1. Introduction
Going to a tour of Montenegro during one week, our group of 18 had selected Brussels Airlines to Dubrovnik (which is in Croatia, but close to the border of Montenegro), a nice opportunity to test that new destination in its portfolio.
Arrival at the airport two hours in advance. The first thing I saw on the blackboard was that the flight was delayed by 45 minutes. A few minutes later I got confirmation of the delay through an SMS sent by Brussels Airlines: nice gesture to apologise.
I later got the explanation: the planned A319 aircraft was OO-SSG, but this aircraft was blocked in Naples, from where it departed with four hours delay. We thus had to wait for an alternative aircraft to arrive in Brussels, and the first opportunity was with a flight from Seville with OO-SSE, which anyway would arrive too late for an on-time departure.
I had already checked in on Internet, but this time, I had more than hand baggage and I experimented for the first time the automated baggage-labelling machines at the check-in counters: you first scan the QR code on your boarding pass, the machine asks for your agreement (is it the correct flight and the right person), prints your label: you have to peel it, apply it to your bag, print your receipt and send your bag to the baggage band.
Quite simple, but the first time always takes much longer!
And then to the passport control of Terminal B (Croatia is in the EU, but not yet in the Schengen zone), and through the body and handbag scanning to the newly assigned Gate 05 (my boarding pass uploaded the previous day said B10). A lot of time for spotting...
The flight was still announced 45 minutes late, and that increased to 55 minutes when it was time to board. Interestingly, a Jetairfly E190 flight scheduled to depart at 17:30 (thus 25 minutes before our scheduled time) was exactly on time.
Meanwhile, the incoming flight arrived at 18:10 at gate B05 and passengers coming from Seville were transferred by bus to Schengen Terminal A. The turnaround would last exactly 45 minutes.
2. Flight SN3351 BRU-DBV
Flight: Brussels Airlines SN3351 (codeshared with UA7256)
Date: 30 May 2015
Aircraft: A319 OO-SSE
From-To: Brussels-Dubrovnik (BRU-DBV)
Seat: 5F
Scheduled/Effective Time of Departure: 17:55/18:50 (GMT+2)
Scheduled/Effective Time of Arrival: 20:15/20:52 (GMT+2)
Scheduled/Effective Duration of the flight: 2 hr 20 min/2 hr 02 min
Friendly greeting by the purser. One row for C class was empty, two rows for economy flex were half full. I was (with many other passengers) in the light&relax section which was pretty full. Not sure how many people were in the lowest travel class at the back.
Boarding was completed rapidly and the plane pushed back with 55 minutes delay. Due to works on Runway 25L, unusual take-off from Runway 19.
Waiting at the airport had made me thirsty and hungry, hence I ordered a Stella Artois (33cl, the real thing from Leuven, unlike on easyJet) and a Panos Brie sandwich. But the billing equipment failed to accept my Brussels Airlines Amex card, for which the crew apologised confusedly.
The rest of the flight occurred without further problems at FL350, although I couldn't see anything on the ground because of a steady haze. The pilot was able to make up some of the delay.
3. Dubrovnik
Landing at Dubrovnik on Runway 12. Nice little modern airport, but we had to be bussed to the terminal. Passport control was quick and other bus was waiting to take me to Herceg Novi, our first stop in Montenegro.
Just for the story, Croatia and Montenegro used to be part of the same country, Yugoslavia. Now there are two huge border control buildings on the road at 1 km distance from each other. Croatia is in the EU, but still uses its own currency. Montenegro is not in the EU, but has the Euro as its official currency!
Did you say "Contrasts"?
[Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
[Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
André
ex Sabena #26567
ex Sabena #26567
Re: A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
I remember Egyptair flying to BRU with their 747-300's... Sad to see them using a babybus nowadays....A lot of time for spotting...
IMG_9528.JPGEgyptair to Cairo was more than one hour late. No surprise...
Re: [Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
Hey André,
What a good idea to test/fly this new SN destination - I thought it was a seasonal one, right? Any idea what happened in Naples with your scheduled plane going tech or whatnot?
For the rest it seemed like your standard SN flight althoug the takeoff from runway 19 provided a nice change of habits. The works on 25L/7R take quite a while I read.
TheFlyingSultan
What a good idea to test/fly this new SN destination - I thought it was a seasonal one, right? Any idea what happened in Naples with your scheduled plane going tech or whatnot?
For the rest it seemed like your standard SN flight althoug the takeoff from runway 19 provided a nice change of habits. The works on 25L/7R take quite a while I read.
TheFlyingSultan
Re: [Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
I think indeed that DBV is a seasonal destination. I guess it may count on many bookings through Thomas CookTheFlyingSultan wrote:I thought it was a seasonal one, right?
(since Jetairfly is flying a similar seasonal route on its own with an E190).
Still no idea. The outbound flight to NAP was on time. Maybe an SN insider can help?TheFlyingSultan wrote:Any idea what happened in Naples with your scheduled plane going tech or what not?
Yes, I like to take off on 19, especially when I sit on the right of the plane, which was the case.TheFlyingSultan wrote:For the rest it seemed like your standard SN flight although the takeoff from runway 19 provided a nice change of habits. The works on 25L/7R take quite a while I read.
Anybody who could tell me the reg of the return flight SN3352 on 6 June?
André
ex Sabena #26567
ex Sabena #26567
Re: [Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
the NAP-BRU flight was delayed due to operational difficulties at the airport
OO-SSG is scheduled
sn26567 wrote:
Anybody who could tell me the reg of the return flight SN3352 on 6 June?
OO-SSG is scheduled
Citybird
The flying dream
The flying dream
Re: [Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
Thomas Cook is also flying to DBV with own ironsn26567 wrote:I think indeed that DBV is a seasonal destination. I guess it may count on many bookings through Thomas CookTheFlyingSultan wrote:I thought it was a seasonal one, right?
(since Jetairfly is flying a similar seasonal route on its own with an E190).
Re: [Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
and there's only one hour difference between the two flights SN leaves one hour before HQ.
Citybird
The flying dream
The flying dream
Re: [Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
exactCTBke wrote:and there's only one hour difference between the two flights SN leaves one hour before HQ.
Re: [Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
The aircraft was severely delayed because it was damaged on the ground during the turn around.sn26567 wrote:Still no idea. The outbound flight to NAP was on time. Maybe an SN insider can help?TheFlyingSultan wrote:Any idea what happened in Naples with your scheduled plane going tech or what not?
Now, for my return flight tomorrow (SN3352), there is no way to check-in online from Dubrovnik.How can I secure a window seat???
André
ex Sabena #26567
ex Sabena #26567
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Re: [Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
Nice report Andre - that Panos sandwich looks good!
Sabena and Sobelair - gone but never forgotten.
Louise
Louise
Re: [Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
go early to the airport to get a window seat at check in, as it's a new destination it's not yet possible to check in online.
Citybird
The flying dream
The flying dream
Re: [Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
Yes they are, you need to try the Belgian meat ball too, it's yummy yummyComet wrote:Nice report Andre - that Panos sandwich looks good!
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Re: [Trip Report] A flight to SN's new destination Dubrovnik
Never had a meatball sandwich beforecrew1990 wrote:Yes they are, you need to try the Belgian meat ball too, it's yummy yummyComet wrote:Nice report Andre - that Panos sandwich looks good!
This is what I usually have in Panos (there is a nice chocolate one as well but I couldn't find a photo) http://www.panos.be/nl/producten/goeien ... 0blueberry
I would be very happy if I could have one on my next SN flight
Sabena and Sobelair - gone but never forgotten.
Louise
Louise