Donuts on the Mound 2 – Aer Lingus EI263 Birmingham Airport to Dublin (Economy Class)
In this donut filled adventure
- Continuing a new tradition
- Off to Birmingham Airport
- Aer Lingus EI263 Birmingham Airport to Dublin T2
- And there were planes. And Donuts
- Back to Dublin Airport
- Aer Lingus Regional EI6276 Dublin Airport to Birmingham Airport
- Back to the trains
- It’s Still About community
EI263 Birmingham Airport to Dublin Airport
Aer Lingus, Airbus A320, Seat 21A, Economy Class
200 miles flown, 0 Avios Awarded, 0 Tier Points.
With boarding talking a little time (again, the plane crew weren’t seemingly ready for us), there was a short wait in the stairwell. After 5 minutes, we were let onto the tarmac.
Hello plane!
Boarding was by both the front and back of the plane – and as my seat was near the back, this played into my hands nicely as my seat was near the back of the plane.
Also it gave me the chance to get so beauty shots of the plane
I was welcomed aboard, and headed to my assigned row.
The cabin.
Seating.
Th seating is a slimline variety in the usual three-abreast layout. With an 18” seat width it was quite comfy – even if the legroom is a little tight.
Legroom.
Although there’s always someone who wants to sit in your seat.
Ahem. This is not your assigned seat TravelPeep.
Cabin.
The middle seat was unoccupied, which meant there’s as a of room to spread out in for me and the person in the middle seat.
Boarding took a little time – as was a pushback delay – which wasn’t helpful.
Eventually, the safety demo was conducted (with the crew explicitly stating taking pictures of them was against the law during the demo…)
Also a good time to check the safety card.
With that, our plane began the taxi to the runway
Jet2.com Boeing 737-800
Lufthansa A319
Helvetic Embraer E-190 and a Vueling A320.
Aer Lingus Regional ATR72-600
Various other tails – including a Qatar Airways Boeing 787, a TUI 787 and a KLM 737.
FlyBe Bombardier Q400
Our A320 chased an Air France A319, which took the longer part of Birmingham airports runway – whilst we linked up towards the boundary of the runway extension.
Air France A319
With the Air France A319 roaring past, EI263 was cleared into position, and we were eventually granted permission to depart.
Our departure took us north of the city, northwards,crossing the Irish Sea, crossing into Ireland and appporahcig Dublin airport from runway 10 – in the direction towards the terminal (as opposed to the normal runway 28 arrival which gives a great view of the city of Dublin)
Still, the plane climbed out and began its journey.
Birmingham
Passing the city
I live somewhere in this…. wonderful place.
The Black Country (Wolverhampton/Dudley conurbation).
Cabin during climb.
And of course, if it’s an airline in Europe these days that has reached 10,000ft and above, it’s time to conduct the in-flight sales service – or in Aer Lingus land – known as Bia.
I think the crew were a little overwhelmed with the service, as they took their time sorting nearly every row out with a service item. So much so, they had to abandon their inflight duty free sales plan.
Whilst the hop from Birmingham to Dublin is a 45 minute one at best – it seems the pilots were in a mood to do exactly that – 45 minutes and try and make up time lost on the ground.
The journey itself was smooth crossing as well as over the the Irish Sea.
Parched and pleasant land.
Over water
Passing into Ireland, the seatbelts came on. I peered out of the window expecting to see Dublin – but alas… I saw countryside. This indicated we would be landing towards the airport as opposed to passing the terminals, and taxing back.
Crossing into Ireland.
And.. turn.
Our plane turned into the sun, and turned for the runway.
3 minutes before landing (or 10 miles from the runway), the undercarriage deployed, indicating our final approach to Dublin was all set.
With ease, EI263 made it’s decent, with a smooth touchdown at its home base of Dublin Airport.
With our plane peeling off the runway, my notifications went wild, indicating where people would be meeting where.
Long haul tails – including Cathay Pacific, Hainan Airlines and an Aer Lingus A330.
American Airlines Boeing 757-200
Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200
Meanwhile, EI263 taxied around the airport, turning for the T2 area.. and at the last minute – turning right, instead of left to the gates.
Coming to a stop at the South Gates.
It seemed that the plane would be arriving at the new T2 satellite (or what DAA call “the South Gates”).
With the plane coming to the stand, the engines powered down.
Steps were attached both at the front and aft of the plane.
When the command was given, I grabbed my items (and TravelPeep) and headed off the plane.
I’m not negotiating the front exit…
Back is easier.
Overall: a pretty reasonable service by a Aer Lingus – a friendly crew, who seemed to be concerned with everything around them (if a little photo shy).
Next: Planes and Donuts.
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