LOT Boeing 737-400 post retrofit experience (LO380 FRA-WAW) 2017.05.21

After an entire day of spotting (second in FRA) it was time to return back home. Having plenty of time to my flight I used the final energy reserves for a walk around to perhaps get some through window shots, but I've shown these in the link above. Here I wanted to focus on the plane. It was going to be the 737-400 and my first journey on it after the interior has been changed. (Here the pre-retrofit version)

21 May 2017
LO380 (1950-2135) FRA-WAW
SP-LLF Boeing 737-400

We've been taken to the aircraft by bus, the flight is half full so there is plenty of free space on board. I take my seat in row 13 by the window and wait for the departure. Plenty of legroom here (emergency exit right by my side) but other, "standard" rows aren't bad either. Power sockets are available throughout the entire plane and the new seats are much thinner than the previous ones. They are the same as on the 738. A good choice for a ~2h flight. Decent quality and comfort. A thing that I miss are moveable headrests but that will change with the arrival of the 737 MAX. You just can't like the good ol' classic 737s' and in the new interior they are a real good hard product to fly on. The lav is refreshed as well.

LOT Boeing 737-800 experience (LO381 WAW-FRA) 2017.05.20

20 May 2017
LO381 (0745-0945) WAW-FRA
SP-LWA Boeing 737-800

On a trip to Frankfurt on board the newest addition to the LOT fleet. The Boeing 737-800. The load on that flight wasn't great thus I was able to walk freely and sit both in the front and at the back. The seats on the plane are exactly the same like on the 734 after their retrofit. The seats are quite comfy, but unfortunately don't have an adjustable headrest, which is a minus. Only the front rows have power sockets (the 734 has them in all rows). With a Y186 configuration it is pretty dense, but you don't get a cramped feeling. Service is basic. Overall I'd say a pretty good product as for the times. LOT did a nice job with choosing the seats (I must also add that the backrest is adjustable). A next change in quality is said to come with the MAX, soon. Can't wait to see what it will be. I must say that LOT did do its homework well and can compete on an equal level with others.

Taxiing

EPWA 2017.05.05 Qatari

A delegation from Qatar visited Warsaw. They came on three planes, an A310, an A340, and A319CJ a 747-8. During their departure also the usual scheduled Qatar A330 departed for Doha. The first plan was to catch the 747 departing from runway 33 and then quickly shift for the rest of departures from 29. That's the reason for the shots of the 787s. Unluckily they decided to taxi at once, both the A310 and 748. A quick decision and I move for the A310 departure so I can only watch the 748 taxiing away. The sun did play some nice tones later during the day. In fact not the shots I wanted to get but I did take the risk being fully aware of what can go wrong.

A7-AFE

EPWA 2017.04.24

The weather was nice, plenty of free time so I decided to get out for some spotting of the afternoon departure wave. Mostly LOT 787s, some shots of the Nordica CRJ900. All departures from runway 29 due to the closure of runway 33 (usually used for departures of the 787s)

SP-LLG

ES-ACC

LO3806 RZE-WAW 2017.02.05

05 February 2017
LO3806 (0905-0955) RZE-WAW
SP-EQK Bombardier Q400


Returning from a brief visit in Rzeszów. The morning flight to Warsaw, on this day operated by a Dash Q400. Pretty much a very decent flight, smooth, quick and easy. The airport is small (more pictures of the airport from the arrival). This time seated in row 4. A full video with no cuts at all is available down in this entry. The weather in Rzeszów wasn't the prettiest, but when you get on a plane it doesn't really matter that much.

Boarding by foot.

LO3805 WAW-RZE 2017.02.04

04 February 2017
LO3805 (0740-0835) WAW-RZE
SP-EQD Bombardier Q400

A brief hop south to the city of Rzeszów. The morning departure from Warsaw. My first time at the airport in Jasionka. The flight itself was really quick and nothing special happened during it. You may find a full flight (no cuts) video down over here. The departure area at the airport is brief. You disembark and walk to the terminal, pass beside the luggage belt and you are out and ready to go. More, and easier with photos.

Waiting for departure in Warsaw

LO92 PEK-WAW 2017.01.02

The last segment of the Taiwanese journey. The final flight home.

