75?!

SH+ warm TPs minimum and 80 for CE.

ah I see! I was just looking for it on my MMB, then remembered it’s an Avios booking I’ll keep the economy seats warm

Somebody else reported getting an POUG at check in today for the same price.

As for stopping me getting that seat... I’m on the earlier flight out to OTP on 23. However, that is my seat on the Party Plane so you better keep it clean!

And of course I meant ‘earn’ not ‘warm’

Bisonrav better not warm up my seat!

Who said anything about shorts?

Just a few notes form my positioning flight to OTP and the first flight of my run to PHX.

I was on BA884 which was a 19.00 departure from LHR. At 18.10 gate B46 was announced. I headed off via the walkways to see that they were already trying to get bags off some customers. Boarding itself commenced about 18.35 and despite it being a full flight and some shenanigans from those trying to bring half their worldly possessions on board, we were all boarded and able to get away relatively on time.

Cabin Crew were very good in serving the relatively small but full CE cabin of just four rows. Lots of drinks offered throughout, and I was very impressed with the main which was beef cheek. Is it just me or does Castleneu taste better out of the big bottles? Certainly less gassy.

On disembarking around 10 minutes earlier that scheduled the passenger in 1A introduced himself as another FTer and BA97 follower. We had a chat as we got off the flight and onto the bus to the terminal.

Now, this is where things didn’t quite go as I intended. I was meant to be looking for the transfer option for the B2B that I am doing next week. I didn’t see anything (partly because I wasn’t really looking!) and before I knew it I was up the stairs and facing a passport check. A short stroll and I was out into the arrivals hall at the airport. On returning to the airport for the return flight, I did have a look around but couldn’t really see anything. Rather strangely the arrivals hall was busy with shops and what has more the appearance of a departure lounge. A quick look did not reveal any signs for transfers or connections. This also appeared to be a mixed area as there were clearly people drivers with signs waiting for arriving passengers. From here you go through customs and put airside. (Question - is this the domestic terminal hence why they were mixed rather than the international part?)

Should you do find yourself airside on a B2B then you will need to turn right out of the arrivals area, walk through the corridor past the car hire desks, down the lift (no down escalator at this point) and into the departure hall. There is a security channel at the bottom of the first check in area. If you carry on, the BA check in desks for today were in the newer part of the terminal where there is additional security. I used this one in the morning and it was very quick and efficient with lots of open channels.

After security there is a passport check. You then have to make your way through the terminal to the BA gate which was gate 38 - not surprisingly a bus gate. To get to this you must go downstairs from the majority of gates which have air bridges (so effectively level 0, departures/check in being level 1, and arrivals - having gone up the stairs from the bus gate - being level 2.)

As I wanted paper boarding passes I stopped by the check in desk for these. I was given a voucher for the lounge. To access this as you head towards the gates and take the escalator on your right up to what is effectively level 2. The lounge is relatively small and had little to offer. Although the coffee was fairly decent. There are some additional lounges as well. I did go up to the one on the left further along the terminal. Next to this (on the same level as arrivals) I observed a security lane which may be used for transfers. (?) However at this time it was unmanned. If it is possible to use this then that would be very convenient.

Once I arrived at the gate this morning, boarding was fairly swift, and getting on the aircraft from the bus helped by using steps at both front and rear. The return flight was less heavily loaded than the outbound.

Breakfast was served, and although tasty this was very much the same as I had on a recent BHD. I was looking forward to some fresh fruit but there wasn’t any.

So, despite wanting to prepare myself for the B2B that I am doing on Thursday I feel that I am going to need to do more research to just feel comfortable. Hopefully my knowledge of the airport will be beneficial. Even without connections/transfers I think with a bit of a wriggle on, you could get from getting off the bus, through passport check, out into arrivals, back through security and back to the gate in 20-25 minutes if you don’t mind sticking your elbows out to get past people who like to block the corridors.

I’ll update further on Thursday following my return when I have done the B2B.

One last point. I decided to get an Uber to my hotel. The instructions say to meet in the arrivals car park. This is split into three levels. It isn’t 100% clear which level to use. I opted for the upper level which is adjacent to where you come out of arrivals. Apparently the driver couldn’t find this and his English was only marginally better than my Romanian. After about 5 minutes he just cancelled and I had to find somebody else. I made sure I sent the driver a message to know exactly where I was. He found me ok. Fare to the Ramada was 25RON so about Ł5. Not bad for a 20 minute ride. The return was much more efficient. For future trips I think I’ll either check out the taxis or pre-book a car.

As for the hotel, I used the Ramada Bucharest North. It’s about 8km from the airport. I arrived and checked in around 1, went to my room, slept, got up at 6 and checked out. Bed was fine. Staff relatively pleasant. Not much else I can add.

As for Bucharest, I can’t really comment except to say, they like to smoke and will happily block any doorway to indulge. I’m sure I could even smell it in my room despite being non-smoking.

Thanks for this update. It is strange that you didn’t see a transit opportunity as others have reported there being one. Maybe this is because you were bussed?

I look forward to your update after your B2B next week as I have mine the Monday after that (along with at least two other FTers listed on the wiki).

I think what you spotted may be the transfer security, but is seems to be by request only? See this report https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29017017-post1919.html

Thanks Karfa.

The map makes sense as can visualise where I have just been.

The security channel I referred to does not appear to be marked in the map. This was near the tube like feature marked on the map next to the VIP lounge.

However, reading the post you referenced, I think we also came in by bus to the same area (gate 3 internally) as that looks like the only location for passport check and we didn’t have a long walk before getting to it after the bus. What I cannot see identified is the way up to it and the way back down.

I suppose I will find out on Thursday And hopefully not. Bus gate for the afternoon arrival rather than the evening one.