Initially booked on EZY421 at 13:50, I decided to change to EZY419 at 11.25. I set off and arrived at the drop off at 10.20, which was healthy looking, but 419 was showing a delay of 30 minutes.
I made my way though Priority and into lane 7 at security and was through in less than 3 minutes. I proceeded through duty free and into departures, having a look at the new Tortilla restaurant, before taking a walk down the International pier, and a look at the Emirates gate (first time I'm sure I've been here since it opened as the A380 gate) G-TUMA was sitting on stans 28, after operating yesterday's Lanzarote due to the initial aircraft diverting to Athens on its morning flight to Zante.
There were two cleaners, one of which was complaining about the dreamliner doing shorthaul but agreed TUI could do more longhaul.
I wandered back into departures and took a seat until half 11 when gate 11 was announced for the 419 (the aircraft was still in Gatwick at this point due to ATC restrictions and bad weather), so down I went.
After 5 or 10 minutes, the flight was taken off the screen, whilst the Porto aircraft arrived at gate 8. This is where the fun begun.
Porto arrived at 12.15ish, and was then due to operate the 421, my original flight, with the delayed Gatwick operating the 419, surely logic would have said use the Porto aircraft for the delayed Belfast and the delayed Gatwick operate the 421 on time, but NO.
Half 12 arrived at gate 10 was announced for the 419, so I made my way after making conversation with a fellow traveller, and stood awaiting the arrival from Gatwick, with a couple slowly pushing their way in front of myself and my new companion friend, so I slowly took my place back, not today Satan!
G-EZWZ arrived on stand 10 and after disembarking the Gatwick passengers, at 13.00, we began boarding, with my new companion leaving to board the back stairs, I proceeded up the front stairs, and took my seat in 11A, just after 13.06. Even the crew onboard with confused over not using the Porto aircraft for the flight, and boarding was complete by 12.20, and we pushed back and headed for Runway 05, passing BA, EK and XC on the way, we took off at 13.31, heading out over the Black Cart Water, River Cart and River Clyde, passing the Titan Crane, before banking left over Milngavie, before banking again and heading out over the Ayrshire coast between Saltcoats and Irvine, passing Troon and Culzean Castle on the left hand side, before banking right just north of Loch Ryan and out over the North Channel, touching the Irish coast south of Larne, before heading over Lough Neagh, banking left again before and flying over the Lough again before touching down on Runway 07 at Belfast International at 14.00 (ironically 421 was just leaving GLA), pulling onto stand.
Disembarking, I made my way out to catch the 300a into the city, either the 14.10 had just gone or was running late but the bus arrived at 14.27 and left at 14.30. £9 for a single, but the bus was packed. 45 minutes later (express seems lacking in Northern Ireland), I arrived at the amazing new Grand Central Station, the new interchange, with the bus station replacing the old EuropaBusStation.
A quick visit to the little boys room, I managed to catch the 15.20 600 service to Belfast City (yes I had really left 2 hours 20 between flights). A quick 20 minute commute, passing the magnificent Harland and Wolff Cranes, I arrived at George Best Airport at 15.45, for my 16.55 flight back.
A quick bite to eat at Caffè Nero before heading through to security, 4pm, and G-EZWZ was only just arriving back in Glasgow from Belfast after operating my Outbound flight.
Security was busy with two lanes and after taking my boots off, passing through,.and collecting items, I made my way upstairs, passing my previous eating establishment, and through duty free, a quick purchase of a huge tictac packs and a Belfast wallet for my uncle, with another stop at WH Smith for snacks (£3.49 for a 500ml irn bru!!), I made my way to the departures lounge which was mobbed, the arrival of the Airbus aircraft has definitely seen City prosper. The Gatwick flight has been hit with ATC restrictions again, but at 16.20, gate 3 was announced for EZY473. I made my way downstairs and along with everyone else, including some very rowdy Irish passengers, boarding passes were scanned and IDs checked, we formed two "orderly" queues as G-EZOI touched down at 16.36 and pulled onto stand 3.
The 16.55 departure time soon approached but as the aircraft was late arriving, a new departure time of 17.13 was announced, and shortly after 16.55, speedy boarding began, followed by standard.
I again boarded via the front stairs and took my seat in 8A, with two canadians who are flying home from a certain airport taking their place beside me. The city flight felt fuller than the International, I would say 140 vs 110. Boarding was complete at 17.05, and soon we began pushback at 17.10, and made our way to runway 04. It seemed odd that all other aircraft were parked in stands 1-10, but KLM Cityhopper was on 24, more where private aircraft would park.
At 17.16, G-EZOI rocketed into the air and out over Belfast Lough, and into the North Channel before reaching the Scottish Mainland North of Portpatrick and heading over Loch Ryan, and flying north of Cairnryan, before flying up the Firth of Clyde, passing Alisa Criag, before banking right and flying between Ardrossan and Irvine (similar to.what I'd done earlier) and over Glengarnock, before heading over Johnstone and touching down on runway 05 at 17.40, 5 minutes ahead of schedule but we pulled onto stand 10 on time at 17.45.
After a.slight delay with getting the air stairs attached (too busy yaking) I made my way out of arrivals and onto the 500 and heading into the city for my train home.
A great day considering the excitement of the delayed but Belfast is becoming a favourite city of mine.
