The day has finally arrived, you have done all your packing and finally you arrive at the airport and check in, pass through security and there you are, airside, duty free shops, cafés, shoes, clothes, magazines and things to munch and drink on your journey, you may have your breakfast before doing a bit of shopping be it window or serious shopping, a Starbuck’s is a good idea and you wonder around while waiting for your flight to be called. Find an observation window and watch the planes landing and taking off, how do they control so many planes? Where is that one going? and will the passengers have a pleasant flight?
A message on the tannoy system catches your attention, it’s your flight being called, you join the queue and finally pass through boarding control and start on the long journey down the ramp until you reach the small door area of the plane, a flight attendant welcomes you on board and you find your seat, settle down with your hand baggage stowed overhead and wait. You may read one of the onboard magazines, or look through the duty free booklet to see what you can buy, tax-free.
You hear the message, “ cabin crew close doors and cross check” and you know that you will soon be on your way, an eternity seems to pass and then you feel a jolt as the pusher truck couples up to the front wheel of the plane and slowly you feel the plane start to move backwards and the engines starting up. The plane stops going backwards and after a short while you hear the engine whine increase and you slowly start to taxi to the runway, there may be a wait to access the runway but then there you are. “Cabin crew be seated for take off”, and the engines whine increases to a roar, the brakes are taken off, and you feel yourself pushed back into the seat, you see the speed of the aeroplane increasing on the runway and then suddenly quiet, you have left the ground and you are rising to your cruising height.
The crew come round with drinks and the entertainment starts, a meal arrives to your choice and tea and coffee as you choose. The flight to Florida takes around 10 hours but to me it is an integral part of the holiday, my holiday starts as soon as we get to the airport, and, all to soon you feel the plane start to go down, twitching and turning to line up to the runway, the ground getting closer and closer and then with a screech, you are down the engines reverse with a roar and you taxi to the gate.
Clear immigration, pick up your suitcases, get your car and once more you are on the way to your own little piece of America.
A message on the tannoy system catches your attention, it’s your flight being called, you join the queue and finally pass through boarding control and start on the long journey down the ramp until you reach the small door area of the plane, a flight attendant welcomes you on board and you find your seat, settle down with your hand baggage stowed overhead and wait. You may read one of the onboard magazines, or look through the duty free booklet to see what you can buy, tax-free.
You hear the message, “ cabin crew close doors and cross check” and you know that you will soon be on your way, an eternity seems to pass and then you feel a jolt as the pusher truck couples up to the front wheel of the plane and slowly you feel the plane start to move backwards and the engines starting up. The plane stops going backwards and after a short while you hear the engine whine increase and you slowly start to taxi to the runway, there may be a wait to access the runway but then there you are. “Cabin crew be seated for take off”, and the engines whine increases to a roar, the brakes are taken off, and you feel yourself pushed back into the seat, you see the speed of the aeroplane increasing on the runway and then suddenly quiet, you have left the ground and you are rising to your cruising height.
The crew come round with drinks and the entertainment starts, a meal arrives to your choice and tea and coffee as you choose. The flight to Florida takes around 10 hours but to me it is an integral part of the holiday, my holiday starts as soon as we get to the airport, and, all to soon you feel the plane start to go down, twitching and turning to line up to the runway, the ground getting closer and closer and then with a screech, you are down the engines reverse with a roar and you taxi to the gate.
Clear immigration, pick up your suitcases, get your car and once more you are on the way to your own little piece of America.