Due to many people saying they like detailed trip reports I have decided to try and go into a bit more detail on this report, and I hope you persevere and enjoy it

Route: London Gatwick - Paphos

Date: 11th April 2000

Flight Time: 4 hours 10 minutes

Airline: Monarch Airlines

Aircraft: B757-200

Registration: G-DAJB

Seat: 24A

I woke up at 4:45am to catch the 09:10am MON4794 to Paphos. I had a cup of tea and a light breakfast whilst watching an old Airport video before leaving my house. I got to London Gatwick at around 06:40. We had to park in the north terminal car park as the south terminal one was full, which was annoying as we were flying from the south. We got the monorail to the south terminal in order to check in for our flight. We reached the massive Monarch queue a 07:00; I thought I would be there forever! We where not the only MON flight going out that morning. There was an A330 going to Varadero, the DC-10 going to Calgary, 2 757'S going to Rhodes and a 757 going to Marrakesh. But thanks to a wonderful Monarch employee organising the people we were checked in and ready to go on 20 minutes.

I went airside and took advantage of the duty free shopping, bought a couple of CD's and then went to the gates to take a few photos. Took a couple of shots of a Virgin 747, US Airways A330, Airtours A330's, AA 777's and of course my MON 757. We where parked next to 2 AIH A330's, G-MOJO & G-MJLJ.

At 08:45 we boarded G-DAJB. I made my way to seat 24A. I was surprised at the legroom, not amazing, but not as bad as I had feared. The aircraft was specious and clean. The crew were well turned out and were kind and friendly and happy to help. I took a few photos out of my window and at 09:15 we pushed back. As we held for 26L we had to wait for a CO 777 to land, it was the one in NYC 2000 cls. Also a BA 733 landed but it was all white, one of their new ones I guess.

At 09:25 we entered 26L and started the roll, it was an early take off as we had about 30 seats empty so slightly lighter than a full flight, and 757's have a short roll anyway on the whole.

Shortly after takeoff we where served breakfast. It was a kind of fry-up! Sausages, bacon, egg, potato wedges and a cup of tea/coffee. The only annoying thing I found was you had to pay for everything. All drinks, even water and headphones cost £1 and that was non-refundable.

The in-flight entertainment was good, we had TV's in the ceiling and audio channels. The audio channels had music and chat, and on TV there was Only fools and horses, music videos, Keeping up appearances, Frasier.

The flight was smooth and the service and comfort excellent. At 15:00 we started our decent into Paphos, as you go around the coast and do a 360 and double back on your self it's almost a kind of Kai-Tak style approach! We landed at 15:30, on time.

We disembarked using steps and I took this opportunity to take some photos whilst walking across the apron.

We entered the tiny terminal building to reclaim our bags.

The hotel we where staying in was under the flight path, this mean that whilst on the beach or round the pool I could get the registration of all movements at the airport!

Route: Paphos - London Gatwick

Date: 11th April 2000

Flight Time: 5 Hours 50 Minutes

Airline: Monarch Airlines

Aircraft: B757-200

Registration: G-DAJB

Seat: 34F

We left our hotel at around 14:00 in a taxi in order to check in for MON4795 to Gatwick. We got to the airport at 14:15. The terminal was heaving. It is only a small airport, just 15 check in desks and 12 were in use. There were 3 DP 757', 1 DP A320, 1 DP A321, 1 MON 757, 1 MON A320, 1 ECA A320, 1 JMC 757, 1 VIR A321, 1BY 767, 1 BY 757. They were all going out at about the same time and to be honest the airport and its workers couldn't cope.

After queuing for over 90 minutes I finally reached the front of the queue and the check in desk. I was given seat number 34F. I then proceeded to go airside. I went to the outside viewing/waiting area and took a few photos. Then shortly after, we boarded. Although due to the chaos in the terminal we had lost our slots and the crew told us how MON in Luton would have to do a lot of negotiations on our departure time as we where initially told we would have to wait on the tarmac for at least 2 hours before takeoff!

Same aircraft again, looked the same as well, clean and spacious. This time the crew was even better than the outbound flight. We finally got permission to make our way to the runway. No tug, just under our own steam. The take off was very bumpy, the surface of the runway at Pahos leaves a lot to be desired! We had a 100MPH head wind, this meant that our flight would be an hour longer than normal; we also had to take a slightly different and longer route than planned due to slot/airspace problems caused by the delay at Paphos. These problems added to the delay on the ground at Paphos made the flight seem very long.

We were served dinner mid flight, roast chicken, this was the best airline meal I had ever had!

The in-flight entertainment was good; we had TV's and audio channels. The audio channels had music and chat, and on TV there was Men behaving badly, Heartbeat, Keeping up appearances, Frasier.

Some of the views in flight were breathtaking, sunset over the snow capped Alps was one highlight.

Our landing at LGW was late but smooth. We parked at gate 21 next to G-XXLD Excel Airways B737-800 in the new colours. As I made my way to the baggage reclaim, past the gate areas I saw an opportunity for a nice night shot of the new Excel Airways B737-800 so I nipped into gate 17 to take a couple of shots, a BAA member of staff told me that I couldn't just enter gate areas to take photos and he asked me for my boarding card to prove I had just flown and that I was authorised to be airside! I showed him it and he said "Well you've landed now, haven't you to make your way quickly to passport control"! I couldn't believe it; I wasn't doing anyone any harm, just taking a photo! It was empty airside anyway!

Overall I thought Monarch were brilliant, comfort and service were excellent. I was also very impressed with the 757. I was forced to eat my words after saying in a reply to a post about CO's 757 from LGW-America. I said it would be harsh but I think after almost a 6 hour flight on a charter 757 I think it would be alright and I wouldn't mind doing it, although give me a 747 anyday!

I will definitely fly MON again and hopefully I will fly on another 757 in the future.