30th birthday trip...... ABZ-DUB-LHR-LAX-HNL-OGG-HNL-LIH-HNL-LAX-LHR-DUB-ABZ
Aug 29, 2015, 12:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, Mucci de buveur de gin
Posts: 3,060
30th birthday trip...... ABZ-DUB-LHR-LAX-HNL-OGG-HNL-LIH-HNL-LAX-LHR-DUB-ABZ
Intro
I have finally turned old. I will be 30 in October. I am already suicidal at the thought of it. I always thought of myself as being married off after 25 and settled down. Well that didn't happen. So one dark January Friday evening when it was snowing gently outside in Aberdeen city centre, I decided to have a look and see what sort of summer holiday I could take to celebrate the big 3-0. I'm sure I must have read a thread on the BA forum about an ex-DUB sale in J (Club World) to Hawaii. So after some to-ing and fro-ing, I bit the bullet and booked my trip. I managed to get a cheapish Aer Lingus flight (£100) from Aberdeen to Dublin to connect down to London. I'd spend the night at a hotel at Heathrow (Holiday Inn) and fly to LAX and straight on to HNL on the Sunday morning. Now that is gonna be a long day!
I was looking forward to trying out Club World in the double decker (which I hadn't been on before). I was keeping an eye out near enough daily just in case availability opened up in F to LAX but there was nothing.
That was, until, the Tuesday before I left. I had dreamt that I got upgraded at the airport to 3F (which was a first class seat in my dream). I was having breakfast and remembered the dream and logged into my account and, as luck would have it, there was one seat in F sitting there. I moved probably the quickest I have ever moved and phoned the Gold line. 25,000 Avios later and I was confirmed in 2K for the LHR-LAX leg. RESULT!
So fast forward 7 and a bit months and the big day has come!
EI3241 (operated by Stobart Air), ABZ-DUB, EI-REI
Who are Stobart Air?! Never heard of them before.
Anyway, I got dropped off at the airport just after 9am. The poor lady in front of me at check in was having a 'mare. She wasn't on the passenger list even though she had a confirmed booking printed out. The check in lady said she'd have to call Aer Lingus and saw to me while she waited for them to answer. Luckily, I spotted the lady on the plane so all turned out well in the end. Currency was picked up from Travelex before I went through security. There was about a ten minute wait in the security line but it seemed to move quickly enough.
The terminal wasn't too busy so I grabbed a seat, got a pint (obviously Tennents) and watched an episode of Odyssey on iPlayer.
I had to laugh at some of the announcements made in the departures area.
"easyJet are pleased to announce the departure of flight EZY..... to London Gatwick. At this time, we ask passengers needing extra assistance......" etc, etc. This was when the inbound plane hadn't even landed and was still about ten mins from Aberdeen. Ha!
Thankfully nothing like that with my flight and I went along to Gate 2 about ten minutes after they called boarding and walked outside to the prop plane sitting waiting.
I was originally sitting in 4A but the cabin crew guy asked me to move to the emergency exit which I happily did (but it turned out there was a lady next to me in the exit row anyway?!). Leg room was decent.
The flight was uneventful but seemed to take forever. I guess these turbo props don't go as fast as you think they do!
We arrived in Dublin and got bussed to the terminal where I picked up my case and went through to the other terminal and checked the case in again to pick up in London. Fast track security was fast and I was headed towards the DAA lounge in no time.
I had given myself just over two and a half hours connection time but the flight to London turned out being delayed an hour. In between having beer and napping, the time passed pretty quickly. The lounge is not too bad. Food selection limited but the soup (chicken and veg) tasted great.
Boarding was called for the BA flight to London so I left the lounge and went to the 300 something gate where there was a big scrum of people waiting to get on.
I have finally turned old. I will be 30 in October. I am already suicidal at the thought of it. I always thought of myself as being married off after 25 and settled down. Well that didn't happen. So one dark January Friday evening when it was snowing gently outside in Aberdeen city centre, I decided to have a look and see what sort of summer holiday I could take to celebrate the big 3-0. I'm sure I must have read a thread on the BA forum about an ex-DUB sale in J (Club World) to Hawaii. So after some to-ing and fro-ing, I bit the bullet and booked my trip. I managed to get a cheapish Aer Lingus flight (£100) from Aberdeen to Dublin to connect down to London. I'd spend the night at a hotel at Heathrow (Holiday Inn) and fly to LAX and straight on to HNL on the Sunday morning. Now that is gonna be a long day!
