Tag: flight

  • 8 Tips to Ensure You Never Miss a Flight Again

    8 Tips to Ensure You Never Miss a Flight Again

    Did You Know? I work for an airline, so I see airport drama every day. These are the things that really mess people up and lead to many a missed flight. Don’t fall victim to one of these silly things that can be solved so easily. Follow these simple steps to ensure you never miss a flight again.

    British Airways planes on stands at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5

    This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.

    1. Book Directly

    Your first tip to ensure you never miss a flight again is book directly. When you are searching for flight prices online, flight aggregators may seem to have the best options but it can come at a cost later down the line. Websites like GoToGate and Kiwi sometimes put together itineraries with connection times that are too short, and combine different airlines that have no agreements with each other. This means you aren’t actually in transit. You will have to clear passport control, pick up your bags and possibly change terminals before checking in again for the next leg of your journey. With these separate tickets (which might look linked on your itinerary), if your first flight is late, the airlines have no responsibility to get you rebooked. In the case of disruption, it can be SO hard to get an online travel agent on the phone. The airline usually can’t help as they cannot see the original fare and then you’re stuck. If you book directly, it is the airline’s responsibility to get you where you are going.

    Delta Air Lines Airbus A321-200 plane and other Delta tails behind lined up on stands at Salt Lake City Airport

    2. Use “Manage My Booking”

    Don’t stand in a queue just for a request. So much can be done ahead of time online, allowing you to zoom past the check in queues.

    If you have a special meal request, for example, hop on the website of your airline and go to “Manage My Booking”. As long as you do this more than 48 hours before your flight, you can put the request in. If it doesn’t work, give the airline a call.

    For access requirements, you should be able to add this in when you book. Some airlines have a separate department and it is good to contact them to ensure all the notes are in the booking before you travel. British Airways in particular, only allows you add special service requests after booking, over the phone. This is a little annoying but gives those who need it free seat reservations and early boarding.

    Excess baggage? This can often be prearranged online so you can use the bag drop quickly like everyone else. It is sometimes cheaper to book this online in advance too, so it is definitely a win win to get on it as early as possible.

    3. Check your Documents

    Once you are booked, it is time to check that your passport and documents are in order. This doesn’t just mean that it looks in date. Some countries have minimum time left requirements (you must have six months left when you enter the country), some have blank page requirements (you must have two passport pages with no stamps on) and some don’t accept the small extension allowed on the British passport (that extra few months if you renew early).

    Then you need to check visa requirements. Travelling to most countries requires either a visa (paper or online) or a visa waiver. The USA has the ESTA and both the EU and UK will have similar schemes too.

    When you are ready to check in, have your passport, your visa and the full address of where you are staying when you get there all to hand. Keep it all with you on the plane just in case you are presented with a landing card mid-flight.

    Sky Priority boarding pass seat 1A London Heathrow to Salt Lake City Delta One inside a red UK passport

    4. Check the Airport Info

    Double check the airport you are flying from so you never miss a flight again. This probably sounds obvious but many big cities have several airports and you would be surprised how many people go to JFK when they are flying form La Guardia in New York, or head for London Heathrow when they are actually meant to be at London Stansted. Then, make sure you know the terminal you are going from. Not all airports have their terminals right next to each other, so getting dropped off in the wrong place can cost you lots of time and possibly money.

    5. Contingency Time

    I know that there are people who love to stroll into an airport, through security and right to the gate as boarding is imminent. Sure there are days when it all goes perfectly to plan and it is smooth as silk, but next time you might get a hessian sack of a day! It is SO risky! You never know what might happen along the way. So leave plenty of time and arrive at the airport 3 hours before international flights or 2 hours for domestic and never miss a flight again. The way I see it, it is better to be through security and a little bored than stressed out getting to airport or paying for a new flight.

    view out of a British Airways plane window of a cloudy Terminal 5 at London Heathrow

    6. Don’t Over Pack

    Overpacking is almost always a bad idea. As we all know, I am a hand luggage only kind of girl. Arriving at the airport with an abundance of luggage is going to extend your time at check in. (Well, dropping any kind of luggage off takes time so maybe try to travel carry on only).

    Here are 20 Top Tips for Travelling Light!

    If you don’t want to pay for your excess luggage and you have packed over and above the weight limit, you will have to waste some time trying to repack. Juggling items, stuffing your arms through yet another jacket you’ll have to wear and shoving things into your hand luggage bag is time-consuming and can be a little embarrassing. If you are happy to pay, you may waste time queueing to pay at a different counter. Do your research to check the airline’s luggage restrictions and stay well under if you want to never miss a flight again.

    7. Prepare For Security

    Laptops, liquids and clothing are all things you can prepare in advance. Knowing the rules and planning ahead allows you to sail through with no dramas.

    • Liquids – Although changes are coming, most of the world still adheres to the liquids restrictions that have been in place for several years. Each passenger is entitled to carry liquids no larger than 100ml (3.4fl oz), in containers no larger that 100ml. You can bring a maximum of one litre and they all need to fit in one re-sealable clear plastic bag 20cm x 20cm. You are allowed to leave these in your bag in much of the world, but the UK wants them out separately.
    • Electricals -Laptops, kindles and tablets need to be taken out and scanned separately in much of world. Some places also want power banks out too. Some are really extreme and want absolutely everything electrical out (cameras, speakers, hair dryers and straighteners). Keep an eye out for signs as you enter security.
    • Clothing – Are you planning to wear anything with extra metal bits? Skip it! Do you have a jacket or hoody that needs to be removed for the scanner? Whip it off. Avoid anything that needs lacing, unbuttoning or is in any way fiddly. Finally, consider wearing undies without underwires.
    • Shoes – All of the above, goes for shoes too. Wear footwear that you can slip on and off easily. It will be easier for you and less annoying for those around you.

    Check out Top Ten Tips to Pack Your Liquids Bag for Carry On Luggage Like a Pro!

    8. Get Travel Insurance

    If all else fails, make sure you have travel insurance. It can help cover the costs of new flights, alternative transport, accommodation and more. Of course, weather and an “Act of God” are not covered by anyone, the airlines or insurance but most other things are good.

    Check out Why Getting Travel Insurance is Vital!

    view out of a British Airways plane window of the wing and the Alps below

    Final Thoughts on These Tips to Ensure You Never Miss a Flight Again

    Look, we know that some things are out of your control. Trains break down, there are accidents on the roads and weather is completely out of our hands. That aside, following our advice will give you the best shot at making sure you never miss a flight again.

    Rosie xx

  • Plane Etiquette – 10 Ways to Avoid Being “THAT Passenger“

    Plane Etiquette – 10 Ways to Avoid Being “THAT Passenger“

    Air travel is a drag sometimes. There are rules and regulations posted everywhere, blared over the loud speakers and printed in safety booklets. Following them is tedious but seeing people break them is worse. Then there are the unspoken rules, the plane etiquette that we think everyone knows. Increasingly, however, it seems that people don’t. We fly a lot and we have seen the worst of passenger behaviour. If you don’t want to be referred to as “THAT” passenger by your fellow travellers then it’s best not to break these unwritten taboos. Here are our top tips to be a good air passenger the next time you fly.

    Planes, trains and transports of all kinds can bring out the strangest in people

    This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.

    A Quick Note on Following the Rules (said in my best teacher/parent voice) : This refers to any instructions given to you by any cabin crew or security staff. Do whatever they tell you to. It doesn’t matter if you agree with the request or if you understand why they are asking you, just remember that different airlines and areas of the world have different rules and do what you’re told.

    That being said, these tips are not rules per se, just good manners and common sense. No air rage here please!

    Our 10 Plane Etiquette Tips for Being a Good Air Passenger

    1.) Check Your Phone Volume

    Check Your Own Volume

    Remember you are having a conversation with someone at the other end of the phone line, not with the entire gate room. Nobody else needs to know that you’ve left the kids with Uncle Geoff or that you will call when you arrive at (insert specific hotel name here). It’s as dangerous to reveal this to everyone as it is annoying to hear it. Maybe now is the time to utilise your texting thumbs or remove yourself to a quieter area so you don’t have to yell.

    Silence Your Phone

    (I don’t mean put your phone on silent.)

    Headphones are no longer an expensive treat. If you can afford a phone, you can afford the headphones to go with it. Whether you opt for the fancy Bluetooth earbuds or the wired kind from the pound shop, keep your entertainment to yourself. Noisy action films, jaunty children’s shows and never ending TikTok scrolling are particularly rage-inducing.

    Oh, and that goes for computer games too. You wouldn’t want everyone to hear the game over noise when you lose any way.

    2.) Wait Your Turn

    Boarding

    Most airlines board by group or zone number, and you can probably count. If you are not in business or first class, or a very frequent flyer with millions of miles, you won’t be in groups 1 and 2. Check your boarding card. You are probably going to be somewhere in group 5 onwards so sit tight until you hear your group called. You have a seat and nobody will steal it. Pushing in is annoying for the staff and standing in the way of the gate is annoying for people trying to get through. Hang out, relax and hop up when the time comes.

    Deplaning

    At the other end of the flight, there is a clear order that people should disembarking. Row by row, working away from the door is the way to exit. Wait for the people in front of you to clear and make your way as quickly as possible out of the way.