02 January 2017
LO92 (0845-1130) PEK-WAW
SP-LRB Boeing 787 Dreamliner

After arriving the previous day from Taipei via Fuzhou I get a sleep at a local hotel, where I catch the shuttle to the airport at 6. That means I have plenty of time to check my bag in (luckily no queue and I am able to change my seat to one that suits me better) pass all the necessary controls and browse the shops. Then, when the sun rises I still have time to take some photos through the windows in the scenery of a rising sun. After using Beijing Terminal 3 yet another time I must say that it really is decent and rather hassle free. Spacious, various shops and restaurants, benches to rest, get a nap, lie down, quiet areas. and the air condition works quite well.
But back to the flight. We depart with a slight delay which, due to winds will grown a little bit during the flight. I'm lucky to get the seat next to me empty (seated in row 24). The service comes right in time. Around an hour after take-off. The food is pretty nice. The crew walks around offering a top-up. For a minus, the windows have been blocked in a dimmed configuration for most of the flight. On a day flight... not a red-eye one, a day one. C'mon! Anyway. Time passes by slowly, movies, reading, music, small naps and finally we arrive in cloudy Warsaw with around 30 minutes of delay.
Summing up, I am content of the flight in total. Of the entire trip as well.

LO91 WAW-PEK 2016.12.25

Christmas came and with the New Year ahead it was time to fly out somewhere. Destination: Taiwan, via China. First stop: Beijing

25 December 2016
LO91 (1455-0635+1) WAW-PEK
SP-LRC Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

Christmas Day, late breakfast with the family and off to the airport. Quick and problem free baggage drop off, security and passport control. Boarding started more or less on time. Seated down in 7A with more than sufficient legroom I buckle up and wait for the pushback and takeoff. After we depart and head east it quickly gets dark and will stay that way all the way to Beijing. Some time into the flight the meals are served, one portion wasn't enough so later on I had to ask for a second one. With my stomach satisfied I could get on to the In Flight Entertainment system and watch some videos. The flight was rather smooth and passed by quickly. Oh, I would have forgotten about a small nap before arrival. Well needed at that time of the day. Surely a good start of the trip!

Taxiing to the runway

LO646 OTP-WAW 2016.10.22

One of the goals for October was to fly the Tarom A310 before they retire it at the end of the month. In fact I wanted to fly it already back in August but due to work duties I had to cancel my flights (then it was WAW-VIE-OTP-VIE-WAW). So, after the final flight date was set I started to look for flight combinations that would fit me. Already in September the first of two A310s stopped flying, making the risk of a equipment change even greater. After all, I booked a one-way flight from Madrid to Bucharest. As I was time restricted there wasn't too many flight options. I ended up in flying the evening before with Ryanair on WMI-MAD, getting the night at the terminal, some spotting before the flight and a quick, little risky 70 minutes scheduled stop in Bucharest before flying back to Warsaw with LOT.

22 October 2016
LO646 (1800-1845) OTP-WAW
SP-LDF Embraer 170

An on time arrival from Madrid made it possible for a stress free transfer. If I remember correctly it took me 7 minutes to get from the plane to the duty-free shops area. Having plenty of time I browsed a little around the shops and later on proceeded to the gate. Boarding was swift and all ended with an on-time departure. The flight wasn't too full, around 40 I'd say. After take-off and cutting the clouds we could admire the sun set. Always worth it!

LO706 MSQ-WAW 2016.10.09

The return home after some aviation fun in Belarus. The quickest option, direct with LOT.

09 October 2016
LO706 (1455-1510) MSQ-WAW
SP-LNC Embraer 195

Check-in opens and a queue is already formed. Many transfer passengers for ongoing flights, many transatlantic. With my boarding pass I head to the security and passport control.
Having plenty of time I browse the shops, and take some pictures. Lucky to catch both the World of Tanks and new Belavia liveries. Finally my Embraer arrived and boarding commenced shortly. The flight itself was quick, smooth and comfortable. After leaving the plane a friendly face greeted the passengers in Warsaw. A pleasant welcome.

