stu1985
Jun 13, 12, 1:52 pm
I thought I would write just a quick report on a recent trip I took on bmi Regional as I haven’t seen a report on them in the forum in a long time (if ever). There’s really not much to say – it was a bog standard domestic flight from Aberdeen to Heathrow, but I’ve taken a few pictures to pad things out a bit....
We start at Aberdeen Airport on a dry June afternoon (which is a novelty up here).
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7362935436_1efbec0ef5.jpg
The check in area was packed full and there were about 60-70 people queuing for the BA check in desks. We thought that we would be straight through as there were only two people in front of us at the BD check in desk. Alas, this was not to be. There was some family from a far away land who had about 20 cases to check in and this took absolutely ages. It was a good 25 minutes before we got checked in and made our way to security. Luckily, we hit a lull in security and were straight through in a matter of minutes.
I’d booked us in to the Servisair lounge at the Airport – I’ve figured out that it’s cheaper in the long run paying £16 for as much as you can drink and eat by the way of nibbles rather than paying the extortionate prices for a G&T at the bar outside. The lounge was packed. The departures area was packed. The airport was absolute pandemonium. There were a lot of delays due to the weather down south I think. Things were relatively nice in Aberdeen in comparison.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7220/7362933200_81a1e6b365.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7177705107_ffe16253a9.jpg
We got settled at a table in the lounge and had a few drinks. The selection in the lounge is fine. A few choices of spirit, couple of wines, beers, soft drinks. Obviously it’s not as good as lounges in Heathrow, but Aberdeen is just a wee domestic airport so it was fine for the length of time we were there. Our flight was pushed back by an hour but this didn’t really bother us as we had no firm plans as such that evening. A good few G&Ts later, our flight was called for boarding.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/7177702775_4ddaa8a79a.jpg
We were met at the steps by a nice female member of cabin crew and we took out seats. The captain announced that it would be about 25 minutes before we could push back so we just sat and took in the (nice) views from the window. There wasn’t much to see apart from 2 BA planes which had been sitting there for a while. Eventually, we pushed back and were on our way once a WF flight landed before we took off.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7075/7362924138_22ae832d61.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7177697551_f0fceae7f4.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/7362921896_369dccc2de.jpg
Bmi Regional has recently been taken over by a company called Sector Aviation Holdings Ltd, but they are keeping the bmi Regional brand as far as I’m aware. I had a wee look on the bmi website a few days before we travelled and was pleasantly surprised by this text on the page: “Complimentary Inflight Food and Drink.....Enjoy in flight dining, perfect for whatever time of day you're travelling” Great! Before, you had to pay for food and drink on bmi Regional. You still do. Now I’m not sure if there was something which I missed on the webpage or whether this is a piece of naughty advertising. The jury is still out on that one.
Anyway, there was nothing really that appealing and I had managed to stuff a packet of salt and vinegar in my pocket from the lounge so I just ordered a wee G&T to make the flight that little bit more pleasant. It was quite cloudy up there today, but some nice views were to be had from the window.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/7177693383_e66dbf42df.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7071/7177695271_677b097ef8.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7081/7177691133_3387d097c0.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8028/7177689207_796fe890ca.jpg
Before we knew it, we were descending to Heathrow and we got straight in without having to circle in the holding pattern for ages. I think we flew over LCY on the way in – someone may be able to confirm from the pic – I’m not too sure. On the ground, we briskly made our way to the gate and got off.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7177687075_167b8858eb.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7177684195_52138a9a34.jpg
We were staying at the Crowne Plaza in Shoreditch so hopped onto the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then got the tube to Liverpool Street. The Crowne Plaza is a lovely little hotel. I’ve stayed there a few times. The staff are very pleasant and the restaurant is actually very good for a hotel. We ate there on the first night and enjoyed some views looking over to the Gherkin as the sun set.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7363026208_4c3d1211d7.jpg
We had quite a busy weekend, but I won’t bore you with all of the details, save to say, a good time was had by all. We ate at a restaurant at Tower Bridge on the Saturday night and were lucky enough to see two helicopters flying under Tower Bridge, one after the other. They put on a great display and I think it was done about three times. We later found out that this was for the recording of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. It was an amazing scene and down below the restaurant which overlooked the Bridge was absolutely packed with people looking on in awe. A sight which I won’t forget in a hurry. Here are a few pics (unfortunately none of the fly under!). I really like the one of Tower Bridge opening in the sunset.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7102/7177790373_6ec765de90.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7363014598_3ca16a4de2.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7177788401_779911c266.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8007/7177784105_5b45f41125.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/7363007628_6f2c488270.jpg
Anyway, all good things have to come to an end and on the Sunday afternoon, it was time to head to the airport to fly back home for work the next day. We arrived about an hour before our flight and grabbed a bite to eat. It was soon time to board. There was the cheeriest member of cabin crew I think I have ever encountered on the plane. He obviously loved his job but his facial expressions were sometimes just too much for me to look at without wanting to s....... Managed another G&T (for medicinal purposes) and before I knew it, we were passing over the coast beside Stonehaven lining up for Aberdeen Airport.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7177776217_79688b26d9.jpg
So, I was happy enough with BD. It’s no BA, but it was £80 return wheras BA was about double that. You get 20kg of luggage included in the price which is pretty decent I suppose. I’d use BD again, but I think my I’m a BA boy at heart!
