Hello everyone!
This is the first time I have flown from London City, and the first time I have flown BA CityFlyer. So I thought I would record some thoughts, even though I would be just a humble Euro Traveller.
I arrived in the dark at LCY at 0530. There was a smallish queue at BA check-in - both at the CE and ET desks. It took about 10 minutes to be seen, where I was advised to check-in my carry-on (free of charge), as there would be very limited storage space in the cabin. I declined. There were no storage issues once aboard the plane.
Security was efficient, so I reached airside roughly 20 minutes after arriving at the airport. I didn’t feel like being ripped-off by any one of the cafes in the departure lounge, so went to have a look at the tarmac.
Caveat emptor. Airside LCY.
Not much action at this time of the morning. BA CityFlyer E-190.
Boarding was called at gate 10 – this involved a quite unpleasant and long walk from the main waiting area. To me, this negates some of LCY’s ‘small and quick’ appeal. Myself and fellow pax were then corralled into the gate’s waiting area, and before long we were allowed to proceed out of the terminal and up onto the nippy Embraer E-170.
LCY – PMI BA8483
20 Dec 2013, 06:55
20 Dec 2013, 10:20
BA CityFlyer
Euro Traveller
Embraer E-170
I seem to remember that the equipment to be used on this route when I checked in the day before was the larger E-190, and assumed the change was due to lack of demand. The flight was about 85% full.
Euro Traveller cabin, E-170
After the first officer and cabin crew had all made their various announcements and demonstrations – and a timely departure had been confirmed – we continued to sit, with no activity. I was amazed when the Captain came on and stated that he was ‘Sorry for the delay’ and that this was because ‘the aircraft’s steering isn’t working’. I think, for future reference, I would rather he mumbled something about a technical error.
CC were told to open up the doors to allow two ground staff to board, and after much consulting of a diagram of the plane, and jabbing of buttons (the flight deck door was open during the entire consultancy), the two ground staff disembarked, CC locked up, and we pushed back. Thankfully, we were only about 30 minutes late by the time the little jet roared down the runway and took off, steeply climbing before taking a sharp right, then right again, so as to avoid the various Heathrow stacks. At least the ‘go right’ button was working.
The flight was uneventful. The two CC were efficient. We were served a hot breakfast – an omelette with sausage, bacon and mushrooms. Unfortunately I failed to take a photo of this.
After landing at PMI, we parked on the apron and were bussed to the terminal. The airport wasn’t particularly busy, so I’m guessing that the reason we weren’t allocated an air bridge was because the E-170 is too small, as on the return leg the E-190 did use one. Could anyone enlighten me on this?
Some shots of Palma:
The Cathedral
Town Hall
Mercat de l' Olivar
Cathedral at night
Inside
An uncharacteristically rough Med – at this point, around Christmas day, flights were being delayed and cancelled at LHR and LGW.
Fusion tapas
Back to PMI
PMI – LCY BA8484
27 Dec 2013, 11:00
27 Dec 2013, 12:25
BA CityFlyer
Euro Traveller
Embraer E-190
Check-in was fast. There was time to spare, so I visited a third-party lounge by the A gates, down one level from the departure shops. This was the Sala VIP Miro. It was a pleasant little lounge, and had a self-service bar, and a limited buffet with a fridge of cold drinks (including cans of beer). There were two computers (free usage/internet) and a number of large TVs bedecked the walls. I believe the other lounge in the airport next to Module D - Sala VIP Formentor – is roomier, brighter and has views of the runway.
Self-service bar and snacks.
One TV area
Seating area
Further seating with departures board and computer.
Meagre, but not unwelcome, selection of pastries and snacks.
The Coke was surprisingly good for a non-vintage
.
Another TV area. Apologies for poor quality of photos – these were all taken on a phone camera.
After a short time I tired of the lounge, so wandered to have a look at some aircraft movements.
Here was our ride home arriving.
An air bridge in action.
A neighbouring EZY flight, doing much the same thing.
Boarding was uneventful and quick – this time the aircraft was indeed an E-190. I find these Embraers delightful and – despite their diminutive size – they have plenty of legroom for a short-haul flight in ET.
Evidence – I’m pretty tall, at 6’3”
Euro Traveller on an E-190. Apologies to the gentleman in front.
A snack was served. The only choice of roll filling in Y was between egg mayo with bacon, and egg mayo...
Accompanied by a generic muffin thing.
For those of you who are interested, I did manage to grab a discarded CE menu when leaving the plane:
Christmas-themed CE menu.
The rest of the flight proceeded smoothly, although we descended rapidly about 20 minutes out from LCY which made my ears go crazy. It was a pleasure looking at the snow capped Pyrénées.
A lager to celebrate... well, going home I guess.
Overall, a nice trip which BA provided competently. An enjoyable round trip in Y, for a reasonable price, with decent ground staff and cabin crew, and modern aircraft.
Thanks for reading!