This entry will be a two part one (divided in itself). The first part is getting to North Korea and the second one leaving it. Both of the flights I've done on the Tupolev 204-100 operated by Air Koryo. The -300 is just a bit shorter and apart of that doesn't differ much inside.
JS152
13.09.2014 PEK-FNJ
1255-1600
I got to the airport around 10am by the train that rides between the center and both terminal areas at the airport. There I met up with part of the group and later we passed through security prior to getting to our check-in area. Some unusually sized luggage could be seen checked-in. After getting my boarding pass with what looked like a good seat (10F) I proceeded on the yet another security check and the immigration counters. Airside, after localizing our departure gate I moved on to looking for a place to spot at, windows gave a couple good shots at aircraft that have been docked and one, in the "corner" had an overview on the main taxiway and one of the three runways at PEK. There many of my trip mates gathered. We spent the hour prior to boarding here taking pictures, notes and laughing together. We had to bond at least a bit, a full week with the company of us and only us was ahead.
It was boarding time, still before entering the jetway most of us made a slight detour for a photo of the 204. On board we were greeted by the friendly crew of todays flight. Just after a couple of minutes push-back commenced, engines have been fired up and taxiing started. A long one, with some stops due to traffic. Finally we were in the air.
In flight service was rather poor. The "Kim Burger" we got was rather a 1/10 than something you would like to eat. Fortunately the soft drink was kinda good!
Maybe it was just me, or it was the airplane or the way the pilots flew but I could feel practically every turn, something that usually doesn't happen in the "western world". One strange situation also happened. A slight bank right turned into a steep one, than the pilot suddenly over-banked left, tried to level it off and again banked right before finally leveling off. Someone even screamed at the back.
Finally after 1h 22min we touchdowned at Pyongyang Sunan airport, deboarded the plane and boarded a bus and traveled towards the terminal for our customs and immigration control. All of it did take some time and finally after around 8-9 hours we've arrived at our hotel.
JS151
20.09.2014 FNJ-PEK
1000-1055
The return leg to China was very similar to the flight to Pyongyang. Seated at 21A (just behind the wing), service was the same, and the same movie was screened during the entire flight. This time the flight was very smooth and without any unpleasant moments. Landing in foggy Beijing, passing beside a Lufthansa A380 and later parking wing to wing with the neighbor form the south. A Korean Air Boeing 747.
JS152
13.09.2014 PEK-FNJ
1255-1600
I got to the airport around 10am by the train that rides between the center and both terminal areas at the airport. There I met up with part of the group and later we passed through security prior to getting to our check-in area. Some unusually sized luggage could be seen checked-in. After getting my boarding pass with what looked like a good seat (10F) I proceeded on the yet another security check and the immigration counters. Airside, after localizing our departure gate I moved on to looking for a place to spot at, windows gave a couple good shots at aircraft that have been docked and one, in the "corner" had an overview on the main taxiway and one of the three runways at PEK. There many of my trip mates gathered. We spent the hour prior to boarding here taking pictures, notes and laughing together. We had to bond at least a bit, a full week with the company of us and only us was ahead.
It was boarding time, still before entering the jetway most of us made a slight detour for a photo of the 204. On board we were greeted by the friendly crew of todays flight. Just after a couple of minutes push-back commenced, engines have been fired up and taxiing started. A long one, with some stops due to traffic. Finally we were in the air.
In flight service was rather poor. The "Kim Burger" we got was rather a 1/10 than something you would like to eat. Fortunately the soft drink was kinda good!
Maybe it was just me, or it was the airplane or the way the pilots flew but I could feel practically every turn, something that usually doesn't happen in the "western world". One strange situation also happened. A slight bank right turned into a steep one, than the pilot suddenly over-banked left, tried to level it off and again banked right before finally leveling off. Someone even screamed at the back.
Finally after 1h 22min we touchdowned at Pyongyang Sunan airport, deboarded the plane and boarded a bus and traveled towards the terminal for our customs and immigration control. All of it did take some time and finally after around 8-9 hours we've arrived at our hotel.
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| In the tunnel from the train to the terminal |
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Landside in the T2, pre customs check |
| Check-in counters |
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| Gate area in Terminal 2 |
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| Sichuan Airlines Airbus A330 B-6535 |
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| China Southern Airbus A380 B-6140 |
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| China Southern Airbus A320 B-6252 |
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| Xiamen Air Boeing 757 B-2869 |
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| Boarding has commenced |
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| Overhead panel |
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| Taxiing by an Azerbaijan A345 |
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| A small overview of Terminal 3 |
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| Todays meal, the "Kim Burger" |
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| Very sufficient leg space |
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| Cabin overview while seated |
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| The lavatory |
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| The economy class front section |
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| Business class all the way up front |
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| Final approach to FNJ |
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| Some of the airport vehicles |
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| Deboarding |
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| Air Koryo fleet nicely lined up at one of the taxiways |
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| The departure lounge at the temporary terminal |
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| Check-in counters at the temporary terminal |
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| Temporary luggage belt with some strange "bags" |
JS151
20.09.2014 FNJ-PEK
1000-1055
The return leg to China was very similar to the flight to Pyongyang. Seated at 21A (just behind the wing), service was the same, and the same movie was screened during the entire flight. This time the flight was very smooth and without any unpleasant moments. Landing in foggy Beijing, passing beside a Lufthansa A380 and later parking wing to wing with the neighbor form the south. A Korean Air Boeing 747.
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| Workers building the new tarmac and terminal. Air bridges seen in the distance |
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| Boarding the plane |
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| Economy cabin overview |
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| Window view at 21A |
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| Shortly after departure |
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| Flying high over a milky sea of clouds |
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| Already low over Beijing |
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| Last moments in the air |
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| LH A380 taxiing for departure to FRA |
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| Southern neighbor wing to wing |
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