    Exceptions:

    • If your hand luggage had to be stowed much further back in the overhead bins, then you will have to wait for everyone between your row and the bag to move before you try and make it back there.
    • If you have a crazy tight connection, speak to the crew ahead of time to see if they can help you. Don’t just barrel through. You’ll find that asking within earshot of those around you can illicit some help from those people too,

    3.) Pick Your Seat Wisely

    There are a few things to consider when picking your seat so as not to be a right royal pain in the bottom to those in the seats around you.

    Here is a quick guide for you:

    Do you want to look out of the window?

    Pick a window – It is not fair to be craning your neck over the person next to you (unless they are a loved one, in which case, crane away).

    Do you get up and down from your seat a lot?

    Pick an aisle – You don’t want to be climbing over people all the time. They will be disturbed when you get up and then on edge until you return.

    Do you need to stretch your legs a lot during a flight?

    Pick an aisle – This allows you to get up when required or to stretch your legs out into the aisle for minute or two.

    Are you a side sleeper?

    Pick a window – If you need something to lean on to fall asleep then opt for the window seat. There is a wall that you can use as a prop. This lessens the risk you’ll end up with you head on a stranger’s shoulder.

    Once you have decided on your needs and wants you can make an informed decision.

    4.) Contain Your Lower Limbs

    Your Knees

    Splaying your knees out to the side (sometimes called manspreading) is not cool if it means you are encroaching on anyone else’s space. There is nothing worse than being crammed in a middle seat with two sets of legs reducing your leg room to a sliver. Keep your legs closer together or crossed, within your clearly defined seat borders. If you need to stretch then hop up and take a walk (I hope you booked the aisle like we told you).

    Your Feet

    These should remain even more contained. Keep them in your shoes or socks during the flight. Bare toes are enough to put anyone off their inflight snacks. Fighting cheesy feet with tangy cheese Doritos is something we have had to do before.

    Feet should also remain within your own seat. This does NOT include the arm rest of, or gaps into, the seat of the passenger in front. If they get a sneaky toe appearing they are well within their rights to give it a slap or dribble water on it until it is gone again. It’s nasty and it’s not your seat!

    Depositphotos.com – Photo by czuber

    5.) Minimise Your Beauty Regime

    Staying hydrated by popping on a face mask on a plane is fine and so is going to a full face of glam prior to landing but there are a few things to avoid.

    Keep it Light

    Dousing yourself in expensive duty free fragrance can be fun. However, it can be overwhelming or even nauseating for the person next to you. Just stick to one spritz in the departure lounge and don’t reapply anything when you are in your seat.

    Keep it Tidy

    If you are planning to use a sheet mask, eye patches or other disposable products, be mindful of their disposal. Don’t put them in the seat back pocket or tray table, take them to the bathroom and throw them in the rubbish bin. No cleaners or crew wants to deal with the slippery gel leftovers. Oh, and avoid anything that will be a nightmare if it gets knocked over. Using nail varnish on the tray table is not the way to go.

    Keep It Private

    There are some beauty treatments that are not appropriate for the plane. Anything that involves clipping, exfoliating or snipping any part of yourself is for your bathroom at home. If there is any chance you will leave any part of yourself behind in the seat or on the floor then just don’t. Please. It’s just gross. Ped Egg in private, file in solitary and clip alone.

    Depositphotos.com – Photo by pxhidalgo

    6.) Refine Your Seat Etiquette

    Along with the knee-spreading rules, there are a few commonly known rules for seat etiquette.

    The Armrests

    This is non-negotiable when you are seated in 3 person configuration.

    • The person on the window gets the window side arm rest.
    • The person on the aisle gets the outside arm rest.
    • The person in the middle gets the two middle arm rests. They have so little to be happy about so you can sacrifice this for them.
    The Window Shade

    The passenger sitting on the window is in charge of the blind. You can ask them to move it up or down but it is entirely up to them what they do. Of course, if you are travelling on a 787 or another plane with remotely controlled dimming windows then this is out of everyone’s control

    The Seat in Front

    As you get up and down from your seat, try and use your own seat for leverage. Grabbing hold of, and yanking, the seat in front is really annoying for the resident of that seat. They get a jerked around which can really be shocking, could be woken from sleep and if it happens a lot, will just learn to resent you…trust a person that has endured a whole flight of this.

    The Seat Behind & Reclining…this requires in own section

    7.) To Recline or Not to Recline That is the Drama

    Whether or not to recline your aircraft seat has got to be one of the fiercest battles on the internet. Some people believe that you have every right to recline if the seat allows it, whilst others think it is the very height of inflight rudeness.

    I am very much of the opinion that reclining is OK…sometimes.

    As long as there isn’t a meal or drinks service going on, you should be allowed that extra three inches of comfort. This is especially true on a long or night time flight when you might like to get a little sleep.

    It is polite to have a quick peek at what the person behind is up to. You could crush a laptop by mistake if you just whack it back but this can backfire a little. I once sat bolt upright from London to New York, an eight hour flight, because the gentleman behind me in Premium shouted at me when I asked to recline to go to sleep. It was awful.

    So yes, I say recline but only once the meals or snacks are all eaten and cleared away (when the trolley service is over).

    8.) Leave the Bathroom Clean

    This one doesn’t require an awful lot of explanation but some ideas of how to do this could be:

    • If you are concerned about aim causing, ahem, splashing, then sit down. This is good idea anyway as you never know when turbulence could occur and you’re safer when seated.
    • Clean any water you splash from the sink with a hand towel. You could even dry down the sink if you are feeling extra courteous.
    • Ensure you push your hand towels or tissues fully into the bin.
    • Pick up anything you drop.
    • Bring a little Poo Pouri or air freshener if you think you might need to poop on a long flight. Sometimes that airline food can play havoc with your tummy so come prepared.
    • If you have been unwell, tell the crew so they can handle it. They’ve seen it all so just let them know.

    Relatedly, those bathrooms can be dirtier than you’d like so never go in with socks or bare feet and never wash your face in the sink. If you need to wash your face or brush your teeth, take in a little drinking water.

    9.) Prepare for Security

    Before you Travel

    When you are considering you travel outfit, think about what you’ll have to do when you go through the scanners. Heavy boots, lots of buckles, a belt, extra jewellery…even a thick underwire in a bra can cause delays. anything that takes times to remove, or will set off metal detectors should be avoided. Instead l, opt for elasticated waists, shoes that slip on and off easily, wireless undies and cardigans/coats that you can whip off without dragging it over your head.

    It is also worth preparing your hand luggage with security in mind. You can always repack once you are through and have found a spot to sit. You are most likely going to have to remove any laptops/tablets etc so keep them easily accessible. Then there is the liquids malarkey. Any liquids that you are going to take through security need to be:

    • Under 100ml/3.4 fl oz.
    • All in one sealable, clear plastic bag no bigger than 20cm x 20cm.
    • A combined maximum of 1 litre/39fl oz

    There are new machines that mean these restrictions are soon going to be redundant. They are beginning to be installed in some airports but as the world converts to the new machines we still have abide by these rules.

    At the Airport

    Read the signs as you enter security. Some airports have rules that are different from those you may be used to. At London Stansted for example, they require ALL electrical items to be removed. This is included the standard laptops etc but also cameras, hair dryers and straighteners. In the U.K. in general liquids must be removed from your bag and placed separately but that’s not the case in many other countries. Keep your eye peeled for these regional differences.

    Start disrobing as you get nearer to the front of the TSA/security queue. Put your watch in your bag and remove your belt. (Yes, I know some of you will still choose a belt). Get your sunnies off your head, empty every pocket you have and pop that all away too. The less time you spend faffing with your outfit the better. In the USA you’ll have to whip your shoes off but in much of the rest of the world you can head through the arch with them on.

    10.) My “Up to Yous”

    Here are a couple of points that I remain undecided about.

    Clapping at Landing

    In some parts of the world clapping when the plane lands is normal. It is less and less common in Europe where it is now considered deeply cringeworthy. You may feel a touch embarrassed if you burst into applause and no one else joins in.

    I say. if it makes you happy then clap, if it makes you cringe then try and quieten your eye roll at others. If you have a flight one day that is really bumpy or with a particularly tricky landing you might want to start the ovation!

    Inflight Food

    In Europe, most people would be mortified at the thought of taking hot food out on a plane to eat but I know this is really common in the USA.

    My mum used to think that tuna or egg mayonnaise sandwiches were acceptable on enclosed transport and I died of embarrassment every time. That shows that even cold food can be the culprit for unhappy neighbours.

    Plus, things like fried chicken or cheesy crisps can smell fantastic if you are in the mood but terrible if you aren’t. Maybe the FOMO is worse than an off putting smell?

    I guess that is one of those that you’ll have to judge by ear because I really can’t decide.

    Booze and More

    Mind-altering substances are a tricky business. I have had plenty of alcoholic beverages on board plenty of planes so I am probably being a bit hypocritical.

    It is true that alcohol can hit harder at altitude so it is a good idea to temper your consumption. Have one or two and then switch to water for the hydration.

    The same goes for THC or other drugs. You might be used to them in certain situations but being in a plane could affect your body or mind in a different way. If in doubt, stay sober. Plus, you don’t want the attention of drugs dogs so if you regularly weed smoke, wear nice clean clothes that haven’t been exposed to the smoke.

    Medication

    Popping a sleeping tablet may seem like a good plan for a long flight but there are a couple of things to consider.

