London Heathrow

From terminal 5B I took the train to terminal 5A and the escalator up to flight connection center. In proceeded to the dedicated area for connecting passengers and walked to the fast track line, which was not very busy. My ticket and my passport were checked and I was allowed to enter the empty line. The agent checked my boarding pass and mentioned that there was still no information about my gate and asked me to monitor the screens. I took the escalator up and entered the security zoo. At the top of the escalator the lines of regular passengers and those allowed to use the fast track lines mixed. The first checkpoints were busy and I would describe them as overcrowded. What I do not understand is why the passengers who were allowed to use the fast track are not allowed to enter the fast track of the customers starting their journey in Heathrow? Anyway, like on my previous trips I walked as far as possible and there the lines were not that long.

Waiting time was about 15 minutes until I was at top of the queue. After a quick visit at the nearby South Lounge and the North Lounge with long list of passengers wanting to take a shower, I decided to head over the Terminal 5B and the BA Terrace lounge over there. I had more than 90 minutes and gate information for my flight would not be available until 10:00.

Down the escalator and a short wait later I could board the train, which brought me to the elevators close to the lounge entrance. At the lounge I was welcomed by one of the agent without any comment regarding my boarding pass for a flight most likely to depart from the main terminal 5A. I headed straight to the lounge reception desk and signed the shower list to be told; that waiting time would most likely be less than five minutes and one shower only had to be cleaned and then would be ready for me. And it was only four minutes until the shower receptionist approached me and told me that the shower number 4 would be ready.

I showered, shaved and changed clothes and felt re-freshed again. Ready for my last flight, I decided to have a coffee in this lounge and later walk back to the main terminal. Stretching my legs and doing some exercise would be a good idea.

Round about at 09:40 I left the lounge and walked to the elevators, which lead to the connecting walkway. There is only a sign for a walkway towards terminal 5C, but you could also walk back to the main terminal. Despite the fact that across the elevators are signs asking you to wait there to be escorted back to the main terminal, there is actually no need to do so. The walk takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes and the walkway is only in the other directions, so you actually have to walk. Once you reach the main terminal, you are at the elevators, which also lead to the trains running from terminal A to B and C for passenger departing from LHR and from C and B to A for passenger arriving in LHR.

I decided to pass another visit in the lounge until the boarding gate was known. Two espressi later, the gate showed up as gate 1 on the screen and with less than ten minutes until gate was closed I walked over to the gate passing the many shops.

As I reached the gate, boarding had already started for passengers in Club Europe and BA Executive Club Ruby, Silver and Gold and oneworld elites. I joined the short queue and after my passport and by boarding pass were verified that it was indeed my boarding pass, I was allowed to board the plane.

09 December 2014
LHR – AMS
[London Heathrow – Amsterdam Schiphol]
BA 434 (British Airways); Airbus A 319 (G-EUOG)
Gate 1
10:55 – 13:15 [effective 10:52 – 13:13]
Economy Class
Seat 10 C

The gates at the corner of the building have very long aero bridges and this gate was no exception. At the entrance to the plane was a short queue due to passengers in Club Europe storing their luggage. Two crew members welcomed the passengers on board of our Airbus A 319-131. Like on many planes of British Airways, the registration of the plane could be seen at the door / wall in the galley.. This plane was G-EUOG, which was an Airbus A 319-131.

My seat in row 10 was not in the part of the cabin, which could be converted to Business Class. Our plane was equipped with 132 seats. The first ten rows of the plane could be converted to Business Class. The seat pitch was therefore only 31 inch and the seat width was 17 inch. The plane is equipped with small overhead screens, which are also used to show the safety video and the flight map during the flight.

The plane is powered by the usual IAE V2522 A 5 engines with a thrust of 22000 lbf. It was delivered to BA on October 23, 2001 and is leased from BBAM. In so far, this plane was delivered to BA the very same day as G-EUOF for the flight from Amsterdam to London, but this plane made is maiden flights two weeks later on September 25, 2001 while G-EUOF made is first flight on September 10, 2001.

In the meantime boarding was completed. There were a number of free seats on this flights and the middle seat remained empty.

We were still at the gate as the captain welcomed us on board and told us information about our flight to Amsterdam. We could expect an on time departure and a flight time of 45 minutes. Given that we would have a long taxi in Amsterdam, we would most likely not be ahead of time when we arrive at our gate, but we could expect to have an on time arrival. He mentioned the weather to be similar to London with the chance of rain in the evening. He then announced the safety video and like all of his colleagues asked us to pay attention, despite we might have seen it a number of time already.
After the captain finished his welcome, the flight attendant welcomes us as well and stated the safety video, which was continued to be shown during push back. We taxied to runway 27R and finally at 11:10 the captain powered our engines and we left LHR.

We climbed in steps, i.e. not immediately, to our cruising altitude of 23000 feet.

Approximately seven minutes after we had departed from LHR to AMS, the fasten seat belt signs were extinguished and the crew started the service. It was a beverage service accompanied with a snack, which we could selected from a basket. I opted for a coffee and a small pack of assorted nuts. The crew was friendly.

During the flight, the female first office came over the intercom and updated us about our progress into Amsterdam. We had passed Felixtown and were now flying over the Channel towards the Dutch coast.

In the meantime the flight attendants had collected the trash and used items from the beverage service. The flight time passed quickly and I dozed a bit since on such a short flight starting a laptop was not really worth the hassle. The crew made also sure, that laptops were stored and only tablets are used during the approach.

We passed Ijmuiden and approached Amsterdam from the North West. This gave us some nice views towards the port and the many ships there. Finally at 12:56 we touched down on runway 18R and begun our long taxi towards the terminal. The crew welcomed us in Schiphol and mentioned that we were now allowed to use the transmitting and data functions of tables and phones. Despite the fact that it was really a long taxi, one was offered some nice views towards the many different planes parked at one of the gate or the remote parking positions.

Finally, at 13:13 we reached our gate, which was the same than I had left five days earlier. The aerobridge was attached to the plane and shortly thereafter the doors were opened and I could leave the plane and walk towards immigration and the baggage carousel. Again, the priority sticker does not work very well but given that not many passengers had checked luggage, it was less than five minutes before my checked bag appeared on the belt. After I passed customs, I was on my way to the NS lounge waiting for my Brussels bound Thalys train.

Conclusion

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