I wanted to go on a trip before I started working. I was going to go with my sister. We looked around at a few places, but decided we wanted to go to Europe. My sister was finishing up her semester, and couldn’t go until the end of the month. One place that had a lot of open seats, was London, and neither of us had been before. We left the day of her last final. She had a test in the afternoon. That left us only one option for the flight. I would have liked to have left earlier in the day and either gone through CLT or JFK. But we had to connect in Dallas, which was a little out of the way. I was looking forward to this trip. It was my first international trip other than Mexico, since the Summer of 2019
The airport was very busy. The lines for check in and security were very long. By the time we got to the gate, boarding was just finishing up. So we didn’t have to wait a long time until we got our seats assigned
American 2524
Miami, FL (MIA) – Dallas/Ft Worth, TX (DFW)
Airbus A321
N160AN
Seat 16F
Scheduled Departure Time – 7:20pm
Actual Departure Time- 7:49pm
Scheduled Arrival Time – 9:45pm
Actual Arrival Time- 9:26pm
2 hours 37 minutes
Boarding
16F, next to N338RS that had just arrived from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Pushing back next to N976JT that had just arrived from Los Angeles, and G-XLED that had just arrived from Heathrow
Line Up and Wait
Tower told us RNAV CSALT, and then changed their mind and told us to fly runway heading
The captain said that he was anticipating some turbulence on the initial climb out, and it proved to be a little bumpy as we climbed through the dark clouds
Once we got through the clouds, it was a nice sunset
Once we leveled off at 36,000ft, the flight attendants came through with drinks and snacks
Cruising
It started to get darker out, as we flew over Louisiana
It was pretty much dark out by the time we got to Texas
Descending on the BEREE1 arrival
Final 17C
Touchdown
After holding for 6 planes to takeoff, we crossed 17R and taxied to gate C29
N160AN departed two days later to Boston
We didn’t have that long of a layover. By the time we got to the next gate, boarding was starting
American 78
Dallas/Ft Worth, TX (DFW) – London – Heathrow (LHR)
Boeing 777-200
N762AN
Seat 28L
Scheduled Departure Time – 10:59pm
Actual Departure Time- 11:08pm
Scheduled Arrival Time – 2:25pm
Actual Arrival Time- 1:58pm
8 hours 50 minutes
N762AN getting ready for its second flight across the pond for the day. It had arrived earlier in the afternoon from Frankfurt, Germany. This flight was originally supposed to be on a 777-300, but earlier in the day was downgraded to a 777-200.
28L
The flight was not full, and there were over 100 open seats. Luckily, I had no one sitting next to me. We pushed back a few minutes early. The engines were quickly started, and a few minutes later we were taxiing. It was late and the airport was pretty dead, so we didn’t have to wait long. We were in the air within 15 minutes of pushing back
“American 78 Heavy RNAV BPARK wind 150 @ 12 gust 17, runway 18L cleared for takeoff. A Qantas 787 taxied our behind us for the 16 hour flight to Sydney
Climbing out of Dallas
We climbed up to 37,000ft, where we stayed for the entire flight to Europe. They came through and did the dinner service within 45 minutes of takeoff. A little over an hour after takeoff the service was done, trashed picked up and lights off for the night
My view for the 8 hours
Dinner
Cruising over Canada
Starting to get light out
I was able to sleep for about 3 hours of the flight
Approaching Europe
A little over an hour before landing, the flight attendants came through with a small breakfast service
It was an overcast day in London. The captain made a brief announcement announcing the initial descent, and that was the only announcement he made the entire flight
the speed brakes were out for a lot of the descent
Into the clouds
Final 9L
Pulling into the gate next to N729AN getting ready to depart to JFK. N729AN was originally supposed to be the plane for the plane for my flight
G-EUYS arriving behind us from Dublin
N762AN flew right back to Dallas
As we were driving out of the airport, I saw this 777 G-YMMO taking off for Phoenix
We spent a few days in London. It was a fun trip. It was my first time there, so we spent a few days checking out the city. For the flight back, I was flying on a 787 to Philadelphia, and then an A321. I got to the airport 2 and a half hours before the flight back. The line was moving slow, because they had to verify everyone’s Covid test.
