Time travel

With the spotlight recently on airline delays and compensation claims, Bev Fearis is pleased to experience the other side of the coin on a Flybe flight from Rennes to Southampton.

Flying from small regional airports really is a joy. Our Saturday evening flight, BE 3026, was due to leave Rennes at 18.10 but we arrived at the airport way too early. While the recommended two-hour check-in is completely justified when you’re flying from the likes of Gatwick or Heathrow, it’s not the case here – so much so that the check-in desk didn’t even open until 16.45. I’m not sure if that’s the norm, but on this occasion it turned out to be plenty of time for the two check-in staff to whizz through a small group of passengers who were already waiting for them at the gate. Passengers had been gradually arriving from 15.45 to find the departures hall eerily empty, the lights not even switched on, and the departures board showing just three flights. When we had arrived even earlier at 15.30, there was no one there except for a few security staff hovering around the airport’s cafe, the only one open, chatting and laughing. I’ve never seen an airport so empty.

We checked in our bags, which were well under the 20kg limit (next time we could probably get away with just one) and I took my son, Freddie, to the shop to buy a comic before we headed through security. There’s nothing on the departure side, except for toilets, so I sat and read while he watched for our plane. No sooner had it arrived than we were asked to start boarding. It was a short walk to the small aircraft, a Q400 Dash 8, and to our seats in row 5.

The flight was probably not even one third full so when my rucksack didn’t quite fit in the overhead locker, I was able to put it under the seat on the other side of the aisle. By 17:50, we were all seated and belted and the crew announced that we were ready to go – 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Freddie, in the window seat, could see the propeller and was amazed at its speed. With the additional noise from the small aircraft, the take-off for him was even more exciting than usual.

Once up in the air, the crew – Miklos and Mel – went straight to work with the trolley service. As well as the usual hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, crisps and chocolate bars, there are packets of honey seeds and blueberry oat bars in a nod to healthy eating. The refreshments are reasonably priced, with various combination deals. I ordered a ‘dunker combo’ – a tea and a Twix – which came to £3. Not having any sterling, however, meant paying €5, which seemed a bit steep so I decided to pay by card. Mel apologised that there was a minimum of £5 spend for card purchases, so I got a bottle of water and another Twix, which came to £6. It still felt better than being stung on the exchange rate and the extra Twix kept Freddie happy. I checked my watch and, amazingly, it was still only 18.08, two minutes before our scheduled departure time, but here I was, already enjoying my in-flight Starbucks cuppa.

The flight only takes 45 minutes, so by the time Freddie got out his colouring books and felt-tip pens, it was pretty much time to put them away again. The Captain began the descent and we went back through the clouds and into a slightly bumpy landing at Southampton. It was 17:30 UK time.

We were the last off the plane, due to Freddie losing a felt-tip down the side of the seat, and on to the bus for the short ride to the arrivals door. First off the bus, we were first to passport control and then straight into the adjoining baggage hall. This, I thought, is perhaps where things would slow down, but in fact two minutes later the luggage belt began to move and our bags were among the first off. Luckily Grandad had arrived early too and was waiting for us in the car park. At 18:10 (our scheduled arrival time) we were already 10 miles down the M27!