    • You should definitely not do this if you are in any kind emergency exit.
    • Ensure you aren’t mixing medication with alcohol. As mentioned, booze hit hard when you fly and you wouldn’t want to recreate the scene from Bridesmaids (what do you mean you haven’t seen?!) or the “He’s Not REAL” meme.
    • Make sure your flight is long enough for the effects to wear off. Hoping on a train in a strange land, or trying to drive when you are still drowsy is not a great plan.
    • Finally, if you are bringing more than one tablet, ensure the country you are travelling to allows that particular drug. Places like Dubai have a long list of banned medications that you may consider a day to day option.
    Depositphotos.com – Photo by poznyakov

    Final Thoughts

    How many of these have you been guilty of? I’ve skipped a line or two in my younger days (back when Ryanair seating was first come first served) but I am older and wiser now. At least, I think I am. Let’s work together to minimise air rage and have a lovely time getting from A to that far B.

    Rosie xx

  • A Review of Bulgaria Air A220-300 Economy

    A Review of Bulgaria Air A220-300 Economy

    What do you do when you have two holidays back to back? Hop on Kayak and check out who flies between the two spots of course. With a trip to Spain and then Bulgaria planned, we decided that this was the ideal time to try Bulgaria Air. Bulgaria Air has been the flag carrier for Bulgaria since 2002. Join us on our adventure from Malaga to Sunny Beach and back to London, taking four flights with Bulgaria Air (oh, & BA too). Read on for our full review of Bulgaria Air economy.

    This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.

    Airport Experience

    Malaga

    The first of our four check ins didn’t go too well. The check in desks didn’t open u til 2.5 hours before take off. By that time, there was a little crowd waiting. When the screens finally flashed on for Sofia, half of the crowd stormed down the exit. They were ushered into the main queue but then they started to change the way the queue went. We went from second in the queue to seventh. It was a bit messy. That being said, all of the staff are ground handlers that work for Malaga Airport and not Bulgaria Air directly.

    Varna

    Check in at Varna Airport was really easy and quick. We popped our bags on the belt and walked away with boarding cards within two minutes. It is a very small airport so security was also super speedy. We grabbed a couple of seats right next to the gate and waited for the plane to arrive.

    We were both on our phones and I glanced up to see a little queue start to form. Looking up again just two minutes later, the queue stretched around 20 metres! It seemed a little mad considering it is a small plane and everyone has a seat. There were no boarding calls so everyone just joined the queue and scanned through when the plane was ready. We waited for the queue to die down and then got on at leisure.

    Sofia

    We did leave the airport on both occasions but didn’t have to check in again as our luggage went straight through. On our first stopover we went into the city and did some sightseeing. This was really easy thanks to the metro line that runs into the centre of town in about 20 minutes. On the second, we hopped in a taxi and went to Infinity Spa. It has natural mineral hot spring water and was divine.

    Sofia airport doesn’t have much in the way of food and drink options. There was a Relay shop, a bar with pizza and sandwiches and then a set of cafes and stands all called Eddy’s. We opted for one of their pizzas on one day and some borek style cheese pastry on the other. They were both pretty good.

    For both of our flights, our plane was on a remote stand at Sofia Airport which meant scanning through onto an airport bus.. The queues were not organised at all, more of a scrum with no barriers. There seemed to be no provision made for priority passengers which would have been annoying if we had business tickets (there was one guy who was clearly fuming). I understand that there are only 8 business class seats so having a whole extra queue may be mad, but a priority boarding announcement would have helped. They also didn’t announce pre-boarding for disabled passengers which is a shame as not all disabilities are visible and there may well have been people that needed it.

    Bulgaria Air’s A220 Interior

    Considering the size of the plane, the interior felt so spacious. It was bright and airy with a surprisngly wide aisle. (Getting to the bathroom was no issue despite one lady randomly deciding to read her magazine in the centre of the walkway). The colour scheme was light grey with a navy carpet. It was neat and inoffensive but not super exciting. As we boarded they started to play some calming music which again, was inoffensive (a little like spa music), not the pop options on Virgin Atlantic or popular classical on British Airways.

    The Seats

    Layout

    The seats on Bulgaria Air’s A220s are set in an asymmetric 2 3 configuration. It was really nice to have 4A and 4C for all of our flights. It meant we had the two on the side and it felt pleasantly cosy. This set up means most people are happy with their aisle or window seats, and gives everyone a bit more room.

    Comfort

    Bulgaria Air’s A220 economy cabin has a seat pitch of 30 inches and a width of 18.5 inches. This is bigger than other airlines that operate between the UK and Bulgaria. The seats felt plenty spacious thanks to the extra width (most budget airlines like Wizz Air and Ryanair are only 17 inches).

    The seats recline 3 inches which might not sound like much, but when combined with the headrests, you can get a comfortable map. The headrests were fully adjustable with a few inches of stretch upwards (and they came low enough even for this shorty) and with flaps on either side.

    In business class, tantalisingly close, the 2×2 seats have a 38 inch pitch, 20 inch width and 6 inch recline. Plus, they are even more padded. Currently, it only costs €70 domestically or €130 to upgrade…I was so tempted.

    I would also like to commend Bulgaria Air on the comfort of their padding. In a world of seats that get thinner an harder, causing lower back and bum pain to many travellers, Bulgaria Air still keeps our bottoms happy.

    One last point is the cabin temperature. I was perfectly comfortable, not too cold or hot. It was such a relief to know we didn’t have to carry layers and scarves on board with us.

    Practicalities

    In the seat back in front there was an open bottomed literature holder containing the safety card. Then, a great little innovation, the phone shelf. (I mean I guess a phone or tablet could fit here so it’s the entertainment shelf). Next to it were two charging ports, one a 60w USB-C fast charger and one a normal USB-A. It’s a great set up allowing you to watch videos handsfree. If you are a cleverer content creator than me, this would be a great spot to set up your phone without needing a tripod. Instead, i just watched films and TV shows that I had downloaded.

    A quick note, we were sat in row 4, the second row back in economy. The row in front had extra leg room, which is nice, but they didn’t have the phone shelf and if that is important to you, it is something to bear in mind.

    Below the entertainment shelf was an adjustable tray table and a wide but shallow seat back pocket.

    The Storage

    Considering the size of the plane, there was a fair amount of overhead locker space. I think easily enough for everyone to have a wheelie hand luggage. You are allowed one piece weighting up to 10 kg, 55х40х23cm. Plus, you can have a handbag/personal item too.

    The Entertainment

    We didn’t really get anything in the way of entertainment. There wasn’t any seatback entertainment systems or WiFi. We did have a magazine but it was a bit of a business dirge rather than a fun travel magazine. It is not the kind of thing you can mindlessly flick through. If you are flying Bulgaria Air, make sure you have a phone full of distractions. Given that the seat design is great for independent viewing, you’ll be much happier.

    Amenities

    The Bathroom

    The bathrooms on the A220 are quite tight but manageable. There was a bathroom at the front but this was reserved for business class only. That’s one bathroom for 8 people, whilst the economy cabin shared 2 between 135 people.

    For most of the time, the bathrooms were very clean. The hand soap was very generic and didn’t smell of much. I wonder if the business class loo had fancy cream? On our Spanish to Bulgaria leg one of the toilets was a bit of mess but overall, I thought they were kept well. That being said, every single time I used the bathroom, the toilet had not been flushed. This was definitely user error. However, I think the flush button might be the problem. I had to look around for it and it was not my first rodeo. I’m not I have seen a flush button like it, tucked on the side. Maybe a sticker, with words on, or an arrow directing people to it might help.

    Food & Drink

    We didn’t know there would be anything provided for food and so we had grabbed some snacks at Malaga Airport. We each munched a bag of crisps, some raspberry & vanilla Oreo’s and a drink.

    Drinks

    Well, turns out, we got a little bottle of water as we boarded and then, a food service. There was a drink selection that included water, juices, fizzy drinks (soda) and even wine. I opted for a glass of Bulgarian white wine. I didn’t catch what it was but it was a medium, zingy, fruity wine that I quite enjoyed. (I’m no sommelier so don’t judge me if you don’t like it). Mr Fluskey opted for a Fanta.

    Food

    We were handed a sandwich and I was surprised that it was warm. The cheese and (smoked?) ham roll was chewy, floury and just right. I even got a mini cheese pull! We wiped the flour from our fingers with the napkin and lemony wipe, stuffed and happy. It was the same sandwich given on both of our international legs. There was a vegetarian option too but the ham was tasty so we stuck o the same ones.

    Apparently, you can preorder and pay for other meal options too including a charcuterie spread or crudités and dips. It would have been good to try these but I have only just found it…which is a little too late.

    Dessert

    We settled back and a while later a tea and coffee service was started. This was served with a mini chocolate bar with more Bulgaria Air branding. The chocolate was a lovely (if incredibly sweet) finish to the service. It reminded me of Easter egg chocolate..in the best way.

    Then, would you believe it? Another drink service came through. This time it was only soft drinks but I was thankful for soft drink.

    On our shorter journeys, we were given one soft drink service, a tea and coffee as well and that little chocolate bar again. I think I’m going to miss having a little chocolatey treat on every flight from now on.

    Final Thoughts on Our Review of Bulgaria Air Economy

    Surprising and delightful, we had a lovely time flying with Bulgaria Air. It was a shame not to have provided entertainment but knowing that ahead of time, you can prop your phone up on the shelf and enjoy whatever you are currently bingeing. I have read that the chocolate was too sweet for some people but I am now fully addicted, and think it goes marvellouslly with black coffee. Maybe we will get the chance to fly with them again so I can satisfy my craving. Business class next time I reckon, as long as they keep those impressive upgrade costs!

