I took new BA 2-hour flight to top European seaside destination
BOARDING gates are usually good for people spotting, but I don’t usually see famous faces among the frazzled families, loved-up couples and hen parties.
British Airways’ newest route isn’t your average flight though.
The 2-hour journey from London City airport (best airport in the UK in my opinion) is taking passengers to Toulon-Hyeres airport in the south of France twice-weekly until September.
The seaside city is a taxi ride away from A-List heavy holiday destinations like St Tropez, Grimaud and Sainte Maxime.
Which is why my plane featured not one, not two, but three celebrities queueing to board.
Kelly Brook was sat in Business Class with her actor husband Jeremy Parisi, while Pixie Geldof and her sister Tiger Lily Hutchence-Geldof boarded the back of the plane in the Economy cabin.
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London City is a dream airport, with non-existent security queues, almost non-existent check-in queues and very short walks to boarding gates.
I kicked myself for arriving a keen two hours before the flight, because we did everything so quickly that we had masses of time to kill.
The planes are small by BA standards but as they’re part of the BA CityFlyer brand that operates out of London City, Economy passengers get a free drink and a light snack on the two-hour trip, with flights costing from £130 one-way.
Business Class passengers get a full meal and car service, which includes fried breakfasts, salads and a hot main, plus pudding and bread roll, depending on the time of day you travel.
Despite this, flights cost from £130 one-way.
The flight is aiming itself at passengers who want relaxed and luxurious travel to the famous French Riviera, and Toulon airport is so tiny that arrivals at the other end are similarly breezy.
The dreaded lengthy passport control queues were perfectly manageable as the airport only serves seven destinations.
Because it’s so small, there is only a tiny cafe at Toulon after check-in though, so it’s worth coming armed with your own food if you have specific tastes.
The French Riviera isn’t known for being cheap, but you don’t have to splash 100 euros on a taxi to St Tropez.
There is a coach that leaves twice daily from the airport and costs 2.50 euros per person and travels all the way to St Tropez, stopping at a number of holiday destinations en route.
I was staying at the Eurocamp in nearby Port Grimaud and it took me nearly all the way, with just a 10 euro Uber at the end to get me to my campsite.
St Tropez is in the spotlight even more than usual this summer, as the new series of HBO’s The White Lotus will be set on the French Riviera, with the posh Chateau de la Messadiere in St Tropez being used as the main filming location.
So if you fancy checking out the real-life location that’ll be beaming onto our screens next summer ahead of the crowds, this is one of the easiest and most comfortable flights to get you there.
Plus you might even spot a celeb or two on your way.