BRU-LCY-BRU with VLM Airlines, 11-12 Oct 2006

Post by **sn26567** » 13 Oct 2006, 15:23

Louise (Comet) did tell so many good things about VLM that I also wanted to try the airline on Brussels-London and back, especially since I got such a good fare (EUR 121 return, vs. EUR 360 on Eurostar first class, the other business option I got from my company).

On 11 October I was thus ready at Brussels Airport to board a flight to London City for the first time in my life.

Date: 11 October 2006
Flight: VG 157
Aeroplane: Fokker 50 OO-VLR "City of Brussels"
Seat: 09A
Departure time (scheduled/actual): 17:05/17:10
Arrival time (scheduled/actual): 17:05/18:05

Boarding at gate B17 started a few minutes before the scheduled departure time. The load factor was about 60%, which meant that I had to share my row with a business-lady (by the way most travellers were there for business). Announcement were made in Dutch, English and French (in that order). The crew was almost entirely female (only the captain was male; the copilot and the two stewardesses were women). Departure was slightly delayed for air traffic reasons.

Once in the air a meal was served: a choice of sandwiches and a chocolate muffin. I took only the muffin, as I has a business cocktail and dinner later that night. A 33 cl Stella Artois can helped wash it down (that is 8 cl more than on SN!). And finally a Leonidas chocolat, as good as the Neuhaus brand served on SN.

Landing was as impressive as I expected: a sharp descent into the docks and a smooth landing on a short runway, meaning strong braking. As there are no taxiways, the plane hurried back to the terminal at an impressive high speed.

Once in the terminal I had the only disappointment: baggage took ages to arrive. We were only 6 passengers waiting for their bags, but it took some 15 minutes.

The trip to the city was also fast: the Docklands Light Railways automatic train (no driver) takes you to Canning Town in 5-6 minutes, and from there I took a tube to Green Park station (for Piccadilly) on the Jubilee Line. Duration of the whole city trip: 32 minutes.

Date: 12 October 2006
Flight: VG 156
Aeroplane: Fokker 50 OO-VLR "City of Brussels"
Seat: 06A
Departure time (scheduled/actual): 14:30/14:35
Arrival time (scheduled/actual): 16:30/16:45

I was at Green Park Station at 13:05, barely 1 hr 25 min before the departue of my flight. But it was early enough: check-in deadline at LCY is only 15 minutes before departure. I took the underground and the Docklands Railway in the reverse direction. The trip again lasted 32 minutes.

I checked in at 13:40 and had a lot of time to enjoy the sights of the runway along the banks of the Thames, inclusing the landing of the incoming VLM flight. The airport is small, but very fast and convenient, and well stocked with all kinds of restaurants, bars and shops.

Boarding started late: there was a lot of activity at that time, and the fact that there is no taxiway slows down the operations. The plane proceeded to the end of the runway (as fast as with the incoming flight), made a turn around and got ready for departure, and then it went again on the side, apparently to let another plane land. Finally we took off with a 15 minutes delay.

The plane was appropriately named "City of Brussels" for a flight to Brussels. The crew was again consisting of a male pilot, and three women in the other jobs (copilot and stewardesses). Announcement in English, French and Dutch (in that order).

The load factor was less than 50% and this time I had a free seat next to me, in the first row of economy. The five first rows were reserved for one single passenger in business class!

After a sharply ascending path, we soon reached our cruising altitude and various snacks were served. I opted for fresh fruit and coffee. A selection of Leonidas chocolates were presented.

Whether was beautiful and I had magnificents views all the way until the Belgian coast, where the clouds started to dominate the landscape.

Landing was 15 minutes late. Afer a long way from Pier B to the terminal building, I arrived at the luggage carrousel at the same time as my suitcase. No waiting this time!

All in all, a good experience which I am ready to renew. Good job, VLM!

sab319 · Post by **sab319** » 13 Oct 2006, 15:38

nice report, really makes me want to trie out VLM one day

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 14 Oct 2006, 10:46

Thanks for sharing this nice experience with us André. I'd like to go to London City as well one day

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 14 Oct 2006, 11:29

I'd never have thought it - Andre on VLM!!

LCY is normally a fast turnaround, such a long wait for bags is unusual. That approach and dive down into LCY is legendary, I would love to try that again.

I agree about almost all female crews, I have only encountered one steward and that was ANR-LCY. They handed out sweets before take off then.

The food had always been good on VLM, and always seemed very fresh. I hope I get the opportunity to fly with them again and that they will always remain a full service carrier.

