We came back from a family holiday in Mallorca a couple of days ago and the sector took 2h30. Having been to Palma quite a lot, I am aware that this is a long airborne time for the sector.
Hmmm..... tricky one F3G. Where were you bound - U.K. I presume? Two and a half hours to LGW would indeed be quite a drag but to GLA a swift return!!
As for the turbulence question - a definitive answer is one that the seasoned pro's still seek. It is not unusual to sit in a 150kt jetstream enjoying a smooth ride and later be in a 5kt zephyr having the ride of a lifetime (so to speek
). Ironically, the aircraft following a few minutes behind may well experience the exact opposite.