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Trip report: GRQ-STN/LHR-MUC-NRT v.v.
Hi,
First trip report; after reading (and enjoying) many trip reports I decided to write one myself. This was a three-week vacation from the Netherlands to Japan, flying from London instead of Amsterdam because it was much cheaper (we paid EUR 566 return incl. taxes on Lufthansa, compared to about EUR 900 for the cheapest flights from Amsterdam). We bought the tickets about two months in advance using http://www.ebookers.com/uk. To London we used cheap Ryan Air flights from Groningen (the friend I travelled with left from Eindhoven) in the Netherlands; this ticket cost EUR 51 return incl. taxes, bought through their website. 1) Wednesday 2003-11-05: GRQ-STN on FR8285, schedule 13:05-13:10 Arrived at Eelde airport early using public transport. Checkin was quick, passport control as well. British Aerospace 146 plane with yellow Buzz colours on the outside; no reserved seats so people rush to the plane. Liftoff around 13:10, landing 13:00 (local time) at Stansted airport, uneventful flight which was about 2/3 full. The train to central London, Liverpool Street station, cost GBP 23 return; Ryan Air was selling these train tickets on board for GBP 21 but I didn't carry enough cash to buy one. This flight was rescheduled; the times were 19:05-19:10 when we made the booking. The website said they would e-mail me with these changes, but they only did so after I telephoned them to reconfirm the flight. 2) Saturday 2003-11-08: LHR-MUC on LH4753, schedule 12:10-15:00 After a couple of days in London, we took the Piccadilly underground line to Heathrow airport which took about one hour. Our e-ticket was actually in the computer, and so was the Miles&More frequent flyer number I had received through Lufthansa's website. Checkin and passport control were quick. Boarding from about 12:00; we have seats 23E/F on the last row of the Boeing 737-300. The flight is about half full. We leave the gate about 15 minutes late; the pilot informs us this is because the plane was late on the trip to LHR, and that there are about 8 planes in front of us before we can take off. OK snack, cold meal. Landing in Munich after a bumpy flight, about 15:15 at the gate. There is Lufthansa personnel at the gate with signs directing passengers to the Tokyo flight. 3) Saturday 2003-11-08: MUC-NRT on LH714, schedule 15:40-11:20* Less than 5 minutes at Munich airport, and we're inside the next plane, an Airbus 340-300. We have seats 20A/C, on the very first row of economy class so lots of leg room. Left the gate about 15:40, long taxi and liftoff. The food is OK, two hot meals (dinner/breakfast). I tried to get some sleep but wasn't very successful. Smooth flight over northern Siberia, no empty seats in economy. After 11.5 hours we land at Narita aiport, 11:20 local time; long taxi to terminal 2. There are signs with "quarantine" and "health control" everywhere, and my eyes have been red for a few days (some kind of infection?) but the immigration officer doesn't notice or doesn't care. Our backpacks have arrived with us, so they made the short connection in Munich. 4) Saturday 2003-11-29: NRT-MUC on LH715, schedule 13:00-17:25 Train from Shinjuku station in Tokyo to Narita airport terminal 2; we're in the queue at checkin around 11:15. An announcement informs us that checkin for LH715 will be halted because of a computer problem, but the queue keeps moving (slowly) and our e-tickets can be found. Through the various checks (carryon luggage, metal detector, passport) without problems. 12:30 we can enter the plane, Airbus 343-300 again; we have seats 23A/C but the plane is less than half full so we can both get two seats. Some passengers can even get the 4 centre seats to sleep on. After taxiing we have to wait for other planes to take off and land; we take off at 13:40. Two hot meals again, and quite a few beers on this 12.5-hour flight. Exactly 17:25 in the terminal building. 5) Saturday 2003-11-29: MUC-LHR on LH4764, schedule 19:15-20:25 Into the Airbus 320-200 plane around 18:50; the plane is about half full. Left on time, taxi and liftoff. We get the same snack as on LHR-MUC three weeks ago. The first half of the flight is bumpy but after that it's smooth. Perfect views over cental London as we approach Heathrow from the east. Landing around 20:10, long taxi again. Quick passport control (easy for people from the EU), and underground back to central London after a very long day. 6) Sunday 2003-11-30: STN-GRQ on FR8284, schedule 9:20-11:25 This flight had been rescheduled as well, original times were 16:35-18:40. Bus instead of train at 6:30 from Liverpool Street station because of maintenance work. Checked in my backpack around 7:30. Quick passport check. Into the plane from around 9:00; this time passengers with boarding numbers 1-65 can enter the plane first, I have number 61. The plane is about 3/4 full, Boeing 737-300 this time, again with Buzz colours. Left the gate 9:20; smooth and uneventful flight. After landing they open the door at the back of the plane so I can get off quickly. Passport check is also quick, but then I waited for my luggage... which wasn't there. After all other passengers have left the ground personnel checks with the plane again but no sign of my backpack. Filled in a form and hoped it would turn up soon, which it did after 2 days, delivered to my home. Alard de Boer Groningen, the Netherlands. |
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Trip report: GRQ-STN/LHR-MUC-NRT v.v.
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