Benefits of Empty Skies and Empty Airports
Sep 15, 2020, 12:55 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,667
Benefits of Empty Skies and Empty Airports
I was on the BA591 today from MXP to LHR and from starting the take-off run to touching down at LHR was just 1 hour and 21 minutes. Due to the reduced flying schedule, no holding circuits around London were required. Not sure I have ever known a MIL-LON (or vice-versa) so fast, we were airborne within 7 minutes after push-back at MXP and on landing, straight on stand at LHR, landing some 32 minutes early at 13:58
Even with a checked-in bag to collect, I was on the LT car park bus by 14:28 - on the car-park bus some 2 minutes earlier than the scheduled landing time
On balance, I would rather have it as it was at the start of 2020 though, all busy again
Even with a checked-in bag to collect, I was on the LT car park bus by 14:28 - on the car-park bus some 2 minutes earlier than the scheduled landing time
On balance, I would rather have it as it was at the start of 2020 though, all busy again
Sep 15, 2020, 4:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BA Gold, Tesco, Nectar
Posts: 313
Yea it's interesting. Last week, I loved selecting a cosy corner in a quiet and calm club lounge. Having ridiculously fast table service, pleasantly surprised to see champers was on the online menu. Back to front boarding also much more efficient than the norm imo. 20 mins early arrival at destination. Destination also having less tourists.
Sep 16, 2020, 12:28 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond *, IHG, Couples Romance Rewards
Posts: 2,350
Various flights are now much quicker with fewer ATC delays. For example our flights from LHR-HER are posted as 4 hour flights, Both were completed in 3hr 30 minutes and the route across europe's normally crowded skies were very close to the great circle shortest distance route. The reduced time in flight can of course be sucked back by delays at LHR immigration when they're doing a sweep of contact registration forms at passport control.
Sep 16, 2020, 5:00 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Tenerife
Programs: BA Gold, BA AMEX PP, Amex Platinum
Posts: 433
On the 4th July, we did a flight from LHR, and the plane went straight from the gate to the runway to taking off without stopping. Unheard of at LHR if you're not on the first flight of the day.
Lounge experience is so much better at LHR, but that is offset by a lot of out station lounges being closed.
On the flipside what is it with security at LHR insisting everyone take their shoes off? Doesn't happen at PMI, AMS, JTR, TFS.
Lounge experience is so much better at LHR, but that is offset by a lot of out station lounges being closed.
On the flipside what is it with security at LHR insisting everyone take their shoes off? Doesn't happen at PMI, AMS, JTR, TFS.
Sep 16, 2020, 5:10 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,908
On the 4th July, we did a flight from LHR, and the plane went straight from the gate to the runway to taking off without stopping. Unheard of at LHR if you're not on the first flight of the day.
Lounge experience is so much better at LHR, but that is offset by a lot of out station lounges being closed.
On the flipside what is it with security at LHR insisting everyone take their shoes off? Doesn't happen at PMI, AMS, JTR, TFS.
Lounge experience is so much better at LHR, but that is offset by a lot of out station lounges being closed.
On the flipside what is it with security at LHR insisting everyone take their shoes off? Doesn't happen at PMI, AMS, JTR, TFS.
I believe it has to do with the fact that if the shoes set off the detector at lhr and that i then there will be closer contact between the security personnel and the pax and to minimise contact lhr has decided that all shoes are to be removed
regards
Tbs