Fellow passengers: Mostly male.
How full: The Embraer 190SR is classified as narrow bodied, and has a two-by-two seating arrangement. Only three seats are empty - happily one of those is by me.
Entertainment: This is a weekday business flight and most of my fellow passengers are buried in work. BA's in-flight magazine for this service is called: Business Life, Where Next?, an inspirational or depressing title, depending on your business prospects.
The service: British Airways and I have had our differences this year (see Flight Check from March 1) so this is a make-or-break flight for me and the British aviation giant.
Happily, the service is great, with cheery and helpful flight crew, all of whom sound Scottish.
Food and drink: A tasty breakfast of sausage and eggs with coffee and orange juice, just like last time. Not long after the coffee is served we hit turbulence and I'm left with a tricky situation: either gulp down my boiling hot coffee or risk wearing it down the front of my shirt. I chug it back but my throat denies entry to the scalding brown liquid and I'm left hanging my mouth open to try and let some of the heat escape before my swallowing mechanism finally plays ball.
Luggage: Carry on for me, though I have the option of a check-in bag should I want it. For a short business trip that's not worth the hassle.
The airport experience: Along with my favourite pub, I'd have to say City Airport is the best thing London has to offer. It's easy to get to and is central (for an airport), being just a few minutes from the Canary Wharf business district in the city's east end. At roughly the size of Dunedin International Airport arriving and getting through security is a breeze, meaning you can leave your run much later than places like Heathrow or Gatwick. The runway at City Airport is quite short compared with others, and it primarily services European short-haul routes, though British Airways offer a daily service to New York from here on a specially kitted-out business-only A318. Geneva Airport is spotlessly clean and full of advertising for Swiss watches I'll never be able to afford.
Would I fly again: Yes, this service is really easy and pleasant. BA and I might just make this work.