    Rosie xx

  • A Review of Vueling A320-200 Economy LGW – LPA

    A Review of Vueling A320-200 Economy LGW – LPA

    En route to join our Windstar Cruise, we needed to fly to Gran Canaria. I thought a one way to Spain would cost an arm and a leg, but was surprised to find an excellent fare with Vueling. Vueling is a budget partner of British Airways, part of the Oneworld alliance, and is based out of Barcelona. So what is Vueling like? Join us as we travel from London Gatwick to Las Palmas in this review of Vueling A320.

    This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.

    Our Vueling and London Gatwick Airport Experience

    Check In

    Let’s start our review of Vueling with baggage. I decided to book one big bag between us as taking a large hand luggage each was more expensive. We were both surprised to see that outside the Schengen region, Vueling’s check in only opens 2 hours and 20 minutes beforehand. That throws my “three hours before the flight” schedule right out. Well, we arrive at London Victoria in time for an earlier train so we decided to go straight to Gatwick airport already.

    Vueling’s Self Service Bag Drop

    Happily, when we arrived at London Gatwick Airport, we found a self service check in and bag drop area that was already open. I had checked in online so getting our bag tag was really quick. I tagged the bag with expert flair (of course) and we popped it on the belt. The light turned green (thanks for the naughty 300 grams extra that we packed) and it trundled away. So easy!

    With more time than expected, we zipped through security and found a lounge to hang out in before the gate was announced.

    The Gate

    Gatwick has cramped closed gates with no bathrooms so I was very glad that we had popped to the loo before walking down. British Airways staff were manning the gate. I guess they are the handlers at Gatwick. They referred to the airline as “vewling” which probably adds to everyone’s chronic mispronunciation of it.

    We were there before most people and grabbed a seat next to the crew. People wandered up to the bank of vending machines with nothing else to do and the time ticked by.

    There was an announcement to apologise for delayed boarding. It was due to a slow disembarkation of the inbound from Malaga. We eventually started boarding about ten minutes before we were due to take off. They called groups one and two, which had about thirty people in total. Then group three, which consisted of the rest of the plane. It was slow boarding. There was no call for people with small children and not using seat row numbers seemed a bit mad considering 80% of the plane was in group three.

    Why not check out our other flight reviews

    Vueling A320 Interior

    The inside of the Vueling Airbus A320 plane was bright, but not super clean. The panels above our heads were mucky, as was the tray table and the exit door.

    Our Seats

    A few days before the flight, we got an email from Vueling advertising a bidding system for extra leg room seats. I popped in a relatively low bid (£13 each) and it was accepted. I hadn’t realised it was for the exit row. In my commuting brain, I was opting for the front rows (1-6 or so) which are called Space Plus. It was a little annoying but it was my misunderstanding and still very nice to have the extra room on a 4.5 hour flight.

    The seats themselves were standard budget seats with not quite enough padding and lacking any recline. The colour scheme was odd. The seats were a dark taupe which I find distinctly unappealing with yellow head rest covers which were also leather.

    There was small, adjustable tray and a mesh seat back pocket. This didn’t have sides so be careful when putting anything small in here. I think we all know by now that I don’t like to use these as they are hard to clean and can harbour nasty surprises left by previous flyers, but at least this one isn’t all enclosed.

    The Storage

    The overhead lockers were meant to be reserved for large cabin bags only. In fact, they had stickers that said as much. Most people adhered to the rule but of course, there was the odd handbag or coat in there too. There seemed to be a lot less hand luggage in general and I think that means everybody did as we did and opted for the cheaper check in option. It was nice to see that the crew weren’t struggling to fit everything in as they do on many other cheaper airlines. This does indicate that their boarding strategy is less than ideal though, as the hand luggage is usually what causes delays on the jet bridge.

    The Entertainment

    This part of our review of Vueling is easy; there is no entertainment but there is a USB A plug each between the seats so best to fill your phone with things before you leave. Saying that, our plugs didn’t work so make sure you’ve got a power bank too, just in case.

    Amenities

    No inflight kit was provided.

    The bathroom at the front was small but clean enough. It was odd that they had tiny hand soaps instead of hand wash. The amount of plastic waste this generates doesn’t feel great and the idea of touching someone else’s used soap can put a lot of people off. I think anything that makes hand washing harder should be discouraged, especially in the germs world of the aircraft bathroom. At least they had plenty of hand towels.

    Vueling’s Inflight Food and Drink

    I took a quick look through the on board menu (all chargeable) and was delighted to see the prices. Whilst not cheap by regular standards, when compared to other budget airlines, the prices were pretty good.

    Two 20cl bottles of Cava for €11.95 was better than a London pub and a tea or coffee with free refills at €3.50 is a bargain! (I wonder how hard it is to get refills).

    This was clear when the cart came down the aisle. Everyone bought something, and not just one thing, people were buying full meals. I decided it would be fun to try an “Codorníu Orange Spritz”. However, the crew got to our row, asked one side what they wanted and then disappeared! I thought they were just letting people through to the bathroom but no, they didn’t come back. A guy in the row behind pointed this out and another crew member went after them. They came down collecting empties and we both jumped at them to buy something. I got the spritz and it probably wasn’t worth the wait. It was nice-ish; a one and done.

    Final Thoughts on this Review of Vueling

    We hope you found this review of Vueling useful. If you can book early and get a cheap ticket, then it is a good shout. They go from major London airports and I did like the affordable food and drink options. However, if the tickets are a similar price as carriers like BA, I’d opt for the “full service” carrier. That said, I would definitely fly Vueling again.

    Rosie xx

  • A Review of Vistara 787-900 Economy BOM – LHR

    A Review of Vistara 787-900 Economy BOM – LHR

    At the end of their on board safety video, Vistara announces itself as “India’s Beat Airline”. Having flown with Indigo a few times, Spice Jet and Air India, we were really intrigued to see how they would live up to that moniker. Is Vistara really India’s best airline? Read on for our review of Vistara 787-900 economy as we travel from Mumbai to London.

    This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.

    Why Vistara?

    We were meant to fly home from Mumbai with Virgin Atlantic, but we’re enjoying our time at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel so very much, that we decided to change our flight and go later with Vistara. I guess you can say we just wanted our fill of Tata (that own both the hotel and Vistara). Vistara has the latest flight from Mumbai to London (around 14:55 on the day we flew), arriving back in the UK around 20:00.

    The Airport Experience

    Our check in was quick and easy. We dropped our bags as we had wine to bring back to the UK. We wouldn’t normally check in bags but with Vistara’s 7kg hand luggage allowance, plus the boozy souvenir, we decided it would be best. Vistara had about 10 desks at Mumbai which is pretty good to say they only have one flight.

    We made our way through security and passport control before making our way to McDonalds. Yes, we just had to grab a Maharaja Mac to see if it was as good as we remember from 2009…turns out, it was.

    The boarding gates at BOM are big, open seating areas with some lovely lamps and big sections of green plants which make it quite a pleasant space. They also have huge windows out onto the ramp and runway so we found a nice spot for trying to plane spot as we waited for the plane to board.

    Economy was split into two queues, one for the back section and one for the front. It worked reasonably well but as the queues were formed outside of the tensa barriers, the usual slight scrum occurred.

    Vistara’s 787 Interior

    Let’s do a review of Vistara inside. I love the Boeing 787 and I love that Vistara uses the unique features offered on this plane to full effect. (Almost, the sliding recline on the ANA 787 still wins).

    The lighting on the 787 is nicely adjustable. On boarding, they were a pinky purple (not as purple as Virgin’s lighting but very reminiscent.

    The windows on the 787 are lovely and large with dimmer switches on the bottom. This is fun but it was a little annoying that they were all dimmed quite early in the flight. The lights were brought down and the message was clear, its sleepy time. When the lights were bought up for the second meal service, they left the windows dark so it still felt like it was nighttime. I tried to brighten mine but I guess they had master control. It would have been to see the sun to help adjust to U.K. time.

    After meal two the windows remained dim and the lights were shut off again for another post dinner nap. It felt so odd to wake up the plane for that snack and then try to get them back to sleep.

    Our Economy Seats

    Seats are in a 3-3-3 configuration in economy, decreasing to 2-3-2 in premium. The seat covers are navy and made of a thick woven material, topped with a head cover with the Vistara logo.

    In economy, the seats have a … inch pitch and … inch recline. It feels fine when you are sat but getting in and out is a real squeeze. Luckily, we managed to snag three seats between us so I wasn’t clambering over a stranger but it would be…intimate.

    The headrest was very adjustable and was almost low enough at its lowest point for me to use the flippy bits. This is unheard of!

    Under the TV, in the seat back is the reading material shelf. This contained the inflight magazine, the safety card and a sick bag.

    Below this was the tray table. This had a very neat clip rather than the more common spinning lock. It felt quite snazzy. The tray folded down and then out, sliding towards the seat (but with no room to do so after dinner).

    The Storage

    Technically, Vistara only allows 7kg in hand luggage but there were clearly a fair few people flouting those rules. Several large bags were slotted into the overhead lockers around us, which the bins took well.

    Vistara’s Entertainment

    Being an Indian carrier, the entertainment system, Vistara World, was a mix of Indian and American options. There was an abundance of HBO programming and several films starring the same actors. (A few Cate Blanchett, several Ryan Goslings and a couple Leo DiCaprios). They also had music and games but I never got around to those.

    I started the flight enjoying the Bernie Madoff film, “The Wizard of Lies”, and then settled in for a rewatch of “White Lotus”. An excellent show as it is, the heightened viewing experience of planes really sucked me in.

