Hello!
Three weeks ago, I went on a short holiday to El Gouna, Egypt and as I am an aviation enthusiast (and aerospace MSc. student) I made the following trip report. It’s my first time, so I hope you’ll like it.
The 4 nights lasting holiday was already planned several months ago. It was planned just after the ordinary Belgian autumn holidays. We booked our journey to the Steigenberger El Gouna golf resort through the Belgian touroperator Pegase, the premium division of Thomas Cook Belgium. The Pegase service includes several additional benefits which will become clear later in this report. Booking was finalised through our travel agency. As we were “early bookers” we also received a special gift (a leather “toilet bag” of Scapa).
This report includes both the inbound (BRU-HRG) and outbound leg (HRG-BRU).
07-nov-2011
BRU-HRG
FQ 7286 (Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium)
Airbus A320-214 OO-TCH
Seat: 4D
Load factor: 27 P (Premium) + 153 Y (Economy) (100%)
Cruise altitude: varying between 33,000 and 35,000 ft
Route (approximately): Brussels (rwy 20) – Liege – Stuttgart – Austria – Venice – Brindisi – Corfu – Zakynthos – Chania – Mersa Matruh – Cairo – Hurghada (rwy 34)
STD / ATD: 07:05 / 07:50 (UTC+0100)
STA / ATA: 12:50 / 13:24 (UTC+0200)
At approximately 04:30 we arrived at Brussels airport and proceeded straight away to the “new” check-in area at check-in rows 11, 12 and 14. This area is actually located in the old terminal and is mainly used by the two main holiday airlines at Brussels, Jetairfly and Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium. As there were seven FQ flights planned for departure this early morning, check-in was organised for all flights together at 12 desks. There were actually no queues, and as we were travelling in Premium Class, we were able to directly use the dedicated desk. Check-in went fast and bags were labeled as priority luggage. Seat selection is not available at the desk. Passengers get this opportunity, although not free, some days in advance through the website. We had not taken this opportunity, but as premium pax we were seated in front of the cabin, seats 4 D/E/F. We also went to the desk of our touroperator Pegase/Thomas Cook where we got a free newspaper (“Het Nieuwsblad op Zondag”)
The "new" check-in zone
As you can see, almost all flights planned for departure were holiday flights, except for the BA flight to LHR and a special JAF charter to AMM. The VIM flight operated on behalf of Thomas Cook. At this time of the day, there are especially (long haul) arrivals.
We directly proceeded to terminal B, which is used for the non-schengen flights from Brussels Airport. After passing passport control one arrives in the duty free shopping area. Only the main shops were open yet. After the shopping area the security control is located. We had an access barcode for the fast lane. Although it would have been opened yet according to the opening hours, it was closed. Probably due to the low amount of passengers currently passing through security. Without waiting we could pass the ordinary security control.
Pegase offers its clients also the opportunity to go the lounges at Brussels Airport. It makes use of the (quite basic) Diamond Lounge. The lounge had just opened, so we went waiting over there. For the first half hour only drinks were available, thereafter a basic continental breakfast (self-service) was offered. This consisted of croissants, chocolate breads and cornflakes.
Boarding was announced on time. However, passengers were waiting for quite some time just in the jetway. We thus stayed in the waiting area and boarded as last. Onboard we were correctly greeted by the cabin crew. Today’s flight was performed by four female Belgian cabin crew members.
Because of the slow boarding process we actually missed our slot and we thus needed to wait an extra 10 minutes due to an ATC restriction (according to the pilot because of the airshow in SSH).
We departed from runway 20. Nice feature was the nose camera which was effective during taxi and take-off. It was the first time I saw this on a FQ flight (now having flown 4 of their aircraft).
Shortly after take-off the inflight service began. In premium class passengers were offered free head phones (for sale in economy) as well as digeplayers (for sale). Also a refreshing towel was given in premium. Despite it was only morning, premium passengers were offered a glass of Champagne (Heidsieck Monopole Brut), orange juice or water.
Shortly after, the meals were distributed. All passengers on Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium flights are offered a meal and a 1 free drink. In premium class the meal is of a higher level and unlimited free bar service is available. The meal was a classic breakfast consisting of fruit, muesli, yoghurt, cheese, jam and little warm breads. Note that the cutlery was not made from plastic, quite uncommon for these types of flights, I think.
