The FlyerTalk Manchester Do / BA1393 / Flounge
Mar 17, 2013 | 8:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Berlin
Programs: Meow Mix
Posts: 1,436
The FlyerTalk Manchester Do / BA1393 / Flounge
Mini Trip Report
The FlyerTalk Manchester Do
Which Includes:
A few of my older trip reports:
The FlyerTalk Manchester Do
Which Includes:
- British Airways' Galleries First Lounge.
- BA1393 LHR to MAN.
- Hilton Manchester Airport.
- Virgin Trains to London Euston.
- A Special Thanks and Mention.
A few of my older trip reports:
Last edited by angeloedades; Mar 17, 2013 at 9:24 am
Mar 17, 2013 | 8:52 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Berlin
Programs: Meow Mix
Posts: 1,436
Do-Day
Let the flying commence I thought! We set out to get up at 07:00am promptly and leave the door 50 minutes later with an aim to get to LHR T5 at 09:30 am to meet our fellow FlyerTalkers. This was the +1s first FlyerTalk do and he was strangely excited and not sceptical (These FT people cannot be classified as normal
).
After a very long trip to LHR T5 via elephant and castle and Piccadilly Circus, we have finally arrived. The journey its self was cumbersome as we took a bus, changed twice on the tube but we managed to get seats which made it easier.
Time for the first confession, I have a bit of an OCD when it comes to one particular aspect of air travel. The Boarding Pass. I do OLCI and get a PDF print out of my boarding pass for keep sakes and then print two out for back up with my passport and one in my hand luggage, and then download my boarding pass on my iPhone before printing a boarding pass from one of the self-service machines at the airport.
Security this time around the morning was very quick, although I am not sure whether this is typical of a Friday morning. A total of 5 minutes maximum was spent from entering the secure area to being able to walk with my boots on. The security agent was very nice, being from London you would expect to get no smiles or conversation, so this was a welcome change. She commented on my choice of fragrance which was interesting!
British Airways Galleries First Lounge
We were very fortunate enough to be guested in by two fellow FlyerTalkers in to Galleries First (referred to as FLounge from this point on). This was exciting as it was my first time in FLounge only having been to the CCR (again thanks to another FlyerTalker). This was also my +1s first time into any of the Terminal 5 lounge.
With numerous follow up e-mails from me to our fellow FlyerTalkers, we managed not to miss each other at the bottom of the escalators at 9:45am and we were on our way to my first visit to the FLounge!
The dragon was pleasant enough and knew her rules. We headed to the dining area for some breakfast and decided to bump two tables together to create a table of 4. An hour or so later the two fellow FlyerTalkers needed to catch their flight so we said our goodbyes and thanks.
Me and +1 decided to move to another part of the FLounge for some apron views and found ourselves near the computers towards the terrace. I had to do some quick testing for another fellow FlyerTalker regarding computer access but that did not go down well.
The view from our seat next to the computers facing the active departure runway.
The obligatory champagne-in-flute shot.
The view from the terrace facing satellite B.
Our little table in the terraces before lunch.
A maintenance / access cradle. Not sure if the designers of Terminal 5 could have designed it away.
It was midday and we simply had to continue our rampage through the FLounge so we decided on having lunch and I tried the chicken rendang and it was phenomenal but the portion was too small! They also had various salads, pork belly, and pasta on display but I was too drunk and too full by this point.
Watching our screens and the BA iPhone app, our flight seems to be delayed by +5 minutes, then + 20 minutes, then -15 minutes, then +10 minutes I lost count how many times it changed but it was now showing as Gate Open so it was time to head to A2.
Let the flying commence I thought! We set out to get up at 07:00am promptly and leave the door 50 minutes later with an aim to get to LHR T5 at 09:30 am to meet our fellow FlyerTalkers. This was the +1s first FlyerTalk do and he was strangely excited and not sceptical (These FT people cannot be classified as normal
).After a very long trip to LHR T5 via elephant and castle and Piccadilly Circus, we have finally arrived. The journey its self was cumbersome as we took a bus, changed twice on the tube but we managed to get seats which made it easier.
Time for the first confession, I have a bit of an OCD when it comes to one particular aspect of air travel. The Boarding Pass. I do OLCI and get a PDF print out of my boarding pass for keep sakes and then print two out for back up with my passport and one in my hand luggage, and then download my boarding pass on my iPhone before printing a boarding pass from one of the self-service machines at the airport.
Security this time around the morning was very quick, although I am not sure whether this is typical of a Friday morning. A total of 5 minutes maximum was spent from entering the secure area to being able to walk with my boots on. The security agent was very nice, being from London you would expect to get no smiles or conversation, so this was a welcome change. She commented on my choice of fragrance which was interesting!
