Going home... CDG to LHR part 1

One thing I want to mention from the night before. It is always a sad thing when it is my last night in Europe, even though I have a full day ahead of me the next day. Thought I would share.

Ok, someone was supposed to call me about a possible breakfast, but never did, which is fine. I know he is busy.

I was too rushed. Had to pack everything and get ready. I was very happy to leave the college dorm. ick

Now it was sunny outside, but still biting cold and you could see the planes taking off in the distance. I watched LCI, a French news channel, pas de CNN and I needed to hear French anyway.

The strategy to the packing is this: I fly BA from the continent to London, then American to the States, usually taking the last flight of the evening to JFK. FYI, American will not check your bags through to LA, but BA will. I will tell you by this time they are so heavy, I am happy not to have to deal with them at JFK.

So I get things ready for a quick pull out at JFK after customs, everything goes home to Paradise, I mean California. Hey, it is HOME!

I am sad to leave Europe but yes, happy to be going home. It has been a long 2 weeks, or just about.

I make 2 trips downstairs, 2nd with cart. The elevator is taking forever and my fellow American (kid) is waiting. I point out the other elevator and that did the trick. Someone was blocking the first lift with their attempt to load bags. It was long, but width sucked.

I waved au revoir and dropped off the 70's style huge key, haven't seen that in a long time, so new keycard to add to my collection.

The bus was there and monsieur grouch was the driver. Oh my. He stood there while I loaded the bags on myself, which is fine. But to be so grouchy.

Everyone on the bus was American and they were happy to be going home.

We pulled out and headed back via le roundabout to CDG 2. I hear they are flying Northwest. Ah, NW flies out of Terminal 1, this bus is going to 2. Did you check?

They go, uh oh. Are you sure NW flies out of T1? yep, was there last night, saw the NW/KL counter. They start to freak. I ask the driver, le grouch, oh my, in French if we go to T1. Non! but when he sees that half the bus is flying NW out of T1, he agrees to take them. What a pain he is! No tip for him either, which worked out very well. No Euros and the US $$$ were needed in the US.

I think one other gets off at 2B, BA.

They are from Detroit, I explain that I have lived in Toledo. We both take shots at each others' respective cities. too funny. I love Toledo and I take offence to any Toledo bashing, seriously. It is another home for me. GO MUDHENS!

They say thank you and I wish my fellow Americans a wonderful trip, even if on Northwest, LOL. ha ha ha

2B or not 2B, ca c'est la question. The snag with 2B, trying something in the old days when terrorists were shooting things up at Roma and Wien, they put the check in past passport control. Good and bad. I don't have that much time to play so not much of an issue, but I have to clear le controle des passeports, check in, and then would have to come back. Oh well I will be back. Oh I miss BA at Terminal 1 !!!

Passport check was easy,stamp, Vivre la France as I go through. I laugh hysterically when I get to the BA counter and I recognize the good looking gentleman behind the counter.
We shake hands. As he is from the Middle East I reluctantly say I have been to Israel, he forgives me, thank you. I even show him my stamp, which would now bar me from entering his country. I won't say to protect anonymity.

He takes the bags, checks them to LA, love it!! bye bye

I ask for an exit row seat. "You don't think I am going to let you sit in coach, do you?"
I love you! Le upgrade, finally, is there. Actually BA used to be much better about upgrades and the agents out of Paris have upgraded me and I grabbed my mom from coach, with the blessing of a lovely crew. Out of London, forget it. too strict.

We talk forever. Duty Free and lounge go to the wayside, which is fine. I love this guy.
He demands that I come to the (airliners hobby) show in San Francisco at the end of March, the last one they will ever have. I tell him I will try and I am thinking about it. (also, cough, someone I want to meet up that way, a fellow traveleress, cough) Hopefully you know who you are.

This guy was with us at the Japanese restaurant with Mr. Paris and the 3 of us jogged on the beach together here in Malibu, he remembers well. They would look at Southwest planes coming in and say yeah, sorry, I say puke.

He praises the new Untied color scheme which I can see through the windows. ahhhhhhhhh
I like the older one. And I hate 'Ted.' stupid name. He loves Untied, I love the Silver bird.
We praise our airlines.

We talk and fortunately the Business line is empty.

