FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Posted (6 years 11 months 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 6956 times:
Five legs,three airlines, tech plane, STR to RIX
The trip:
Earlier this year I thought about a trip to the Baltics, never been there before.
Riga sounds like a interesting destination. I´ve searched some nights for good connections and fares and booked mid January.
Friday, 16.06.2006
Fact sheet:
STR (Stuttgart-Echterdingen) - CPH (Kopenhagen-Kastrup)
SK 668 operated by SAS Commuter DHC8-400 LN-RDD
Scheduled: 07.05 // 08.50
Actual: 07.15 // 08.40
Gate: 159 Seat: 20A (Good seat, view to engine and landing gear)
Load factor: 37 pax = 51,39 %
Fare: 189,12 EUR
Some information ahead. I had several experiences with changed bookings and else, so I checked my flights regular if there is anything wrong.
During mid March I was on the SK website (the flight STR-CPH-RIX was booked directly by SK) and saw a schedule change, no information from SK at this time.
I will arrive in CPH 08.50 a.m. and depart to RIX 08.40 a.m., a very quick connection, they rescheduled the onward flight to a negative connecting time.
I searched the timetable and found another one STR-CPH-HEL-RIX which was pretty ok for me, so I called the SK helpdesk. I showed the reference to the agent and he was a bit at a loss what to do now. The fare for the HEL connection was slightly higher but I showed him this opinion and confirmed that this was really ok for me, so he asked his supervisor and only seconds thereafter he rebooked me without further questions. Ok so far.
My flight details are stored at my LH Miles and More card and as SK don´t offers internet check in for flights from Germany I tried to use LH, but the answer from the system was: No booking reference found. I visited STR airport later this day and tried to use to check-in machines, insert my card, choose my seat for the first leg, and nothing more. OK, no customers at check-in, I showed a friendly male my card and what do you think was in the check-in system: The impossible CPH-RIX nonstop flight, ok to the LH reservation desk and surprise the agent there saw both flights and an system error, the end was a ten minutes wait and they can´t fix the problem. So they cancelled my booking and rebooked me new on oldfashioned paper tix, back to check in, ok for the first two legs, impossible for the third (SK flight number operated by AirBaltic).The flight was ok. I will do this at the transfer desk at CPH or HEL.
Now le s start with the journey, arrived by car late at 06.15 am, check-in was done the last day, only cabin bag. No time to wait at security and at the gate at 06.25 am.
Not to much pax there for this early morning flight.I was pax no.2. Boarding started than at 06.45 am by bus to the night-stopping aircraft. LN-RDD this time, my first ever flight on the DHC8-400. Welcomed by a friendly female FA, the seat beneath me remained empty.
Interesting traffic at STR, LTE A320 and US military prop:
We taxied the long way down for a runway 25 departure, three planes in front (all CRJs by LH/EW) and departed quick in western direction. Good looking, clean plane, blue leather seats.
Inside LN-RDD:
No delivery at aircraft on SK, my bag fits perfectly.
Clouds above germany, not much to see all around. No free service on this route.
Quick and calm flight this morning. Approach to CPH runway 04L started 25 minutes ahead to arrivals. I handed out the friendly FA my fact sheet during boarding
and she brought it me back short before arrivals. Arrived and parked at a bus stand.
In the office LN-RDD, friendly crew:
I asked for a cockpit pic, no problem, friendly pilots and after a quick chat I was in the bus to CPH terminal.
LN-RDD at CPH:
LN-RDD after deboarding:
Friday, 16.06.2006
Fact sheet:
CPH (Kopenhagen-Kastrup) - HEL (Helsinki-Vantaa)
SK 1712 operated by SAS MD81 LN-RML
Scheduled: 09.35 // 12.10
Actual: 09.55 // 12.25
Gate:? Seat: 26A (Recommendable, last row before the galley)
Load factor: 147 pax = 100 %, no free seats
My first time at CPH, so a quick look around for first orientation, no problem and on the way to the transfer desk for my HEL-RIX boarding pass. Huge queues there and a very quick connection, so I decided not to wait and walked down to my gate where boarding started as I arrived. I was pax no. 034 for this leg.
I boarded early, LN-RML this time another first time flight for me on an MD81.
LN-RML at CPH:
This machine showed its age, worn fabric seats, ancient interior.