Szymany with LOT 2016.10.01 LO3791/3792

Some time after my first visit in Olsztyn  LOT announced  direct flights from Warsaw to Szymany. The idea itself appeared to be grotesque. A very short flight, 3 times per week, in the middle of the day. Hell, let's go! As the flights operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only the last one was available for me. Bought the tickets for a flight there and back on the same day. It also was the last day the flight was in operation. The fun begun before the first flight. Check-in for the flight to SZY was easy and quick, as usual. But then I needed a boarding pass for the return flight (25 minutes between arriving and departing from Szymany and 30 minutes before the flight check-in closes). Not possible on-line, not possible at the check-in in Warsaw. Hoped it might be possible at the transfer center. No, it wasn't :D Yet still, with the help of the transfer desk agent I was rather sure I would return with easy. After searching here and there, asking a couple of supervisors, DCS and more a phone call had to me made directly to Szymany. They said that the boarding pass will be waiting for me at the check-in counter after my arrival. On both flights there was no more than 15 passengers and that was good number for that route.

01 October 2016
LO3791 (1315-1410)WAW-SZY
SP-EQK Bombardier Q400

Quickly passed the security check and headed for the Transfer Center. After doing what I had to do there I then waited at the gate for boarding in some pleasant company. The flight itself didn't even take 40 minutes from stand to stand (full video without any cuts available lower) which resulted in a ahead of time arrival.

Up we go.

EPWA 2016.09.21 Air China inauguration

Another foreign airline in Warsaw, what is more, from a country not so close. Air China started flights on the route from Beijing to Warsaw. Adding more capacity on that route to the current 3 weekly flights of LOT. In the winter two flights per week, more in the summer. A long layover with a early morning arrival. Here the first landing and departure.

B-6131

EPWA 2016.09.16 Corsair B747

Charter season at its best! A Boeing 747 visiting Warsaw. There is only one queen of the skies!

F-HSUN

EPWA 2016.08.27 Summer morning

I wanted to take advantage of the clear skies and sunny weather and take some morning arrivals shots. A plan is always good up to the moment when it stops being plausible. After two arrivals as planned on runway 11, one of the departures reported a heavy tailwind and all was switched. Back to the rather usual 29 ops. I planned to stay only around 1 hour but ended up almost 4. Nevertheless I'm happy about the outcome. Oh, and the MD11 which usually doesn't fly on Saturdays but because its flight got cancelled the day before it did on that day.

SP-LNB

EPWA 2016.08.23 Kazakh Government A330

Another day, another delegation in Warsaw. Thanks to that visit, among others, Poles will soon have the possibility to travel to Kazakhstan visa free.

UP-A3001

EPWA 2016.08.20 An124 departure from runway 11

Due to some works in progress, runway 15/33 was closed. Thus the An124 visible in the last entry when it was supposed to depart we've been wondering whether or not will it wait for the longer runway to open or use the shortest one available for departures in Warsaw. They did not wait and what a sight it was!

UR-82029

EPWA 2016.08.19

The weather was: sunny with a probable heat haze over the runway. :P
One could say a day like any other (+ a An124 arrival) but no, a kinda special day for me as my little sister left Poland for around a year. But everyone has the right for self-accomplishment and personal growth.

UR-82029

A6-EGQ

EPWA 2016.07.13 Western Global MD-11F

Every MD11 is currently a gem. In Warsaw, every being not a UPS one is a bigger one, even if it's white all over. Here a Western Global Airways.

N542KD

EPWA 2016.07.07 Azerbaijan and USAF (E4-B, C-32)

Preceding the NATO summit in Warsaw, some of the equipment was brought in earlier. Delegations arrived at different times and dates. On the 7th of July came in, apart from other, the delegation of Azerbaijan (with a Boeing 767, an Airbus A319 and a Gulfstream G200), and United States Air Force arrived with an E4-B, a C-32. Additionally some pictures of other traffic in the light of a setting sun.

75-0125 and SP-LRB

4K-8888

EPWA 2016.06.25 Omni 762 and RAF KC2

A evening like many but with some unusual planes and carriers coming into Warsaw. This time a Omni Air International Boeing 767-200 (N225AX) and a Royal Air Force KC2 Voyager (ZZ331).

SP-LNF

N225AX