1st Trip back to France in 2018

On my way back to Italy & Provence for a short period of time, when spring is fighting its way through an icy winter. Fortunately, I am bringing some fine and warmer weather along with me!

Air route from BKK to FCO (Rome-Fiumicino)

Once more, I use QATAR AIRWAYS and prefer to transit via ROME in order to get to Marseille-Provence [MRS] Airport.

It has been a long time I haven't flown the A380, but today my flight to Doha [DOH] is using the A380-800. I love the secludedness of the upstairs rear cabin and the smoothness of the aircraft. QATAR granted me the request I made to be in the first row of the cabin [seat 25A]. The weather is fine, so it should be a pleasant flight to the Arabic peninsula.

A380-800 from BKK to DOH

It was a fully loaded aircraft today, whose captain was a female. It left BKK slightly after schedule but still arrived at Hamad Intl. Airport [HIA] on time after a flight of 7h20.

The transit was really short at Hamad International Airport this time. So, I did not stay too long in the lounge.

B787-8 Dreamliner from DOH to FCO

Aboard the 'Dreamliner'

The flight to Rome-Fiumicino Airport left and arrived on schedule. I had been upgraded to business class [seat 3A] this time so it was a really nice and smooth flight, where I was able to sleep on a bed almost during the whole duration. The B787-8 Dreamliner covered the distance in 6h.
It is still dark over Rome. The airport is empty. There is only one officer at the passport control. And when I get to the baggage delivery, I do not have much to wait to get my small case. Kudos for the delivery so soon after the arrival!
The temperature is not as cold I thought it would be: only 12ºC.
And it is still early morning. The ground looks a little wet but it is partly cloudy only. I walked from T3 to T1 enjoying a bit of cool air after the heat of Bangkok! I got another nice surprise at the  ALITALIA checking area at T1. First, that I would already be

At the ALITALIA lounge

able to check in for my next flight to Marseilles [MRS]. Second, that I could already go to the Alitalia Lounge and wait there for my next flight! Everything was done quickly. There was nobody queuing at the Fast Track and I could walk easily to the D-gate area to get to the lounge. Quite a nice lounge too! This is my lucky day, I guess. I found a nice, quiet corner to kill off time in style. I took a cappuccino first, a few bites, and later an espresso.

From an early morning arrival till 2:00PM, it was a long wait. But it was not all that bad waiting at the lounge. I had coffee, a few snacks, a glass of red wine and even a lunch, which otherwise I would have had to buy. All this in a pleasant environment. I went online, wrote a few things, read a newspaper and kept on reading the book I took along with me on this trip.
On my way to the boarding gate, I did some window shopping in the terminal. The weather had changed progressively. It was overcast and even slightly wet before departure. The boarding of the ALITALIA [AZ] flight went on time and passengers were ushered by bus to the aircraft, an A319. Soon after take-off, the clouds gave way to clearer sky and it was brightly sunny on the Riviera coastline with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. The flight to Marseille-Provence Airport [MRS] lasted 1h and the crew served drinks and snacks aboard. The aircraft arrived five minutes ahead of schedule.

AZ A319 route from FCO to MRS

My sis and her two grandsons were waiting for me inside the terminal and we all left by car to Arles.

- End of the ongoing trip -