Originally Posted by
Prospero
I need to OLCI for tomorrow's BA2935 at some point this evening. On previous weekend trips, my recollection of this flight is that it arrived into LGW parking at an international stand which converted to alighting via a rear door and being coached to Domestic arrivals. This data point made memorable thanks to two passengers seated near the front of the cabin who asked the crew if the twenty minutes they had was sufficient to catch the connecting MCO flight. Wry smiles by all in earshot
Anyway, was pondering if there is any real time to be gained by selecting a seat of the rear. Does such a strategy pay dividends?
An interesting question. I would say 65-70% of my JER-LGW flights have ended up at an international stand, and there's no rhyme or reason to be able to predict it, even the same flight on the same day of the week. Then as you say you end up being bussed to an equally distant part of the airport. Hopefully your bags will be checked through so you won't have to fanny about with that, and go straight to international departures.
Maybe 10% of the time you get put on a remote stand where the front steps can be used.
So I'd say go for a seat at the back, but remember you're going to have to get on a bus, so the strategy here is to always stand at the middle door on the left side of the bus. FWIW you board via the right hand doors.
H