INTRODUCTION
Hello everyone!
Last time I took a plane before this flight was August '17. It means I spend almost one year without flying :/ Maybe it's the longest period in my life spent "on the ground".
However let's talk about this flight. About one month ago I decided to leave to London in order to find a summer job, like waiter or shop assistant. For the first time in my life I book a one-way ticket. Using SkyScanner I find many good offers with Ryanair, but since I needed to bring a big baggage, I chose Vueling's offer, which included it. Departure date set for June 19th.
About a week before the flight I made the online check-in and print my BP.
Just to give some stats: this is my 6th flight with Vueling and 2nd flight to LGW.
AT THE AIRPORT
My parents brought me to the airport around 11, with the flight scheduled at 12:45. Even if I made the online check-in I needed to go to drop-off desk for my baggage. Like most airlines at FCO Vueling is based at Terminal 3. The other Terminal, 1, is used by Alitalia and its partners.
The bright departure hall was a bit busy
Old style FIDS
Note: all non-Schenghen flights are handled at boarding area E, the newest part of the airport. As it happens in other major airports the gate is not showed until minutes before boarding. This "obliges" passengers to spend most of the time (and maybe money) in the mall-style departure lounge.
Vueling has an entire line of desks at the far end of the Terminal
There were two queues: one for baggage drop-off and one for passengers without BP
15 minutes after getting into the queue I saw my baggage disappearing on the belt
At this moment I realized my flight would have a 55-minute delay :P
Passport and BP
This large banner showing airport's latest achievments: World's First in Services' improvement and Europe's First for quality
I think that FCO really deserved those prizes, since in the last 3/4 years it changed completely, reaching other European hubs' standards
After greeting my parents I made my way to the security check-point
Despite the crowd it took about 10 minutes to complete the procedures
Time to turn left, towards passport control and boarding area E
Passport control done in 2 minutes thanks to eGates
Mandatory passage through the large duty free
Boarding area E opened on December '16
It contains a lot of Italian luxury brands, plus a large food court. It has also 8 remote gates and 14 contact gates, mainly used by widebodies
The departure lounge is large and bright
Many fashion brands
The "rotunda" at the end of the departure lounge
I went upstairs to the food court to have lunch
I really like that glass skylight…
…and the impressive glass "bubble"
Time for some spotting
Alitalia A320 in old livery, Jet2.com 737 and Aeroflot A320 parked at the pier
Aer Lingus A320 taking off from RWY7/25
Lufthansa A320 and Iberia A321 parked at Pier D, used for Schenghen destinations
Despite the reported delay boarding for my flight was called on time at gate E8
Time to descent to ground floor, where gates E1-8 are located
Nothing to say about this small waiting area
The gate for my flight
Boarding was already started
Most of the passengers don't like boarding by airside bus, but for an aviation geek like me it's amazing
Alitalia's unique Boeing 777-300, EI-WLA, named Roma
It started flying for AZ in December 2017, after belonging to ILCF
Air Austral and Garuda Indonesia leased it for different periods
I love those enormous engines
This plane is used at the moment on FCO-JFK route
Passing by amazing Delta A330
Another DL and AZ A330s parked at the pier
China Southern Airlines B787
BOARDING AND TAXI
Our A320 for today's flight, EC-MES, delivered to Vueling on March '15 (3,3 years old). It's jokingly named Leonardo da Vueling
As many A320s it's equipped with sharklets
Hainan Airlines A330 in the distance
The cabin is equipped with 186 Y-seats
I took my seat 6F. The view of the cabin while boarding continue
I really like those yellow details
Legroom was sufficent for a two-hour flight (I'm 1,8m)
Boarding and doors were closed on time. However we had to wait about half a hour before pushing back due to heavy traffic at LGW
45 minutes after boarding we started pushback
easyJet and Tunisair A320s
Our stand, located in front of gate area E51-61
Saudia A320 at remote stand
China Southern, Alitalia and Air Canada heavies at the Satellite Terminal
Alitalia 777-200 EI-DBK "Ostuni" and China Southern 787
Taxiing to RWY16R/34L, generally used for landings
Alitalia A320 EI-DSY "Aldo Palazzeschi" ready for departure
So many wonderful tails
And then he goes…
Qatar Airways 777 just landed
Our turn for departure
Blue Panorama 737s in the distance
THE FLIGHT
Vueling 6224 cleared for take-off, RWY34L
IAE V2500 engines went full thrust
V1…Rotate
We crossed RWY 7/25 (on the far right), only used for TOs at FCO
Goodbye Rome! See you in two months
We banked over Roman coastline, flying over Fiumicino town
Lazio northern coast
Civitavecchia Power Plant and harbour
Argentario, a big island connected to mainland by two narrow stripes
Isola d'Elba
For some it looks like a lizard, for others like a fish…
Marina di Campo Airport (IATA: EBA, ICAO: LIRJ), located on the island
In the blu dipinto di blu…
Approaching Ligurian coast between Italy-France border
easyJet plane going somewhere
Po river and (maybe) Turin in the distance
Crossing Alps and flying over Savoia region
Another easyJet plane
Geneva Lake and city underneath
Geneva Airport (IATA: GVA, ICAO: LSGG)
Flying over French mainland
Approaching the Channel we started flying over a big layer of clouds
A glimpse of England Coast
Cloud layer started to thin as we descent to LGW
Banking over southeastern London, we made a complete "loop"
Passing through the clouds…
…finally we see here…Anglia, to use my ancestors' words
Motorway M23 serving the airport
Airport parking lot
London Gatwick railway station
South Terminal, where Vueling is hosted
Many British Airways tails
easyJet A320 and Emirates whalejet ehm A380 waiting for departure
Such a great welcome to Gatwick
North Terminal Satellite connected through a bridge crossing taxiways
Air Traffic Control Tower
Ladies and Gentleman, Welcome to London
ARRIVAL AT GATWICK
Half a hour later than scheduled we landed at Gatwick
Virgin Atlantic A330 parked in the distance
Previosuly seen easyJet A320 departing after we cleared the RWY
British Airways A319 landed behind us
Ryanair 737
British Airways 777
Emirates A380 still waiting for TO next to a British Airways A320
Fortunately we were parked at the beginning of the pier, meaning we won't have made a long walking to the exit
British Airways A320s
Norwegian 737 "Astor Piazzolla" parked next to us
Docked at the stand
While desembarking I received the flight report from the crew and was invited to visit the cockpit
I chat a little bit with pilots before thanking and greeting them
I really appreciate when cabin crew is so available with Avgeeks like me
Strange to see a glass jetway in a London airport…
Bye bye EC-MES
Let's go to Passport Control
Last view of our plane, with Norwegian 737 and British Airways A320 behind
What a nice line up: Ryanair 737, Aer Lingus and British Airways A320s
Sorry for the blurred pic, but I wanted to snap this nice Aurigny ATR72
Her Majesty the Queen kindly welcomes you to London
Norwegian 737 and British Airways A320
On the way to passport control
Despite the big crowd, immigration was a breeze thanks to eGates
Baggage reclaim hall
We had to wait about 10 minutes to have our baggages delivered
Fortunately my bag was among the first to be delivered
I made my way through customs and out in the bright arrivals hall
I headed straight to the train station
Waiting for the train
It takes about half a hour to reach London Victoria Station, one of the most central railway terminus
Thank you for your attention! See you next time ;)
