Discussion
My weekly commute 
There's a mix of 767s and A320/A319s...7:05 out of EDI is usually the 767 and also the one at 10:35. Problem with the 767 is there just isn't enough locker space - the lockers on the outside don't take wheelie-bags end-on so there's always a struggle as most folks are travelling with wheelie-bags. Plus more often than not they put them on international stands at T5 so its bussed to and from the aircraft. A couple of times on the evening flights they've put on long-haul versions so if you're in the forward cabin you get the lie-flat 'business' seats.
Always choose to sit on the right, as if landing at LHR is to the West (and it is, more often than not) you get a great view of London if its clear. Nothing to see on the left.
There's a mix of 767s and A320/A319s...7:05 out of EDI is usually the 767 and also the one at 10:35. Problem with the 767 is there just isn't enough locker space - the lockers on the outside don't take wheelie-bags end-on so there's always a struggle as most folks are travelling with wheelie-bags. Plus more often than not they put them on international stands at T5 so its bussed to and from the aircraft. A couple of times on the evening flights they've put on long-haul versions so if you're in the forward cabin you get the lie-flat 'business' seats.
Always choose to sit on the right, as if landing at LHR is to the West (and it is, more often than not) you get a great view of London if its clear. Nothing to see on the left.
I got on the BA EDI-LHR in the 90s when they used the 757. Down the jetway and got onboard to momentary confusion at the extra centre seats. Took me a moment to realise it was actually a 767...
More often than not took one of the flight-deck jumpseats; BA were always good at granting that pre-9/11. In fact I'm such an old-git I can remember going to London on Tridents and B-Cal 1-11s.
More often than not took one of the flight-deck jumpseats; BA were always good at granting that pre-9/11. In fact I'm such an old-git I can remember going to London on Tridents and B-Cal 1-11s.
I also remember 3-course meals plus 2 chocolates to finish on the EDI-LHR route. First to go were the chocolates. Then is was starter/main or main/sweet. Then it was main course only. Then is was a sandwich. Now its sod-all apart from a bag of nibbles or a cookie...although in fairness there's still a breakfast. And although still BA, the breakfasts on the EDI-LGW flights are a bit better than the EDI-LHR flights. Must be different manufacturers as one's got a plastic film lid and the other has the old-style tinfoil.
I switched to BMI when the BA meal-service started to get cut back and much preferred 'Diamond Service', but gone now sadly.
Been commuting EDI-LHR for 30-odd years, so also started in the era of 3-engined planes. I recall boarding up the back steps that came straight out between the engines under the tail.
It also used to be that at Edi each airline had its own x-ray security. BMI used to be great as it was at the far left of the terminal beside what was then a small car-park. You could zip into the car park 1/2 an hour before the flight left and always get a space as most folks parked in the main car-park - in the side-door (which would now be the customs area in international arrivals I guess) and the check-in desks were right there. Show ticket and walk behind the desks and there was a single x-ray machine (for BMI only, and never queue), then up stairs and straight on to the flight. And of you missed it, you just got the next one - no problemos.
Except one time I remember being just ahead of Tam Dalyell and was told I'd just missed it. Fair enough, it was maybe just 10-minutes before departure and I'd get the next one. Sure you could see the plane at the gate (as there was a window behind the check-in), but pretty obvious boarding was over. Then Dalyell starts ranting and raving with the 'do you know who I am' pitch. Poor lass was trying to explain boarding was complete and the passenger list was finalised but he was having none of it. More ranting of 'I an see the plane, it's still there' etc. Eventually she caved in and they held the plane back for the selfish git. No-one else who was similarly late and just accepted it got on, just Dalyell. Whatever respect I might have had (namely not much) instantly lost. t
t.
Also sat beside John Smith, and he was an armrest-hogger - not content to share, insisted on pushing my arm off. Also sat beside Rob Brown, who spent the entire flight with every newspaper published that morning skim-reading them and cutting out articles where he got a mention. Yes, he had a pair of scissors, but that was OK then. Politicians - don't you love them. Never had a celeb of any sort in the next set though.