After this meal service additional snacks are offered (not free of charge, except for the little candy just before landing).
The inflight entertainment consisted of some LCD screens throughout the cabin showing a movie (Toothfairy), some candid camera shoots or the ordinary flight information map.
During the flight the first officer gave a lot of extra (technical) information about the flight, like the take-off weight of 76 tonnes, the flight distance of 3,800 km and the take-off speed of 290 km/h.
Lastly, Egyptian embarkation cards were distributed and the cabin crew came by with the usual duty free shopping products.
After a flight time of about 4h30 we reached Hurghada. Coming from the North-East, but landing via the south, we need to pass the airport first, over flying the Red Sea coast and making a sharp turn above the new development Sahl Hasheesh.
After landing we taxied to our stand, positioned on the first row in front of the departures area. Behind us, two Air Berlin A330s were positioned. Actually, Hurghada Airport was very busy at the moment.
Transfer from the airplane to the terminal is always conducted through busses at HRG (stairs available both in the front and in the back of the airplane). They drive you to the arrival zone, which is, despite the large renovation works at HRG, is quite small and always very busy. First you need to get a visa at the local agent of your touroperator (Nowadays, most Belgian touroperators already include it in your package holiday, so you only need to give a voucher to them), then you need to pass passport control and finally a last fast visa check is conducted. These last three operations take quite some time! When arriving at the luggage reclaim area most of the luggage of our flight (and certainly our priority luggage) was already OFF the belt.
Once outside, a large parking area is to be found, where most passengers basically try to find there touroperators and corresponding transfer to the hotels.
***
We stayed four nights at the Steigenberger Golf Resort in sunny El Gouna. El Gouna is one of the first large tourism projects in Hurghada (and probably the entire Red Sea coast), owned by Orascom. It is located north of Hurghada (30 minutes transfer). We came here more than 10 years ago for the first time, when it was still quite untouched with only one hotel (Mövenpick) and some villas. Now the original project is finished (three five star hotels: Mövenpick, Sheraton and Steigenberger and other four stars hotels like Club Med and The Three Corners; together with a lot of facilities like a golf, marina, small airport and even a modern hospital). An extension is planned with a.o. three six star hotels (1 will be run by Four Seasons).
***
11-nov-2011
HRG-BRU
FQ 4673 (Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium)
Airbus A320-214 OO-TCJ
Seat: 3C
Load factor: 20 P (Premium) + 137 Y (Economy) (87%)
Cruise altitude: varying between 34,000 and 36,000 ft
Route (approximately): Hurghada (rwy 34) – Creta – Thessaloniki – Skopje – Liege – Brussels (rwy 20)
STD / ATD: 13:55 / 15:10 (UTC+0200)
STA / ATA runway / ATA gate: 18:10 / 19:32 / 19:36 (UTC+0100)
After a short but relaxing stay in the Steigenberger it was time to return home. We departed at approximately 11 o’clock at the hotel and headed straight away to the airport. Before departure I checked on the website of Brussels Airport when it had departed… about 1 hour later than planned.
On arrival we were surprised by the bustle present at the airport. On first instance you couldn’t even enter the terminal! That’s mainly because your luggage needs to be screened before entering the check-in zone. Luckily once we wanted to enter they decided to let some passengers (we) queue at the crew security control. It went not that fast and the level of the screening is questionable (I will address to that later on).
After the first screening we proceeded to the check-in desk. There was only one desk dedicated to our flight (so no dedicated premium desk, although this is sometimes the case at HRG… probably there were no desks left anymore due to all the departing flights scheduled at that moment). Luckily there were no passengers at the desk next to us (of a flight to Malmö) and that desk helped doing the check-in for our flight. Each desk was manned by two persons. Our ‘second’ person was female (not that many Egyptian female employees at HRG, except at the perfumes division of the duty free shop). She gave us our disembarkation cards. Fortunately our boarding card mentioned “VIP”, with seats on row 3.