I was looking forward to trying out Club World in the double decker (which I hadn't been on before). I was keeping an eye out near enough daily just in case availability opened up in F to LAX but there was nothing.
That was, until, the Tuesday before I left. I had dreamt that I got upgraded at the airport to 3F (which was a first class seat in my dream). I was having breakfast and remembered the dream and logged into my account and, as luck would have it, there was one seat in F sitting there. I moved probably the quickest I have ever moved and phoned the Gold line. 25,000 Avios later and I was confirmed in 2K for the LHR-LAX leg. RESULT!
So fast forward 7 and a bit months and the big day has come!
EI3241 (operated by Stobart Air), ABZ-DUB, EI-REI
Who are Stobart Air?! Never heard of them before.
Anyway, I got dropped off at the airport just after 9am. The poor lady in front of me at check in was having a 'mare. She wasn't on the passenger list even though she had a confirmed booking printed out. The check in lady said she'd have to call Aer Lingus and saw to me while she waited for them to answer. Luckily, I spotted the lady on the plane so all turned out well in the end. Currency was picked up from Travelex before I went through security. There was about a ten minute wait in the security line but it seemed to move quickly enough.
The terminal wasn't too busy so I grabbed a seat, got a pint (obviously Tennents) and watched an episode of Odyssey on iPlayer.
I had to laugh at some of the announcements made in the departures area.
"easyJet are pleased to announce the departure of flight EZY..... to London Gatwick. At this time, we ask passengers needing extra assistance......" etc, etc. This was when the inbound plane hadn't even landed and was still about ten mins from Aberdeen. Ha!
Thankfully nothing like that with my flight and I went along to Gate 2 about ten minutes after they called boarding and walked outside to the prop plane sitting waiting.
I was originally sitting in 4A but the cabin crew guy asked me to move to the emergency exit which I happily did (but it turned out there was a lady next to me in the exit row anyway?!). Leg room was decent.
The flight was uneventful but seemed to take forever. I guess these turbo props don't go as fast as you think they do!
We arrived in Dublin and got bussed to the terminal where I picked up my case and went through to the other terminal and checked the case in again to pick up in London. Fast track security was fast and I was headed towards the DAA lounge in no time.
I had given myself just over two and a half hours connection time but the flight to London turned out being delayed an hour. In between having beer and napping, the time passed pretty quickly. The lounge is not too bad. Food selection limited but the soup (chicken and veg) tasted great.
Boarding was called for the BA flight to London so I left the lounge and went to the 300 something gate where there was a big scrum of people waiting to get on.
Last edited by stu1985; Aug 29, 2015 at 3:50 am
Aug 29, 2015, 2:57 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Iver
Programs: BA GOLD/OWE BA Amex Prem Plus Tesco Airmiles Qantas Bronze IHG SPG Eithad
Posts: 2,902
Have subscribed to the what it going to be a very interesting TR, cannot wait, oh dear that big 30 catches up with us all at some stage in life, just enjoy the moment^
Aug 29, 2015, 3:43 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: North of Carlisle
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,538
Old at 30!!, I'm sure there's a few of us on here who would love to wind the clock back to 30 again (myself included) this looks like the mother of all TR's Stu, looking forward to it - enjoy
(myself included) this looks like the mother of all TR's Stu, looking forward to it - enjoy
Aug 29, 2015, 9:25 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Helsinki
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 406
Oh my, another great report to be read. I thought that I travel quite a lot, but what did I know. I want your job that allows this constant travelling.
Don't worry! I'll 40 next spring, and I think the last 10 years have been the best of my life...
Don't worry! I'll 40 next spring, and I think the last 10 years have been the best of my life...
Aug 30, 2015, 3:57 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, Mucci de buveur de gin
Posts: 3,060
Aug 30, 2015, 5:01 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, Mucci de buveur de gin
Posts: 3,060
DUB-LHR, BA837, G-EUPS
This flight was pretty full and it looks like BA do well on this route. The seat next to me had this on it....
One of the crew seats at the front was broken so I had the CSD next to me for take off and landing.
The usual hot towels were given out before we took off.
Before long, we were above the clouds and making our way towards London. The flight time was announced as being just one hour but I think it turned out being less than that.
Afternoon tea was the Club Europe meal of choice today which was perfect for the time of day. Accompanied with some 'fizz'...
We dodged some bad weather on the way into London but after that, it was plain sailing into Heathrow where we approached in over Windsor.
I think we arrived at Gate 23. I was first off and made my way through a part of Terminal 5 that I had never been through before into baggage reclaim.