British Airways Galleries First Lounge
We were very fortunate enough to be guested in by two fellow FlyerTalkers in to Galleries First (referred to as FLounge from this point on). This was exciting as it was my first time in FLounge only having been to the CCR (again thanks to another FlyerTalker). This was also my +1s first time into any of the Terminal 5 lounge.
With numerous follow up e-mails from me to our fellow FlyerTalkers, we managed not to miss each other at the bottom of the escalators at 9:45am and we were on our way to my first visit to the FLounge!
The dragon was pleasant enough and knew her rules. We headed to the dining area for some breakfast and decided to bump two tables together to create a table of 4. An hour or so later the two fellow FlyerTalkers needed to catch their flight so we said our goodbyes and thanks.
Me and +1 decided to move to another part of the FLounge for some apron views and found ourselves near the computers towards the terrace. I had to do some quick testing for another fellow FlyerTalker regarding computer access but that did not go down well.
The view from our seat next to the computers facing the active departure runway.
The obligatory champagne-in-flute shot.
The view from the terrace facing satellite B.
Our little table in the terraces before lunch.
A maintenance / access cradle. Not sure if the designers of Terminal 5 could have designed it away.
It was midday and we simply had to continue our rampage through the FLounge so we decided on having lunch and I tried the chicken rendang and it was phenomenal but the portion was too small! They also had various salads, pork belly, and pasta on display but I was too drunk and too full by this point.
Watching our screens and the BA iPhone app, our flight seems to be delayed by +5 minutes, then + 20 minutes, then -15 minutes, then +10 minutes I lost count how many times it changed but it was now showing as Gate Open so it was time to head to A2.
Last edited by angeloedades; Mar 17, 2013 at 8:59 am
Mar 17, 2013 | 8:55 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Berlin
Programs: Meow Mix
Posts: 1,436
BA1394 Boarding & Take-off
Boarding was prompt but surprisingly not a very long fast track line. Upon taking my seat on 9D, I noticed a Titan Airways on gate A4 I was not sure where it was going or what flight it was operating but it was nice to finally see one… I am not sure about the painting scheme though!
Titan Airways B767 docked at A4 who pushed back before us.
The take-off was very uneventful. We were placed on a queue for a good 10 minutes as there was 5 aircraft in front of us. True to British weather most of the flight was in or through clouds except for the cruise and for the final in landing.
BA1394 On board service
The service in the air was probably the quickest yet professional service I have had. We essentially had around 5 minutes from receiving our drinks to the top of our descent into MAN. We managed to reach FL200 which was astonishing for that short flight!
Just about to begin our short cruise and we are finally out of the clouds!
I still cannot believe domestic crew and the pace they work in. We had a 40 minute delay and yet they still managed to serve a pretty full flight with one round of drinks and a snack yet they did not have a look on their faces that this was such a burden, they genuinely were happy to do this service and were joking with passengers.
BA1394 Landing
Again the landing was pretty standard, nothing extra-ordinary to report. However it is probably one of the smoothest landings I have ever had (especially after the mini crash landing I had with an EK A388).
Boarding was prompt but surprisingly not a very long fast track line. Upon taking my seat on 9D, I noticed a Titan Airways on gate A4 I was not sure where it was going or what flight it was operating but it was nice to finally see one… I am not sure about the painting scheme though!
Titan Airways B767 docked at A4 who pushed back before us.
The take-off was very uneventful. We were placed on a queue for a good 10 minutes as there was 5 aircraft in front of us. True to British weather most of the flight was in or through clouds except for the cruise and for the final in landing.
The roll itself was very quick and below is a link to the YouTube video:
Heathrow to Manchester on BA1394 - Take-off - 15MAR2013
A few minutes after take-off; more clouds.
Heathrow to Manchester on BA1394 - Take-off - 15MAR2013
A few minutes after take-off; more clouds.
BA1394 On board service
The service in the air was probably the quickest yet professional service I have had. We essentially had around 5 minutes from receiving our drinks to the top of our descent into MAN. We managed to reach FL200 which was astonishing for that short flight!
Just about to begin our short cruise and we are finally out of the clouds!
I still cannot believe domestic crew and the pace they work in. We had a 40 minute delay and yet they still managed to serve a pretty full flight with one round of drinks and a snack yet they did not have a look on their faces that this was such a burden, they genuinely were happy to do this service and were joking with passengers.
