Check in was quiet (about an hour prior to departure) and apart from the check in agent struggling with the Diamond Club cards, was reasonably quick.
Up to security where there was a short queue which was caused primarily by a passenger having to remove her cat from it's carrier and have it manually checked!! Have to say it was incredibly well behaved and quite happy to sit while a wand was run over it.Through security, and after a quick wander in the duty free we wandered down to the gate area we would be leaving from.The airport is supposed to be totally non- smoking but the reality is that this is blatantly ignored (mainly by Brits),and the lower end of the departure terminal is blanketed in smoke[V][V].Anyway, we moved to some seats further back up the terminal and once the flight was called we walked down to the gate for boarding.
The passengers again seemed to be the same mix as those on the TOM flight on the way out (although the hen parties seemed to be a little more subdued going home), and the flight was almost full.As I'm on an economy drive I hadn't paid extra for pre-reserved seating,however we'd been allocated three seats across the aisle on the little 737 that would be bringing us home. I have to say that the aircraft looked like it could do with a good deep clean - the cloth seats were particularly dirty and the seat backs had ingrained dirt.The cabin crew looked a bit scruffy too, but delivered the service in the cabin (including the safety briefing) efficiently enough (1.80 for a coffee which was marginally more expensive than TOM).No visual entertainment on offer so back to the ipod and my book and we touched down in Cardiff about 15 mins early.Exit from the aircraft was swift and we were in the baggage hall within 5 minutes as immigration was fully staffed (no chance of IRIS coming here apparently[:D]).Bags took ages to arrive (I never know why as the plane is usually no more than a few feet away outside)but when the belt started up they were amongst the first few out. Mr DL retrieved the car from the long stay car park and we were soon on our way home.
TOM or WW?? (Charter vs LCC).Given the choice for flights on the same day I'd have to say TOM.Overall better service and comfort.Price wise there was nothing in it - the TOM flight outbound at 7am was much the same price as the late afternoon flight on WW (that is usually late departing and arriving).
DL
