The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Sarah Marshal
A travel blogger has filmed his extraordinary experience travelling in a Boeing 777 first-class cabin on a flight that lasted just 50 minutes.
The 242ft-long 777 is the world’s largest twinjet aircraft with engines that are the most powerful in the world and almost the same diameter as a 737 fuselage. It’s designed to cross vast oceans and continents.
But Andrew McFadden, from Derry, who blogs about travel under the name ‘FlyingDerryMan’, flew in one operated by British Airways from Heathrow to Dublin – a distance of just 280 miles.
BA occasionally uses twin-aisle long-haul planes for short journeys as a result of extra cargo demand, much to the delight of the often surprised passengers.
Andrew McFadden, who blogs about travel under the name ‘FlyingDerryMan’, filmed his extraordinary experience travelling in a Boeing 777 first-class cabin on a Heathrow to Dublin service. Above is a still from his footage showing passengers boarding the aircraft
‘There was a lot of excitement and chatter among the cabin crew. It was certainly a novelty to them.’
Mr McFadden’s first-class seat would normally cost from around £6,000. How did he end up in it?
It was a free upgrade that came with his business-class ticket, which for the Heathrow to Dublin route – normally operated by a single-aisle A320 – costs from around £220.
He explained: ‘I was booked in the Club Europe – business – cabin. However, as the aircraft was long-haul configured, it had a first-class cabin that was being used for Club Europe passengers.
‘Luckily, I was able to book one of these seats for no extra charge.’
Mr McFadden revealed that he was flying business, but was able to book a seat in the 777’s first-class cabin (above) at no extra charge
![Mr McFadden's first-class seat for his 280-mile journey. He said: 'The [lie-flat] seat was very comfortable and would be amazing for a long-haul flight'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/08/13/68461985-11834675-Mr_McFadden_s_first_class_seat_for_his_280_mile_journey_He_said_-a-30_1678280519313.jpg)
Mr McFadden’s first-class seat for his 280-mile journey. He said: ‘The [lie-flat] seat was very comfortable and would be amazing for a long-haul flight’
Mr McFadden said the ‘crew were terrific and the aircraft was clean’, but the food (above), he thought, was ‘lacking in quantity’
‘As an avid travel blogger, I couldn’t pass up the chance to fly a wide-bodied aircraft on such a short flight,’ said Mr McFadden
Travel blogger Andrew McFadden
The business-class cabin on a short-haul BA flight features rows of economy-style seats with the middle seat blocked.
BA flights from London to Dublin are usually operated by a single-aisle A320 (above)
