Transavia.com B737-700 economy class
Published: 13/08/2009 - Filed under: Tried & Tested » Airlines » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Airlines » Transavia.com »
Check-in I arrived at Luton at 0625 for the 0755 flight to Rotterdam. It was a Thursday morning and the traffic at the Luton airport roundabout (on Airport Way) was so bad, that my taxi driver advised me to get out and walk the ten minutes to the terminal building as many other people were doing so too. Transavia.com was at check-in Zone 28 and there was no queue.
I asked for a window seat and was allocated 13F. I had hand luggage only and had forgotten the clear plastic bag for my toiletries but when I requested one I was told I could buy them upstairs at a vending machine before security (£1 for four bags). Upstairs, there was a huge queue for security and by the time I had bought my clear bags and got airside, it was 0715 and boarding was at 0725.
Boarding As I was departing from Gate 4 out of 25, I assumed it would only be a short walk, so ordered a cooked breakfast from one of the restaurants. There was a screen showing the flight status but I was shocked to see that at 0735 the status went from please wait to final call. I left my breakfast and started to run to the gate – and only then realised that the gate numbers went backwards and number four was in fact at the end of four very long corridors. After a few spurts of anxious sprinting, I arrived at the gate and was let through onto the tarmac. However, I was not the last – around five more people boarded even after I was seated.
The seat The B737-700 has a 3-3 configuration and 26 rows. The upholstery is green and blue, to reflect Transavia.com’s logo. The flight was not busy and I counted around 35 people on board. My seat (13F) was an emergency exit seat and as I had no seat in front of me (12F did not exist), there was plenty of legroom. I was shown how to open the door in an emergency, as the man seated in 12E, which also has more legroom than other rows as it was also by the exit, did not want to be responsible and moved seats. The aircraft has 24 rows on the left (A-B-C) and 26 rows on the right (D-E-F), so seat 26D was opposite the toilet and seats 24 A-B-C and 26 D-E-F did not recline.
The flight Transavia.com, the low-fare Dutch airline, offers twice-daily flights at 0755 (except Saturday, flying instead at 1440, and Sunday, flying instead at 0820) and 2050 (except Saturday) from London Luton to Rotterdam airport. Return flights are 0720 and 2015 (except Saturday, departing instead at 1405, and Sunday, departing at 0745). The journey takes about 45 minutes.
We started taxiing at 0756 and were in the air moments later. The pilot said the flight would take 40 minutes. As soon as the seatbelt sign was off, the trolley came down the aisle serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and meal deals (smoothie and a sandwich for €6.50, coffee/can of Coke €2.50, sandwich €4 etc). After 20 minutes in the air, we started our descent and landed on time.
Arrival Rotterdam airport is small, and once through passport control, those with hand luggage only, can head straight outside and to the left. Bus number 33 will take you into the city centre (Central station) for €2.40 (you can buy tickets on the bus) and takes around 20 minutes. A taxi will cost €25-€30.
Verdict An efficient and pleasant service. The cabin staff were friendly and arriving in Rotterdam was hassle-free.
Price Return economy class flights in September from London to Rotterdam started from €111 online.
Contact transavia.com
Felicity Cousins
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COMMENTS »
OzTraveller - 15/08/2009 10:20
"As I was departing from Gate 4 out of 25, I assumed it would only be a short walk, so ordered a cooked breakfast from one of the restaurants"
Felicity, Felicity...I'm amazed that you thought Gate 4 would be close to Gate 25 - at least close enough to order breakfast ...
flyingbunny - 24/08/2009 11:21
OzTraveller - I think the writer means she wrongly assumed the Gates would start from 1 and go up to 25, and so was caught short when it was numbered the other way...?
Anyway more importantly the security queue could have been avoided by paying extra. At Luton you can pay to "fasttrack" queues.
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