Inside LN-RML:
Pushback was late during some troubles with the load sheet. A quick taxi and departure from a
early entrance to runway 04R . What a powerful machine, I like it. Good views along the flight, again no free service.
Southern sweden, lakes and wood:
Again I leave my fact sheet during boarding at the very friendly female purser.
During approach into HEL:
Arrival on runway no.22L.
The captain awaited me during deboarding and I asked for a cockpit visit, again a very friendly crew and what a difference between the Dash and the MD cockpit. A short chat and than I was in the terminal at HEL.
In the office LN-RML, note the difference between the Dash and the MD:
LN-RML at HEL:
Not my first time here and so I walked directly to the SK help desk.
There might be a cancellation of another flight, five pax in front, ten behind me, only one desk staffed, so I waited for around 20 minutes till another agent arrived, printed me my boarding pass within a minute and I was on the way through passport controll to a small area on the ground level with the non-schengen bus gates.
The gate between was Severstal Aero to Petrosawodsk, a Yak 40, sorry no pic.
The screens showed a ten minute delay and five minutes after I arrived boarding started for the next leg to RIX.
History:
Delivered to MaerskAir,Denmark: 06.07.1987
Leased out to EstonianAir
In service with AirBaltic: 12.09.2002
Bus boarding, only a quick ride. I was pax no. 38 for this flight on YL- BAU , only my second flight on the F50 and the first on this plane.
Close up YL-BAU at HEL:
Three interesting legs for my log till now. Departure from runway 22L.
Welcomed by a friendly male FA, he picked up my fact sheet. Nothing for free.
Servicee was quick and friendly. Plane in good conditions, nothing to see about the age of this bird. Good views along the whole flight, no clouds, not to high flight level.
The FA brought me back my fact sheet with the statement from the cockpit that according to the short flight time and we´re running 20 minutes behind schedule they will do they best for a shorter delay and therefore had no time for this thing, no problem at all.
Approach to RIX:
On approach to RIX 20 minutes ahead to arrivals, runway no. 18 . The plane parked beneath another company F50 and we deboarded and walked over the apron to passport controll and arrivals, no time to wait at passport controll but more than ten minutes for the bags.
YL-BAU at RIX:
YL-BAU after deboarding at RIX:
YL-BAU at the apron at RIX:
Silly system, they announced delivery at aircraft at HEL but the bags go to the belt at RIX.
Not to much activity at RIX, out in the public. I had e-mail contact with the reservation manager from my hotel about a free transfer, transfer yes but 15.-- lats, that´s to much, the bus costs only 0,25 lats by leg, but with bus connection more than an hour from now, I lost to much time, so I decided for the transfer by Riga Taxi Park, this company has an exclusive agreement with Riga airport, 8.-- lats, 15 minutes ride, ok so far.
Riga is well known for its taxi gangsters, so only some companys are acceptable.
My accomodation was the Domina Inn, near the art-noveau district, a bit far from the old town, but ok, booked by DERTOUR for 110,00 EURO B&B.
Riga is the city with the most art-noveau buildings around europe, if someone is interested in architecture, some pix.
Riga art-noveau:
Again:
The oldest buildings in Riga:
Art-noveau again:
Again art-noveau:
And again:
I had no problems beneath the inefficient public transport system there.
Saturday, 17.06.2006
Fact sheet:
RIX (Riga-Skulte) - FRA (Frankfurt-Rhein-Main)
LH 3245 operated by Lufthansa B735 D-ABIX
Scheduled: 14.05 // 15.20
Actual: 14.00 // 15.00
Gate: B05 Seat: 05 E (Bad seat, even no window in this row)
Load factor: 98 pax = 95,15 %
Fare: 140,06 EUR
After I´ve done some more photos around the nearby art-noveau district I decided to go by public transport to the airport, checked out at 11.30 am, saw 10 minutes to walk from the hotel a bus stop with the 22A airport express sign (according to the timetable, running every 25 minutes) and was there at 11.45 am, no bus till 12.20 am, tried to stop a taxi, but it seems they´re all busy, so I decided to walk back to the hotel, take a cab there, payed another 9.-- lats to the quick driver and was at the airport at
01.10 pm, not to early for the 2 pm departure. I was pax no. 73 for this leg.
Inside RIX, a modern building:
RIX, note the interesting planes in the background:
Bad, no window or aisle seat left, two hours in the middle seat. The plane arrived ontime, D-ABIX, leisure flight no.16 on the 737-500 and the first on this one.
