It is time for another Snapshot as we look into the PassengerExperience on British Airways 967 between Hamburg Airport and London Heathrow in Club Europe.
I’m sure you’re all aware of how we do this travel writing thing by now. But for those reading this for the first time. we have two major travel writing styles:
- Trip Reports – These are full deep-dive reports taking you into the experience, the small things… as well as the big things!
- Snapshots – These are bite-sized reviews that show you the product in some gentle headlines (and normally, only images shot on the phone)
Yes, I’m running late on publishing these. It’s been a hell of a past few weeks.
Booking
This flight was booked with Avios and Cash via British Airways for 19,500 Avios and £50. At this time I preselected my window seat in Row 2F which held.
Check-in
Check-in opened two and half hours before departure – with a very full check-in line, given it was the last flight back to London Heathrow after a trade show.
Security
Fast Track security took around 10 minutes to clear at Hamburg Airport – thankfully the mile-long queues for the security processes were nowhere in evidence this year.
Lounges
Hamburg Airport offers a common-use lounge for its premium passengers. It’s also a buy-in entry lounge, as well as being on the Priority Pass network.
The Gate and Boarding
Departure was from Gate B37 in the Non Schengen Zone. This required clearing a 15-minute immigration queue.
Once in the boarding area, there was a wait whilst boarding commenced.
The Aircraft
British Airways operated an Airbus A320 on this route.
Seating
This Airbus A320 was fitted with the Collins Aerospace Pinnacle seating product. The middle seat was left unoccupied, with a cocktail table in the middle. Overhead space was at capacity, so both my bags went under the seats in front of me.
IFE and Connectivity
British Airways offered its .air service on the Airbus A320.
Free messaging was offered to executive club members.
Catering
An evening salad was offered – with a choice of an eggplant salad or a beef salad. This was offered with a roll and a mango mouse desert.
A drink of Gin and Tonic, along with some water was provided.
Coffee was also served.
Landing
The aircraft made an approach to Heathrow over London, approaching via the Thames.
The Airbus 320 landed on the North Runway at Heathrow Airport. From there it taxied to Terminal 5B.
Arrivals
Passengers disembarked the aircraft and into terminal 5B, where there was a wait for a shuttle to the main terminal (given there was only one out of two transit shuttles working at that time.
The U.K. immigration hall was quiet at that time, and I was processed through the manual queue within five minutes.
Luggage delivery took around 30 minutes. From there I was able to head into the public area to await my onward transport.
Other pictures
The full trip report will start next week – once I’ve managed some pictures, make Adobe LightRoom Classico obey commands and put the words in a Google Doc into a post…
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