BRU - LEI - BRU with TUI Airlines Belgium

Zorba · Post by **Zorba** » 06 Aug 2004, 00:04

Here is my report of our flight to/from Almeria. Hope you enjoy it! * Sorry for the quality of sky pictures, but I had a very dirty window

*

July 29th : Got up at around 9 AM. Visited the BIAC website too see if there was any delay on our TUB 6485 flight from Brussels to Almeria. I was quite nervous because I realy hoped we got the 738 ... too bad, there was a Boeing 737-400 planned, I know it would be Futura too operate.

So we got our tickets at the TUI desk at BRU, together with a bag and the newspaper (nice

)

After we checked in, my dad already reserved our seats at the emergency exits, and was confirmed by the nice lady

Picture of the check in screen : http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 98copy.jpg

As you can see the departure time was planned 13:15, but due of some reason the flight was delayed with a half hour (so 13:45).
Nothing too do in the meanwhile, bought a pizza at the Pizza Hut, and after that we went too the gate.

I always ask the captain if I can fallow the flight in the cockpit, but due of the Futura plane I knew it wasn't possible (Spanish pilotens

), I saw some Sabena Technicks guys in the cockpit of our plane and I heared of the lady at the gate there was a Fuel Indicator problem. Nothing bad realy, we boared and were ready for push back at 13:45.

A few pictures during the push :

- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 17copy.jpg
- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 21copy.jpg
- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 23copy.jpg

During engine start the cabin crew (which was Belgian all the way !) did the Security Procedure and gave us a nice welcome. We taxied to runway 07R, when I noticed this : http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 27copy.jpg 8O

Some pictures during take off :

- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 28copy.jpg
- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 30copy.jpg
- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 31copy.jpg

We cruised at FL330 and received this meal :

- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 33copy.jpg

And then we flew over the Pyrénees and from there untill Almeria we got nothing but turbulence ... wonderful!

We landed safe at Almeria Airport and I did a quick visit too the Flight Deck :

- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 51copy.jpg

Not going too give my "What I did in Almeria" report here, if anyone is interested, please contact me (will make that report tomorrow)

* EDIT* The general report can be found here http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/Almeria/

August 5th :
So a few hours ago we left our Hotel for the Almeria Airport for our flight back, note that Almeria is a very smal Airport with only 5 gates for big airplanes, other for Military and Private planes.

We checked in around 15h (just a guess) and after that we drank something and went too gate 5 for a 2h50' flight back. There is a great terras at the Airport, I wonder why, you don't get any traffuic there, BRU can learn something about that!

And, surprise surprise, we got exact the same plane as we got on the BRU - LEI flight, which was EC-GNZ.

So at 16:15 the gate was open and we could enter the plane. It realy wasn't a gate, just a quick walk over the tarmac where I gave a big wave too the Captain and he waved back, too bad I was too late with my picture, here are 2 pictures while boarding :

- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 91copy.jpg
- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 92copy.jpg

Almeria has this large runway, we taxied too runway 26 for a immediate take off (not such a big surprise with the kind of traffic they have at LEI)

We had a nice flight, this time at FL 340. We got this meal :

- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 95copy.jpg

After a 02 landing at BRU, we taxied too gate A61, and again a visit too the cockpit, the captain and his First Officer where the best! Note the captain did a "light test" for me

- http://users.telenet.be/rutger25/TUB648 ... 98copy.jpg

So, I hope you guys didn't missed me in this 7 days (probably you didn't knew I was gone

)

A big thanks goes out too the great Belgian TUB crew and their Futura collegues (the pilots), I hope the next time I can fly the TUB planes instead of the Futura ones

So, I hoped you enjoyed my report, I know it is quite long, but I hope I made the best of it!

Kind Regards,
Rutger 8)

Post by **sn26567** » 06 Aug 2004, 09:23

Very nice report, Rutger. I enjoyed reading it and looking at your pics.

sab319 · Post by **sab319** » 06 Aug 2004, 10:49

Well TUB/Futura doesn't seam to be bad.
Of course you can't compare them to Cyprus Airways...

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 06 Aug 2004, 11:21

Thanks for this very nice report Rutger. I really like your pictures !!!!

BTW haven't you seen me at the Pizza Hut at the airport on July 29 ??? I went eating there in my lunch time that particular day.

Greetz
Chris
8)

Zorba · Post by **Zorba** » 06 Aug 2004, 13:07

Thanks for the comments

@ Sab319 : Futura itself wasn't so bad, probably beacause of the Belgian crew, but I think I enjoyed my flight much more when I flew with TUB planes.

@ Chris : I don't think I saw you at the Pizza Hut, too bad

But it's another reason too meet again sometimes

Kind Regards,
Rutger

killerwhale65 · Post by **killerwhale65** » 06 Aug 2004, 13:42

Hi Rutger, and a big welcome back in our hot and sunny Belgium

Very interesting report with very nice pics!

Thanks alot ... and i'm awaiting a "What I did in Almeria"report 8) 8)

Zorba · Post by **Zorba** » 06 Aug 2004, 15:23

Matthias :

Thanks mate!

The Almeria report is ready for download at http://users.telenet.be/rutger25 "What did I do in Almeria".

Kind Regards,
Rutger

Jense · Post by **Jense** » 06 Aug 2004, 22:52

Very nice report, Rutger!

Too bad it wasn't a plane of TUI AB itselves you flew on, I think they're quite nice to fly. Sometimes you need to get that little bit luck...

greettzzz

Fuji-Monster · Post by **Fuji-Monster** » 07 Aug 2004, 00:56

@ Airbus_fan

Will you be changing your name to "Futura-fan" ?
or even "Boeing_fan" ?

Greetings

Jumbolino · Post by **Jumbolino** » 07 Aug 2004, 12:37

Hi Rutger, very nice report and nice pic's - also food looks good - was it tasty also ?
and onto your homepage the comments about good and bad tapas bars I enjoyed reading

Zorba · Post by **Zorba** » 07 Aug 2004, 13:07

Jumbolino :

Thanks, the food was quite nice (however I didn't like the "American Salad").

I forgot to mention : on the flight back there was no coca cola anymore ... just a detail, but there were just 8 passengers left (including me) who got no coke, not that bad.

I hope my general report is nice, but we didn't do that much, made the best of it

Regards,
Rutger

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 07 Aug 2004, 18:28

Good report and photos Rutger. The diary of what you did was interesting, and I loved your photos, especially the chameleon in the zoo!