Air Transat Trip Report NCL-YYZ-EXT-NCL Part 1

NCL-YYZ:

Airline: Air Transat 

Flight Number: TS147

Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A310-300

Aircraft Reg: C-GPAT

Class: Economy

Seat: 7K 

Flight Time: 6:30

Cruise Altitude: 35,000ft

Cruise Speed: 0.80 Mach

Air Transat:

Air Transat is a well established charter airline that operates from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to European destinations and holiday destinations in the Caribbean using a fleet of 22 Airbus A310-300, Airbus A330-200 and Airbus A330-300. Since 1987 they have only had 2 incidents. In 2001, Air Transat flight 236 ran out of fuel half way during an Atlantic crossing on the Toronto to Lisbon route. All 306 people survived. In 2005, Air Transat 961 suffered a structural failure of the rudder. All 271 people survived.  

Booking:

When I was searching for flights to Toronto, I came across many flights but Air Transat was the cheapest by far coming at £400 for 2 weeks. I made quite a late booking (6 days before leaving to go to Toronto). 

Check-In:

Check in was meant to be open at 8:05 but they didn't open till 8:30. The check-in staff didn't really care that they were late opening. They didn't even say sorry or say why they were late opening. By the time check-in was open, a large queue of people had formed. Once check-in opened they dealt with it very well. 

Security:

Even though it was early morning and only a handful of flights were leaving, there was a huge line for security. I got through security in about 25 minutes. 

Airport:

Newcastle Airport is very modern and it is perfect for plane spotting. I saw a KLM Cityhopper Fokker 70, British Airways Airbus A319-100, Eurowings Bombardier CRJ-900, Thomson Boeing 767-300ER and Jet2.com Boeing 757-200. There were a selection of shoppings including Duty Free, Burgerking and JD. There was 1 large seating area which overlooks the runway. 

Boarding:

C-GPAT Landing At Toronto Pearson

Trying to find the gate was hard as all the departure screens froze. Everyone was crowding around staring hopelessly. I could see the plane in the far distance parked next to the Eurowings Bombardier CRJ900. On the departure board it said the Eurowings flight was at Gate 25 so I guessed my plane will be at Gate 26. Once at the gate the boarding was very civilised. Hardly anyone was at the gate. Normally people would be queuing up on the jet bridge but I just walked straight onboard. It didn't take long to find my seat since it was 7K. While walking to my seat I saw Club Class. It wasn't too much different to Economy. The only differences were Club Class have wider seats, 1 extra inch of seat pitch, better food, smaller cabin and 2 dedicated lavatories.

Taxi And Take Off:

After a very short taxi from Gate 26 we had a very powerful and noisy take off from Runway 07. It was a short take off and soon we were climbing to our cruise altitude of 35,000ft. Next stop Toronto!

Service:

In Flight Meal

The entertainment for  this flight was very basic and was in the form of shared screens. There was a shared screen for every 5-6 rows. There was a selection of films and programs which were relatively new. Because these A310s will be phased out, they won't get their cabins refurbished. Only the A330s will get the new cabins which includes mood lighting, personal TVs, Italian leather seats in Economy and Club. The food was alright. There was 3 choices (sweet and sour chicken, vegetable pasta or beef pasta). I chose beef pasta and I wished I had chosen something else because to be frank with you it was terrible. The pasta had a weird taste but the beef was nice. After a few hours of sleep I woke up to the snack before landing. It was a pizza which was really nice. BRAVO! Before landing they gave everyone mints before landing. They were packaged with their logo. The cabin crew let you take as much as you want which was something that doesn't usually happen on any flight. 

Taxi And Landing:

We landed safely on Runway 05 after the enjoyable 6:30 flight from Newcastle. After a very long taxi from the runway we parked up at Terminal 3. We was parked next to a Transaero Boeing 747-400 and Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777-200LR. During the taxi I could see many Air Canada planes parked up at Terminal 1. Also I saw a Air Transat A330-200 with their new livery. 

Deplaning:
Deplaning was very organised. The cabin crew thanked you when you was about to leave which was nice. Also the cabin crew actually smiled unlike other cabin crew on other airlines. 

Baggage:

Once through passport control I had to go to the baggage reclaim area. My luggage was already there when I arrived. I have noticed that all flights from the United Kingdom land in the afternoon. 

Conclusion:

I will fly Air Transat if the price is right. I would really want to try their A330s as they look amazing with their new cabins. Overall, it was value for money and I had a good flight. That's the end of part 1.