asked if there was any chance I could go into the Flight Deck and without hesitation was seen in to meet the Captain. He welcomed me up front and we where just making general conversation about the flight. I ask who performed the landing as it was very good and he said it was him and admitted to cheating slightly! He told me he kept a little power applied on touchdown to make for a smooth landing but there was nothing to loose as AGP has a long runway. I asked if I could take a picture and he told me to take a seat on the First Officers seat and he took a picture of me. I was unbelievably happy. Not only had he let me in but he let me take a seat on the Flight Deck and went to the trouble of getting out of his seat to take a picture! Simply fantastic!

We spent a few more minutes talking before it was time for me to go. I said goodbye and with that stepped of the aircraft and on to the air bridge.

Baggage collection for us was speedy as it seemed to be a first bags on first off kind of set up. We then proceeded to the Car Hire hall, picked up the car and began our next leg to Fuengirola or Funkyrola as the Captain referred to it when he asked where I was staying.

What can I say apart from a fantastic flight and a highly recommendable airline! 10 out of 10!

Going Away Just Got Better With Excel Airways

I hope you enjoyed reading and I would be pleased to receive your comments on what you thought.

To see larger versions of the pictures see my section on MyAviation.net

Regards
ThomasCook

[Edited 2004-09-17 19:32:10]