Tommypilot · Post by **Tommypilot** » 14 Oct 2006, 13:36

Nice experience and nice report! (it's something else)

VLM is high in my "want to fly with" list too

Nice weekend,

T

Post by **sn26567** » 14 Oct 2006, 15:48

Comet wrote:They handed out sweets before take off then.

They still do. I forgot to tell.

fokker_f27 · Post by **fokker_f27** » 14 Oct 2006, 16:37

Nice report! BRU-LCY is a route that I would like to fly some day. The problem is that to transfer on long-haul you will need to take the underground or the bus to Gatwick or Heathrow.

Sabena_690 · Post by **Sabena_690** » 14 Oct 2006, 16:47

Thank you for compiling this trip report, André!

ANR-LCY-ANR is on my wish list, planning to make this trip next year...

How do you compare the comfort levels of the F50 with the ARJ? I would like to get a general picture of the comfort (from cabin noise levels to the cleanliness, legroom, ...)

I'd also appreciate a comparison with the CRJ, ATR and DHC8 series, if you have flown on any of those aircraft!

Thank you, looking forward to it...

Regards
Frederic

Post by **sn26567** » 15 Oct 2006, 09:57

Thanks to all for your comments.

fokker_f27 wrote:Nice report! BRU-LCY is a route that I would like to fly some day. The problem is that to transfer on long-haul you will need to take the underground or the bus to Gatwick or Heathrow.

True! LCY is not a transfer airport. It is an excellent airport only if you have business in London.

Sabena_690 wrote:How do you compare the comfort levels of the F50 with the ARJ? I would like to get a general picture of the comfort (from cabin noise levels to the cleanliness, legroom, ...)

VLM has nice leather seats in its F50s. Legroom is OK, about he same as the Avro, but width is a little too small (like in an Avro with 6 seats abreast), thus less comfortable than in SN's Avro: I hope SN will never switch from 5 to 6 abreast. The F50 is noisier than the Avro, definitely, but it is still bearable. The VLM planes are very clean despite their age. All in all, comfort is quite acceptable for a short hop, but I would not like to endure an F50 for three hours.

Sabena_690 wrote:I'd also appreciate a comparison with the CRJ, ATR and DHC8 series, if you have flown on any of those aircraft!

I have indeed flown all these aircraft. The ATR seems a little wider than the F50, but comparable with regard to noise. The DHC8 is more modern and the Q400 series are top of your list. The CRJ and the Embraer ERJ have seats as narrow (if not more) than the F50, but as jets with rear engines, they also are quieter.

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 15 Oct 2006, 11:48

LCY, for its size, has better facilities than CDG. The restaurants are good, and one snack area has a view of the runway. The airport is great for spotting as there are seats overlooking the runway and you can get stunning photos from there.

I have found the inflight service (food and drinks) on VLM to be of a higher standard than SNBA. If LCY didn't have strange hours at the weekend we would have flown with VLM at Christmas, as I would love to fly with them again.

ANR is a dump of an airport to fly from. Next time I would use the BRU service.

Sabena_690 · Post by **Sabena_690** » 15 Oct 2006, 16:43

Thank you for your feedback, André!

Regards
Frederic

Post by **sn26567** » 16 Oct 2006, 09:20

Comet wrote:One snack area has a view of the runway. The airport is great for spotting as there are seats overlooking the runway and you can get stunning photos from there.

Indeed. And preferably in the afternoon with the sun in your back. I did go to that area for a short while, but as I was on a short business trip I did not take my camera with me. Pity, because it was an excellent spotting area.

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 16 Oct 2006, 15:34

Next time we go to LCY I will have my digital camera so I can get some good action shots at last, as well as using the video for that spectacular footage of the aircraft taking off in the direction of the terminal.

And you can use LCY as a transfer airport to a certain degree - you can get the VLM service from LPL or MAN and connect onto flights operated by VLM to continental airports. Would be a fun way to do MAN-BRU, or the other way round for people coming from the continent.

It would also be good to take the DLR to LCY rather than the bus from or to Liverpool Street and then the Underground.

Jumbolino · Post by **Jumbolino** » 01 Nov 2006, 17:24

André, nice to read your trip-report, here Contact Air on behalf of LH is doing LCY with an ATR and it's still on my wish list.

By the way if the wish comes true I will post a trip report, which I did not for a long time, not because of no flights but because of no new routes, airlines etc. (well, inauguration flight Contact Air ATR BSL-DUS one year ago would have been worth)

Wish you a nice evening & Greetings from Buederich,
Jumbolino.

Post by **sn26567** » 02 Nov 2006, 09:05

Jumbolino wrote:Contact Air on behalf of LH is doing LCY with an ATR

Indeed I saw this plane in Lufthansa Regional colours in LCY while waiting for my return trip.