D-ABIX just arrived:
Close-up D-ABIX:
D-ABIX again:
LAT charter A320:
Boarding started at 01.35 pm, welcomed by two friendly female FA´s, I leave my fact sheet there and settled down in my seat, prepared me mental for this two hour experience. Departure ontime from runway 36. LH served a free cheese or salami sandwich, two times free drinks. The service was personal and friendly.
The female purser asked me some questions according to my fact sheet and delivered it back to me.
Some turbulences, fasten seatbelt signs on, across the baltic sea, further a calm flight with an early arrival at FRA runway 25R.
A friendly goodbye from the FA´s and by bus to FRA T1B, huge queues in front off passport control, but no one at the fast lane, EU pax with connecting flights. I had to walk through the tunnel between the A and B area, walked further down the A gates to the part near the runways and spotted the action outside.
An interesting day, heavy traffic, some specials like a private, IMO african B732, a LH B735 on a late go around, some heavy freighters.
History:
Delivered to AirUK: 15.01.1991
With KLMUK since: 30.01.1998
In service with BUZZ: 28.12.1999
And further to Ryanair: 10.10.2003
For Eurowings since: 20.12.2005
Boarding was announced for 5.05. pm, so I decided to walk back at 5.00 pm. Some minutes after my arrival at the gate, boarding by bus started and we had the free
airport tour to the far outern apron part beneath T2, four EW BAE´s parked there. I know from the bus drivers screen that we´re approaching D-AQUA, and there she is, one of the few in the old EW colours. D-AQUA was built in 1988, a rather old bird.
We arrived and saw hectic activity around D-AQUA, liquid was dripping of the fuselage near the main gear, the ramp agent called the pilot, the driver opened the doors for some fresh air and I followed the situation.
D-AQUA with the aqua problem:
D-AQUA again:
Once again D-AQUA:
Some five minutes later the ramp agent approached the bus, finger down, D-AQUA had a problem with aqua/water and goes tech now. OK, back by bus to the Terminal for further information. LH employees awaited us in a separate area and we had to wait till EW decided to reschedule one of the other parked BAEs to STR, bags loaded and than we´re the second time on the free airport tour.
D-AEWO this time, leisure leg no.6 on the 146-300 and the first on this one.
Boarding D-AEWO at FRA:
Quick boarding, a real friendly male FA take my fact sheet, boarding completed and we´re on the way for a runway 18 departure, along the whole cargo area, no time to wait at the runway and a quick departure followed.
The pilot explained the situation at D-AQUA: The fluid tank of the rear toilet collapsed, liquid all around in the plane.
Good views along the route, flight time only 25 minutes. No service in eco.
The FA had some problems with a large spanish football volunteer group in immediate need for some beer and nevertheless delivered me my fact sheet back.
Approach to STR runway 07 ten minutes prior to arrival, parked on the apron and I had a nice chat with the FA about the unusual situation and the professional handling,
once again very friendly and polite. He (and me too) wished me a nice day and he will go back to FRA now.
Deboarding D-AEWO at STR:
In the terminal at 07.20 pm, one hour delayed, only some minutes to wait for the bags and on the way back home at 07.35 pm.
Conclusion: Two new airports in my log, two new types of planes, an real interesting city, two fully packed, recommendable days.
SK: The all-one-way concept works well, IMO, a good thing to attract more pax for classic, connecting services. Friendly people there, recommendable.
LH: Also on the way to attract more price-sensitive customers, RIX-FRA is one of the growing one-way bookable connections, also friendly people there, professional handling with the tech situation, ok so far.
Comments and critics always wellcome,
Markus (FLIEGER67)
LH492 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 208 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (6 years 11 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 6923 times:
very good report, I enjoyed every minute of it!!!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Riga is the city with the most art-noveau buildings around europe, if someone is interested in architecture, some pix.
Even though I am not that interested in architechture, this city looks great, I would love to visit it someday
TriStar500 From Germany, joined Nov 1999, 4685 posts, RR: 48 Reply 3, posted (6 years 11 months 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 6736 times:
Very nice report as usual, Markus. Riga seems to be a beutiful city, it is a miracle that the Art Nouveau district is still in such a good shape after two World Wars, two dictatorships and the neglect during the Soviet years. After seeing your first impressions of this city, it is definitely on my mid-term wish list.
