The flight in this report dates back to May 2016, so I might not remember éverything. Also, almost everything is taken/filmed vertically. It's a crime, I know, but I still don't want to keep this from you.
It was holiday week and me and my girlfriend spent a midweek in London.
We had difficulty choosing our airline at first given the fact that we did not want to spend a great bunch of money but there were a lot of options. KLM did have my initial preference, but that was soon enough switched when I saw BA had a morning flight operated by nothing less than a 767. Even though I had two other bookings in the past on a 767, I have never -actually- been on one. First times were in DUS in December 2010, to spend Christmas and New Year in London. That flight got cancelled due to LHR being closed for snow. Second time was in February 2011, rebooking of earlier failed trip, when the aircraft was downgraded to an A320. I did fly business class so that made things a lot better to start with.
It was certainly a lot more money than we hoped but the avgeek in me was satisfied with the 120 euro roundtrip on BA.
At the airport
The first of May 2016, at around 5 AM, we drove off to the airport, only to arrive there at 6.45 AM sharp. We were dropped off at Departure hall 3 where the non-KLM flights depart, both Schengen and non-Schengen (of which the former requires you to go back to departure hall 1 to clear security without having to clear passport control, twice, once to enter non-Schengen area and one to leave it afterwards, as 2 and 3 spit you out in non-Schengen area), of which BA is at the very right. The machines over there dó feature BA as an option, while the others at Schiphol don't (at least, not back then).
The machines had a lot of trouble with my girlfriends ID card so it advised us to go to the counter (while all we wanted was a real boarding pass besides our mobile ones, for the collection, as we already checked in online). We joined a queue even though the screens advised us that checkin wouldn't open for another half our. A friendly gentlemen asked us if we were already checked in and nodded yes, we were rushed in the empty bag drop line as we apparently joined the assistance line (more people had trouble with the machines).
The lady at the counter asked us if LHR was our final stop, wanted to see our passports, labeled our bags and sent them off, after which she asked if we were already in posession of boarding passes. Of course we said no :-) "If you don't mind, please print one out for us, thank you!" and were told that our gate was D2 (lucky! that's the first in the pier!) and it would close at 10 AM.
Checkin counter with the line (we were in the wrong one)
Security is now on the upper level before passport control instead of at individual gates
Security was empty
Security was a breeze even though they always want to search me because I look so suspicious ;) In departures 3, you end up in Lounge 3 and if you wish to visit the McDonalds, after security on the upper level immediately head left (that saves you 2 stairways). We resided there for a muffin and some coffee after which my spotting spree would start.
Breakfast with a view we all love
First of all: this is PH-BFT (named "City of Tokyo"), one of KLM's new livery mixed config 747-400's, at gate F3
View of said PH-BFT from the gate pen
PH-BFC named "City of Calgary"
PH-BFH named "City of Hongkong"
PH-BQP, a 777-200 named "Pont du Gard"
PH-BFA, a full-pax 747-400 named "City of Atlanta". Sadly, this 747 is now withdrawn from use and stored in Teruel, Spain, as KLM is phasing out their 747's.
PH-BFR, another Combi, named "Rio de Janeiro"
At this time, KLM's newest 787-9 Dreamliner, PH-BHF, named "Hibisbus". Since this time, three have joined the fleet.
After the KLM bird spotting spree it was time for boarding. I -somewhat- impolite was waiting near the BP scanner so when general boarding was announced we were boarded as one of the first. London here we come!
On board
Boarding was a tad late. I do not remember how late it was, at least around 9.45 AM. We walked through the jetbridge and were soon enough on board G-BNWZ (which had changed from G-BNWA to G-BZHC, and ended up with G-BNWZ) and found our seats.
G-BNWZ at the gate
Schiphol's Fokker 100 on the Panorama Deck as seen from the gate pen
Boarding
View from our pair of two seats. Ideal configuration in this 767, 2-3-2.
Flight was announced as full and people were asked to check in large items of hand luggage. I always have things in my bag that really can not go in the hold so that always is a no-no for me.
Pushback was late but we did make up some time. Engine start, flaps down, and off we were to runway 36L also known as the infamous Polderbaan.
Flaps down!
Crossing 36C/18C "Zwanenburgbaan" was our saving as policy is that no-one can cross this runway if it is in use. If it is in use, one must taxi around it. That, combined with distance from the terminal, makes 36L/18R the least favorable runway, and yet, it's the most used one.
Because of said distance, 36L/18R has their own tower, tower west.
Number two behind Scandinavian Airbus
Crossing the coastline
Takeoff video (unfortunately, vertical)
This flight would not be long so service started before leveling off and consisted of free drinks and some snacks (as it should be on such carriers IMO). I asked for an orange juice and picked some crisps. For my medication, I also asked for a cup of water and a spoon.
I visited the loo as well as far as I can remember but did not take a picture of anything besides this cabin shot:
Eventually descent started on this short channel hop:
DRAG REQD
My seat lottery did turn out better than ever given the fact that the right side got a tour of Central London with the first eyecatcher being the London Eye:
As seen zoomed in
The holding pattern in combination with the right side of the aircraft at this time was a bonus as well!
With for example, Buckingham Palace…
…Another view of the London Eye and the aquarium of which I am unsure of the building has a name…
and the houses of parliament.
Fun soon ended but more fun was imminent!
This MUST be Heathrow!
Almost there
Landing was on runway 27L and was a bit of a shocker given the fact that a sudden wind shear made us land with left gear first, followed by right gear. I have had worse but my girlfriend did not seem to enjoy. Video found here (it is vertical, sorry)
BA tails, one of which is an A380, which never fail to impress me
BA 787
BA 747-400 in oneworld livery was a bonus to see as well
Docking at remote terminal C. This meant we needed to take the underground people mover. Also a first for me.
Endless joy of people standing up to get out first.
When we finally deboarded we went to the people mover and joined the queue for passport control.
When we collected our luggage we went to the Underground to catch the first Piccadilly line to Holborn.
Hello, TBloemink, and thank you for this FR!
Albeit a report on a short hop, this was a better read than some reports covering longer flights!
You visited London without telling me? (I live in Oxford, but my office is actually very close to Buckingham Palace) :P. Certainly hope you had a great time with your gf!
BA's catering is a joke to KLM's. A bag chips vs a godsend cheese sandwich is by no means a close competition. I hear they're now SELLING M&S snacks on short-haul flights, as opposed to giving them out for free. Was the lavatory clean, at least?
Your passport control experience at Heathrow's T5 wasn't an isolated incident, unfortunately. Not sure why, but more often than not, that's the case.
Thanks again for this FR!
Thanks for your comment! About their catering I was surprised they even had free stuff. I had heard numerous times they would charge for anything to nibble. KLM indeed does a better job on that with sandwiches, albeit tiny, they sure are good.