We couldn't check in online so checked in at the machines at the airport and put on our own baggage tag to enable the bag to be whisked away immediately. However, it wouldn't accept the baggage tag that had just been printed and we had put on so we had to queue in the bag drop queue which snaked around 3 times. The lady said our bag hadn't been logged for some reason so she issued a fresh tag and sent it off in the usual way.
Queued for ages to get through passport control but didn't have to wait long to get through the hand baggage scanning area.
Our flight was going from an A gate which was an area I hadn't been to before. It seemed much smaller than the massive B gate area and a lot easier to negotiate your way around. I think the C gates are used for A380s only.
The gate was open early so just waited there for about 20 minutes in the spacious holding area when boarding was called for business/infants etc. We were near the back of the plane and boarded very quickly after. We had the first of the rows that turned from 3 4 3 to 2 3 2 where the plane narrows at the back. The seats have a little more elbow room on the window seat but are slightly misaligned with the seats in front (not big enough though to warrant a cricked neck watching the entertainment). The aisle seat offered lots of space at the side due to the 3rd seat in front, but was often used by someone standing there waiting for others to pass coming in the opposite direction.
We should have taken off at 3.05pm but eventually left at 4.30pm. There was no announcement why, so we were just left sitting there. I noticed others had turned their entertainment on and were watching films but we had no headphones and assumed they would be given out after take off. However, it was just that they hadn't been put on our seats. After a while we managed to get some from empty seats around us.
These pairs of seats at the back are great if travelling as a couple as there is no stranger to climb over when going to the toilet. However, if I had known how empty the flight was, I would have booked a row of 3 between the two of us, leaving the middle seat free giving extra room. The majority of the 3s at the back had the middle seat empty as did the 4s in the middle, only having the aisle seats taken.
A disorganised meal service started with staff starting at the front of rear cabin but then another FA taking stuff from the trolley and handing it to the passengers at the back. This resulted in trays of food with no hot meal on it for ages and when the hot food did arrive, they started offering tea/coffee which is usually served after the meal. This came round before the wine offering - again as mentioned above very disorganised.
Close to the end of the flight afternoon tea was offered with a couple of small sandwiches which were nice and a hot scone.
We managed to make up 30 minutes and landed just 1 hour late. Considering we were at the back of the plane, we managed to get off reasonably fast and a quick hike to immigration to beat the Alicante flight that had just landed. Iris has been fully removed from BHX unlike LHR where it's still in use so waited in a fairly long line to have our passports checked. The queue moved quickly and the business class and crew bags were on the baggage belt and ours followed swiftly after.
Our lift home was waiting and we were shocked that the weather had been so good whilst we were away which is typical when we leave the country and of course now, we've come back to rain and cooler temps in the UK. Oh well, at least we had 32 degrees whilst away with a nice breeze to cool things down a little. Nowadays, I always advise friends to book a holiday in the UK whenever we go abroad, as it usually ends up being really sunny when we leave the country
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