Hi everyone, and welcome to my trip report, flying on Air Serbia to Antalya! I took this flight in mid-July! It was operated as a charter, and thus, was sold as part of a package deal with a tour operator. It was my first time flying since around this time last year. I knew of all of development at the airport, but was also aware of all of the complaints from previous trip reports.
Flight JU9032 was due to leave on a Saturday at 5:40AM. Interestingly, ASL informed the tour agency, which further informed me, of the flights exact time less than 24 hours before the flight itself, which I was told is very unusual, and maybe hints of some operational shortcomings at ASL (not that we didn’t already witness them during the previous weeks). Check in was supposed to start at 3:10AM, and with me being cautious, I showed up at the airport at 2:30AM, which gave me more than enough time to walk around and see what’s new. Most of the “left” part of T2 has been walled off, meanwhile T1 just keeps getting better. It looks as good as new, and has been expanded with a new “600” check in area.
The outside of the airport is extremely busy with construction work literally everywhere. On the first pic is the view from the furthermost you can get from the outside walkways and shows just about where the new main building will link up to the old one. The second one shows a more complete overview from ATC to the extended C concourse.
After a relatively quick check in, which now opens 2.5 hours before takeoff, I went upstairs as there is literally nothing to do on the bottom floor. Here lies a relatively rare problem – security is closed prior to 4am which means most of the pax for my flight, and a few other very early flights, were left to wait up to 45 mins on the top floor, where there is limited seating options and, surprisingly, not much floor space remaining since the new centralized security is huge. Luckily, security is very fast. Even with a huge queue, I was through in no more than 10 mins. As there was some time ago, passport control is right behind security, and then you go to duty free which hasn’t changed much from last year. If you are eager to eat or drink I recommend rushing to “Kapital” at Tesla Square, as it is the only open bar/café at this time of day, but beware as it gets crowded quickly.
My flight was supposed to board at the new gate C9 so, naturally, I walked all the way to gate A5, then all the way to the end of the C concourse and then finally back to my gate, because I wanted to see everything new. In summary, almost all gates have been renovated with the new open space concept in mind, which really does make the airport feel more roomy. Exceptions are I think C3 and C4 which were walled off, and any part of the building beyond A5, which is fully closed off. My only question, which if someone has the answer to please write below, is were the jet bridge locations changed at some gates? I ask because when I reached A2 I was greeted by a literal “door to nowhere” - pics from A2 below
The new and old parts of the concourse are connected by a zig-zag hallway. The extension is huge. Pictures do not accurately portray how much you have to walk if you are going to the further gates. The only critique I can mention is that the concourse looks a bit empty at the moment, and needs a few more stores and bars, but that will likely be fixed soon. The airport as a whole really looks world class, and since I know people here mentioned complaints: I can confirm the AC does work, mobile AC units are present and the bathrooms look great and clean.
Upon reaching the gate I saw what is now a rare sight for BEG. Hidden behind the jet bridge - a 737 classic, to be exact SX-MAM from Air Mediterranean, a 737-400 which will operate this flight. Boarding was quick, and I got in seat 27E. The cabin was clean and perfectly ok - nothing good nor bad to say about it. Well, actually, legroom could have been better for me since I’m over 190cm, but I guess I can’t complain. It’s still not the worst I experienced. Besides us, there were a couple ASL jets parked, all prepping to fly charters.
Takeoff was a bit late, and we basically flew a straight line all the way to Antalya. The flight was calm and took just under two hours. Since Air Mediterranean is a Greek airline, this wet-lease subsequently also featured a Greek crew which spoke in more fluent English than any I have heard on regular ASL flights. Midflight we got the “ASL charter bag” - frankly an embarrassment which featured a small water, sweet cake (can’t think of a better way to name it), and a sandwich which looked rather unappealing and tasted similarly... I look forward to flying ASL on a regular flight soon to see what they offer on non-charter services. Scenery over Turkey was great though!
Descent into Antalya was a bit bumpy. When we landed we were greeted by a crazy amount of SunExpress and Pegasus planes, and Russian widebodies mostly from Azur, which is definitely an interesting sight at a non-Russian airport given world events. Taxi in took around 20 minutes, and we parked at a gate with a jet bridge to my surprise, at Antalya’s T1. Arrival procedures were fast and painless, which is surprising since departing Antalya a week later was hell on Earth, but more on that when I get to writing that trip report. We were out of the airport in no more than 30ish minutes and on to vacation.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you come back for the return trip report!
Share your travel experience by submitting a trip report to exyu@exyuaviation.com
Really nice trip report.
ReplyDeleteAs far as A2 door to nowhere goes, that's where in the past people disembarking would enter the terminal building. Since they no longer mix, now they go upstairs before coming downstairs again. I guess they kept the door just in case.
Lovely report, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI saw on social media that last week Pandora (jewelery) opened a shop at BEG. Anyone know if Starbucks plans on doing the same? I remember there were some mentions of it.
ReplyDeleteDisgusting carpet by A2, they should really clean that up. Otherwise it's a really nice report.
It's not just gate A2, gate C2 has huge black stains on the carpet. Alot of the gate areas have stained carpets, some less some more.
DeleteAlso, the ventilation in the smoking area in the C gates is not working so people smoke with the door open. It takes around 5 people to fill the room with soo much smoke that you don't see people inside.
Nice and very detailed report, waiting to read report from the return flight. It seems that JU changed water bottle, from Junior to regular one, as far I can see. The bag I will not comment.
