Home > First Choice Airways > 2005 > Review

Taken August 2005 from Bristol, England (Lulsgate) - BRS to Zakynthos - ZTH

We arrived at Bristol at 11:00am for checkin. We were checking in at a new desk which wasn't there last year (In a brand new seperate little area). We were welcomed by a very long queue which appeared to be due to some very slow operatives. After well over 30min, we finally checked in and were told that not only did we have a 30 minute delay, but our family would not all be sat together onboard.

At about 13:00, the First Choice Airways A321 G-OOAE landed from Palma (30 min late) and proceeded with its usual 1 hour turnaround before taking us out to Zakinthos. Boarding was not too bad, the staff seemed to be in control - or that is what we thought. After leaving the terminal, we proceeded to walk to out plane which was parked at Gate 1 (I think). We then had to stand outside for another 20 minutes or more before we could board. Once on board, the crew seemed to manage toget everyone else onborad quickly and we started our pushback. One member of crew greeting us was featured on ITVs 'Bristol Aiport' series a few months back and she was lovely and polite. The safety demo was carried out by crew and we started to taxi to runway 27. After waiting at the runway for a BA EMB145 and a WOW Dash8 to land, we started the takeoff roll and climbed to 34000 feet.

During the flight, the captain explained that before the aircraft departed for Palma, the tyres needed changing and that was the reason for the delay. The inflight entertainment wasn't up to much and I didn't bother watching the program which was about a sports mad bloke falling in lobve with this woman (Out 12th Aug). The food was OK. The main meal was adequate, but the desert was not my sort of thing - Lemon and Ginger thing - ewww : (

The flight which was suppose to be 3hr 30min took us about 3hr 06min and we started our desent into ZTH. There was not too much turbulence however the aircraft did occasionally make your stomach feel as though it was coming out your mouth. We were not initially allowed to land at ZTH due to another aircraft on finals and as there is no radar at ZTH, the pilots have to go by what other pilots are saying. After holding over, we finally approached ZTH where we made a smooth landing. As we pulled up next to the only other flight on the ground, an LTU A320 from Munich, we made our way to the arrivals hall which seemed to be airy and cool with adequate space (For 2 flights)