    Mr Fluskey managed to finish “Crazy, Stupid Love” which he started on the Virgin Atlantic flight on the way over. Don’t you love it when things work out. He moved onto Bullet Train, featuring the new James Bond.

    He also found the live channels which were all showing the news. What a happy bunny he could have been with nine hours of BBC World News on one screen and the world map on the other.

    The best thing about having three seats is having that middle seat set to the map the whole way. I especially loved spotting some cool mountains from the window and checking out where we were flying over.

    Vistara offers paid internet access. Personally, I didn’t need to be online so I didn’t use it but it was good to see the options. Combined with the plugs offered in economy, you could definitely be doing some work on a laptop or just scrolling on your phone if you like to stay connected.

    The Amenities

    For our review of Vistara amenities, lets start with what is on the seat. There is a pillow, blanket and headphones and all were surprisingly good for economy. I liked the blankets smooth feel but it wasn’t super warm.

    The plugs in the TV (a USB and a sound connection) was actually a dual prong. I was worried that this would result in the horrible twiddling that you have to do to use a normal 3.5mm jack but it worked perfectly with just one. Happy days.

    The bathrooms were fine. By midway through the flight, they ended up pretty messy and didn’t seem to improve. I would definitely say this was user misuse rather than bad cleaning by the airline. I don’t know if the cabin crew are meant to spot clean them.

    Each toilet had the normal foamy hand wash in, some antibacterial gel and curiously, some mouth wash. This was an interesting addition as it requires the user to squirt it right into their mouth and it doesn’t seem like many people would use it?

    Vistara’s Economy Food & Drink Service

    Round One

    Our first meal was served about an hour and a half into the flight. There was an option of chicken or veg and we both opted for chicken. The trolley had a decent selection of drinks including spirits, wine and beer. It is worth noting that although there was Diet Coke, the sugary version was Pepsi. This doesn’t bother me but I am aware there are people that might consider this a deal breaker.

    For the review of Vistara’s main meal I had a chicken curry with cumin rice. The curry suffered from being a little two salty but the chicken was really tender and wasn’t dry, a serious accomplishment for an economy meal. The cumin rice was full of flavour and quite fluffy, I was impressed. The bread roll was pretty dry however, but a liberal slather of the good, salted butter solved that.

    The little salad on the side had cucumber, tomato and cumin. With the squeeze of lemon it was very refreshing and still crunchy. I would say it’s the best airline side salad I’ve had.

    For afters we had a gooey chocolate cake dessert which was yummy scrummy and it was demolished at speed! Finslly, there was a packet which at I first I thought was sugar. Turns out it was a sachet of the minty, herby nibbly stuff often seen at the end of Indian meals.

    There was only one drink offered with dinner, with tea and coffee afterwards.

    Round Two

    At around 2.5 hours to landing, the lights were brought up and the trolley rolled through a second time. Again we were offered the choice of chicken or veg and we both chose chicken. It was another almost full tray with a hot chicken wrap. The wrap was whole meal and slightly chapati-esque and the filling was soft pulled chicken packed with spice. The potatoes were spicy but not really flavourful.

    The dessert was a soaked sponge with a crumble topping and sweetened creamy custard. It was another total winner.

    On the tray we got another tiny water and a masala lemon water which was fun. It’s nice to have so much water but one bigger bottle would probably be better as they must produce an awful lot of plastic waste with all these cute little ones. They have paper cups and bamboo cutlery so they are obviously making strides in the right direction.

    For some reason, our crew member didn’t offer drinks from the trolley whilst the others were pouring away. We caught her on the way back and grabbed a couple of Cokes. We were offered tea or coffee after the meal again but we both declined.

    Honestly, I think this is one of the best economy services we have had in terms of food. The quality and quantity were both better than expected. We have often had one good meal followed by a terrible snack, but both meals were tasty. The only things I would change are the cutlery (we had to use the same spork for our savoury food as our dessert) and the plastic bottles.

    The Views

    Final Thoughts of our Review of Vistara 787-900 Economy

    I was pleasantly surprised with Vistara and their service. The food was genuinely tasty, the entertainment selection pretty decent and the seats comfortable enough for a long haul flight. The crew were super friendly and very professional. I didn’t enjoy the lighting settings being dark for so long on a day flight.

    Rosie xx

  • A Review of Tunisair A320neo Economy LGW – TUN

    A Review of Tunisair A320neo Economy LGW – TUN

    Tunisia is a year-round sunny destination that is just 2.5 hours from the UK. It feels like another world with North African food, culture and sunshine. For many, Gatwick is the gateway to this jewel on the southern edge of the Mediterranean. We flew Tunisair from London Gatwick to Tunis for our 2024 trip on one of their newest planes. Here is our review of Tunisair A320neo Economy LGW – TUN.

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  • A Review of Jet2 737-800 STN – ATN – STN

    A Review of Jet2 737-800 STN – ATN – STN

    Jet2 has been going gangbusters in the U.K. with plenty of flights from the north of the country, (in fact I travelled with Jet2 to Prague before they made it down south and had a lovely flight). Now Jet2 is conquering the south with an increasing presence at London Stansted. With very reasonable prices and more passenger offerings than your average Stansted departure, the orange and blue carriers must be a little bit worried. Join us for our review of Jet2 flights from London Stansted to Athens and back again.

    Boeing 737 aircraft

    This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.

    Airport Experience

    Stansted

    With a brutal 03:15 alarm, we surfaced bleary-eyed and a bit stroppy into the London cold. It took us two night tubes and the first Stansted Express of the morning but we made it bang on time for our expected 06:32 arrival. Two hours before a flight is an hour less than I really like but it was the only way to ensure a little sleep.

    We found our check in desks and there was no queue. There was a very clear Jet2 check in area at London Stansted with some fun Instagram additions (giant teddy bear). We decided to check in our bags as they were included in the fare and the chap who checked us in was very perky. It was impressive for such an early morning. He let us know that the Stansted transit train wasn’t working and that staff would point us in the right direction. We were very happy to see that there were four staff stood by the train entrance and they were all Jet2. No other carrier was represented here. We all went down to waiting coaches over to the remote terminal. I was very glad we’d checked in our bigger bags as it was a lot of standing and stairs which would have been annoying with the suitcases.

    The terminal is very scrappy but that is not Jet2’s responsibility. There were lots of seats and nice big windows where you could see our plane and a few other Jet2 planes too. They had nice, shiny signage and nice, shiny staff. Everyone was wished a good holiday as they passed through the gate which was a very nice touch and it was really good that they maintained that line for everyone.

    Athens

    We arrived at Athens airport three hours before our flight took off but the check-in wasn’t open yet. There wasn’t anywhere to sit nearby and it was very buy and tight so we went and sat out of the way for a while. When we returned, there was a huge queue…rookie mistake! It took around 20 minutes to get to the front and then the agent wasn’t too friendly. We checked in our bags and headed for security. Jet2 is in the satellite building and there is quite a long way to walk along travelators before you go through security (plenty of time to buy any drinks you have bought).

    Once through security, there was a departure lounge that was very busy where we picked up a sandwich and crisps for the flight. Then we passed through passport control (another long queue) and found our gate. Remember to leave plenty of time to get through the airport because it takes a while. We entered the gate which was very busy and didn’t have many seats left. The staff were checking in hand luggage. they were not asking but instructing passengers and making sure they went over to the tagging desk. It didn’t feel very Jet2.

    The Plane

    The Seats

    We paid to book our seats ahead of time both to ensure we could sit together and to guarantee a window seat. Honestly, we sit separately alot due to traveling on standby but when I am reviewing a flight, I like a window. Poor Mr Fluskey likes a window too, but he married a window lover so he doesn’t get it all that often.

    The seats were pretty standard for a European short haul airline with 31 inches pitch and 17 inches width. This is slightly wider than both Ryanair and Easyjet and has at least two inches of extra leg room, This really does make a difference when the flight is more than two hours, especially when squeezing out to pop to the bathroom. There is no back to the seat in front where your legs are which, if you are tall, will give you those precious extra centimetres….I wonder if that is included in the legroom?

    Instead of a traditional seatback pocket, there is a magazine stand. This means you cannot store your belongings in there. This is much cleaner (those pockets can be real germ-fests) and presumably prevents lots of lost property. There is a small tray table and the addition of a simple metal cup holder which I really like. It’s designed for the hot drinks they sell onboard so doesn’t really fit a water bottle.

    The Windows

    There was something very strange about the windows and I only realised about half an hour into our flight. I went to pull down the shade for an easier sleep but it wasn’t there. None of the windows have shades so the sun streams in undisturbed. It’s great for the views but it was tough to nap with the full force of the sun seeping through my eyelids.

    I wanted to share some of the views we got.

    The Way Out

    Leaving a grey morning at Stansted is always satisfying. Bursting through the final layer of cloud and into the blue sky above really makes it feel like a holiday! Plus, trying to spot the Acropolis on our descent was lots of fun.

    Coming Back

    On the way back we were treated to a fabulous hour long sunset. I couldn’t stop snapping but here are just a few little photos.

    Storage

    The baggage bins have stretchy bands across the front so things don’t fall out when the bins are reopened. It also means people can shove their coats and other soft items in and they stay put. This is a very smart addition which I am surprised I have never seen on any other carriers.

