We arrived at the airport at 11:30, and soon discovered that we would not be able to check in until two hours before scheduled departure time (17:10, so check in at 15:10 and all that time being lumbered with luggage!) That is the only disadvantage to VLM is the restricted check in time at BRU.
When we eventually did check in, we were allocated seats 11A and 11B, near the back of the aircraft. Finally we could go through into the lounge - that is the shortest spotting time I've had in BRU so there is a serious lack of photos and videos taken before we boarded our plane.
The morning BRU-LCY-BRU flight had been seriously delayed owing to bad conditions at LCY, and we hoped that would not happen to us.
Our flight was to depart from gate B29. It was operated by Fokker 50 OO-VLR appropriately named "City of Brussels" (that name has also been worn by other planes in the VLM fleet, recently by OO-VLQ).
OO-VLR waits for passengers at the gate.
There was a larger crowd waiting for this flight than the one the previous week. Boarding was called at 16:50, and we boarded outside via the aircraft's own steps.
We were greeted by the very pleasant VLM cabin crew, once again consisting of a steward and a stewardess. Someone was sitting in our seat so the steward asked him to move, and then we sat down. Our view was the back of the wheel bay and "Stinker" in the distance.
The view from our seat, with "Stinker" the next aircraft along, a few gates away.
I read a copy of the inflight magazine while we waited to leave. It is mainly business-orientated but has some interesting restaurant write ups inside.
The magazine.
We had the safety demonstration whilst we waited to push back.
The safety card. The advice about beware of the prop is to be heeded, I was brought up to have a very healthy respect for props after my Grandad told me of the damage they could do!
Before push back, the crew handed out sweets, something very rare these days, the last time we saw it was in 2003, also on VLM.
We pushed back at 17:25, after the Captain apologised for the delay owing to heavy traffic - and we saw a good example as we waited to take off, there were loads of planes in front of us. He told us the flight would be expected to last 50 minutes. There was cloud near BRU, but nice weather expected along the route with some light winds.
At 17:41 we took off after various RJs and an Airbus had gone. There was cloud after take off, but we were soon above it.
A view after take off.
Inside the Fokker 50.
The crews on VLM are very efficient, and soon we were offered the choice of a bacon or a cheese sandwich - that is the first time I've had a bacon sandwich on a plane, but it was very good, with tomatoes in as well, and a small pot of rice pudding, a nice chocolate and orange juice to drink. This is what you call good inflight catering, we had not seen much, if any, since 2003!
The bacon sandwich, rice pudding and chocolate.
This accolade is hardly surprising - Regional Airline of the Year 2006 - well done VLM, you deserve it!
There was alot of cloud along the route, but it was clearing by the time we approached England.
Just entering England.
We had some good views as we approached London.
Not too far from London here.
We had a smooth descent, with some hazy weather, but it looked murkier near LCY. The wheel came down at 17:32 and after a relatively gentle drop, we touched down at 17:34. I adore flying at LCY but leaving it is more fun than landing in it, the reverse is true of BRU. We had a superb flight, with a very professional and polite crew. No VLM for us in December but there certainly will be next September!
A very good value experience for £109 return - excellent crews, nice clean planes, good onboard catering which is actually edible and has some choice and variety. Those who prefer to pay double the price for a "low cost" experience do not know what they are missing!
I always kind of wanted to try VLM, but havne't gotten the chance to.
