Note- If the mods would allow a short time for this to stay in the BA Forum before being put into the TR forum, I'd be most greatful!

Background:

I’m no stranger to the LON (LHR)- HAM commute. It’s my most frequent, having racked up 9 returns to the lovely German city year to date. It’s always a Heathrow departure for me- the LCY flights not being within the travel policy of my internship provider, quite understandably so, I may add. The average return cost of a standard ticket is normally £600+ for a typical midweek return journey. It came as quite a surpise to notice that my flights to HAM for this week had me flying from LHR to HAM but back to LCY- querying this, I was to find out that the LHR flights were full so an exception was granted. All the better I thought- LCY is a quicker return to Southampton (via train) than the dreadful National Express experience from LHR (which always seems to involve a long wait for the next coach), not to mention the praise I’ve heard on here regarding the Sun-Air service. I shan’t cover the LHR-HAM experience in ET- we all know how BA’s intra-EU service works and is, IMHO, without a doubt, the best economy experience within Europe.

Check-In:

Check in at HAM is quite an easy thing to be getting on with after being dropped off at HAM by car. I dropped off my (small) bag at checkin (all those liquid toiletries). The chap behind the desk seemed quite taken that I was on the LCY service and checking in a bag- apparently that’s quite uncommon, unsurpsingly. Informing me that there was a grand total of 4 passengers scheduled on the service, I became quite excited. This would without a doubt be the most exclusive flight I’ve ever taken. Vanity “Priority” tag placed on my bag, I made the short way to Fast Track security- where BA Silvers need to be let in by the supervising agent as the gates don’t recognise status. The agent, remembering me, enquired as to my wellbeing and asked said that I was at HAM more than she was- awfully friendly and terribly funny, we eneded up chatting for a good 10 minutes!
The Airport Lounge, BA’s dedicated lounge for CE/Gold/Silvers/OWE/OWS is one of the better European outstation lounges. Sausages and pretzels are always the call of the day and go down splendidly with the lovely Pils that’s on offer. After a second drink, it was time to make my way to gate B27- a brisk 5 minutes walk away.

Flight:



BA8207
Operated by MHS Aviation on behalf of Sun-Air of Scandinavia on behalf of British Airways
Dornier 328
Flight Time- 1h 40min
D-CIRP (German registered)

Boarding was announced 30 minutes ahead of our 17:00 departure- which I thought was quite funny in itself, but I’m all for an early departure! The gate agent, having valet tagged another passengers bag, saw the end of the boarding process to which we then boarded a bus- all three of us, in a 32 seat aircraft. It appears one of the passengers cancelled at the last minute. What an exclusive experience! At this point, I captured some of my love of flying that I haven’t felt in a while and I was certainly determined to make the most of the flight.

Our gate, with BA/Sun-Air branded posters (two are in the HAM lounge and one at check-in as well). They do really seem to advertise this service, not to much success it seems on this flight!



A quick three minute bus journey and we arrive at our aircraft, the first thought into my mind was- “Ahhhh, how cute!”



The duty manager of HAM was seeing off this flight and two baggage handelers were loading my luggage into the hold and took the valet baggage of the other passenger and placed it in as well.

The three of us, it seems, were all virgins on this service- judging by the fact that we all decided to step off the bus and take pictures. I noticed straight away that the aircraft was operated by MHS Aviation for Sun-Air so it seemed that Sun-Air has leased this service out- I was told such later on in the flight.

I sat in my assigned 3A, when the lovely cabin crew member, dressed in full BA uniform with hat, informed me that I could sit anywhere I wanted, so I moved myself up to 2A (bulkhead) where I was surprised to see a normal restraint belt, instead of the customary aircraft one. What a novelty!


Legroom in 3A


Legroom in 2A (bulkhead)


Seatbelt in 2A


The view of the turboprop from 2A


The cabin before takeoff


View of the row 1 bulkhead and the cockpit door

I found the life vest sign on the bulkhead hilarious. It reminded me of a scene from Airplane!


