TRIP REPORT: Taking the long way (and back) to Singapore
BA776 London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda (Club Europe)
Time for the first leg of this trip, with a Reward Flight Saver with British Airways. How is Club Europe fairing on a slightly longer segment to what I’m used to?
In this adventure
- I needed a break
- 02:40 on the coach? Nothing changes, with Heathrow Terminal 5 and British Airways South Lounge
- BA776 London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda (Club Europe)
- An afternoon in Stockholm featuring ABBA The Museum
- Off to Stockholm Bromma, AY840 Stockholm Bromma to Helsinki Vantaa with NoRRA (Economy Class)
- A Rapid Helsinki Transit and The Finnair Lounge
- AY099 Helsinki Vantaa to Hong Kong International with Finnair (Business Class)
- Transiting Hong Kong and Cathay Pacific’s The Pier Lounge
- CX715 (AY5855) Hong Kong International to Singapore Changi Terminal 4 with Cathay Pacific (Business Class)
- Into Singapore, IBIS Budget Crystal
- The Mercure Hotel, Bugis
- Boating around the Singapore River
- Exploring Hawker Markets and random fooding around Singapore
- The Best Camera is the One You Have With You – Exploring The Gardens by the Bay
- Up to the Marina Bay Sands Skypark…
- …and the fallout of a stolen and returned iPhone
- Back to Changi Airport the Pokemon Centre at the Jewel and Terminal 4
- 3K513 (AY6379) Singapore Changi to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (Jetstar Asia Economy Class)
- One night in Bangkok and the Avagard Capsule Hotel, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi
- An early morning at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and The Miracle Lounge, D Pier
- AY142 Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Helsinki Vantaa with Finnair in Business Class
- Out of Vantaa Airport and into Helsinki… and a little beyond
- Holiday Inn, Helsinki Airport
- Early morning at Helsinki Vantaa Airport and The Finnair Schengen Lounge
- AY841 Helsinki Vantaa to Stockholm Bromma with NoRRA (Economy Class)
- The slow return to Arlanda Airport (with a military band)
- D84459 Stockholm Arlanda to London Gatwick with Norweigan Air Shuttle
- How to get home… coach or train?
- Sometimes, Simple Isn’t Needed… Or Wanted
With me through the boarding gate, it was time to head down one of Terminal 5’s never-ending jetbridges to the waiting Airbus A320neo.
Our friends electric.
BA776 London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda
British Airways
Airbus A320neo
Seat 3F, Club Europe
911 Miles flown. Zero Tier Points Earned, 35 Avios earned via Card Payment
I headed aboard the A320neo and down the aisle, once row 1 decided how they were going to sort themselves up and hold up the entire boarding process.
Wonderful people.
I reached my row, and popped the rucksack in the overhead bin, with the Pan Am bag on the floor. With that, it was time to survey my surroundings.
As usual, we have the Collins Aerospace Pinnacle Seat, and as usual, it’s in the usual 30” seat pitch, the middle seat blocked – and this being an Airbus A320neo, no cocktail table tray.
It’s not much but it does give a little more premium to the product I find, which is a comparatively expensive seat.
All this with an antimacassar on the seat. The true value of Club Europe. At least there was a 30” seat pitch – not the most generous, but passable enough for this sort of mission length.
Whilst the aircraft is newish, there are newer aircraft with Collis Aerospace Meridan – a much nicer finish, a little more comfortable … and yes, the cocktail table returns.
Sadly, this aircraft had the standard luggage bins – although there wasn’t much of an ask by the staff to ensure there was free space for people.
Menus were handed out during boarding – something I haven’t seen on the shorter Club Europe route for some time.
As the aircraft loaded and the cabin tidied away, the world outside was lighting up, with some glorious sunlight.
A little late, our A320neo pushed back. It was time for the safety demonstration, which the crew carried out manually.
From here, our aircraft had a short – and I mean short – taxi out to the South Runway, where the aircraft would take off towards London.
With ease, the A320neo took to the sky.
See you in a week, London.
After looping north of London, the aircraft started to make tracks over Essex and Suffolk and began its North Sea crossing there.
My body chose to use the white noise of an aircraft to doze for 20 minutes. Just in time for the breakfast service to pass by me. Thankfully, the crew noticed me wake up and came back.
Now, three choices in the air are new to me, but I was happy to go with the Original Full English Breakfast – it’s something that’s pretty hard to mess up in the sky.
The Tray
The full English – Not too bad, if the bacon was a tougher chew…
Fruit
Yoghurt with… I’m still not honestly sure. Gooseberry maybe? Who knows?
And of course, bubbles.
As for the tray itself, I’d rate it as “not bad of all”. Whilst I’m not sure about the yoghurt, everything else was rather delicious. Good to see on a morning flight when food is a priority sometimes, so nailing that catering out of Heathrow is so important.
As usual, British Airways offers free inflight messaging for its customers – which is nice to see. Considering the messaging service does not include images or other content, text messaging is what you get.
It’s pretty simple to access – connect to the hotspot, then sign in with your Executive Club details.
At least there is power at the seat, even if it’s a pain of a place to reach.
For me, with breakfast done and dusted, I closed my eyes and dozed as my body still wanted to sleep.
With the aircraft crossing into Norway and Sweden, I was awake again, nature was giving a lovely display. Who am I to deny a view like this?
With time ticking on, the cabin was tidied down with the aircraft ready for landing, as would soon be on finals for Stockholm Arlanda.
As the A320neo vectored around as it made its approach to Arlanda Airport.
With a bump, the aircraft landed at Stockholm Arlanda.
The aircraft pulled off the runway and began its taxi around Stockholm Arlanda Airport as it sought Terminal 2.
As the aircraft neared Terminal 2, a Braathens Regional Airlines Airbus A320 came into view – as did the terminal area.
With ease, the aircraft docked at the terminal. As usual, there was a bit of a rush to get to the overhead bins and get bags.
I took my time but didn’t hang around.
With the jet bridge attached, I thanked the crew and headed off.
Overall
Club Europe offers the one thing you miss sometimes on European short-haul – space. Whilst the seating is starting to show its age (and the lack of cocktail tables is a little stupid), it’s still a passable product – depending on how much you pay for it.
For me, that payment normally is in points. For those of you who pay cash, there could well be a tier point value added too, which helps in your renewal.
It’s reasonably catered with friendly crew – and that helps for these longer segments when aboard an A320neo.
Next:
Into Stockholm, an Arlanda Express rant and ABBA The Museum.
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