BA2584 LGW-VRN 20 NOV 11 (EURO TRAVELLER)
Posted: 25 Nov 2011, 13:54
Everything started fine - train from London Bridge to Gatwick, shuttle to N Terminal, quickly through Security and then to the No1 Lounge (free entry with our Barclays Bank account/Airport Angels). Had a leisurely breakfast, and then a very faint warning bell rang when against our flight came the ominous 'Please wait'.
However, boarding took place only about 10 minutes behind schedule. I'd managed to get the two of us in the row behind Club Europe - you get the same extra legroom and width as Club.
Took off a little late and then served with a drink and a small pack of nuts. I'm sure we at least got a roll on our last European flight.
Another warning bell should have sounded when the 1st officer said that due to fog at Venice, the plane would be landing itself. Later we heard that we'd be in a holding pattern as visibility was below the limit allowed. Then came the welcome announcement 'Cabin crew please take your seats for landing.'
15 minutes later we clearly were nowhere near landing - the captain came on to say the landing lights had failed at Venice and we were diverting to Verona, where we landed about 30 minutes later.
As you might imagine there was a little confusion once on the ground, but within an hour coaches turned up and we were at Venice Airport an hour and a half later.
On the bus in to Venice from the airport were a group of students who should have been on the return of our flight - they were having to overnight in an hotel. I wonder if it's BA or the airport who pick up the bill if the cause was the landing lights failure?
So I think given the problems, BA handled this as well as anyone could be expected to, although I understand cancellations due to fog are not that uncommon at Venice.
Sounds like most things were handled well by BA 
Great job on snaffling those seats 