I was going to go take a look, actually quite a bit airside and was going to go manhunt for some Swiss chocolates, but he drags me back and says let me walk you to the gate.

The gate is right behind me, a short walk, BUT, a huge snaky line for security awaits and after I have cursed everyone for cutting in front of me for 2 weeks, but with his blessing, he brings me to the front, ok, that felt good. The Britts were pissed and get after him and he looks at them and says, I am working your flight. He speaks fluent English, love the guy.
Some other guy jumps out of line and joins us and he is duly chastized, but he gets a free ride.

1 or 2 security machines and this will take all day. Too crowded, too much.
Back to T1 s'il vous plait!!

He takes me to the gate and plays with the computer. He also wrote in my PNR, passenger record, to AA to upgrade me. Didn't happen, but I was happy, as you will see. I also asked why they keep parking the BA planes at the remote stands and he tells me quietly it is AF (F'n) BA. Gee, I can believe it. An Air Algerie Airbus is next to us. The French always seem to put BA near Air Algerie. Air Algeria is a security threat in France, its former colonial master.
Everytime BA escapes from them, they seem to follow. ouch Not that Air France would have anything to do with that. No love lost between these 2 'cousins.' I say pro British things in front of Mr. Paris and I get a lecture on how terrible the British are. In fact when I came out of customs he gave me another one, though he duly ate his Bounty(Brit) chocolates all the same. LOL Too much!

A cute femme flirts with him and praises him. When he gives me his updated #, e-mail, I still need to write him!, the chicka is jealous and wants it, too. (ah, he drives on the other side of the road, leave it at that, honey, and I am sure she knows that) .

I commit to SFO (maybe, the fares are so expensive but I would love to go and make a weekend out of it, if even to kick SFO Phil around for a bit ).

They call the flight, tears my BP, I give him a big hug. Oh and I told la femme I would be happy to take her # but she said I live too far away, well, true. Amazingly she reminds me of someone from church, who got married. The resemblance is incredible. (sorry, can't think of her name. )

We finally get a jetway and it is a 757, cool. They do another passport check, now that I have put it away, France likes that for some reason, I just showed it 2 seconds ago, but I have finally been upgraded, the Platinum I am!. Boarding to the front of the plane and the BA crew is very warm and hospitable. I am deciding do I keep this seat or move for a better take off position? Right side is usually best for Londinium.

A woman comes over and dares sit next to me, oh no, I tell her I might move to get more space. First, I ask her if speaks English and OF COURSE I DO, WHY WOULD YOU ASK THAT? bite . Then she apologizes. Honey, this is France, fewer than should- speak English, but that is another story. She settles in. Great, someone is invading my space.

Well, we start talking and she is cool. Kind of like my seatmate to Tel Aviv. She lives in Paris with her husband, but is from the burbs of Portland. I explain I was there last summer, met a girl from the sticks he he he near Spokane. Told her it was one of my best trips ever, something as simple as Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. She smiled. Yes, the girl helped as well. I still have keychains for you, dear.

The plane is delayed and people keep boarding, I am sure thanks to the security lines.

She is getting worried as she has one hour at LHR to change to Seattle. They make an announcement, we are delayed, blah blah, I could care less, take all day, I have over 6 hours at Heathrow, but for her, I care.

We start yacking, compare travel stories, and the woman is fascinating. She asked how she can find good Business Class fares to the US as she had to book last minute for a funeral. I pull out the UK edition of Business Traveller and show her a list of agents. I also tore out the subscription page and gave it to her. Then I introduced her to the flying Bible, said with respect, the OAG. In this case, the OAG -Official Airline Guide Euro addition.
I sub. to both the Euro and US editions. Merry Christmas to me and thanks mom and dad.
Hopefully they know it. LOL She usually flies Business as coach is not good for her leg, but I mention AA, check it out.

Finally, ding dong and push back. She may make it. They tried to do a recorded announcement in French and the thing breaks. Ok. They tried atleast. You fly to Paris all the time and you don't know some rudimentary French!? Even a bonjour. Nothing.
Too British! If Air France flew to London and they spoke no English we would be outraged. You can fly Air France to the smallest city in France and you get a full announcements and safety demo in English. But the French get us in other ways. That is for another time.