Hello and welcome to this series which would include 4 flights with British Airways. This series would contain two long haul flights in the World Traveller cabin and two medium haul flights in the Euro Traveller Cabin. All of these flights would include lounge reviews of lounges that I have been reviewed before.
The third flight of this serie would include another report of my regular shuttle flight IST-LHR on British Airways's Euro Traveller product. For the first time I have tried Marks&Spencer sandwiches onboard this flight due to a poor lounge experience as after closing their Terraces Lounge at Istanbul, they contract the Millennium Lounge which is not the best lounge in Istanbul.
The routing for this serie would look like this;
Flight routing
- 1
- 2
- 3BA 675 Istanbul Atatürk to London-LHR ( Euro Traveller ), Airbus A320-200, Millenium Lounge
- 4
Pax for this flight
Club Europe ( Business ): %100 [ Club Europe until row 8 ]
Euro Traveller ( Economy ): %85-90
ONLINE CHECK-IN
I have completed online check-in 24 hours before scheduled departure time on the British Airways application.
For this flight, I had already pre-reserved seat 12A which I sticked to it. By the way seat 12B was blocked so it was empty during the flight.
I have also sticked to my pre-reserved seat for the onward flight as well.
After I have completed OLCI, I had an error that I couldn't create my onward boarding pass for my IAD flight. I have tried it 24 hours before the IAD flight but I still had the same error. The system asked me to see a representative at the airport. At that time I couldn't understand what was going on.
Even though the movement to Istanbul Airport-ISL is postponed to late March 2019, this flight would be one of my last flights from Atatürk Airport
Istanbul Atatürk AIRPORT - IST
As entrance D was empty I have used that checkpoint. This security check took less than 5 minutes. It was annoying that some people tried to get in front of you in the line. They have just put their baggage in front of mine and I have put my hand baggage in front of theirs and they were super annoyed.
Check-in hall at IST
Even though I had used the priority lane, there were less people at the regular Economy class lane so I merged to the Economy lane to wait less. In Istanbul, there are 2 priority desks alongside with 2 regular check-in desks. Check-in took a bit longer because the ground staff couldn't figure the issue why she couldn't issue my onward boarding pass. She asked me to check that issue with the transfer desk at London. Anyway, my bags were checked through my final destination.
Boarding pass
Lounge voucher and fast track access barcode
The envelope is outdated as Terminal 1 in Heathrow doesn't exist anymore
As there were no queues at the regular passport control, I haven't used the priority lane but both security and passport check took less than 5 minutes. Then I've headed to the Millennium Lounge to have breakfast.
MILLENNIUM LOUNGE - Istanbul Atatürk AIRPORT
In Istanbul, British Airways had their own lounge but they have closed it several years ago and now they are contracting the Millennium Lounge for their passengers. The lounge looks like place from the 1990s and the food selection isn't decent.
Food options: Packaged cold sandwiches, soup, bread, fruits, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, cheese, cookies
No real breakfast in this lounge
Their drink selection is not that bad. At least they have most of the soft drinks and brewed tea.
Alcoholic beverages
FIDS at the lounge
At 09:05, there was a boarding announcement at the lounge only in English for our flight. Then, I have started my walk to gate 504 which would take 10-15 minutes.
GATE AREA & BOARDING
Our aircraft was visible from one of the gate lounges. The 777 on the left would operate the daily TK flight to Buenos Aires via Sao Paulo
The ads leading to gates 501-504 hadn't changed since 3 months.
I couldn't take photos at the boarding gate as they started boarding when I arrived to the gate. There were random bag inspections at the gate for several passengers. Groups 1 & 2 & 3 were boarding while I arrived to the gate and I have joined the queue. The first bus departed with only group 1 & 2 & 3 passengers and groups 4 & 5 passengers were transferred to the aircraft with another bus.
On the way to our aircraft, this 777-300ER was visible. It would fly to Toronto that day.
The morning Aegean flight had arrived from Athens.
G-EUYF at the remote stand
Boarding the aircraft was a bit rushy as only the front door was used during boarding. Cabin crew also checked boarding passes while boarding which slowed down the boarding process.
TC-ATD was parked next door. The only A319 of AtlasGlobal would fly to Moscow-SVO that day
Fuselage shot
A view of the terminal
BA 675 Istanbul Atatürk AIRPORT to London Heathrow AIRPORT
After being welcomed by the crew, I have headed to my seat.
Seat
As I have mentioned in my previous report, row 12 is the best row while flying Euro Traveller onboard British Airways A320. This row has extra legroom and the seats could recline. Unlike the previous aircraft on my last flight these seats didn't have earphone jacks so that meant no entertainment for this flight.
Overhead panel
Shortly after boarding had completed, the safety video was shown from the overhead monitors.
Our route today
I couldn't spot other aircraft at IST due to our taxi route.
And, it's time to depart
Turkish Technic hangars
Sefaköy district
Atatürk Olympic Stadium
Halkalı district
Kayaşehir district
And we are over the clouds
IFE - BA 675 Istanbul Atatürk AIRPORT TO London Heathrow AIRPORT
As I have mentioned before, the only thing available during this flight was the seat pocket content and the route map. Unfortunately, no movies or TV shows during this flight.
The seat pocket content was the same like the previous flight. The safety card, High Life magazine, High Life Catalogue and the Business Life magazine
BA Eastern Europe destinations
Mile and time information
BOB - BA 675 Istanbul Atatürk AIRPORT TO London Heathrow AIRPORT
As there weren't any proper breakfast options at the Millennium Lounge, I was hungry after departure so I've chosen to have the Mushroom & Emmental Sourdough Toastie from the BoB menu. The sandwich is served after being heated and the taste is delicious. Luckily, I had brought my drinks from the lounge which I didn't pay extra for. The BoB menu content could be found from the past report ( LHR-IST ).
Like all BA short/mid haul flights, tank water is available at the rear galley.
We were over Austria while I finished my meal.
I had a visit to the lavatory as well. It was kept clean during the flight
Now here comes the gallery for photos before landing.
And we're almost there
And successfully landed to the Northern runway
Parkinn Hotel - I've stayed there once as a guest of British Airways
Terminal 2
Unused Terminal 1
American 777-300ER which would head to New York-JFK
We have interesting guests at Terminal 3, such as the IranAir A330 and the Qantas 787 which would head to Perth
Another AA aircraft parked at Terminal 3
And, another one
Due to capacity restrictions at Terminal 5, some BA flights are operated from Terminal 3.
VH-OQA parked at a remote stand waiting for its flight to Sydney via Singapore
Terminal 5C
G-STBD would operate BA460 to Madrid. It's rare to see a wide-body on a shorthaul BA flight.
G-ZBKB would head to LAX that day
G-CIVR would operate BA213 to Boston that day
This 787-8 would operate BA223 to Nashville
Terminal 5A
Terminal 5B
3 Queen of the Skies parked at Terminal 5B
And we had parked to gate A11 which is one of the best gates to arrive at Heathrow as it's one of the closest gates to the transfer desk.
After arriving to the gate, I have headed to the transfer desk and we would see what's going to happen with the mysterious boarding pass issue problem on the next report.
Thanks for reading and hope to see you in another report.
