2am Eternal.
2am starts are never fun. Alas when you need to catch the first bird of the day to Chicago, it's not a nicety - it's a requirement.
Regulars will note the Salomon Bag back in service after the TSA destruction last time. There are of course, very good reasons why I'm using it - mainly because 1) I fixed the zip and 2) the replacement bag just didn't fit the stuff I wanted to take with me. Hopefully it will last the trip. We'll find out soon enough…
By 2:30, the cab had dropped me off at the wrong side of Digbeth Coach Station, and a walk round to the other side showed that was open.
Strangely, National Express has twigged that people like to travel, but also communicate, and throw in an hour of free Internet Access. Which if you've been stuck on a broken down coach would had bee a blessing. Which was useful for a final bit of blogging before getting on the coach.
Shortly after I dropped my post to the blog, boarding was called, and it was time to board.
National Express Bus 210 Birmingham Digbeth Coach Station to London Heathrow Central Bus Station
Price paid £49.40 Return
However the 2:45 was on time, and boarded early, with a pittance of people aboard… and they have the bare faced cheek to charge £50 for this… I swear it was something like 15 people if that boarded the bus.
Doors closed a minute early. Time for the off!
After pulling out, the coach made it's way to Birmingham Airport, and after where the driver got thoroughly confused as there were roadworks on the slipway to the M42.
Now traffic jams in Birmingham City Centre aren't uncommon any time of day are not that uncommon. Traffic Jams in Solihull are rarer (normally if there's a sale in John Lewis… that’s enough to get a Solihull resident out of bed), but it seems that the local roads in Solihull couldn't take the extra load at 3am in the morning of diverted traffic, and that took 30 minutes or so to clear.
This is precious lounge time we're wasting here kids!
Eventually the bus cleared the traffic jam, and then it was a matter of hitting the M42 and M40 to our next stop - Banbury… where we picked up a grand total of ZERO passengers.
So that's why I'm being diddled 50 notes - to fund the actual service today.
After brief stop, the coach rejoined the M42, then the M25 and finally the M4, down to the Heathrow Approach road.
Being a "through" service to Gatwick, we parked of course at the back of beyond at Heathrow Central Bus Station. Still it gave me time for some cold Heathrow air before being cooped up for the next few hours.
After hauling the stuff away from the coach, I loaded up a trolley, and headed to the lift, to begin the great push.
London Heathrow T1 Adventures.
And thus the great push to T1 begun, going through the underground maze that is below the Heathrow Central Area. Quickly enough, I made it into Zone C of Terminal 1, and headed to the *G/1K/Elite line (of which - there was no line). After a brief interrogation by ITCS, i was allowed to proceed to check in. the agent as usual didn't bother to weigh my bags, and told me that I'd had to be escorted to overside check-in (apparently people had been getting lost getting to Zone Y - which I find completely unbelievable....).
After confirming my seat and the loads for the flight (and more importantly, confirming the seat next to me was empty!), I was escorted to Zone Y, where I dumped my bags, and then headed to main security.
It seems even at this time of day, it was amateur hour with people not knowing the top end of from a security baggie from another.
I of course just breezed through, and proceeded to Boarding Pass Check, then onto Security. Whilst it was busy, it wasn't heaving.
Put it like this, from the queue I joined to being on the other side was a grand total of 5 minutes. As most of us who fly (semi) regularly know "Be Prepared". Know what they want, do it and then get the hell out of there ASAP.
I took a left after security to the first lounge stop of the morning - The BMI Diamond Club Great British Lounge
LOUNGE STOP
British Midland International's "The Great British Lounge".
I was welcomed to the lounge, and asked if I needed a tour. I politely declined the tour and headed to my usual haunt in the lounge - "The Local"
The Local
The bar
The lounge hasn't changed an iota from my last visit (and I remember the GBL being a very nice lounge). A new addition was the offer of hot food from the BMI Aga - the offering was Porridge. Whilst not my personal taste, it's nice to see warm breakfast offerings.
Breakfast
With the state BMI is in - it'll probably the last time I see it in it's current ownership hands and I wish I could be down south more to support BMI. Alas, my reasons for not flying BMI as much as I would like to are pretty much on record (an ever shrinking network and bad timings). I just wish all the BMI staff the best of luck for the future because if anyone is going to get screwed by the change of ownership BMI is suffering - it will be them.
And since BMI is being sold to BA, can we put these in the bin please?
Exiting the lounge, it was time to walk down to through T1
T1 - Sleep Inducing
Next stop (and to be closer to the jetbridge) would be a lounge stop at the Star Alliance Common Lounge.
LOUNGE STOP
Star Alliance Common Lounge
Where as the GBL is a beacon on light, the *A lounge… isn't. It is actually a darkly mood light multiple room. And whilst it may be dark, the food offerings are slightly better. However cutbacks seem to be hitting this lounge, with bacon and sausages still there… and if you hunted around for them - rolls too. No more pre-made rolls for you.
Bacon and Sausages
Rolls
Coldcuts
Good thing I can make bacon and sausage rolls then.
After beating the laptop around, I got the Wifi to work and did what I wanted to do for
BoardingArea (what? You didn't realise I had a blog there? Shame on you! Over to
GhettoIFE.com at BoardingArea after you’re finished here!
. By that point the rolls were consumed, and it was getting on for 7am, which means time to pack everything away again and head over to the gate.
If there is one thing you can be assured of at Heathrow T1, it's the guarantee of a good hike from the central waiting area to the UA gates which today was at the far end of the Europier Extension - Gate 47A.
Again, ICTS were there asking questions, picking people at random to be screened further. I was waived through, where boarding was almost ready to begin. And then I looked closely at the paintwork of the 747-400. OOOOH DEAR.
FAO: Jeff Smisek - Pssst. This isn't a change I like - A very poor first impression… and they do count sadly for people like me.
Eventually after 1K's First and Business was boarded, it was time for us mere Star Golds to board. I was beeped aboard, and told to use the right land left bridge (Heathrow - using TWO jetbridges? Am I at the right airport????)