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Taken August 2003 from Manchester to Malaga

MAN-AGP Aircraft: 737-300 Registration: G-BZZA

ETD: 6:00

ATD: 7:20

ETA: 9:00

ATA: 11:20

We checked in at Terminal 1 at 3:15 for the 6:00 flight to Malaga. We were informed by the check in staff that the flight had a 1 hour delay. We went to the departures lounge, at 6:45 we were told to go to Gate 9.

When we got to Gate 9 the aircraft was just arriving from Corfu! Then I saw our aircraft which was G-BZZA (ex Buzz), which has a white livery with Astraeus written down the side. After a 20 minute wait at the Gate we were told that the flight was boarding.

We boarded at the aircraft at 7:00, the aircraft had a purple interior. At 7:10 we pushed back and started engine 2. Once pushback was completed we started engine 1. A manual safety demonstration was done by the cabin crew. The captain came on to say a few words about the flight and the reason it was delayed (had a "tech" problem at Corfu). Cruising altitude would be 33.000 feet. Both pilots on this flight were from Australia.

After that we started to taxi quite fast to runway 24L. We were on hold for about 5 minutes while we waited for a BY 757 to take off. We turned onto the runway shortly after that. The Captain applied take off power and after a long take off roll we were airborne. After passing Knutsford and Cheshire, the climb was very quick. The seat belt sign was then switched off and the cabin crew commenced the in-flight service. In no time at all we were at 33.000 feet.

The cabin crew were very friendly and they came round with champagne cocktails. Then the hot breakfast was served, which was one of the best I have had on any airline. The first officer then did a announcement about the flight details. The flight was very smooth throughout.

After around 2 hours and 20 minutes in the air, a fairly steep decent was done as we were near Malaga. The flaps were set to 10 and after some tight turns we were on the approach to AGP. Gear was lowered and flaps were set accordingly. The approach at this stage became very bumpy, flaps 40 was then set. You could feel the captain trying to fight the wind, and we approached very fast.

The landing was late and we landed firmly on the left landing gear. Braking was hard and full reverse thrust was used, we turned off at the second to last exit. After a short taxi we parked up at a remote stand and disembarked the aircraft.

I was really impressed with AEU on this flight and would fly with them again.