Check in
N860NW getting ready for a flight to Detroit
G-VSPY had just arrived from Montego Bay, Jamaica
N820AL at gate 29, after arriving from Philadelphia
American 737
London – Heathrow (LHR) – Philadelphia, PA (PHL)
Boeing 787-9
N820AL
Seat 19A
Scheduled Departure Time – 2:05pm
Actual Departure Time- 2:24pm
Scheduled Arrival Time – 5:00pm
Actual Arrival Time- 4:20pm
6 hours 56 minutes
19A. Just like on the other flight, I had the entire row to myself
This flight was also pretty empty. Boarding started at 1:30pm, and everyone had boarded by 1:45pm. The door was closed at 1:50pm but we sat at the gate for a little bit, and didn’t start pushing until 2:05pm.
Once the engines were started, we slowly taxied to runway 27R
G-VIIC taking off to Riyad, Saudi Arabia
EC-LUX taxiing by us, they were delayed 3 hours to Madrid
VT-ANQ was going to Ahmedabad, India
B-9577 starting its takeoff roll, to Shanghai
SX-WEB holding short, before a flight to Athens
G-STBC a 777-300 taking off, they were our counterpart flying LHR-PHL that afternoon
Taking off
Climbing out of London
On top of the clouds
We first climbed up to 36,000ft. Where we stayed for about 30 minutes, until it started to get bumpy. Over Western Ireland, we continued the climb to 38,000ft where we stayed for the rest of the flight
Leaving Ireland, and heading out over the Atlantic
25 minutes after takeoff, the service started. First, they came through with drinks. Then they were offering chicken or pasta. After this they came through with drinks and then water
Cruising
There was pretty consistent turbulence from the time we were flying over Ireland, until about 3/4 of the way across the Atlantic, it finally smoothed out. But, it picked back up again over Canada. 2 hours into the flight the captain announced he was expecting turbulence off and on throughout the entire flight. He said to remain seated as much as possible, and when we get up to be careful. It was definitely the bumpiest flight I have been on across the Atlantic.
Half way through the flight
They randomly came through with ice cream
The flight passed quickly, and we were already over Canada
They gave us this, a little over an hour before landing
Starting the descent into Philadelphia
Final 27R
Almost 7 hours later, we were back on the ground
Lots of 787s
Pulling into the gate, next to N817AN about to depart to Athens
N820AL flew back to London, later that night
Here is G-STBC again, I saw it taking off from Heathrow
The line at immigration was long, and TSA was telling people the line for security was 1 hour and 45 minutes, and the pre check line was close to an hour. A lot of people were yelling at them, and arguing about their connecting flights. Luckily I was able to go through the crew line, and was through quickly
American 938
Philadelphia, PA (PHL) – West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)
Airbus A321
N192UW
Seat 15A
Scheduled Departure Time – 7:00pm
Actual Departure Time- 7:08pm
Scheduled Arrival Time – 9:48pm
Actual Arrival Time- 9:05pm
1 hour 57 minutes
N192UW arriving from Las Vegas
Boarding
15A
The door was closed at 6:45pm, and we pushed a few minutes early. We then taxied around to runway 27L, and got in line
N406YX getting ready to pushback to Syracuse
There were several planes in line, and tower called out the sequence. We were # 3 in line for takeoff
N530EA taking off 27L to Akron. I flew N530EA just a few months ago from SYR-PHL in October
“American 938 fly heading 230, runway 27L cleared for takeoff”
We started the left turn to the 230 heading, right after takeoff
We checked in with Philadelphia Departure, and were cleared direct to HAYDO and to maintain 12,000ft. We were then handed off to Washington Center
We climbed up to 34,000ft. Over South Carolina, we went up to 36,000ft. This flight just like the first one was very bumpy
On this flight they came through with drinks and snacks
N648JB passed above us, on a flight from Orlando – Richmond
Cruising
I spent the flight watching the sunset
It was dark by the time they were descending
Final 10L
It was a smooth touchdown, with heavy braking
Pulling into the gate, next to N810AW that had arrived before us also from Philadelphia
N192UW flew right back up to Philadelphia early the next morning
It was a fun trip. I liked London a lot. It was my first time on an American 777, and at Heathrow. It was also great to be able to travel internationally again. This was my first time flying American internationally. The 777-200 was decent, but I definitely preferred the 787