    Everyone is entitled to one underbag seat and one overhead spot. Of course, if everyone takes advantage then it gets overfull so they were checking in baggage at the boarding gate in Athens. I was surprised that they faced this issue seeing as everyone gets free chek in luggage. This surely reduces the number of large rolling hand luggage bags that end up at the gate. Well, it encouraged us to check our bags in, something we rarely do.

    Entertainment

    There are two magazines in the seat back but no TVs onboard. There aren’t any plugs so my advice is to bring a phone or tablet, a portable charger and some headphones. Mr Fluskey used both his Bluetooth headphones until they ran out of battery and was forced to read the magazines. (What a rookie, use one at a time!). There were a few interesting articles but not enough for a three hour flight.

    The Tannoy

    We really enjoyed the tunes as we boarded. They were all upbeat and put us in a good mood with our mini singalong. Of course, they played Jess Glynne’s banger Hold My Hand which is on the Jet2 adverts.

    Now, about the announcements. They were all prerecorded and very cheery. We loved the fun tone and the two voices giving it some pep. However, they were SO loud! Every time one was played, the whole plane (who were trying sleep due to the early starts we had all had) was shocked awake. You could visibly see people jump out of slumber. It seemed unnecessarily loud when the boarding music had been considerably quieter so there must be a volume choice. I would hate to take this as a commuter without a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. In general, the announcements were too loud and too frequent.

    That being said, we loved the flight deck announcements which were thorough, describing the exact route we would be taking and what we could expect to see along the way. They also kept everyone informed when we had a delay on the way home. Top marks to the flight deck!

    Amenities

    The bathroom was kept clean on both legs of our journey which is impressive on 3.5 hour flight. I liked the big pictures on the door which cheered up the small space….and they were small. You would struggle to change clothes in here or anything like that so don’t plan to use them as a space for anything other than using the toilet. There was some simple soap but no hand cream or anything so if you need that stuff, make sure it’s in your liquids bag.

    Food & Drink

    There was plenty on offer to purchase during the trolley service. I was expecting shocking prices but actually, compared to airports and other carriers, it was all quite reasonable. We stupidly paid more for food in Athens airport to eat on board which saw us standing in long queues. We should have just waited and chosen things from the menu!

    There was a second round of trolley service on both flights where sandwiches were offered at half price. This is a nice way of ensuring less food waste but I would be pretty annoyed if I had paid full price just one hour prior. Good to know for future travel though!

    Final Thoughts for our Review of Jet2

    For holiday travel Jet2 is a brilliant choice. Free luggage, check-in desks and super cheery announcements at the gate and onboard all get you in a good mood. Whether you prefer a longer fly and flop or want a fun Jet2 city break, they will get you there safe, sound and smiling. Overall, Jet2 are a fantastic choice with genuinely friendly staff, an expanding network and an attitude we love!

    Rosie xx

  • A Review of Turkish Airlines 777-300 Economy LHR to IST

    A Review of Turkish Airlines 777-300 Economy LHR to IST

    We get rather excited by small things here at Flying Fluskey and taking a short-haul flight on a long haul carrier is one of them! The chance to fly Turkish Airlines from London to Istanbul was just such a chance, and we jumped at it. Read on to see our full review of Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300 economy from London Heathrow to Istanbul Airport.

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  • A Review of Delta 767-300ER Delta One / Delta Business Class LHR – SLC

    A Review of Delta 767-300ER Delta One / Delta Business Class LHR – SLC

    Flying from London to the USA, there are so many airlines to choose from. We have travelled with British Airways a couple of times, and with Virgin Atlantic Airways an awful lot. But after a recent work trip, I finally got to write a complete Delta One review of their business class offering. It is a first class and business class fusion (a little like the three cabin configuration on Virgin Atlantic). This is my full London to Salt Lake City International Delta One review.

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  • A Review of Jet2 Boeing 757-200 MAN – PRG

    A Review of Jet2 Boeing 757-200 MAN – PRG

    Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is just a couple of hours flight away from the UK, but stroll through its fairytale streets in the snow, and you will feel a million miles away from home. I was given the opportunity, with Jet2, to take in the architecture, sip on a few cups of gluhwein and experience a new city – I was there with bells on! Read all about our trip in 6 Reasons Prague is the Perfect Christmas City Break

    “Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, welcome to Jet2”.

    (Yes their announcements said that, and yes, it made me happy).

    Airport Experience

    Mixing things up a little, I flew out of Manchester airport for this trip. Jet2 operate out of two terminals at Manchester airport. The majority of their flights depart from T1 but a few destinations are from T2. These were well signposted from the train station. I then got myself in a small tizz. Half of the airline’s check-in from another floor, and it was here that I got confused. I followed people into a lift, without paying any attention and had to find my way back down to the ground floor for the Jet2 desks.

    The gentleman who checked us in was incredibly cheery and made the experience very enjoyable. It was nice to have a chatty check-in agent, rather than the minimal interactions we are often greeted with. Was it because we were “up North” or is it just the normal way Jet2’s agents are?

    I had originally packed into hand luggage, partly out of habit and partly because I was thinking of Jet2 as a budget airline. Happily, we were given a 22kg checked bag along with a 10kg hand luggage, and a personal item. I could have packed my whole wardrobe…almost. This was my first pleasant surprise and my first indication that Jet2 is a value airline, not a budget one.

    I checked my hand luggage bag in, and went handsfree for the journey, just carrying my little rucksack and my coat in a carrier bag. So far, so easy.

    Interior

    Again, I was pleasantly surprised by the interior of the plane. There wasn’t any mood lighting or anything, but they had Christmas pop songs playing, and the crew gave us a wonderfully warm welcome. I didn’t know it was possible to feel festive on a flight, but this felt jolly.

    The Boeing 757-200 is a very long, thin plane. There are over 40 rows and only one aisle. Luckily, there were two boarding doors so it didn’t take too long to board or disembark. We flew on a Delta Boeing 757 just a few days prior to this, and it took almost 20 minutes to clear the plane.

    Seats

    The seats are leatherette, with an alternating pattern of grey and red. I quite liked the effect.

    The seats

    There was a pretty standard amount of leg room for a short-haul flight. The exit seats had quite a bit, so if you need it, I would advise you to book one of those. There is no recline, and that is also worth bearking in mind if you need a lot of room.

    Looking at the seat back, it took me a second to realise that it was without a back panel. Instead, you just see the shape of the seat bucket in front of you. I’ve seen a few seats like this and I suppose they save weight? Looking at the picture, I can see that they have done the same with the armrests. I noticed that they were a little thin at the time, but I hadn’t realised that they were hollow.

    There is a magazine rack but don’t store anything in it, as it will fall out again. It is just the kind that is designed to house A4 papers but has no bottom.

    Unfortunately, there isn’t a seat back pocket lower down so you will need to keep your bag under the seat in front of you for your bits and bobs.

    The cup holder is a metal hoop that hangs from the chair back. I have mixed feelings about it. I like that it doesn’t wobble, or tip your drink forward like some plastic models, but it feels a bit like an afterthought.

    The tray table itself was simple to use and very sturdy with the standard locking arm.

    Storage

    There is always a struggle for overhead locker space on a flight to a cold destination. People tend to have large coats and stuff the lockers full. Thank goodness I could check my bag in. The locker themselves were standard size but our fellow passengers just didn’t use them properly.

    Despite the free luggage allowance, lots of people still had full size carry on bags and towards the end of boarding, there were some reshuffles to do so everyone could fit their things in the overhead bins. I did like that they had elastic stretched across the front of each locker, preventing things from falling out when the lockers were opened.

    Windows

    OK, there isn’t loads to say about these, they are standard windows but I thought this would be worth mentioning.

    On our outbound flight, we were in row 19, and this was the window view:

    That’s fine if you are in the window seat itself, but I was in the middle seat and couldn’t see out at all. When the person next to me leaned against it for a nap, it was totally blocked.

    On the way back, I was in the middle seat again, but this time in row 21, and the view was considerably better. Something to consider if a view is important to you.

    1.5 windows

    Entertainment

    Beyond the in-flight magazine and duty-free shopping, there was no entertainment available. Bring your phone/book/iPad to keep yourself entertained.

    Food and Drinks

    Jet2 sell a variety of snacks on board. You can also preorder hot meals but as it was an afternoon flight, I’d already eaten lunch.

    Looking for food when you land in Prague? Check out 6 Best Restaurants to Try Great Czech Food in Prague!

    I just stuck to what I know best, the bar.

    They serve a range of drinks, and happily, among them is my favourite brand of prosecco – I heart wines! I was very overexcited when I clocked it in the menu. It tasted different at altitude, but was still rather tasty and very appreciated!

    Not quite as classy as I like to think but that metal ring came in helpful when we hit mild turbulence.

    Final Thoughts

    I believe that it is worth mentioning; Jet2 should be immensely proud of its staff who were kind, friendly and unfailingly enthusiastic. It was a very refreshing change and they got us all the way to Prague with a smile.

    If you are thinking of travelling with Jet2, here is some information that you might like to know.

    When I consider it against the UK’s biggest airline, and their short haul offering, I would pick Jet2 every…single…time. (You can read all about our most recent flight with British Airways here).

    Jet2 definitely exceeded my expectations. The plane was bigger than I thought, the luggage allowance was bigger than I thought, and the choices for food and beverages were bigger than I thought as well!

    We were guests of Jet2 on this flight but all opinions are entirely my own.

