Hello everyone and welcome to a new routing!
My AvGeeks routings often revolve around a particular flight; I then look for ways to add other great shots before and/or after. In this case, it's that Norse flight that's been in my sights for a while; it'll save me having to take them on long-haul, and I don't have absolute confidence in their long-term survival… Another reason not to hang around is that fares on this LGW-OSL were very low at the time, but the start of the IATA 2023 summer season (end of March 2023) saw fares explode. So I booked an LGW-OSL for early March at 53 USD, and at that fare I supplemented it with a window reservation for 7 USD. It's a good thing I hurried, because the line has simply disappeared since then!
I was also able to include a very interesting airport and flight in the rest of the routing, but that will be revealed in part in the next FR :)
My two compadres Okapi and F-OITN will be delighted to join me on this flight, and on some of the following ones! AvGeeks trips are always better with more than one person :)
And now, it's time for the FR!
To get to LGW, I'll be taking an early-morning easyJet from CDG, again at a modest fare (€35). The real price paid is in terms of fatigue, with a 3:30 a.m. wake-up call… F-OITN and Okapi picked me up almost on my doorstep - thanks to F-OITN for doing us a favor with his car that day! Three photos of this CDG-LGW flight as an intro: first, a deserted CDG landside
Our plane is an A320ceo in a special livery
Classic, familiar cabin, uneventful flight with all the pax dozing off, as is often the case on these early-morning flights!
We arrive late at LGW due to a de-icing incident at CDG, but that doesn't matter as we have plenty of room.
We need to change terminal, so be it!
We'll do that with a tour of LGW-Val.
And here we are!
I don't particularly like this terminal, it often seems overcrowded and the ceiling is low.
I did check in online the day before, but in order to obtain the BP, we have to pass through the Norse counters.
We pass Titan Airways counters, a company whose B767 I had the pleasure of carrying over to 2019. One of my finest catches that year!
Here we are! I counted 6 counters open in parallel, but it wasn't just for my flight!
I'm indeed lucky to be here today :)
A friendly agent hands me the precious sesame, after offering me an upgrade which I refuse.
We're ahead of schedule, but we might as well go and take the PIF right away, at least it's done! All the more so as, given the crowds and the inefficiency of English PIFs, it's better to plan ahead.
Having passed the PIF without a hitch, here we are on the airside, which is a veritable anthill!
The day has started very early and we're already hungry, so we head for one of the local restaurants for a little English Breakfast overlooking the tarmac!
Then a stroll through the terminal, with this Lego store in local colors.
A free press offer is available, which has become rare!
We head for our gate
The further away we get from the central part, the less crowded it gets, so we can finally breathe a little :)
Not much of interest to spot in this part of LGW, apart from a 777 BA… Maybe a wink for the rest of the routing, who knows ;)
Here's our door
Once we've shown our credentials, we can enter the waiting room…
… a little faded
We'll see better when we arrive at OSL, but here's our plane: LN-FND, a 787-9 that began its career with a certain Norwegian!
Boarding begins a good hour before departure. There were no agents, only announcements, so the check-in was in fact a pre-boarding process.
And here we are!
I'm greeted in a friendly manner and discover this grisounette cabin.
We're in the last economy cabin
My seat, 34J. I've noted that row 38 is to be avoided by window-lovers, so let's hear it…!
First bad impression: the legroom is not good, and it would be even worse if I were flying long-haul… Which is one of the reasons why I like to book this type of company on short flights.
The view looks impeccable though
In the bag, the instructions
As well as a vomibag and a BoB to leaf through in flight
The cabin won't be much fuller than this (I expected it to be)
Tablet test :)
A bit scruffy there, and there's a case on the feet. Overall, the cabin is in good condition, despite some signs of wear and tear.
On the plus side, there's also an IFE, which we'll explore later.
With simple connectivity; a little too simple, as I'm having a hard time with my Bluetooth headphones! Some of the latest-generation screens allow such a device, but for today, it's a waste of time.
It's not the A380 EK in its special livery that impressed me most in this picture, but rather the walkway above the aircraft!
An announcement is made to offer upgrades at USD 50! They really want to sell their Y+ :) For those who'd like to see what it looks like, direct to SKYTEAMCHC FR
The push is done right on time, while the PNCs are doing the demos. There's no one else on my three-seater, which makes up for the reduced legroom.
Bye bye LGW, and see you soon I hope :)
As we approach the runway, the plane stops and we wait a moment. The CDB finally explains that all take-offs are suspended, there are only landings for the moment. The joy of airports with only one active runway…
It wasn't supposed to be a long wait, but we took off at 12.54pm, almost an hour after block departure! I told you I didn't like LGW :)
At last!
Beautiful English weather, minus the rain :)
Fortunately, a little later it's blue sky!
Let's explore the IFE: first disappointment, there's no geovision. As for films, they're either old or second-rate.
It's not much better for series, with a few episodes picked here and there in the middle of seasons :)
I'm launching "Une Merveilleuse Histoire du temps" to test it out
Different languages and subtitles are available for each film, which is a good point.
Picture quality is decent
Meanwhile, we're still heading northeast
What's the story on the BoB? Well, it says that I'll really have to try airplane fries one day, but I'm too afraid of being disappointed :)
The drinks
There are also a few inedible items for sale :)
I'm parched and take a bottle of water for 3.50 USD, which is pretty expensive, but I can largely afford it considering what the ticket cost me :)
Cheers to the FRists!
I also take the opportunity to nibble on a few chips bought at LGW.
After a long flight over sea and clouds, we come within sight of Norway.
Quick trip to the toilets, clean
What's that film on the bottom left? ;)
A nice picture of… I don't know what! I'm thinking of an English landscape, in keeping with the name of our plane(Dartmoor, a mountainous region in the south-west of England).
The descent began over the magnificent fjords
I'm very happy to be aboard a B787, but I must admit that on the boat in the center of the photo, it must be pretty good too :)
The closer we get to the airport, the more snow there is, which I don't mind!
A short finale
And that's it!
Clearing the runway
And after a short taxi, we arrived at the gate 25 minutes late. Fortunately, my next flight, even if it doesn't leave from OSL, is much later.
Quick disembarkation
Thanks to the backlight :)
What a beautiful Dreamliner!
We arrive in this narrow corridor
After a quick PAF passage via automatic airlocks, we're off to arrivals.
That's good!
This is where my path separates (temporarily) from that of my companions; they leave OSL with… surprise! But I'm leaving from TRF, a new airport for me, and one that will also accommodate a new company. Off to OSL station
There's a direct train to TRF, which is mega-convenient but comes at a price, especially in Scandinavia: 464 NOK or 40€!
That's the end of this FR, see you soon!
