INTRODUCTION
Hi everyone !
Nice to meet you again for a new FR more interesting than my last trips to Paris CDG ;)
Direction Spain and more precisely to the small Canary Islands !
Fuerteventura is served by Luxair with 2 direct flights per week (Thursday and Saturday), without direct competition.
The price makes you react immediately (395 € one way for one person !) but it is understandable because Luxair is a tour operator to the Canaries.
Late departure in the day (2 pm) for a Saturday, too bad because if the flight left earlier, we could enjoy more the island !
Departure from the airport of Luxembourg and arrival with an impressive approach over the ocean due to the strong cross winds caused by the proximity of the airport with the sea.
This flight will also for me one of the last on a 737-700 of Luxair, indeed the company announced on March 03, 2023 that it was renewing its fleet by 737-8 Max more fuel efficient and with lower CO2 emissions compared to the previous generation of aircraft.
Routing
The routing could not be simpler :
Enchainement de vols
- 1LG731 - Economique - Luxembourg → Fuerteventura Island - Boeing 737-700
- 2LG732 - Economique - Fuerteventura Island → Luxembourg - Boeing 737-700
ARRIVAL at the airport
We are approaching Luxembourg airport after one hour and a half drive from Nancy.
Arrival at the entrance of the parking B.
The parking is already full on this day of departure for vacation !
Arrival at the departure terminal.
Small check of the FIDS to verify if the flight is on time.
CHECK-IN
Direction now the Luxair Drop-off to drop off my suitcase, which I had previously checked online at Luxair.com
I am received without waiting in the Drop off zone by a pleasant staff.
Direction the security.
AIRSIDE
Passage on the airside in less than 15 minutes since I entered in the airport.
Obligatory passage through the DutyFree.
Some models with the effigy of Luxair and promotional items like sweaters, socks are also available for sale !
I decide to buy a Dash Q400 wearing the breast cancer livery.
Now The gates
A short walk awaits me to the A10 gate, as the Luxembourg airport is certainly an international airport but it remains on a human scale !
An A319 of TAP Portugal, at the pushback.
Next to it, a B737-800 with the "60 years Luxair" livery.
BOARDING
The boarding is quietly prepared in gate A10.
The boarding starts with a good half hour of advance.
Paxbus, we will wait at the bottom of the stairs !
LX - LBB, small particularity of this plane it is the only Boeing 737-800 of Luxair not to have received Split Scimitar since Luxair was not the first customer of this plane, it was the defunct AirBerlin which was to receive it, it will never have had time to fly for the German company.
We can see the plane is just next to its big brother (LX-LGU 738).
Boarding from the ground with stairs.
Some information about the plane :
Type : Boeing 737-7C9
Registration : LX-LGS
First flight : January 2005
Age : 18 years old.
It was delivered new to Luxair on January 21, 2005, it is not equipped with Split Scimitars winglet.
A little hello to the pilot ! ?
ON BOARD LIMA GOLF SIERA (LX - LGS)
Small view from the cockpit :)
Cabin configured in 3 - 3.
Luxair, like almost all airlines, charges for seat reservations when you buy your flight. Being used to fly with this company, I discovered that by calling the airline on the phone, you could choose your seat without any charge !
⚠️ (This technique is only available if the flight is operated by Luxair Tours, even if the reservation is not made by the Tour Operator !) ⚠️
I called Luxair about two months before the flight to reserve my seat and as always, the seat of my choice was reserved for free !
Today it's row 17, seat A. I hesitated for a long time with other rows but I finally chose this row which is located behind the wing so as not to be disturbed and to have a sufficiently clear view of the landscape !
The view is perfect !
On each seat there is a label indicating that Wi - Fi is available on board. My joy is quickly diminished when a very nice steward come to me to tell me that the Wi - Fi network is not functional on board today.
The Safety Card is glued to the front seat ! No USB socket on board.
Pitch correct, don't mind the mess ? !
Boarding continues as normal, the plane will be full !
A lot of PAX are still waiting outside !
As there are still few people in the cabin, I take the opportunity to take some pictures on the other side of the wing.
The boarding is complete, we are welcomed on board !
pushback
We pushback at to 1.30 pm with 5 minutes advance.
Presentation of safety instructions in English and French.
Lots of 747Fs from Cargolux today !
Take-off
We arrive on the only runway in LUX that I am starting to know well.
.and take off at 1.35 pm ! Bye bye LUX and see you soon in a week !
Passing over the Cargolux hangars and the new Luxair maintenance hangar.
Turning over Paris, heading now for Spain.
A beautiful sea of clouds is passing below us !
FIRST SERVICE
The service starts about 1 hour after take-off.
At the online check-in, a different meal was available for purchase (15 €), for the price, we'll settle for the included meal !
The meal includes : a potato salad, a fresh bread roll, a cream puff and a small camembert cheese president hidden in the box.
The drinks will arrive a few moments after the meal.
Luxair always provides metal cutlery, which is nicer than the bamboo or plastic cutlery that other airlines offer their customers in Economy !
Cheers to all FRists ! :)
The only IFE available on board.
The service ends at Portugal Point.
The tray will leave empty !
CRUISE
As the IFE only offers stupid shows with 10 year olds playing pranks, I decide to read the magazine on board !
Only two articles are about Luxair, the first one presenting the new beer offer with the 60 years Luxair livery.
And the second with the breast cancer livery.
The crew remained available and attentive during the flight.
Comfortable and spacious seat, it is really the best to work in good conditions !
SECOND SERVICE
Shortly before the descent, the crew offers us a second drink service.
DESCENT TO FUERTEVENTURA
The descent start 10 minutes after the second service.
The ocean is slowly coming closer.
Beautiful turn over the ocean and dunes of Corralejo ! The blue of the ocean and the dunes form a superb landscape !
Once aligned with the runway, the flaps is extend.
Passing over Puerto del Rosario, which is the main city of the island !
LANDING
Landing with the sun at Fuerteventura.
Landing at 4.40pm after a 4H05 hour flight.
Taxing now to the terminal, we quickly clear the runway, another 737 is on final approach just behind us !
Last turn.
Arrival at 4.50pm.
A TUI 737 with RUI livery is positioned right next to us.
ARRIVAL AT fuerteventura
Paxbus, we will wait at the bottom of the stairs !
Bye Bye 17A !
Corporate photo ❤️
A beautiful view of the entire wing !
Goodbye Lima Golf Sierra ;)
Face to Face.
The fuel is being refuelled.
It's the first time I've been on a Paxbus at FUE, which gives me a good view of the different aircraft that are present today !
An A320 from Eurowings is being pushed back.
An Easyjet A320Neo wearing the "NEO" livery.
A Vueling A321 preparing for pushback.
Another angle of view in the terminal of the Vueling A321 as it prepares for pushback.
Now to the luggage carousel.
LUGGAGE
This afternoon it will be the carousel 10.
A little wait to get the rental car.
The Terminal has a really special architecture with this huge hall where the light rushes in from both sides !
A Jet2 B738 passes overhead as we leave the airport !
Arriving 1 hour later at the location, the holiday can now begin !
See you soon for the return !
Nice to see a review on Luxair. Too bad the new IFE system wasn't working, but nice to have when it is working. The 700s lack the USB ports the 800s have, which is a shame for longer flights like this--hopefully they'll upgrade the 700 cabins as well. The seats look quite comfortable and spacious however.
Yeah, that's a really good free meal for Economy within Europe so definitely not worth paying extra for more.
Thanks for sharing!