    Rosie xx

    A full review of our flight from Manchest to Prague with Jet2.com. We travelled on a 757-200 aircraft, and it was all surprisingly pleasant. #jet2 #jet2.com #flightreview
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  • Your Guide to Long Haul Flight Essentials

    Your Guide to Long Haul Flight Essentials

    As much as we adore travel, it can be hard. In fact, travel can be exhausting, draining and downright miserable! Don’t worry, these long haul flight essentials will ease some of the pain.

    Next time you are flying from A to Z (and especially if you are going all the way over B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K with a six hour stopover in Q) remember these tips and a pack a few things and you won’t just “survive” your next flight, but you will enjoy it.

    Side of a Virgin Atlantic plane on stand at London Heathrow Airport as the sun sets in the background
    Virgin Atlantic plane at sunset

    Check out our Virgin Atlantic Upper Class review. Admittedly, it is easier to enjoy a long haul flight in Upper Class!

    Water is the Most Important of your Long Haul Flight Essentials

    It’s a basic fact that we all know, you need water to live. But, did you know that in an aeroplane’s atmosphere you need an extra half litre an hour to stay hydrated? That’s a whole lot of the clear stuff. I am terrible at drinking water in the real world but on a plane, I suck on my water like a bottle fed baby!

    a clear plastic cup of water

    And it’s not just the cabin air. Plane food can have very high levels of salt in. They are trying to make up for the deadening of taste buds at high altitude, and so you are dehydrating from the food too!

    In flight meal on a red plastic tray with a gold foil tray, cream plastic cutlery, a square cheesecake and a plastic cup of Coke on economy Philippine Airlines A330-300 plane
    Philippine Airlines Economy in flight meal

    Check out our review of Philippine Airlines Economy

    Don’t rely on an airline’s drinks service to keep your whistle wet, take a bottle of your own. You can buy a bottle of fancy mineral water after security, or you can take an empty bottle through and fill it up air-side at a water fountain.

    Balhvit stainless stell water bottles in multiple colours to enjoy long haul flights

    I also make a point of asking the crew if there is a water fountain on board, or a jug in the galley. This sometimes prompts them to bring you more water.

    How to Approach Other Drinks

    Many airlines offer alcohol as part their drinks services. The official advice is that you should avoid it, and if you are that way inclined, well done! I do like to have a drink or two though, and so to counteract the alcohol’s dehydrating effect, I make sure I ask for water at the same time.

    a plastic glass of champagne against a plane window looking over the wing

    Remember that alcohol will hit you harder at altitude so you cannot drink as much as you would at ground level, without really feeling it. This could leave you a bit of a mess and arriving at your destination with a big hangover isn’t pleasant.

    Make Sure You Pack Liquids

    As well as drinking lots of fluids, there are other things you can do to keep your body from drying out (and this goes for girls and guys).

    • Once the plane has taken off, remove your make up, if you have any on. Once your face is bare, treat it to a nice big blob of intensive moisturiser. Ensure that it is more intense than the kind you would use at home. This will soak in surprisingly quickly, and keep your skin supple.
    • Lip balm or Vaseline stops your lips from cracking. Put on a nice thick slick before you go to sleep to keep them kissably soft.
    Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skincare Travel & Starter Kit to enjoy long haul flights
    I have been using this set for a while now and it works wonders. Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price.
    • Eye drops or spray will relieve sore, tired eyes by keeping them moisturised. It’s not something you normally think about, but it can make a difference after fifteen hours in the sky.
    • I am a HUGE fan of saline nasal spray. Planes are dry, and they can be rather cold. This makes my nose all dry and sore on the inside. Occasional squirts of saline spray stops this from happening. My mum does the same thing with airwaves chewing gum, but that makes my champagne…I mean water…taste funny.
      Box of Calpol Saline Nasal Spray 15ml to enjoy long haul flights Trust me, this is weird, wonderful and works. Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price.

    Check out our Top Ten Tips to Pack Your Liquids Bag for Carry On Luggage Like a Pro!

    What to Wear for Your Long Haul Flight

    This is a complicated business. We all like to look nice when we fly, it’s exciting to be off on holiday, but you have to find the comfy/trendy balance.

    • Don’t wear anything with a tight waistband. It will only get worse as your tummy swells with the altitude, and that bloating salty plane food.
    • Don’t wear tight shoes or boots that can’t be loosened. Your feet will swell and getting them on again at the end of the flight can be very uncomfortable. If you keep them on they can restrict blood movement and that can encourage DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) which is a very bad thing indeed.
    • Flight socks can look silly (I know) but they work wonders to keep your circulation flowing nicely. You will need to pack a pair of high quality compression socks.
    Multicoloured compression socks to enjoy long haul flights At least they make funky flight socks these days. Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price. for these bright beauties. 
    • It can get bumpy on a plane, so ultra low neck lines could result in unwanted wardrobe malfunctions. It’s best to stick to something that covers a little more “decolletage”…or you might get a nip slip!
    • I have said it before, and I will say it again, a seamless sports bra is INFINITELY more comfortable than a regular one when taking a long haul flight. There’s no straps to rub, no hooks to dig into your back and no danger that you’ll get a full pat down when the wire sets off the security arch.
    The joys of the seamless sports bra lead to a seamless journey. Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price for this triple-pack to suit every colour top. 

    Consider Wearing Slippers on Your Long Haul Flight

    I like to change into little stretchy slippers for my flights. They keep my feet warm, allow them to swell without pain, and they are a bit sturdier than socks for my little walks around the plane. I have black ones which are a little more discreet. They go in the washing machine when I find a laundry and then they are fresh and clean for the next flight.

    If you are worried about those questionable drips on the bathroom floor, wear comfortable shoes you can slip on and off quickly. I wouldn’t recommend wear flip flops and you will get cold toes and the “flip” “flop” slaps as you make your way to bathroom could disturb other passengers.

    Keep it Moving

    Get up and have a wander around the plane every so often. It is nice to get a change of scene; to look out of the window when you’ve been trapped in the centre of the plane can be a revelation. More importantly it promotes blood movement and helps prevent DVT.

    If you are trapped in a middle seat and can’t clamber over your slumbering neighbours there are still little exercises you can do to simulate the benefits of a walk. You may look a little silly, but they are asleep so it doesn’t matter.

    Blue economy seats on Edelweiss Air Airbus 340-300 plane
    Edelweiss Air economy cabin

    Check out our review of Edelweiss Air econonmy here

    Plan The Entertainment for Your Long Haul Flight

    If you know that your plane has entertainment, why not visit the airline’s website ahead of time, and take a look at the listings. This allows you to decide what you want to watch and in which order. It would be very annoying to find a great film just as the plane starts its descent.

    On overnight flights, I watch a blockbuster whilst I eat dinner. Then I get ready for bed and put on some sort of kids film, or a frivolous comedy. It is inoffensive, I don’t mind falling asleep to it (got to cut out that engine noise somehow) and they all have a nice predictable plot. It’s very comforting. When I wake up a few hours later, it’s back to the exciting films. This passes the time, gives me something to look forward to and sometimes saves me money at the cinema. Win, win, win.

    Emirates is well known for their great entertainment ‘ICE Information Communication Entertainment’, check out a full Emirates economy review

    Pack a Pillow

    I am not sure the world has invented the perfect sleep pillow for flights yet. I can’t function without a surface to lean against! But we persist. At the moment I am using a blow up pillow. It takes up very little space and when I only have hand luggage, that is a big plus!

    HIKENTURE blue inflatable neck pillow to enjoy long haul flights

    I have read great things about Cabeau Evolution and I’m tempted to try it for my next flight, but it looks very cumbersome and quite heavy for backpacking. Maybe I’ll give a go for my next city break.

    Cabeau Evolution S3 grey travel pillow to enjoy long haul flights Why not give it a go? Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price. 

    If you only have one piece of hand luggage, and it is too big to fit under the seat in front (or you are gifted with long legs and need the space), prepare an essentials pouch. You can slip this in to the seat-back pocket negating the need to get up and down every ten minutes. It also makes it less likely you will forget loose items. Here’s what’s in mine;

    • Eye mask and ear plugs – I’ll be honest, I always fail to use these when I am actually on the flight, but Mr Fluskey uses his religiously. They block out light and sound for when you are ready to sleep. The eye mask I use, mostly when we are in a noisy hotel, is a 3D mask (check out all our accomodation reviews including budget, midrange and luxury). It fits the bridge of your nose snugly but doesn’t press on your eyes/eyelashes so it is very dark and very comfy.
    This looks just like mine and even comes with free ear plugs. Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price. 
    • Pen – For filling out landing cards, making notes or doodling.
    • Phone – It may be on aeroplane mode but it still my blogging tool…plus it has games and back up videos if the entertainment system is awful…or non-existent.
    • Portable charger and USB cable – You may get lucky and have an in-seat power supply, in which case, you’re OK. Just in case there isn’t, have your portable charger fully juiced and ready for back up.
    Anker PowerCore 10000mAh black power bank to enjoy long haul flights This is exactly the model I have and I couldn’t live without it! Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price. 
    • Headphones and splitter. Don’t bring your wireless headphones because you can’t use them with the inflight entertainment system, except on the newest Virgin Atlantic A330 planes.
    white multi 3.5mm headphone splitter to enjoy long haul flights We have had a great run with one of these multi-splitters, plus four of us watched one video together…win! Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price. 
    • Liquids – Those listed above
    • Toothbrush and toothpaste – Read on…

    Check out our Top Ten Tips to Pack Your Liquids Bag for Carry On Luggage Like a Pro!