After passing passport control (long queue), we needed to pass a security screening… again. This time I beeped (despite the fact that I hadn’t beeped at the terminal entrance). The frisking was very basic and if you are a woman, then you wouldn’t even have to pass the search (as there are no female security officers at HRG). Very questionable…
The departures area of HRG looks quite modern with a nice view on the tarmac and runway. Despite the fact that it was extended (with two or three additional gates) since previous year, it was difficult to find some empty seats. Only point of discussion is the toilets, which are not good maintained. And although they have put a large board in front of the toilets with “no tips”, toilet “cleaning” personnel tries to get tips in return for toilet paper…
Nothing mentioned the delay of our aircraft, despite the fact that the delay of the JAF flight to Brussels (departing at almost the same time, but making an intermediate stop in Cairo) was correctly mentioned way in advance.
While we were waiting, a Transaero 747 came in from Moscow. I think they send a 747 on daily basis.
Boarding started a bit chaotic, as our gate was assigned to a flight to Moscow, but boarding was opened to Brussels. First they changed the information board to a third flight… but eventually they announced a gate change for the Moscow flight and the information board was adapted to Brussels.
We were bussed to our stand (this time at the second row in front of the terminal) and boarded through the front door. We were greeted by the purser. Today’s crew consisted of three female cabin crew members (1 purser) and one male, as well as the two male pilots. The entire crew was Belgian.
The cabin looked clean. Seats were nice and leg room was acceptable!
Although boarding was already completed, the first officer went outside, for a short visual inspection I presume.
After some time, the doors were closed and we could start our taxi to the runway. A manual safety demonstration was given in the mean time (in Dutch and French; I like it that they still do a manual safety demonstration although all the FQ aircraft have displays in the cabin). Having reached runway 34, we still needed to pass two landing aircraft. After take-off (North direction), we headed in Eastern direction until we reached the Nile, where we turned to the North again.
Inflight service was quite identical to the previous flight. First they came by with the digeplayers. This time we didn’t get a free headphone. FQ apparently assumes (and that’s probably right for 99% of the passengers) that all passengers are return passengers, still having the headphone from the previous flight.
First we were offered a (little) glass of champagne (again Heidsieck Monopole). Thereafter, the meal service followed. In premium class the meals (except for breakfast like the previous flight) are designed by the Belgian chef Wout Bru. Having almost only used holiday flights in my life, this was without any doubt the best inflight meal I’ve tasted until now. Inflight it was not always clear what you actually were eating, but luckily the FQ website specifies the menu in detail. This menu is changed twice a year (also changes between inbound/outbound flight). We got the following:
Starter: Fried chicken breast on a bed of parmesan potato cubes with chorizo dressing
Main dish: Fried cod with white butter sauce and roasted onions on a bed of risotto
Dessert: Dark fudge brownie covered with white chocolate mousse and a nut crumble
As complimentary drink, I took a little bottle of white wine (first one is free). It was an ordinary but good tasting Pays d’Oc called Domaine Peirière. Extra non alcoholic drinks were offered throughout the flight.
During the flight we also got a Flemish newspaper (Het Nieuwsblad). Although I’m not sure, I think it were just the newspapers that the passengers from Brussels had left onboard. Only one newspaper per family was distributed.
By the way, most passengers in premium were duos; they all had 3 seats for 2, which is probably a standard action of FQ when load factor permits. We were travelling with 3 persons, so were not that lucky.
Due to the strong headwinds we had no chance of catching up with our delay. It caused also a period of some turbulence (with fastened seatbelts request).
Approach was also quite unusual. I’ve checked it later on Casper (ADS-B) to tell you all the details: we arrived over Liege (still usual), went into holding between Hasselt and Sint-Truiden at approximately 7000 ft (10 minutes holding was announced by the captain, but the ADS-B shows that we actually have made only 1 small turn… it felt like much more though). We then proceeded in the direction of Antwerp, where we turned back to get in line with the direction of runway 20.
Funny, no applause upon landing (which is almost standard on holiday flights as these), although the landing was very smooth (in big contrast with the much less pleasant approach). People were still shocked by the approach.
We taxied to terminal B, receiving a gate at the very end, meaning a long walk for us to the baggage reclaim area.
For the first time I saw queues at the passport control at BRU, but thanks to the ‘EU passport only’ desks, it went very fast.
To conclude:
When booking a holiday package you basically do not have a choice on your carrier, but FQ offers good value for money. The Premium Service offered by Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium is a nice optional package!
Note that Premium Class can also be booked separately. For flights to Egypt it will cost you 35 euro (per leg) extra. However, I don’t think this includes the lounge access and security fast lane at Brussels Airport.
