Leg Two - Moscow SVO to LHR 11 April
BA 873 Economy seat 17J Boeing 767
After a quick arrival and speedy passport check, I headed out with my driver towards Sheremetyevo Airport - about 80 km away. Fortunately it was a nice day in Moscow with little traffic.
As is my usual custom when passing through Moscow I had my driver stop at McDonald's for lunch - something that I don't get to experience very often any more! I also stopped at IKEA to pick up a couple of catalogues (yes, there is an IKEA in Moscow - I was surprised myself.)
I spent a few hours of down time at the Novotel Hotel near the airport - they have a day-room rental rate, which is a great way to relax.
My flight was scheduled to depart at 17:30, so I caught the shuttle bus at about 15:30 and headed over to the airport. Sheremetyevo-2, while not a run-down airport like others I have seen, is not as modern as other international airports. Kind of dirty, not well-lit, and it's showing age. Work has started on Sheretmetyevo-3, which is Aeroflot's ticket into the Delta-Air France alliance, apparently.
Customs restrictions aren't as strict in Russia as they used to be, but there are still long lineups, with only one line and many seemingly idle customs officers chatting it up.
The fellow at the front of the line I was in happened to get the unlucky card in the draw, as his bags were being given a good going-through, paperwork and all - while everyone else in line stands and waits. Eventually a senior officer just let everyone through.
I ventured over to the gate, which was not open yet to due the late flight in the next gate (the two gates share a departure area) - Delta 031 to New York. Three hours late in departure. They had not even started boarding the DL flight, so I wandered through the shops and stopped for a coffee.
I went back a while later and they had finally boarded the Delta flight. While standing in line waiting to get into the departure area, we all found out why the DL flight was delayed in leaving - a small group of people arrived in a hurry at the gate and we were pushed back to make way.
The passenger for whom the flight was being held was none other than former Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev. He is much shorter in person!
Back to the topic at hand...
My BA flight boarded smoothly and on schedule. This particular 767 was set up with one of those "flexible" business class planes you sometimes see - I sat in economy but had a nice leather seat. Further back in economy the seats were cloth. On this flight, Club Europe was 16 rows - I was in row 17. No first class.
The movie was "102 Dalmations".
Some female BA flight attendants wear name tags that show a title of "Stewardess".
The chief cabin steward had a very cutting, very British sense of humour and so did the pilot, cracking jokes on the PA. It was a pleasant change to have a flight crew with a sense of humour.
Overall the flight was pleasant. No complaints. On time. Only complaint I have is that it landed at Heathrow terminal 4, which doesn't have the regular "Hotel Hoppa" busses - you have to take another bus to another terminal. I always get lost at that airport!
I finally found my proper hotel shuttle and made my way to the Travelodge for a night's rest.
Next segment...AC 857 LHR-YYZ