I'm known for detailed TR's so usual appologies for length[:I]
For those that haven't tried City Airport - id say try it!!
theres only a 15-20 min checkin requirement! and if like me you live in the eastend you literally can wake up leave and be airbourne within 1hr!![:D]
City Airport used to be a pain to get to but is now served by a new DLR Link so you can get there far easier than before (22 MINS from Bank Station)
As this was my first City experience I decided to get there a bit early and arrived 45 min before departure time.
Checkin was immediate as there was no queue - I'm a wheelchair user so called the airline a few weeks earlier to let them know id need assistance boarding but these notes weren't on the system. This did annoy be a bit as whats the point in giving advance warning if it doesnt make it to the airport!![:(!] - The agent was very good and sorted everything out though!![:)]
Bizzairely I got 2 boarding cards she said I'll check you in for the return too so you wont have to bother tomorrow!! - Cool [8D]
So security was a breeze and within 5 mins im in the departure lounge.
It was now 10:25 so just over half an hr before wheels up and the flight isnt boarding (I found this strange as even on short euro flight you board at least 45 mins in advance!)
So I chill out - the departure lounge is a nice place it has a bar a few shops a resturant and is very cosy.
at 10:50 -im preboarded! they have this cool step climber chair to assist in boarding and the whole process was easier than i imagined
so Im sat in 05A and 5 mins later other pax board!
so 10:58 all pax boarded and engines start! we taxi a short distance to the runway and are airbourne 18 seconds later!
The aircraft was a Fockker 50 - which as the name suggests holds 50 pax this flight was about 2/3rds full.
VLM has 15 of these and i was very impressed by their performance
I flew in the city of manchester (OO-VLW) appropriately named given the destination!
the flight itself was about 45 mins and in flight service consisted of refreshments and a small sandwich (cheese and pickle)
The in flight magazine was a good read as it contained mini city guides of all their destinations.
We landed and I was in a taxi 10 mins later!! this city hopping is the way to go - I was amazed how quickly one can hop between these two great cities!!
Anyway I had a good time in manchester (I stayed at the Ibis in Charles St - good value @39.00 internet rate)
The next morning came quickly and the taxidriver was 15 mins early (I'd arranged a pickup from the same driver as the day before)
Traffic was light and i was at departures @08:35!! I didn't need to checkin as I already had a boarding card - I had an 1.5 hr wait (note to self sleep in next time![|)][|)])
The flight itself boarded at 09:50 - although take off was delayed due to a missing pax
The cloud base was a lot higher than london the day before so I was able to see much of the ground on this leg
A sausage sandwich and an easter chocolate were served - along with beverages
Another reason to fly into LCY is the approach into London is fantastic you get to see all the sights (I spotted the Albert Hall Parliment my office[:0] the gerkin etc)
We landed about 10 mins late and it took only 5 mins to get off the plane and landside!!
They were filming Eastenders in the terminal at the time, I even met Ross Kemp - the episode airs 9th June if there are any enders fans out there - im not a regular viewer so couldn't reveal any plotlines!
My Edinburgh flight in Aug will definately be from LCY - Its definately the airport of choice if your a londoner (well maybe not a west londoner!!)
Anyway thanks for reading!!