ReplyDeleteOnboard service is of the Greek carrier, not JU. Air Serbia barely gives you anything while overcharging you for the ticket. I flew to Paris a week ago, got a tiny chips and a tiny bottle of water. My ticket cost €420 without luggage.. Premium fares with LCC product.
DeleteIt is not service of Greek airline. The Greek airline doesn't bring its own catering and sandwiches prepacked for 4 months of service. Don't spread misinformation if you don't know. This is the standard bag you get on JU on charter flights.
DeleteAs for your flight with chips and water, this is more than you get on almost any other European airline. Luthansa no longer even offers a complimentary water on European flights.
No, this is JU flight and JU onboard service, they wet lease plane not service. For all other things you are totally right
DeleteGreek carrier gets their catering in Belgrade, duuuh.
DeleteActually LH offers water and a chocolate, stop lying. People fly with LH because it is a reliable and a global carrier that can get your anywhere fast. You can't compare them with JU. Air Serbia uses its monopolistic position in BEG to overcharge customers. Luckily as more foreign carriers launch BEG this will change. Just look at how fares dropped in STR and DUS after EW entered the market.
It is JU catering and this snack bag has been the case on charter flights for 9 years. Like I said, since you don't know, don't spread misinformation.
DeleteLH is far from reliable. They are always delayed and they have cancelled thousands of flights this summer including many to Belgrade. Their fares have gone through the roof too and they have said they are discouraging people from flying. Amazing airline. .
Well my friend when it comes to delays at least JU can compete. Like this morning when there were no night flights they still managed to have many delayed flights :(
DeleteKad vidim reklame tipa Anon 09:28 meni je muka. Lufthanzina usluga se srozala ali i dalje deru sa cenama gde mogu, to je realno iskustvo poslednjih godina. LH vise nije ono sto je bila pre desetak godina i nema te propagande koja moze da iskrivi stvarnost.
DeleteA jel tebi lakše ako je u LH loša usluga? Zaključak ti je ako je sranje u LH onda je ok ako je sranje u JU.
DeleteDaj brate malo se ozbilji.
Na osnovu cega si zakljucio da je meni lakse ako je u LH losa usluga? Nije moguce izvesti taj zakljucak jer to nisam ni rekao ni insinuirao. Potpuno pogresan zakljucak.
DeleteIsto za ovaj drugi zakljucak, nema uzrocno posledicne veze kojom sam povezao lose stanje u LH kao opravdanje za stanje u JU. Opet greska u rezonovanju. Nisam ti ni brat, a na tebi je da se uozbiljis i pocnes da razmisljas, ako je moguce.
И ја исто мислим да је време да се дотичи Анон уозбиљи. Нема потребе за спамовањем везано за ЈУ. Сви знамо да су код њих високе цене а ниска услуга.
DeleteAjd onda objasni zašto si uopšte spominjao LH? Zato što hoćeš da dokažeš da i oni imaju problema.
DeleteSledi zaključak da lakše dišeš kad je svima loše, ne samo Air Srbiji.
Brate malo si ispao providan.
Ne spamuje on vezano za JU nego reklamira LH kao pouzdanog prevoznika koji te svuda brzo dovede a svi znamo da su kod LH visoke cene a sve niza usluga.
DeleteAnon 22:44 nisi video da sam odgovorio Anon 09:28 koji je govorio o LH? Nisam ja spominjao LH vec taj, i to odvratnom reklamom o tome kako je LH super, sto nema veze sa realnoscu. Ako to nisi uspeo da shvatis i pocinjes recenice sa brate, sve je jasno.
DeleteAnon 22.51 you are obviously failing at defending yourself and you keep on digging your grave more and more so to speak. Best is not to reply anymore and t stop embarrassing yourself.
DeleteDiskusija se bazira na cinjenicama i kao takva je odavno dobijena. Navijacima LH ostaje samo da skrecu sa teme. Uostalom ova tema je izvestaj sa puta za Antaliju pa tu LH ionako nema sta da trazi.
DeleteI think it's mostly the agencies that have weird 24 hour rule for the exact flight time, flew last year with JU to Rhodes, while I could see the exact time of my flight a couple of days in advance on both beg.aero and fr24 we didn't get an official comfirmation until the day before.
ReplyDeleteThis has been the case for at least 15 years. When you pay the tour operator, the fine print says your flight time will be confirmed 24 hrs before. In 99% of cases the original flight time stays.
DeleteThe bigger problem is that they do not want to give you vouchers when you pay than you have to wait in the line at the airport at the agency desk to get voucher and then in the queue to check in
DeleteYes. You noticed big area of improvement of srvice by agenceies and airport and airline. I am not sure who is the root of issue when we wait in the line for woucher and after that go in new line for ticket.
DeleteI still prefer to fly with JU instead of ASL or LH
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, JU and ASL is pretty much the same airline, so you cannot compare them, like an apple and an apple
DeleteNice report Ivan. Good details. Sounds like a pretty uneventful flight and procedures. Problems of course exist at BEG during this reconstruction and post (sort of) covid period, but it ìs important that staff are trying to be helpful.
ReplyDeleteIvan, thanks for interesting trip report and airport review also. Looking forward to your next trip reports :)
ReplyDeleteBravo! Great report :)
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia seems to offer better complimentary catering on their charter flights then on the scheduled flights!
ReplyDeleteCharter flights are always like that with other airlines.
Delete* than on
DeletePrijatelju kad uzmes u obzir koliko si malo platio usluga i servis su odlicni!
ReplyDelete