amsterdam/london: Amsterdam schipol International, Amsterdam Netherlands (AMS) to London-Heathrow International, London England (LHR)

BA431 2NOV08 Amsterdam schipol International, Amsterdam Netherlands (AMS) to London-Heathrow International, London England (LHR) 11:40a 12:10p 321 G-EUXC

Flight Time: 0:45
Seat Map [No seat map for the Airbus A321, but here is a link to the other Euro Traveller planes] http://www.britishairways.com/travel/eurotr/public/en_gb

At the aircraft door, she presented me to the flight crew and advised them that she had to write my seat number on the boarding pass. I waited to move down the aisle as there was a line.

The first four rows of the aircraft is called the Club Europe section in a 2-3 configuration. I always wonder about that though. It must suck for the guy who gets the middle seat. Although I've been that guy a few times.

I made my way to my seat in Economy class with its 3-3 leather seat configuration and eventually found a place for my bag. I was actually behind the guy who was at the aisle seat, so I waited for him to get his stuff settled before taking my seat.

The Captain came on the PA and said good morning and introduced his crew. He also gave us the weather report for London and it did not include any rain. Although it was cloudy and cold. He anticipated no delays and said that we would pushback shortly.

Sure enough we did at 11:40a. Some passengers were still getting seated. The manual safety demo commenced as the engines started and we made our way out to the runway. There was a Suriname Airways Boeing 747-300 ahead of us as well as an easyJet Boeing 737-300. it was amazing to see the effect of the engines of the Boeing 747-300 on the water on the runway; quite spectacular. This was the same jet I had seen at the gate when I arrived the previous day.

It was now our turn, and we took to the air very quickly.

Almost immediately after takeoff, the flight attendant said welcome and explained the service. Soon, a ham and double cheese sandwich was presented, but vegetarian (cheese) was also available. You could also get whatever beverage you wanted.

I read the High Life magazine as well as the inflight magazine, plus the Wall Street Journal Europe that I'd picked up at the gate. I then read the e-mails I had downloaded in the KLM Crown Lounge. I wanted to write some more, but the guy next to me kept reading my stuff, so I closed the laptop in disgust and dozed off.

I awoke to get my seat ready for landing, but went back to sleep again.