Or: Trouble Brewing

After a shower and breakfast the new day was much more bearable, so I busied myself in the SEN lounge with repeated tests of their Nespresso machine and the Straits Times, because why not read a Singapore paper in Switzerland when you're going in the opposite direction? And who knows where I might be in a few years? Soon my flight was boarding, so I took my leave of the SEN lounge for 2008 and headed to security. Lines were short, even this close to Christmas, and the gate was only a few minutes' walk away. I arrived and just merged into the line as boarding was starting for this rather full flight to LHR early in the morning, again thankful for not having to worry about any boarding announcement past the first.


Our flight at the gate, waiting for departure to LHR on this much-less-snowy morning


Empty rows, which won't remain so much longer


A neighbouring A330 loads next to us for its next departure

21 Dec, 2008
LX316
ZRH-LHR
Airbus A321 - HB-IOF
Seat 36A

Being one of the first to board has its advantages, especially when you're in a window seat near the back, as I so often tend to be seated with LX. This time it meant there was a few minutes wait before the crowds made it back this far and started filling up the plane (I thought it was a bit odd later on, but it's almost like we boarded front to back this time). The weather was still making a bit of trouble, though, and we ended up waiting for a few connections and latecomers. Past the empty middle seat (thank you, seat blocking) was a guy who just got off a connection from India and seemed a bit tired/stressed that he wouldn't make it to whatever he was heading. He kept asking the crew for something to drink or eat before we took off, possibly diabetic? He eventually moved up farther toward the front after takeoff leaving me with possibly the only free row on the plane.

The service on this flight was again right up to LX standard, although it took a bit longer than the last flight, what with the difference in loads. After the chocolate course, I settled in to watch the IFE and was a bit disappointed to notice that Tom & Jerry seems to have been replaced lately with another one of these hidden camera shows. Not that I dislike them as much as a lot of stuff out there, but Tom & Jerry is just more universal. The Road Runner would also be acceptable. Soon, though, landing cards were distributed and we started our descent into London.


Sunrise over Europe somewhere

As one of the few LX flights I've remained awake for, this was definitely up to service standard, although definitely not as smooth a process as the flight the night before. This could possibly be attributed to loads, but it's good to know that even loads don't particularly hurt the standard on LX as far as I've seen. Hopefully I'll get a chance to try them again in the near future, but this depends more on where we're heading in 2009. More on that in a different TR, if the opportunity arises, I guess.

We landed rather smoothly on 9L, uncharcteristically smooth for LX it seemed, However this was damped by the view from the window as we taxiied past the SQ A380 parked on stand at T3. Unfortunately, it would be a few hours before I was in T3 and this first required a walk through T2... At the back of the flight, as well, this was less exciting than normal.


Finally I get to actually see the SQ A380, as opposed to just the top of the fin hiding behind a terminal

Once we had parked at gate and the doors were opened this was no less apparent, with the queues at T2 security longer than I'd normally wish for. Thankfully, though, they moved quickly and I was soon at a desk where the agent took a look at my passport and made a comment that would define the rest of the holiday. "Canadian, are you? Did you get caught in the snow?" I really just had the presence of mind to say "No, that's coming up next!" but he had no idea how right he was going to be for the country as a whole! For three days I'd been hearing from my parents about all the weather problems in YYZ recently and trying to get me to reroute through YYC to avoid them, but I had stood by the winning trifecta of reasons for taking my chances and keeping with a connection in YYZ:

1) I had a better chance of upgrading through YYZ and had already confirmed the YYZ-YXE segment.
2) Going through YYC would mean I might not make my miles total for the year.
3) I don't much like Calgary.

So with an 8 hour layover in London on the original plan, I first ran out to Left Luggage in T2, grabbed my bag, ran over to T3, and quickly repacked everything so it would be suitable to check in/carry on. It took a few minutes to get everything sorted and soon I was in the queue to check in. This was, of course, the queue for ExecFirst/*G, so I could be thankful I didn't have to stand in the other line which, by now, was probably half an hour deep. The wait was still an eternity, though, at almost two full minutes! Luckily, the agent who did check me in was up to the usual pleasant standard of AC at LHR, and she confirmed that I was on the upgrade waitlist for the flight, and finished the checkin in very little time at all.

After the few minutes, I once again thanked my lucky stars that I didn't have to fight the line anymore and met up with a friend first for a coffee or few at a nearby Costa and then Dim Sum at London Hong Kong. I'm going to have to make more excuses to do long transits through LHR on a Sunday midmorning for Dim Sum, after this trip. The food was delicious and the view was excellent, overlooking 9L as it was being used for takeoffs including the SQ A380 that I had seen earlier. After Dim Sum, though, I wanted to head back to the terminal a bit early, as I really hoped to get some lounge time in and make it to the gate early to see if I won the aerolotto. So we drove back to T3 and it was time to unofficially start the next part of this trip.


Dangerous driving directions?


The SQ A380 departing back to Singapore

Next time: Long-haul back to Canada on the 763