Porto Sa Carneiro is a modern and efficient airport.
In the check-in hall, I was struck by the big Lufthansa ticket office and its very small Brussels Airlines sign. Is that SN's future?
When I booked the flight, it was an A319. When I checked in on internet, 24 hours before departure, it had changed to an A320 (usually less comfortable, because of less legroom). That means a big crowd. Furthermore, I had been put in a middle seat, 25E, and only a few other middle seats were available to change. One of them was 4B, which I immediately selected, because there is more room in the 5 first rows.
Swiftly through the controls to gate 35, where our flight arrived well on time.
Flight: Brussels Airlines SN3810
Date : 29 September 2016
Aircraft: Airbus A320 OO-SNG
From-To: Porto - Brussels (OPO-BRU)
Seat: 4A
Scheduled/Effective Time of Departure: 16:15/16:14 (GMT+1)
Scheduled/Effective Time of Arrival: 19:30/19:17 (GMT+2)
Scheduled/Effective Duration of the flight: 2 hr 15 min/2 hr 03 min
I was, as usually, among the last people to board. While boarding I saw that we were next to Big Brother, a Lufthansa A321 at Gate 34. Big Brother twice: LH owns SN, and their A321 is bigger than our A320.
Friendly welcome on board by a red-clad stewardess. I settle in my middle seat 4B, and a few minutes later I was utterly happy that 4A remained unoccupied. Not for long: I moved quickly towards the window. Once in my window seat, I could see this:
The load factor was around 95%, with one row for business (4 pax), one row for flex (5 pax), and the remainder for cheap travellers like me.
On-time pushback and take off to the North, the right direction, on runway 35. Climbing along the North Portuguese coastline.
During the buy-on-board service, I selected the nice Spanish tapas, together with a Stella Artois.
After a superb flight at FL360, we arrived at Brussels at sunset.
Landing on the usual 25L. And early disembarking at Pier A (I don't remember the gate). Well done SN!
Porto-Brussels on Brussels Airlines A320 flight SN3810
Porto-Brussels on Brussels Airlines A320 flight SN3810
André
ex Sabena #26567
ex Sabena #26567