Review of British Airways flight London → Jersey in Economy

Hello!
Welcome to this flight report 

I will be taking you back in time on my journey to the Channel Island Jersey from London Gatwick. 
including return flight in this report, both onboard British Airways Boeing 737-400 aircrafts.

This trip was taken way back in August 2013, my photography skills back then wasn't the best and majority off them are screenshots from videos I filmed.  

Grab a drink, sit back and enjoy this review!

We start off entering the North Terminal at London Gatwick around 4AM, I remember seeing this giant model off the Turkish Airlines
Boeing 777-300 hanging from the ceiling on wires.

For those who have flown from Gatwick North Terminal, who can remember this giant spiral walkway down to the gates?

Sadly now has been removed since this trip. 
The centre piece always reminded me off a part to the aircrafts engine blades. 

Some time passed, I grabbed a snack from the Boots store and waited around in the departures hall.

But soon enough it got lighter outside for me to see the aircrafts.

I could see plenty off British Airways 737-400s, easyJets and a really cool black Biz Jet.

Who remembers good old Monarch Airlines? and First Choice Airlines 767-300.
All but the black jet have sadly left our airports and sky.

My flight out this morning will be departing from gate 55B at 7:25AM  
 

Here is the aircraft for the flight, currently aged 27.7 years old when this report was published.

British Airways Boeing 737-400
Registered G-DOCW 
Delivered brand new to BA in February 1993 which flew for the airline until September 2015.

She was withdrawn from service and put into storage until being re registered, converted into cargo.
March 2016 she was registered as N856NX to Automatic LLC in the USA until West Atlantic UK bought the airframe in 2017. Also re registered to G-JMCJ only to be now re registered as EC-NLS, soon due for delivery to Spanish cargo airline Swiftair.

Now back to the report!

Boarding was a very smooth easy process, I was eager to get into my seat.

Walking down the aisle as I boarded, noticed the old aircraft smell.
Still in good shape, will go into more detail off the cabin later on.

Taking my seat in 16A, the aircraft started to fill up quickly with the other passengers.
Parked up next to us was a fellow companies 737-400.
By this time the bad weather continued to get worse, heavy rain causing poor views out off the window.

Shortly after boarding was completed, the aircraft got pushed back and made our way down towards the runway.

After letting a few other aircrafts pass to take off it was our turn.
Engines kicked up to full throttle, the water trickled down the windows as we hurtle down the runway and up heading west. 

Still climbing out off Gatwick, we passed through low thick cloud which caused slight turbulence.

Something I never seen before, the little light that folds out under the wing.
This made the flight even more special, just shows how old the aircraft is. 

Flying half way over the channel we levelled out just skimming the cloud top.

This is by far the best moment off flying for me, nothing else but the wing and the natural world surrounding. 

The cabin inside is showing its old design layout.

Old styled air vents, the big red square button for crew attention and the overhead storage bins are very spacious.
All in all the cabin was kept in a fine state, well done BA!

The crew began passing through the cabin with the free snack service, which BA have since stopped.
Although they have been providing a small snack free off charge to all passengers in Economy recently.
This is due to the airline not providing a menu booklet during Covid-19 times.

I shall be flying BA soon to Newquay Cornwall from Heathrow to try out the service during Covid times, keep a look for that review.

The snack box consisted off a Croissant with cheese, a little apple & peach muesli, orange juice pot and choice off coffee/ tea.

Very satisfied with the meal considering its a short hop flight off 30 minutes.

Also here is a photo off the safety card. 

Before I could finish my last bite, we began our descent past the coast off France towards Jersey.

Circled around over Jersey a few times before we lined up towards the runway.

I loved how the cold air contrails off the wing when the slats lowered. 

Passing over the west coast off Jersey.

Touch down was fairly heavy due to front headwind, braking hard with wing flaps raise to slow the aircraft down. 

We started vacating the runway taxing towards to the terminal, passing several buildings and aircrafts.

Soon as we stopped the ground crew set up the air steps and the doors opened.

I waited last to leave the aircraft to get a perfect photo off the 737.

What a fantastic aircraft she is! already getting excited to explore the island and the return trip back on another 737-400 few days time.

Arrivals is used in the old original airport terminal.

Walking along to the bus stop I noticed an Blue Islands ATR42 parked up for maintenance.

For the next few days I went Kayaking, on a bus tour around the island and explored the war tunnels.

I highly recommend for anyone visiting Jersey, paradise in the Atlantic Ocean!  

Soon enough the 3 days on the island passed, it was time to fly back home.

We took the bus from St. Helier town straight to the airport. 

Due to arriving at the airport early, I decided to sit in the waiting lounge and planespot.

Plenty of Flybe Q400s! once a major operator at the airport, but sadly now a thing off the past.

Blue Island Airlines ATRs, a super rare Trislander and Atlantic Airlines ATP.

Here comes the aircraft for the flight back home.

Inbound from London Gatwick is G-DOCN another Boeing 737-400 for British Airways.

Parked up at the same gate as my previous flight did.

We all slowly boarded the aircraft using both front and rear doors. 

Whilst waiting for push back from the gate I saw an Aurigny Airlines Trislander landing.

Aurigny had a famous Trislander called JOEY, now on display at Oatlands Village in England.

Taxing down the runway a Flybe Q400 arriving in from fellow Channel Island Guernsey.

Without stopping we turned sharp right onto the runway and took off steeply into the sky. 

Passing over the whole island before turning away over St. Helier. 

I made a quick visit to the toilet when we leveled out.

Nothing special about toilet cubicles, but…
What makes this special is how old the toilet system is compared to newer aircrafts.
Toilets these days are all done by loud air suction, but on the older 737 classic jets it releases blue cleaning fluid to wash away. 

Also I love the floor design with the vinyl black & white flooring.   

There was no time for a quick meal snack service as we began our decent towards Gatwick, just 15 minutes after leaving Jersey.

We circled over the seaside holiday town Selsey in Sussex.
I have had many short family holidays here when I was very little.

After circling around Selsey twice we straightened out heading towards Royal Tunbridge Wells and then turning left to line up for landing.

Slight early evening mist settling in over towards London.

Making a very smooth landing onto runway 26L we vacated towards our gate. 

We had to stop for a little while whilst an aircraft moves from our gate.

I took the time to snap a few photos off the parked up aircrafts. 

Just as we parked up the aircraft that flew us to Jersey taxied past!

What a fantastic view it was to see the airframes that flew me on both flights.

De boarding and passing through Gatwick was a breeze, got into our taxi and headed home.

As we arrived back home the Virgin hot balloon was landing in a nearby field just as the sunset behind the clouds.
What a fantastic view to end the holiday.  

I hope you enjoyed this flight report.

All in all I was very pleased with both flights, got to love the classic 737s.
British Airways back then provided such good service, with the complimentary food, great prices and on time departures. 

There is nothing I can say that was bad apart from the terrible weather on departure from Gatwick.

Have you had the chance to fly on the 737 classics with BA? or flown to Jersey before?
Leave a comment below I love to read your experiences.

Soon I shall be publishing many more reports, I have a flight to Newquay from Heathrow with BA coming up as well.
Report for this will be done before Christmas 2020.

Once again thankyou for reading

Stay safe, keep flying and smiling :D