[Flight Report] BA 1432 LHR-EDI

June 3, 2024

Seeing a good weather forecast for Edinburgh for the coming few days, I was very tempted to fly up there last minute for a short getaway. Train prices so close to departure were quite expensive and the journey was very long at 4.5 hours. easyJet still offered decent fares at over 100 pounds roundtrip, but they fly out of Gatwick. I lived closer to Heathrow, and opted to use my Avios. Gone are the days when BA offered excellent redemption value for short-haul flights. At 18,500 Avios only and HKD $20 in additional charges, it's no longer a wonderful deal, but still decent given BA was charging over 200 pounds for a revenue ticket. I recall not too long ago a short hour-long flight would only cost 9000 Avios?

There was traffic heading into Terminal 5 at such a crazy morning. Reaching the airport just shy of 6am, I was surprised it was crowded, and a little worried if I left too little time to go through the formalities. One side's security entrance was closed, so I had to walk across the long terminal to find a long line snaking out of the other security entrance. A sign at the end of the ropes said it's only a 5 minute wait, and sure enough, the line kept moving reasonably well.



It seems Terminal 5 hasn't gotten the new security scanners where I didn't need to take out my laptop or electronics. Processing didn't take too long and it was slowed down by 2 passengers in front of me who can't unpack efficiently and still set off the scanners.

Air-side was even busier, and the way the terminal is designed is not efficient to get people out of the security hall and downstairs to the gates. The escalators are off to the side, and people bunch up quickly and everywhere.



I walked around the shops to see if anything interesting is available for breakfast. It was pretty much meal deal sandwiches unless I sit down at a proper restaurant. But there isn't too much time yet before boarding.









Boarding was a bit difficult as the gate area was small and packed. I couldn't make out the different boarding lines but eventually, everything finished at 6:41am for our 7am departure. We pushed back 9 minutes early and went across to the other side of the airport, reaching the eastern end of the runway at 7:09.









I had purposedly picked a left window during online check-in anticipating views on arrival. Looking at the previous few days' flight paths, they took off towards the west so I wouldn't have views of London anyway, and it held true again today. The crew sprang into action given it's only an hour-long flight and offered a small bottle of water and a choice of packaged flapjacks or biscuits.









They offered a buy-on-board menu after these freebies were served but with the short flight time, I preferred to eat on arrival instead. The menu is available in the seat pocket or on wifi.





I had forgotten my Executive Club password so could not score free internet. Like a few airlines I've flown recently, they've started to offer internet to the masses even out in Economy.

After selecting the BA on-board wifi option, it pops open a page with a link to copy and you need to then open your browser to log in.



Without logging in, you can see some high-level flight details, such as the remaining flight time. If you are not an Executive Club member, there are 2 pricing plans available.





The buy on-board prices didn't seem so out of the world, and I liked how you can pay with Avios as well.







The skies started opening up and we descended 38 minutes later, taking us north and out to sea before turning left for landing from the northeast. I had a good view of Edinburgh with my left window seat but the historic centre was a bit dark underneath a thick cloud. The first item on my itinerary is the Royal Yacht Britannia, which I can spot in the harbour there.



Looks like the hill in the distance is Arthur's Seat.









We reached the gate 10 minutes ahead of schedule, and disembarked using 2 staircases, making it feel like a low-cost airline experience. But I love tarmac walks so it was an extra special treat to see the A320 from a different angle.







I was a bit surprised Hainan Airlines is parked nearby. Mainland Chinese tourists have not returned to their pre-pandemic long-haul travel hotspots yet with the local economy not doing well, and I'm curious how this once almost-bankrupt airline can make the economics work sending a widebody here.



Heading into the terminal and up the stairs, I emerged into a combined arrivals and departures area and got a chance to go up to the windows for some plane spotting.





With no checked bags (even though my redemption ticket allows for 1), I exited the terminal fairly quickly. At the exit, turn left for public transport. It's just past 8:30am by now and with most attractions opening well past 9 or even at 10am, I wasn't in a hurry to get into the city. The cheapest public transport option is to walk 1km away from the airport, past the rental cars and hotels, to the park and ride to catch the tram. While the tram line goes all the way to the airport, which is the end of the line, grabbing it one stop down results in significant savings. The price drops from 9 pounds roundtrip to 2 pounds for a single journey.







The tram operates on an honour fare system, meaning there are no faregates to get onto the platform. I bought my ticket at one of the machines beforehand, which accepts contactless cards. I saw staff on board patrolling, but they never checked my ticket.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/ba1432.htm

I flew the exact same route earlier this year, but on a somewhat later flight that would depart just before 10 am. Those 7 am flights are simply brutal. I would think that a much bigger fraction of passengers on the 7 am flight are transit passengers?

I paid around 35 GBP for my one-way flight at the time. Granted, it was a Wednesday in February -- at the time of booking, prices varied wildly depending on the day of the week. Weekend flights would typically cost over 100 GBP in cash one-way, from what I recall.

Interesting that you had to deplane via stairs -- it's always treat for aviation enthusiasts.

When I was in Edinburgh I did run into staff checking passengers' tickets on the tram at least twice.