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346 reviews
Hello amigos!
Welcome to the return part of a trip to Bogotá back in the winter of 2021-22.
You can find the first flight's FR here.
Back then IB operated two flights between BOG and MAD. One departed around 18:00 and the other at 22:30. Nowadays, there is a third flight departing at 14:00. Fares tend to be the same regardless of departure time, so in the end it is up to the client's choice: spend more time in Bogotá, or arrive earlier to Madrid. I chose this flight hoping to get some nice sunset views on the first leg of my flight (naïve me…).
Without further ado, let's get it on!
When I made it to BOG, there was already a huge queue for our flight. There amount of people travelling to Spain from Colombia is huge (that's why there are 4 airlines flying the between BOG and MAD, about to be 5, and over 7 flights a day).
Luckily I didn't have to join the general queue, but I could use the "business class", and that's why I was done with check in in less than 10 minutes. Can't beat that…and with that, I was off to emigration and airside.
The PTY-IST flight was ready to leave. This was the first time I saw the TK plane at BOG with my own eyes.
In the meanwhile I spotted more of the local fauna. Lot's of Dreamliners that day, including local AV, but also Aeromexico and KLM
The presidential Fokker 28 was taking some top person somewhere for a trip…
The pandemic was still a thing back then… as you may see with the signs, facemasks and how empty the terminal seemed
It was a lovely afternoon with nice views to the Cerros
That afternoon's departures
Since the Eldorado Lounge doesn't face the tarmac, I waited to see my ride arrive, and then grab something quick in the lounge. While I don't find the A350 as gorgeous as the A340/A330, it is starting to grow on me
The KLM flight left for Cartagena and Amsterdam
The Eldorado Lounge wasn't too full. I just went there to grab a Kola Roman (a typical soft drink from Cartagena) and I was back to our gate.
I managed to board among the first in the flight…we were greeted by a FA who led me to my corresponding aisle.
Our seats were neatly appointed with pillows and blanket
Seat Pitch, and PTV is more than enough for our transatlantic hop
While our plane got filled up, Dreamliners were replaced by Copa 737s
By the time boarding was completed, the sun was down (bummer, I missed the sunset from the air).
I don't know why IB's IFE always takes long to charge the flight data…
The cabin was dimmed and we went to RWY 13R for a East, then North departure, which took us over the northern half of Bogotá.
Before leaving we got a glimpse of AV's Dreamliner graveyard (?) AV was having a lot of trouble with the Trent engines back then.
And off we were…
As I enjoyed the views of little towns and small cities in Boyacá, the cabin was filled with the smell of food…I chose to watch a popular late night show in Spain "la Resistencia"
Options were chicken or pasta, I went for the chicken.
It was good…nothing extraordinary.
Done with food, nothing in the IFE was appealing, so I read for a while and went to sleep
We were woken up nearing Portugal, with a gorgeous sunrise
The weak spot in IB's Premium Economy service is the second meal. Which is the same as in Y. A sandwich, a chocolate bar and a drink. It was edible.
As the sun rose, we reached Portugal
We crossed the Penninsula into its centre, where Madrid is
We had a smooth landing (I cannot stop congratulating IB pilots on this) over RWY 33L, affording some interesting views of visitors to IB's MRO facility.
The BA A380s were still were I left them a couple of months before
And a new kid was in the block (I never saw it again BTW)
MAD's iconic ATC tower welcomed us back
Immigration took no time…then I took the APM to T4, where bags took ages to come out
And with that…my trip, and this FR came to an end!
IB did a fine job. When your competition in the market are Avianca, Air Europa and Plus Ultra, you can only do better. I reckon IB is going to have a tough time once LA joins the fray.
Catering was the weak spot. The crew was very utilitarian and friendly, but don't go beyond what's necessary to carry out their task. The seats were good enough, although they are starting to show signs of wear and that the mechanical elements are not in the best shape (this has worsened btw).
BOG was okay, emigration and security were quick. The Eldorado Lounge was fine, nothing extraordinary. MAD has a lots of positives (time to clear immigration, and transportation to the city...but bags take too long to come out!)
Thanks for reading, saludos!
1 Comments
Hah, true on both counts. Although none of those carriers have Premium Economy...except maybe Plus Ultra on some random 2nd hand planes here and there---they're hardly competition.
Thats really a shame considering the oldest IB A350s are just a few years old.
Thanks for sharing!
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