INTRODUCTION
Hello everyone!
The first days of June I decided to move to London for summer in order to find a job. The 19th of June I left Rome and after less than two weeks a I found a room in Kensal Green and a job as waiter in London Bridge. Since in September I'm starting university I set my return time around mid-August.
Around late July I booked the return flight. As for the inward Vueling had the best price with luggage included. Return date set on August 14th.
BEFORE THE FLIGHT
The scheduled departure time was 20:50. Since I had to take London Overground and than the Souther Service from Clapham Junction to LGW I decided to leave home around 17, in order to be at the airport no later than 19. I took the Overground in Willesden Junction, 5 stops to Clapham Junction.
Clapham Junction is a very big station. Unfortunately it wasn't possible to book train tickets online, but buying them at the ticket machine was quite easy and quick.
The train takes around 30 minutes to get to Gatwick Airport Station. While on the train I got a message from Vueling stating that the flight had a 3-hour delay due to operational reasons.
London Gatwick Airport Station
The station is directly connected to South Terminal, the one where Vueling departs from. To get to North Terminal it's necessary to take an APM.
Vueling check-in at row E
The departure hall is quite boring and dark
Vueling has an almost entire row of desks
At the check-in desk the agent confirmed me the delay, stating that it would have been "just" 2 hours and half.
Passport and boarding pass
Departures are located upstairs
Initially the FIDS showed my flight to be just 1 hour and 20 minutes late
Heading to the security checkpoint
eGates to check the boarding pass
Despite the terrorist attack in Westminster happened in the morning the security checkpoint wasn't stricter than usual. It takes around 10 minutes to complete everything
Going downstairs to the departure hall
A LONG WAITING…
As in every London airport the security checkpoint is followed by the obliged passage through World Duty Free
The departure lounge was quite big and bright
Large FIDS
Confirming what I was told by the check-in agent, the flight was delayed of 2 hours and 20 minutes
This pic was taken on 19:30 and the boarding was said to begin at 22:30…
Having a lot of time I went upstairs to the food court
Departure lounge seen from the upper level
I went to Wondertree Restaurant, the only place in LGW South Terminal with an apron view
Time for some plane spotting
Nice line-up at the pier
Thomas Cook A321, British Airways A319 and A320s, Flybe E195
Aurigny E195
Norwegian.com 737s, Vueling and easyJet A320s and Aurigny E195 waiting for takeoff
Just landed TAP Express E190
Tui 757
Flybe E195 in "Welcome to Yorkshire" livery on pushback
Norwegian.com 737 named after Dirch Passer, a Danish actor
Thomas Cook A321 on pushback
Many BA tales
I spend a bit of time at Wondertree having some fries and a lemonade with mint. When the restaurant started to close I move to Nando's to have my dinner: chicken wrap with fries and garlic bread. Sagres portuguese is very good
When I finished my dinner the airport was silent and empty
Almost all the flights had left
Having some time left I walked around the now closed shopping area
Victoria's Secret, what makes an airport a hub XD
I went to the quiet zone to take a rest
I was really nice with chaise longues and phone-charging area
At 22:30 the gate was announced
Fortunately gate 5 was quite close to the quiet zone
We were the last flight of the day and all of the people move to the gate when it was announced
The gate is located in the newest part of the Terminal
Since the concourse is located next to the Baggage Handling System building, there are some windows to let passengers see the conveyors
When we got to the boarding area the plane was still about to land from FCO
THE FLIGHT
At 23:00 our plane was docked at gate 5
Our bird was EC-MVN, leased to Vueling on March '18
5 minutes after the jetway was placed and desembark started
At 23:30 (2 hours and 20 minutes after scheduled time) the boarding started
Fuselage shot (spotter unfriendly window)
Door shot
I gave the flight report form to the Purser and made my way to my seat, 5A
View from my seat
HSBC branded jetway
Titan Airways A320 parked next to us
Doors closed at 23:45
The crew explained that the delay was due to bad weather at FCO
According to them the airport was "slowed down" totally
BA maintenance area
Differently from usual we departed from RWY26R
As I was explained after, this happens usually at night for noise limitations
We took-off at 23:55
Since the plane was not completely full (139/180 pax) I moved to empty row 3
About 30 minutes into the flight the Purser came at my seat
Purser: "Are you the guy who gave me the paper?"
Me: "Yes, I am"
P: "The first officer asked if you would like to fill it with them in the cockpit"
M: "Okay, I can come there after landing"
P: "If you want you can come now"
For the first time in my life I was allowed to visit cockpit during the flight
I had been in many cockpits (A320, 737, 747 and 787), but always on the ground
At that moment we were flying over Paris and the view was absolutely amazing
We were also able to spot the Eiffel Tower light
The Captain was Spanish and the F/O was Italian
I spent half a hour inside chatting with them about the A320 (they showed me all the in-flight systems) and about our favourite planes
Talking about the the fueling system they switched on the crossfeed to show me how it works
I really appreciate when cabin crew are so available with avgeeks like me
The flight report was very well filled
We spotted Genova from air
It's so sad to see it after the Morandi Bridge tragedy happened the morning :/
I spend the rest of the flight listening to music and resting
Around 2:40 (Italian time) we started our descent to FCO
We landed on RWY16L
Landing was smooth, but quite long
Boarding area D, used for Schenghen flights at FCO
Ryanair and Norwegian.com 737s, Vueling A320 and another airline I wasn't able to recognize (the third from left)
The newest part of the airport, boarding area E11-24, used for non-Schenghen flights
British Airways A320 and Turkish Airlines 737
This pier is equipeed with 4 gates able to handle the A380
I hoped to be desembarked there, but it didn't happen
The Satellite, boarding area E31-44, used too for non-Schenghen flights
We parked at a remote stand, next to a Blue Panorama 737
I greeted the crew and thanked them so much
Fuselage shot while desembarking
Bye bye EC-MVN
R(H)ome Sweet Home
Passport control hall
Unfortunately the eGates couldn't be used
There were just two desks opened for European Passports
The control takes less than 3 minutes
Baggage reclaim hall
Our baggages were reported to be delivered at belt number 8
We waited for about 20 minutes before realizing that some baggages were being delivered at belt number 7
And that's where I find mine ahaha
I made my way through customs and exit and met my parents
See you at the next report!
