SAINT PETERSBURG to WARSAW (LED-WAW) on LO Embraer 175
Sadly my time in Saint Petersburg was limited and I had to head off at least a few days earlier than I'd have liked. This is the first of several consecutive flights, carefully chosen to maximise mileage earning whilst not running too many risks for misconnections (ie there were backup flights, on different routings, I could take instead for most circumstances if needed).
The set-up at Pulkovo's international terminal is a little unusual so let me explain how it works. At the entrance there is a, fairly cursory, security check. Anyone can go through. Inside there are a few shops, cafes, money exchange, and a modest amount of seating. At 2 hours before departure, when check in for your flight opens, you are allowed to go to immigration. So there is no point in arriving at the airport too early.
Immigration was painless. Then check in. I had a disagreement with the contract check in agent. I wanted to take my 2 carry-ons onboard (without the hassle of collapsing them into one) as allowed in business class on LOT Polish Airlines. The agent wanted me to check on and carry on the other. When her colleague interceded on my behalf she then weighed the carry ons. 10.5kgs total between the 2 bags. Hardly going to cause a problem on a very lightly loaded flight (less than a quarter full). Finally she relented and made out she was doing a big favour to me. This is annoying, but at least I didn't need to check anything which would have been risky given a couple of short connections coming up.
I head upstairs to the contract Pulokovo lounge. There are other contract lounges in the terminal, but this is the one used by LO. The lounge is moderate sized. There is a reasonable selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, but very limited food options (all junk food). The designated smoking section is open plan thus the whole lounge gets smokey. No bathroom in the lounge. No computers. A handful of newspapers.
The flight is called. There is screening at the gate. Liquids are allowed but no sprays. Belt & shoes off. The gate lounge is tiny - don't head here any earlier than you must. Boarding is a rush, but with so few passengers it doesn't take long to get to my seat, a bulkhead again.
The door remains open for an unusually long time. Someone in a uniform boards the a/c and heads back some rows (not sure how far) for a couple of minutes before leaving. The door is then closed and the safety announcements are made. Then I hear a knocking on the door, and it is opened. Several burly uniformed people and several plainclothes but clearly some people with authority enter the aircraft and head behind me. A couple of minutes later a young couple are hauled off the aircraft and escorted goodness knows where.
More shortly.