On an Embraer tonight ex-GLA so no room to not check. We could gate check, but I seem to think that gate checking into LHR means that you still have to pick your bags up at the belt, so at that point we might as well check completely and not carry the bags around the terminal.

Do I have it wrong on where gate checked bags are collected at LHR?

(And to settle an argument with another FTer, is GLA-LHR a regional service or not?)

In my experience you still collect your bags at aircraft-side when arriving, even at LHR. You need to make sure you're getting the tiny white tag attached by elastic rather than the heavy-duty adhesive baggage tags - that should prevent anyone putting your bags on the belt pile (although, if they did, it would almost certainly also mean the end of your bag!)

Good question about the service. I never got a definitive answer on this: bmi regional provides the service on wetlease, so it is regional crew and in my experience also regional catering - ie free food in the back but no choice from a menu. I think the product is still sold as mainline, so if regional operates a mainline one-class route the cabin is treated as if there are no business class pax. Not sure whether pax on the weekend BRU services get regional catering or LHR bento boxes/buy-on-board menu. I hope to ask this at the winter schedule briefing next week, so I can't settle your argument until then!

On Leeds Embraer flights I always got free tea and coffee and if lucky a biscuit. However catering above that seemed to be non existant, whether you were prepared to pay for it or not.

Yup, that's regional catering

In fairness, in depends upon the time of day. Think you get bacon roll or similar at breakfast but it is just a cookie or cake at other times. Free drink, though - should include a full bar.

Note to self, eat lounge out of macaroons

The question now is whether it is worth burning an upgrade voucher so you can get some food....

Who needs food when you can get access to pure, concentrated sugar?

On my last trip from LHR-BRU on the Embraer there was a separate business cabin with bento boxes and buy-on-board menu in Y. I flew in Y because I've lost all my GUVs (all 10 of them ) but still received my free meal deal with my bmi card.