Homer: Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!
Airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 4, posted (6 years 11 months 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 6716 times:
Interesting report Markus. Riga is indeed a fine city, also from what I've seen on Dutch television about it. Some campaign was running to attract more tourists to Riga I think. Maybe I should do so someday.
Good to see you got also a ride on the MD81. They are great planes, and indeed the seats are not very good. I had the same seats on my TF-JXB flight (AMS-CPH). I didn't feel very comfortable at all, but that was not only because of these seats Nice to see the 'Dutch' F50's still doing a great job everywhere in the world. It will always be a little bit 'special' to jump on a Fokker nowadays. There aren't too much around.
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6183 posts, RR: 79 Reply 5, posted (6 years 11 months 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 6656 times:
Servus Markus,
great report with many details and a load of interesting pictures! Brings back memories of my SK trip to HEL some years ago. I also had the Dash and a tight connection at CPH, but everything was fine. SK staff was friendly and helpful all the time.
Delta732FF From United States of America, joined May 2005, 228 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (6 years 11 months 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 6431 times:
Nice trip report. I really like how you made the fact sheet. I think on my next flight im going to use one, its a great idea. Nice pictures also. I enjoyed this report.
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 8, posted (6 years 11 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 6313 times:
Hello and thanx for your feedback.
LH492:Riga was real interesting, a good time to visit now.
D-AQUA, the perfect name for this machine!
767747: I was also impressed about the Dash 8-400, not to noisy and good legroom.
Jens: And I was also impressed about Riga, lots of historic buildings, partly renovated, partly not, very interesting and a good time to visit, not to late during the actual transformation process.
Eric:Enjoy Riga, if its ever possible. I also enjoyed my rides on the MD and especially the F50.
Udo: I also don´t feel some stress during my connection,friendly people there at CPH. I will do another SK/CPH ride next week, hope that will be so again.
Sanjin:No problems till now, again I hope that will be so in the future. Enjoy your ride today.
Delta732FF: Do it and tell us about your experiences.
Levg79 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 989 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (6 years 11 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 6271 times:
Thank you for sharing! I could not pass up reading a trip report which involved a visit to my birthplace!!!
Quoting TriStar500 (Reply 3): Riga seems to be a beutiful city, it is a miracle that the Art Nouveau district is still in such a good shape after two World Wars, two dictatorships and the neglect during the Soviet years.
Riga's old town is simply amazing. And it's also full of tourists from all over the place nowadays. The last time I've been there 3 years ago, I bumped into people from as close as Iceland and as far away as Australia, all within 10 minutes.
On the other hand, some of the neighborhoods still remind you of the days of Soviet occupation, with old and rotten looking buildings and rusty Ladas. But the old town is really special and they're trying to keep it that way. Especially now is the perfect time to visit, with relatively warm weather and almost white nights.
If anyone wants to know more, feel free to contact me.
Leo.
A mile of runway takes you to the world. A mile of highway takes you a mile.
Delta732FF From United States of America, joined May 2005, 228 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (6 years 11 months 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 6258 times:
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 8): Delta732FF: Do it and tell us about your experiences.
Ndebele From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 2895 posts, RR: 25 Reply 11, posted (6 years 11 months 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 6203 times:
Hi Markus,
I liked your report again very much, and your pics illustrated the whole report very nicely. I have become a fan of air-to-ground pics, and yours are excellent.
Wow the a.netters doing quite a lot of trips to Skandinavia lately, but I guess it's also because summer must be the best time for trips there. I should think about going there too, but most probably not this year.
Regards, Alex.
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 13, posted (6 years 11 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 6037 times:
Hello, again and thanx for your replys.
Leo:Indeed, I was really impressed about Riga. Sure, I only visit the mostly renovated, touristic areas. But that was a great thing.
Delta732FF: Great, awaiting your report.
Alex: I also enjoyed your pics around your reports, you know.
And yes, its time now to visit northern destinations, long, sometimes neverending days, clear sky, great. I will go next week to Norway, with hopefully again good wheather.
Nick:Yes, I know that name sounds a bit special, even while not only aircraft and architecture interested travellers visit Riga.
Domina is the name of a italy based hospitality group with locations especially in italy and around the baltics, nothing more!.
About D-AQUA, thats simply true.
