Flight: JetairFly JAF/TB 7007 BRU-AQJ (Brussels-Aqaba, Jordan)
Date: 22 JAN 2012
Aircraft: Boeing 737-700/winglets reg. OO-JAR
Seat: 19F (window, just behind the wing)
Scheduled/Effective Time of Departure: 09:00/09:18 (GMT + 1)
Scheduled/Effective Time of Arrival: 15:20/14:49 (GMT + 2)
Scheduled/Effective Duration of the flight: 5 hrs 20 min / 4 hrs 31 min
I arrived at the airport two hours and a quarter before departure. I went first to the Jetair desk, where I got a free newspaper, than to the only check-in desk (12.6) devoted to regular passengers, where I arrived in the middle of the crowd (there was one other desk for the few VIP passengers). The FlightCare check-in lady arrived exactly at 07:00, when the queue was huge. It took until 07:30 before it was my turn. I got my boarding pass and proceeded to the DeliFrance of the departure hall to have a nice breakfast (two Viennese pastries, an orange juice and a cappuccino) for just 8.50 euros (the Jetair breakfast for 9 euros was not better!).
After that, a short queue at the passport control, followed by another huge queue at the baggage control and metal detector. After the usual ring due to my metal prosthesis, I was examined by a friendly controller who understood my situation (unlike the guy in Vienna on 4 December last!). With all these queues I understand better why passengers must be at the airport 2 hours in advance for a charter flight.
The plane was to leave from Terminal B, but at that time of the day there are no gates available: they are all occupied by the long-haul aircraft. My gate was B93, good for a bus ride. I was in the plane (parked in front of the DHL building) at 08:45, but we had to wait until 09:18 before all passengers were on board and the baggage loaded.
The plane looked quite new and fresh. The three stewardesses were very friendly and helped whoever needed assistance. Seating was dense (148 seats), but acceptable thanks to nice Recaro seats, not the same as the new SN ones. The plane was pushed back before the last passengers were seated….
The load factor was 100%. Most passengers were tourists for one of the two destinations of the triangular flight (Aqaba in Jordan and Hurghada in Egypt), but there were also Jordan nationals returning home.
One of the two co-pilots (yes, the cockpit was as numerous as the cabin crew) immediately gave some information over the flight, which would last 4 hours and 10 minutes (but then why put 5 hrs and 20 minutes in the timetable?). Take-off from short runway 20, as usual on Sundays, thus full power with brakes blocked and then released.
- Turning towards Rwy 20
- Turbulences over the Austrian Alps
The route took us over Liege, Frankfurt, Munich, Klagenfurt, Zagreb, Sofia, Bodrum, Rhodes, the Sinai Peninsula and finally the Red Sea south of Aqaba and returning back towards the north for landing.
- Shortly after take-off
- Close to destination
- Disembarkation at Aqaba
A Jetair representative was waiting with the documents, and my vacation (a circuit through Jordan) could start.
As a conclusion, I enjoyed a generally satisfactory flight.
). I'll be visiting the desert in a 4x4 in Wadi Rum, then Petra (World heritage of UNESCO), Madaba, Mount Nebo, Amman, Jerash, Ajlun, Bethany, the Dead Sea and back to Aqaba. A nice trip indeed!
