Hello everyone! Ciao a tutti! Last November my sister turned 18, therefore I decided to buy a plane ticket for both as b-day present. After evaluating many different European cities (Paris, Bruxelles, Barcelona…) I chose London. Having spent two months there last Summer, it would have been an occasion to be her "guide". By the end of October I searched the flights. Thanks to SkyScanner I found the best solution: British Airways for the outbound flight to London-Gatwick and Vueling for the return flight. I chose the first weekend of March to be free with university exams.
Even if Vueling allows online check-in, they asks a small payment even for the worse seat. Having planned to get to LGW early, we decided to make the check-in at VY counters. As we would discover later, this has been the right choice.
AT THE AIRPORT
After spending 3 wonderful days it's time to come back home Being the flight around half-past-seven in the evening, we decided to be at the airport around 5:30 PM Just to be sure we left the hotel in Bayswater around 3:30 PM Queensway tube station, on the Central Line To get to Victoria Station, it's necessary to change in Oxford Circus Tube Station Victoria Line's train We reached Victoria Station around 4:20PM From this station it's quite easy to get to LGW, using the Southern service Crossing river Thames Battersea Power Station, under renovation The train took around 40 minutes to reach LGW Gatwick station is close to South Terminal, the one we would depart from The check-in hall, a bit dark and old-style, seemed to be under refurbishment Vueling check-in is handled at row E, quite close to the entrance When we get to the counter the agent told us that the plane was full This meant that we had to board our baggages Since I had bought a vinyl record in Brick Lane Market, I asked him if it was possible to bring the baggage onboard Moreover me and my sister didn't want to wait for them once arrived at FCO To help us the very kind agent gave us seats in the third row, 3E and 3F, so in the first boarding group Having nothing to do we proceeded upstairs for the security checkpoint Even if there was almost no queue, the control took around 10 minutes Some lines were closed and people had to rush to prepare their baggages Maybe just one more line would have relieve the congestion As other UK airports, the obliged passage through the duty free shop FIDS showing our flight to be on time We had around one hour before gate announcement Since we had to buy a marmalade we went to Harrod's shop The departure lounge Going upstairs to the food mezzanine We spent most of the time at Wondertree restaurant, the only place to get a view of the apron South Terminal pier: Aer Lingus A320, British Airways A319s, Vueling A320 and Ryanair 737 TUIFly 787 waiting for departure around easyJet A320s Corporate pic Being close to the boarding time we went downstairs The gate was finally shown: 13, at the beginning of the long pier A lot of italian people rushing to the gate as us XD Time to go home… We were quickly enough to be boarded among the first people Gate agents let us to keep our baggages The holdroom Our plane just arrived from Rome EC-MFK, an A320 equipeed with sharklets, delivered in March 2015 (4.0 years old) Being in boarding group 1 we were among the first to get onboard
Departure: London Gatwick - LGW Scheduled Departure Time: 19:35 Actual Departure Time: 19:47
Arrival: Roma Fiumicino - FCO Scheduled Arrival Time: 23:05 Actual Arrival Time: 23:14
Flight Time: 2h 27m Travel Date: Sunday March 10th Class: Economy Space Plus Seat: 3E Aircraft: Airbus A320 Registration: EC-MFK
Cabin door Thanks to the kind check-in agent we seated on 3E and 3F, in SpacePlus area The legroom was great Norwegian 787 next to us Doors were closed on time Bye bye London! Being very tired I felt asleep immediately after the takeoff I woke up while flying over Liguria Region Even if the landing was a bit bumpy, some passengers clap their hands… We were parked on a remote gate, next to a Ryanair 737 Goodnight EC-MFK R(H)ome Sweet Home The glass "bubble" containing the food court of the new boarding lounge Passport control made in no time thanks to eGates The baggage hall We proceeded straigh to the exit, where we met our parents Thank you for your attention!
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Verdict
Vueling Airlines
8.3/10
Cabin9.0
Cabin crew8.0
Entertainment/wifi8.0
Buy-on-board menu8.0
London - LGW
7.5/10
Efficiency7.0
Access8.0
Services7.5
Cleanliness7.5
Rome - FCO
8.3/10
Efficiency9.0
Access8.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness8.0
Conclusion
2 LIKESLIKE TO THANK THE AUTHORTHANKS ! FLIGHT-REPORT LIKED
You're welcome It was definitely the right thing! Fortunately the airport was not so busy and we made it in a few minutes It's something I'll do again in future Gatwick it's very easy accessible to reach, it's a good airport to use to go to London
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2 Comments
You really did the right thing to check in at the airport.
I didn't realise LGW was so easily accessible.
It was definitely the right thing! Fortunately the airport was not so busy and we made it in a few minutes
It's something I'll do again in future
Gatwick it's very easy accessible to reach, it's a good airport to use to go to London
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