Contact Air From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 1154 posts, RR: 14 Reply 15, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 5925 times:
Hello Markus,
once again very good report and great pics - a pleasure to read and watch! Riga looks beautiful. I once thought about visiting the city when we had a very cheap direct connection STR-RIX on Air Baltic one or two years ago. But I didn't go after all, and now the direct flight is gone... Well, maybe I will find an other opportunity.
You were lucky that the tech problem appeared on your last flight, so you didn't have any problems with your tight connections.
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8258 posts, RR: 56 Reply 16, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 5915 times:
Hi Markus,
Nice report and a decent selection of aircraft's flown
Thanks for sharing the pictures of Riga, have now added it to mu list of places to visit.
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 17, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 5872 times:
Hi, Christoph and Mark,
thanx for your replys.
I know about the BT STR-RIX nonstop-service, but the flight was late in the afternoon, not the best time and therefore not to attractive to the STR customers.
Quoting Contact Air (Reply 15): You were lucky that the tech problem appeared on your last flight, so you didn't have any problems with your tight connections.
Thats simply true!
Quoting BA319-131 (Reply 16): Thanks for sharing the pictures of Riga, have now added it to mu list of places to visit.
Markus, thank you for such warm words. I was born and grew up in Riga and although I'm not there anymore physically, I consider Riga to be my favorite place in the world. What excites me the most is that people from all over the place not only visit Riga but also say very nice things about the city. Not only that, but because of this very nicely written trip report, there are others who have added Riga to their list of places to visit. Once again, thank you for writing such a wonderful report and welcome to my RU list!
Leo.
A mile of runway takes you to the world. A mile of highway takes you a mile.
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 19, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks ago) and read 5794 times:
Hi, Leo,
thanx again for your feedback.
If you stay not in Riga for a longer time, IMO its immediate time to go, such a lot of changes during the last years.
I had a real good time there and BTW updated my RU list.
Greetz,
Markus (FLIEGER67)
Levg79 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 989 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 5717 times:
Quoting LH492 (Reply 1): Even though I am not that interested in architechture, this city looks great, I would love to visit it someday
Quoting TriStar500 (Reply 3): After seeing your first impressions of this city, it is definitely on my mid-term wish list.
Quoting Airbuseric (Reply 4): Some campaign was running to attract more tourists to Riga I think. Maybe I should do so someday.
Quoting Beowulf (Reply 12): Nice report. Riga looks stunning. Maybe I should take a weekend "bus" trip to RIX.
Quoting BA319-131 (Reply 16): Thanks for sharing the pictures of Riga, have now added it to mu list of places to visit.
I just went back and recounted, five (5) people mentioned their desire to visit Riga after this wonderful trip report. So how about an a.net meeting there? I'll be a tour guide, if I can remember all the worthy sites. Unfortunatelly it's been a while since I moved to the US and therefore I can hardly speak Latvian now. I guess we'll have to settle for English then
I'd like to once again thank everyone for those kind words about my hometown. It got mentioned more than actual airplanes in this topic. Really made me homesick. Thank you all.
Leo.
A mile of runway takes you to the world. A mile of highway takes you a mile.
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 21, posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 5633 times:
Hi, Leo,
back from Norway and therefore a late reply.
This report was also posted in german language on a german forum, so some more possible visitors for your list.
Regards,
Markus (FLIEGER67)
Levg79 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 989 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (6 years 10 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 5529 times:
I wish I could go to Riga right now but unfortunately I have a lot of things to take care of and airfare is too expensive these days. Hopefully I'll be able to go next summer and a.net meeting would be very appropriate. Sorry to dissapoint you all in the meantime.
Leo.
A mile of runway takes you to the world. A mile of highway takes you a mile.
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From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, 
From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 208 posts, 
very cool coinsidence
From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1748 posts, 
Riga seems to be a beutiful city, it is a miracle that the Art Nouveau district is still in such a good shape after two World Wars, two dictatorships and the neglect during the Soviet years. After seeing your first impressions of this city, it is definitely on my mid-term wish list.
From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, 
Nice to see the 'Dutch' F50's still doing a great job everywhere in the world. It will always be a little bit 'special' to jump on a Fokker nowadays. There aren't too much around.
From Croatia, joined Jun 2005, 91 posts, 
From Singapore, joined Jul 2003, 721 posts, 
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