And as mentioned above, it use to be possible to blag the jump-seat in the cockpit. One night coming back from LHR in the winter we were getting dreadfully delayed waiting on de-icing. A couple of hours in the captian (who seemed a cheery sort) came on the intercom and suggested community singing. That went down like a lead balloon. He then decided to hold a sweepie as to who could guess the take-off weight closest could get to ride in the cockpit for the first half of the flight, and whoever guess closest to the landing weight could sit up-front for landing. Figures were written on business cards and scraps of paper and collected by the cabin crew and handed in to the flight deck. I had a 911 at the time, and with a bit of cheating looking up the plane stats in the in-flight rag guessed it had to be 60-80 tonnes ish, so went for 69.11 tonnes - which got me a ride in the jump-seat from push-back until the midlands. OK, a mundane experience for pilot types, but quite an experience for a Joe Public passenger.
I switched to BMI when the BA meal-service started to get cut back and much preferred 'Diamond Service', but gone now sadly.
Been commuting EDI-LHR for 30-odd years, so also started in the era of 3-engined planes. I recall boarding up the back steps that came straight out between the engines under the tail.
It also used to be that at Edi each airline had its own x-ray security. BMI used to be great as it was at the far left of the terminal beside what was then a small car-park. You could zip into the car park 1/2 an hour before the flight left and always get a space as most folks parked in the main car-park - in the side-door (which would now be the customs area in international arrivals I guess) and the check-in desks were right there. Show ticket and walk behind the desks and there was a single x-ray machine (for BMI only, and never queue), then up stairs and straight on to the flight. And of you missed it, you just got the next one - no problemos.
Except one time I remember being just ahead of Tam Dalyell and was told I'd just missed it. Fair enough, it was maybe just 10-minutes before departure and I'd get the next one. Sure you could see the plane at the gate (as there was a window behind the check-in), but pretty obvious boarding was over. Then Dalyell starts ranting and raving with the 'do you know who I am' pitch. Poor lass was trying to explain boarding was complete and the passenger list was finalised but he was having none of it. More ranting of 'I an see the plane, it's still there' etc. Eventually she caved in and they held the plane back for the selfish git. No-one else who was similarly late and just accepted it got on, just Dalyell. Whatever respect I might have had (namely not much) instantly lost. t
t.Also sat beside John Smith, and he was an armrest-hogger - not content to share, insisted on pushing my arm off. Also sat beside Rob Brown, who spent the entire flight with every newspaper published that morning skim-reading them and cutting out articles where he got a mention. Yes, he had a pair of scissors, but that was OK then. Politicians - don't you love them. Never had a celeb of any sort in the next set though.
And as mentioned above, it use to be possible to blag the jump-seat in the cockpit. One night coming back from LHR in the winter we were getting dreadfully delayed waiting on de-icing. A couple of hours in the captian (who seemed a cheery sort) came on the intercom and suggested community singing. That went down like a lead balloon. He then decided to hold a sweepie as to who could guess the take-off weight closest could get to ride in the cockpit for the first half of the flight, and whoever guess closest to the landing weight could sit up-front for landing. Figures were written on business cards and scraps of paper and collected by the cabin crew and handed in to the flight deck. I had a 911 at the time, and with a bit of cheating looking up the plane stats in the in-flight rag guessed it had to be 60-80 tonnes ish, so went for 69.11 tonnes - which got me a ride in the jump-seat from push-back until the midlands. OK, a mundane experience for pilot types, but quite an experience for a Joe Public passenger.
Yes, BA used to guarantee that they'd lay on an extra jet if even one pre-booked passenger required it IIRC.
Years ago my Old Man was on an internal business flight in Scotland, and found himself the only passenger on a Bandeirante turboprop one evening. The hostie asked him if he'd like a drink; Dad replied 'only if you have one yourself'. She said she'd have to check it was OK with her husband first; he was flying the aeroplane...
Air Ecosse, back in the 70s or 80s I think.
Years ago my Old Man was on an internal business flight in Scotland, and found himself the only passenger on a Bandeirante turboprop one evening. The hostie asked him if he'd like a drink; Dad replied 'only if you have one yourself'. She said she'd have to check it was OK with her husband first; he was flying the aeroplane...
Air Ecosse, back in the 70s or 80s I think.
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