On our Dornier 329


From the film! Gave me quite a chuckle- politically incorrect? Yes, but surely as an aviation geek I'm allowed some leyway related airplanes to comedy

Now- I rarely do this. I have a fundimental hatred of selfies and don't get me started on selfie sticks, but considering it was to be a memorable flight, combined with the odity of the harness-style seatbelt, I chose to take a selfie!



Slightly modified safety demonstration completed (to include all three airlines’ names and in a very German accent), we made the quickest departure I’ve ever had to date. The runway was practically in front of us!
Straight away, from the way the lovely cabin crew welcomed us onboard, I knew this would be a fantastic flight. All galley service today- no trolleys. Whilst I was not expecting a typical Band 2 service, I was shocked to see what was actually produced.

Pre-dinner drinks were taken. Now, I have a confession. This was the first flight in which I hadn’t had my traditional bloody marry, as they don’t have vodka onboard (or Worcestershire sauce) but I was glad to break with tradition and order a G&T. Double G&Ts were given without asking, she actually bringing everything out on a silver tray. She made my first one for me and left me with a second gin. Note the Beefeater gin and the Seagram’s tonic- exponentially better than the Gordon’s/Canada Dry in ET. A pack of pretzels was also produced, a nice touch and welcomed.



Dinner was brought over, a cold meat patty with penne alfredo topped with tomatoes and olives. It came with bread as well as butter and a pineapple jam. I have to say I was terribly impressed. Not only was the meal more generous than I expected, it tasted rather good. The bread was NOT, I repeat, NOT stale- which in itself is something to behold.



Coffee/Tea service was had soon after. Once again brought on a silver tray, I opted for coffee (quite rare for me) and had it with REAL, I repeat, REAL milk in a standard CE Royal Daulton cup.



And the service continues- Ice cream was offered, a choice of caramel or chocolate. Considering I was having coffee at the time, I opted for the caramel and I wasn’t disappointed and by this time, quite full!



Trays cleared and about 40 minutes to landing, digestif was offered which invluded Bailey’s and various whiskeys and cognacs. These were all very elegantly presented on the silver tray for us to pick from, along with a small glass. I choose one Bailey’s and the fantastic cabin crew stood there and looked at me in a joking way- pushing the tray nearer me, insisting that I take another! I acquiesced to her request, needless to say .


Watching the Original House of Cards in the background- exponentially better than the American version (and this coming from a huge fan). Most of all, it opened my eyes to how the new HoC is an EXACT copy of the Original HoC, except in an American format- hence, the plot it now ruined for me and has resulted in me being quite dissapointed in the American version for not having any originality (there are uncountable similarities). The British have just outdone and outclassed the American version in every way, or rather, the American version does not live up to the same standard. But I still love both programmes! Sorry for the rant!

Sun-Air’s route map, within their independant infliht magasine:



On approach to LCY, I spoke to the cabin crew. She seemed to love her job, having worked for a previous orange airline that shall not be named. She also loved, as she put it, “Giving the best experience to my passengers, knowing that we have the product to do it”. She wasn’t wrong. She revealed that the return had a more healthy 27 passengers- thankfully! I gave her an untold amount of compliments and, together with quite a bumpy landing at LCY, was the end of the flight. Thanking the pilots on the way out, I proceded to immigration where there was no queue whatsoever, collected my bag which had just come out of the belt and was on the DLR within 4 minutes of landing! What service!



Conclusion:

This is not an economy product. This is not a CE product. This is better- everything about it. I honestly could not fault it in any way. The cabin crew (well done submitted- hopefully it will make it to her as a non-BA staff), the food, and the service were excellent. It certainly put a smile on my face and was such a welcome change from my normal BA experiences. The fact that this service can be had for 4000 Avios on off-peak days as well is remarkable. This has to be the best value ET redemption in the skies. I cannot recommend them enough. I'll certainly make an active effort to use them whenever I can.

But may I kindly ask a favour of you all, and HAM commuters especially. Please do all you can to book the 16:55 departure from HAM to LHR whenever you can I want to do this again! Sorry for the quick write up (and probably some gramatical errors )- have other things to be getting on with, but felt this experience so good that it was worth every second relaying this to the good BA board on FT!