BA1394 Landing
Again the landing was pretty standard, nothing extra-ordinary to report. However it is probably one of the smoothest landings I have ever had (especially after the mini crash landing I had with an EK A388).
Below is the link to the YouTube video:
Heathrow to Manchester on BA1394 - Landing - 15MAR2013
Heathrow to Manchester on BA1394 - Landing - 15MAR2013
Last edited by angeloedades; Mar 19, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Mar 17, 2013 | 8:56 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Berlin
Programs: Meow Mix
Posts: 1,436
Hilton Manchester Airport
My god, well this is a different experience to the one I had in doubletree in Newcastle for the NCL do. This place is very handy and acceptable for 1 or 2 nights because of its price and location to public transport but if you are staying for longer, better look somewhere else. I will not go into little details but the person who checked us in wanted to get the queue out of the way. He was the only one serving the very long line. Check out was the same and I was served after 10 or 15 minutes of queuing.
Now with every hotel I visit, I ALWAYS get a club sandwich. I think this is one of their quality indicators along with their staff .
Hilton Manchester Airport Club Sandwich, 13.
Bed was comfortable for a sleep, over all it gave us the basic service level of what was paid for at 74 a night.
My god, well this is a different experience to the one I had in doubletree in Newcastle for the NCL do. This place is very handy and acceptable for 1 or 2 nights because of its price and location to public transport but if you are staying for longer, better look somewhere else. I will not go into little details but the person who checked us in wanted to get the queue out of the way. He was the only one serving the very long line. Check out was the same and I was served after 10 or 15 minutes of queuing.
Now with every hotel I visit, I ALWAYS get a club sandwich. I think this is one of their quality indicators along with their staff
.Hilton Manchester Airport Club Sandwich, 13.
Bed was comfortable for a sleep, over all it gave us the basic service level of what was paid for at 74 a night.
Last edited by angeloedades; Mar 17, 2013 at 9:06 am
Mar 17, 2013 | 8:57 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Berlin
Programs: Meow Mix
Posts: 1,436
Virgin Trains to London Euston
The train leaves from Manchester Piccadilly which has the new horrible network rail departure boards below.
New, enhanced network rail departures board.
Before we actually headed over to board out 17:15 train, we spent four hours wandering about Manchesters town. I have to say people are friendlier than in London and he stumbled upon a very nice Chinese restaurant called Little Ying Sang which is worth a visit.
Our Pendolino to London Euston
For some reason I sometimes like and dislike the fit out of the train, not sure how old the fit out is but it is a love-hate relationship.
Interior of the Pendolino train.
The train leaves from Manchester Piccadilly which has the new horrible network rail departure boards below.
New, enhanced network rail departures board.
Our Pendolino to London Euston
For some reason I sometimes like and dislike the fit out of the train, not sure how old the fit out is but it is a love-hate relationship.
Interior of the Pendolino train.
Last edited by angeloedades; Mar 17, 2013 at 9:07 am
Mar 17, 2013 | 8:57 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Berlin
Programs: Meow Mix
Posts: 1,436
Conclusion
Overall, it was a very enjoyable time both before the flight, during the flight and especially at the Manchester Do with fellow FlyerTalkers. I still cannot believe that I haven’t managed to speak to all of the fellow FlyerTalkers at the Do. I must remember next to make a real effort at least to speak to them once.
I would like to wish RedVee a successful move to WLG, it is never easy to move especially sorting out the logistics of life but without these challenges, it would be too boring. RedVee I am sure our flight plans will cross at a future date. Keep safe and happy flightings.
Long live FlyerTalk Dos.
/AE
Overall, it was a very enjoyable time both before the flight, during the flight and especially at the Manchester Do with fellow FlyerTalkers. I still cannot believe that I haven’t managed to speak to all of the fellow FlyerTalkers at the Do. I must remember next to make a real effort at least to speak to them once.
I would like to wish RedVee a successful move to WLG, it is never easy to move especially sorting out the logistics of life but without these challenges, it would be too boring. RedVee I am sure our flight plans will cross at a future date. Keep safe and happy flightings.
Long live FlyerTalk Dos.
/AE
Last edited by angeloedades; Mar 17, 2013 at 9:16 am
Mar 17, 2013 | 5:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Executive Club
Posts: 1,002
Great trip report, glad to see you made the most of the FLounge, always good to have a couple of hours, especially when its your first time. What exactly did you do to the computer which didn't go down well, I am intrigued 
Mar 19, 2013 | 6:40 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Berlin
Programs: Meow Mix
Posts: 1,436
I am afraid that is classified information
. It was just testing the PC's for a certain type of problem that has been mentioned numerous times before!/AE