My bags were off pretty quickly so I was on the Hoppa bus to the hotel in no time. I stayed at the Holiday Inn. Check-in was painless and they upgraded me to an Executive Room. There was a nice welcome gift waiting for me in the room.
I didn't do much in the evening. Had something to eat in the hotel bar along with a few glasses of wine.
I got up in the morning and left the hotel on the Hoppa bus back to the airport. Terminal 5 was quite busy but I was through security in about 5 minutes and greeted with a blast of sun through the terminal windows.
It was then a right turn to the special door taking you into the Concorde Room.
I found a seat on the terrace and ordered a coffee.
The terrace was nice and quiet - I was the only one there. One of the staff kept coming around checking that everything was ok and offering further drinks. I happily obliged.
I had booked one of the treatments at the Elemis spa for 7.40am so headed over there just before that. I got the facial which was a very relaxing 15 minutes.
After picking up a bottle of whisky in duty free, I headed back to the CCR where I went to the restaurant and had some breakfast. The place was, not to put so fine a word on it, a dump. There was dirty dishes lying at nearly every table and the staff decided to use the spare seat at my table as a dumping ground for their trays and cleaning materials. Not exactly first class....
Breakfast was nice enough, though.
After I finished, it was about time to head over to the C gates. I took the walkway and got across there in just around 10 minutes where boarding for the flight to LAX had just started.
This flight was pretty full and it looks like BA do well on this route. The seat next to me had this on it....
One of the crew seats at the front was broken so I had the CSD next to me for take off and landing.
The usual hot towels were given out before we took off.
Before long, we were above the clouds and making our way towards London. The flight time was announced as being just one hour but I think it turned out being less than that.
Afternoon tea was the Club Europe meal of choice today which was perfect for the time of day. Accompanied with some 'fizz'...
We dodged some bad weather on the way into London but after that, it was plain sailing into Heathrow where we approached in over Windsor.
I think we arrived at Gate 23. I was first off and made my way through a part of Terminal 5 that I had never been through before into baggage reclaim.
My bags were off pretty quickly so I was on the Hoppa bus to the hotel in no time. I stayed at the Holiday Inn. Check-in was painless and they upgraded me to an Executive Room. There was a nice welcome gift waiting for me in the room.
I didn't do much in the evening. Had something to eat in the hotel bar along with a few glasses of wine.
I got up in the morning and left the hotel on the Hoppa bus back to the airport. Terminal 5 was quite busy but I was through security in about 5 minutes and greeted with a blast of sun through the terminal windows.
It was then a right turn to the special door taking you into the Concorde Room.
I found a seat on the terrace and ordered a coffee.
The terrace was nice and quiet - I was the only one there. One of the staff kept coming around checking that everything was ok and offering further drinks. I happily obliged.
I had booked one of the treatments at the Elemis spa for 7.40am so headed over there just before that. I got the facial which was a very relaxing 15 minutes.
After picking up a bottle of whisky in duty free, I headed back to the CCR where I went to the restaurant and had some breakfast. The place was, not to put so fine a word on it, a dump. There was dirty dishes lying at nearly every table and the staff decided to use the spare seat at my table as a dumping ground for their trays and cleaning materials. Not exactly first class....
Breakfast was nice enough, though.
After I finished, it was about time to head over to the C gates. I took the walkway and got across there in just around 10 minutes where boarding for the flight to LAX had just started.
Aug 30, 2015, 8:42 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, Mucci de buveur de gin
Posts: 3,060
Aug 31, 2015, 7:15 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Denver CO
Programs: HHonors Gold, National Emerald Club, no airline affinity status
Posts: 3,349
That's what I thought but for some reason I assumed it was closer in to town. Look forward to the rest of your trip report. Have fun.
Last edited by HawaiiTrvlr; Aug 31, 2015 at 7:22 am
Aug 31, 2015, 9:29 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Aberdeen
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 751
Spooky, I just logged on to see if you were ok - knowing there were weather warnings before you left! Looking forward to the rest eagerly! BUT, jam on top of cream? Stu, please!
Aug 31, 2015, 1:05 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, Mucci de buveur de gin
Posts: 3,060
Errrrrrrrrrrm are you kidding me JamieABZ?! Cream first and then jam. That's the rules......heathen.
Aug 31, 2015, 5:02 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
If you are ever on one of my flights, you will NOT be offered a scone till you have signed to say that you will abide by the CORRECT way of applying the jam and cream… CREAM and THEN jam…
Absolute sacrilege any other way…
