TRIP REPORT: Air Serbia/British Airways, Belgrade - Miami

TRIP REPORT

FLIGHT INFO:

Route: Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) to Miami International Airport (MIA) via Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Airline: Air Serbia / British Airways

Aircraft: ATR 72-600 (YU-ASA) / Airbus A319-100 (G-DBCK) / Airbus A380-800 (G-XLED)

Flight No: JU142 / BA869 / BA209

Class: Economy

Seat: 16F / 22F / 40K

Flight Duration: 1h10m - 1st flight / 2h50m - 2nd flight / 10h05m - 3rd flight

My journey to Miami was initially planned to start from Budapest, with a layover in London, as the ticket was a whole €200 cheaper than flying directly from Belgrade. My plan was to reach Budapest by minivan or bus, but just as I was about to book my ticket, my mobile operator sent me a surprise offer - a discount on an Air Serbia flight to Budapest. I thought to myself, "This is a sign!" and booked a one-way ticket for €50. And just like that, my adventure began!

I bought a round-trip ticket from Budapest to Miami with British Airways for €470 at the end of November during their "Autumn Clean-Up" sale for February 16. My first flight, from Belgrade to Budapest, was on February 15 - one day before my transatlantic journey - just to be on the safe side in case of any delays. This also meant I had an overnight stay in Budapest.

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Air Serbia Flight: Belgrade – Budapest (JU142, ATR 72)

The online check-in process went smoothly, and at the airport, I was directed to the new e-gates for Serbian passports - a cool experience, though before scanning, a police officer still checked and stamped my passport.

The flight was operated by an ATR 72, registration YU-ASA, and boarding was from a ground gate (C10E), followed by a short bus ride to the aircraft. Carry-on suitcases were left at the aircraft door and picked up the same way upon landing in Budapest.

The plane wasn’t full, but more than half of the seats were occupied. I had seat 16F with an empty seat next to me (always a win!). The flight was short and pleasant, the crew was friendly, and the service was simple - water and a Plazma biscuit.

Upon landing in Budapest, passport control was a breeze with no questions asked. I immediately hopped on the 100E airport bus to the city center. There are ticket machines at arrivals where you can buy a ticket with a card - quick and easy. I also bought my return ticket for the next day's airport trip.

I had planned to walk around Budapest, but... freezing temperatures, strong winds, and me dressed lightly for Miami? Bad combination! Instead, I decided to rest up for the big travel day ahead.

British Airways Flight: Budapest - London (BA869, Airbus A319)

The next morning, I arrived at the airport three hours before departure. Although I tried checking in online, the system eventually told me I had to check in at the counter - probably because of my Serbian passport.

Side note: From the moment I bought my ticket, I had one major concern - do I need a transit visa for London?

I called travel agencies - they didn’t know. British Airways? Their office in Belgrade no longer exists, and the phone number listed online as their contact now belongs to a private individual who is understandably frustrated from all the calls she gets. The British Embassy in Belgrade? "Check online with immigration services." Finally, I found the official information -- if you hold a valid U.S., New Zealand, Canadian, or Australian visa and stay in the airport's transit area, you don’t need a transit visa. Otherwise, you do.

At Budapest Airport, I checked in for both my flights - to London and to Miami. Passport and security control were quick, and my flight departed from Gate B6.

The aircraft was an 18-year-old Airbus A319 (G-DBCK), but impeccably maintained inside. My seat, 22F, had another empty seat beside me - another "yay!" moment. 😄

We took off on time, and during the flight, we received a complimentary chocolate biscuit and water - similar to Air Serbia’s service on shorter flights. I liked that British Airways offers a wider selection of food and drinks for purchase compared to Air Serbia.

The flight was smooth, though we did two holding patterns before landing in London. On all British flights I had free messaging Wi-Fi (if you're an Executive Club member, which you can activate for free).

London Heathrow – Terminal 3 to Terminal 5

I landed in London, a city I absolutely love - and, of course, it was sunny again! 😊 My next flight was from Terminal 5, while we arrived at Terminal 3.

I followed the purple "Flight Connections" signs, took the free shuttle bus to T5, went through another security check, then took a train to gates C. Even with a two-hour layover, I felt like I was constantly rushing. I arrived at my gate just in time for the final boarding call!

British Airways Flight: London – Miami (BA209, Airbus A380)

As I reached Gate C57, I paused for a moment to admire the A380 - the aircraft I would be flying on for the first time! I was beyond excited.

My seat choice: 40K (window seat, lower deck). Why lower deck? On the upper deck, a window seat cost an extra €70, which felt a bit steep, while this one was “only” €30.

The aircraft, G-XLED, was 12 years old - majestic on the outside but showing signs of wear on the inside. The USB charger didn’t work, there were no power outlets, the entertainment screen was slow, and the provided headphones had already been opened - not exactly a luxury feel. However, the spaciousness and the massive windows made up for it!

The flight lasted 10 hours, and here’s what we were served: Pretzels and a drink right after takeoff, main meal- Mashed potatoes with a beef patty, salad, bread, cheese and pudding. Drinks was available throughout the flight and pre-landing snack - a chicken-filled pastry with a cold beverage at the end.

The crew was fantastic, and flying on this giant was an unforgettable experience! The approach into Miami, flying over Miami Beach and Downtown, was breathtaking.

We landed in Miami around 7:30 PM local time, marking the successful end of my transatlantic journey.

Final Thoughts

Overall, a fantastic experience! British Airways is definitely a recommendation, and I personally have had no negative experiences with Air Serbia either—I use them several times a year, and I hope it stays that way.

As for the A380, that’s an aircraft everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime!

You can also watch the entire trip report in the form of a video:

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