    Perform Your Bedtime Routine to Get Enough Sleep

    This is very important if you seriously want to get some rest. You need to trick your body into thinking it is bedtime.

    1. Go to the bathroom.
    2. Change into some light, loose cotton clothing.
    3. Brush you teeth.
    4. Make sure you can sleep on your hair comfortably.
    5. Do whatever else you do before you go to bed (nothing naughty please).

    This psychologically puts you in mind of bedtime and so when you return to your seat and strap back in (doing up your seat belt before you sleep is very important or you could be woken by the crew to do so) you are ready to slumber.

    Red setting sunbeams through an airplane window with the blind half drawn

    Try Flirting to REALLY Enjoy Your Long Haul Flight

    I know, I know, this is a weird piece of advice, but flirting (without being cringy) can achieve some wonderful results:

    It might get you a slightly better seat on board or convince a crew member to give you extra drinks, food or water. It also means that if you are looking for ways to make the time fly(!) on your plane, you can go and have a chat with the crew. You could also try and make conversation with your fellow passengers. You may make a friend for life…or alienate the passengers around you… Either way, you’ll have passed some time.

    Plus, it is a free way to enjoy your long haul flight!

    Check out all our flight reviews including British Airways, airBaltic, Turkish Airlines, Jet2 and Delta

    Final Tips for Travelling on Long Haul Flights

    • Check in online. There are many different reasons for this but just believe me, check in online.
    • Always set you phone or watch to your destination’s time zone. This means you can try and start adjusting straight away. Many airlines will try and keep you asleep for most of the journey, but if it’s 13:00 in your destination, you should be awake. Consider setting an alarm when you get ready for bed to ensure you wake up at the right time.
    • Need to pee a lot? Pick an aisle seat. Need to lean on something to sleep? Pick a window. Got a tight connection? Sit as close to the front as you can get. Want a nice photo? Just behind the wing is good.
    • Relax and enjoy, you’re going somewhere great!
    view out of a plane window of the wing and tip above clouds

    Rosie xx

    Long haul travel can be hard. You can enjoy long haul flights, and here's how! #longhaulflight #flighttips
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  • A Review of British Airways A320-200 Economy LGW – FNC

    A Review of British Airways A320-200 Economy LGW – FNC

    British Airways is the UK’s flagship carrier. If you were around in the 1990s, it probably conjures up images of pearls, leather seats and in the background a sweet rendition of Aria on Air. However, in recent years, British Airways has changed. They have bought in lots of new initiatives and cost cutting efforts (do you remember when they took the second olive out of their martini and saved a bundle?). Our recent trip to Funchal, Madeira saw us booking on BA for the first time in years which gave us the chance to see the changes in British Airways economy for ourselves.

    A view along the side of a British Airways Airbus A320

    The Review of British Airways Economy

    Airport Experience

    The British Airways app is really very good. We used it to book our flight and then it reminded us to enter our advance passenger information. I did that one day when I was bored and waiting for a train…a very good use of time if I do say so myself. Twenty-four hours before our flight, a little reminder notification to check in popped up. As all our info was already in there, it was a very quick and easy process.

    Screenshot of BA flight info
    Mr Fluskey’s boarding pass

    Our fare was a British Airways economy hand luggage only fare. We were free to take a large carry on bag with no weight restrictions, and a smaller personal item (handbag, laptop bag, or in my case, my beloved Cath Kidston rucksack).

    Check out all our flight reviews including Virgin Atlantic and Emirates

    oneworld logo

    Breezing through the airport, not having to stop at check in, we were done with security in a matter of minutes. We bought some food (more on that later) and then the app updated to show our gate number.

    Rosie in the departures lounge of London Gatwick Airport
    Oh the joys of a departure lounge
    Info screen at London Gatwick Airport
    Here we go!

    Boarding was swift and simple. Everyone is assigned a “group” and then they are welcomed forwards by group number. Easy peasy.

    British Airways Airbus A320 at a gate at London Gatwick Airport

    Interior

    The plane was just that, plain. White lights lit the navy blue and white cabin. Despite the cold colour scheme, the welcome from the crew was very warm…and actually the crew were lovely throughout, so that made the whole flight much more pleasant.

    Inside the cabin during boarding of a British Airways Airbus A320
    Mr Fluskey with his trusty Fjallraven
    The view of the cabin from a window seat of a British Airways Airbus A320
    The normal light and air conditioning blowers are in the panel above you.

    The windows were the Airbus A320 standard. They aren’t huge, and the second layer makes them even smaller.

    View out of the window of the wing of a British Airways Airbus A320

    Seats

    The configuration is the normal 3, 3 set up, as seen on most Airbus A320s. Travelling as a couple, this is always irritating. We like the window and so we are always hemmed in by a stranger; not good when you need to pop to the loo.

    British Airways have chosen a very nice seat. Well, not the seat per se, but the seat covers. They have a navy blue leatherette cover with nice stitch detailing. On both our outbound and return flight, we were greeted by a previous passengers crumbs. It wasn’t very nice but at least the leather made it easy to wipe it off.

    Economy leather seats of a British Airways Airbus A320
    The economy seats

    The leg room was pretty average at 30 inches. The width was 17 inches, which was fine.

    Economy leg room on a British Airways Airbus A320

    The head rest is nice and adjustable. It goes up quite a way. The side flaps bend well, and are nice and stiff, but they are not that big so are a little too small to hold your head very well. It also has an indent of the BA logo which is cool.

    Headrest on a British Airways Airbus A320
    Head rest goes down
    Headrest on a British Airways Airbus A320
    It rest goes up
    Headrest on a British Airways Airbus A320
    Head rest goes round
    British Airways logo in a leather aeroplane seat
    The logo

    The arm rests are a little thin, and ours had a sticker that wouldn’t come off.

    Economy armrest on a British Airways Airbus A320
    Not the end of the world, but it shows a little carelessness.

    The seat back pocket space is pretty good. There is a magazine pocket at the top of the seat. It only has a plastic piece at the bottom to stop the magazines falling out so don’t put little bits and bobs in here or they will get lost.

    Economy seat back pocket on a British Airways Airbus A320
    The magazine pocket

    Below the table is a mesh pocket. On our outbound flight it was nice but on the way home, both Mr Fluskey’s and my pockets were ripped. It was a bit shabby.

    Economy tray table on a British Airways Airbus A320

    The seats reclined, but by about half an inch. I have read that they are doing away with even that on their new planes. Four hours is quite a long flight, surely that deserves a better level of comfort.

    Storage

    British Airways has a very clear policy when it comes to hand luggage. You are allowed one larger piece of hand luggage to go above you in the overhead locker. Additionally, you can have a smaller item that must go under the seat in front of you. This got a yellow tag in the airport.

    Over head lockers on a British Airways Airbus A320
    The overhead lockers were a bit battered

    Check out Top Ten Tips to Pack Your Liquids Bag for Carry On Luggage Like a Pro!

    Some people didn’t understand this so the crew had to go along and request that anything with a yellow tag was removed from the overhead bins. The bins weren’t deep enough to have bags on their thin side. This always reduces the capacity quite badly. People near us had their bags somewhere near the front as there was no room left nearby.

    Karl and Rosie smile on a British Airways Airbus A320
    Feeling smug because we managed to get our bags in the locker above us

    Read all about our travels in Portugal

    Entertainment

    Considering this was a four hour flight, the entertainment provision was very poor. British Airways considers this a short haul flight and so they provide no video or audio. This is the same for economy and business.

    The only entertainment was the High Life and Business Life magazines in the seat back pocket. Neither interested me all that much so after a quick flick through, they were abandoned.

    Economy magazines on a British Airways Airbus A320

    Thank goodness we had brought the iPad chock full of Netflix content!

    Amenities

    We weren’t given any kind of amenity kit on this flight.

    The bathrooms were very tight and had no cute little extras in…it was just like being on a budget flight.

    Toilet on a British Airways Airbus A320

    Food

    So if you are flying on British Airways, you get a snack right? Wrong! Again, as this was a short haul flight, no food or drinks were included. Luckily we already knew about this and so had bought lunch at the airport before boarding.

    If you are in British Airways economy you are given a book full of Marks and Spencer’s products that you can purchase. I like to have a look through and see what’s on offer.

    Drinks menu on a British Airways Airbus A320
    Bottoms up!

    The only things that appealed to me were the Globetrotting Percy sweets (who doesn’t love Percy Pigs?) and the drinks at the end. We decided to treat ourselves and got a drink each.

    Prosecco bubbles in a flute in front of a aeroplane window on a British Airways Airbus A320
    Cheers

    Final Thoughts

    Considering the length of four hours, this was not a particularly comfortable or enjoyable flight. Other than the fancier seats, and the extra handbag in out hand luggage allowance, we may as well have been on the easyJet flight that goes to Madeira! It would have saved us a bit of money and we would have spent the same on food and drink anyway.

    The view from the window during landing into Maderia on a British Airways Airbus A320
    Hello Madeira

    Honestly, I am quite disappointed in British Airways economy offering on this short haul route. The hand luggage allowance is great, as is the app, but other than that…? I can’t say I would recommend it. At least their long haul offering is still very competitive.

    Now you’re in Madeira, why not go Whale and Dolphin Watching with VMT Madeira

    Side view of a British Airways Airbus A320 on a stand

    Rosie xx

    A full review of British Airways economy on a flight from London Gatwick (LGW) to Funchal (FNC). This is a review of the a320-200 and the service. #britishairways #britishairwaysreview #flightreview
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