Short but sweet. Hope you enjoyed!
We start at Aberdeen Airport on a dry June afternoon (which is a novelty up here).
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7362935436_1efbec0ef5.jpg
The check in area was packed full and there were about 60-70 people queuing for the BA check in desks. We thought that we would be straight through as there were only two people in front of us at the BD check in desk. Alas, this was not to be. There was some family from a far away land who had about 20 cases to check in and this took absolutely ages. It was a good 25 minutes before we got checked in and made our way to security. Luckily, we hit a lull in security and were straight through in a matter of minutes.
I’d booked us in to the Servisair lounge at the Airport – I’ve figured out that it’s cheaper in the long run paying £16 for as much as you can drink and eat by the way of nibbles rather than paying the extortionate prices for a G&T at the bar outside. The lounge was packed. The departures area was packed. The airport was absolute pandemonium. There were a lot of delays due to the weather down south I think. Things were relatively nice in Aberdeen in comparison.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7220/7362933200_81a1e6b365.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7177705107_ffe16253a9.jpg
We got settled at a table in the lounge and had a few drinks. The selection in the lounge is fine. A few choices of spirit, couple of wines, beers, soft drinks. Obviously it’s not as good as lounges in Heathrow, but Aberdeen is just a wee domestic airport so it was fine for the length of time we were there. Our flight was pushed back by an hour but this didn’t really bother us as we had no firm plans as such that evening. A good few G&Ts later, our flight was called for boarding.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/7177702775_4ddaa8a79a.jpg
We were met at the steps by a nice female member of cabin crew and we took out seats. The captain announced that it would be about 25 minutes before we could push back so we just sat and took in the (nice) views from the window. There wasn’t much to see apart from 2 BA planes which had been sitting there for a while. Eventually, we pushed back and were on our way once a WF flight landed before we took off.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7075/7362924138_22ae832d61.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7177697551_f0fceae7f4.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/7362921896_369dccc2de.jpg
Bmi Regional has recently been taken over by a company called Sector Aviation Holdings Ltd, but they are keeping the bmi Regional brand as far as I’m aware. I had a wee look on the bmi website a few days before we travelled and was pleasantly surprised by this text on the page: “Complimentary Inflight Food and Drink.....Enjoy in flight dining, perfect for whatever time of day you're travelling” Great! Before, you had to pay for food and drink on bmi Regional. You still do. Now I’m not sure if there was something which I missed on the webpage or whether this is a piece of naughty advertising. The jury is still out on that one.
Anyway, there was nothing really that appealing and I had managed to stuff a packet of salt and vinegar in my pocket from the lounge so I just ordered a wee G&T to make the flight that little bit more pleasant. It was quite cloudy up there today, but some nice views were to be had from the window.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/7177693383_e66dbf42df.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7071/7177695271_677b097ef8.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7081/7177691133_3387d097c0.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8028/7177689207_796fe890ca.jpg
Before we knew it, we were descending to Heathrow and we got straight in without having to circle in the holding pattern for ages. I think we flew over LCY on the way in – someone may be able to confirm from the pic – I’m not too sure. On the ground, we briskly made our way to the gate and got off.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7177687075_167b8858eb.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7177684195_52138a9a34.jpg
We were staying at the Crowne Plaza in Shoreditch so hopped onto the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then got the tube to Liverpool Street. The Crowne Plaza is a lovely little hotel. I’ve stayed there a few times. The staff are very pleasant and the restaurant is actually very good for a hotel. We ate there on the first night and enjoyed some views looking over to the Gherkin as the sun set.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7363026208_4c3d1211d7.jpg
We had quite a busy weekend, but I won’t bore you with all of the details, save to say, a good time was had by all. We ate at a restaurant at Tower Bridge on the Saturday night and were lucky enough to see two helicopters flying under Tower Bridge, one after the other. They put on a great display and I think it was done about three times. We later found out that this was for the recording of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. It was an amazing scene and down below the restaurant which overlooked the Bridge was absolutely packed with people looking on in awe. A sight which I won’t forget in a hurry. Here are a few pics (unfortunately none of the fly under!). I really like the one of Tower Bridge opening in the sunset.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7102/7177790373_6ec765de90.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7363014598_3ca16a4de2.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7177788401_779911c266.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8007/7177784105_5b45f41125.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/7363007628_6f2c488270.jpg
Anyway, all good things have to come to an end and on the Sunday afternoon, it was time to head to the airport to fly back home for work the next day. We arrived about an hour before our flight and grabbed a bite to eat. It was soon time to board. There was the cheeriest member of cabin crew I think I have ever encountered on the plane. He obviously loved his job but his facial expressions were sometimes just too much for me to look at without wanting to s....... Managed another G&T (for medicinal purposes) and before I knew it, we were passing over the coast beside Stonehaven lining up for Aberdeen Airport.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7177776217_79688b26d9.jpg
So, I was happy enough with BD. It’s no BA, but it was £80 return wheras BA was about double that. You get 20kg of luggage included in the price which is pretty decent I suppose. I’d use BD again, but I think my I’m a BA boy at heart!
Short but sweet. Hope you enjoyed!