Now here comes the bit I really dislike about living on the Isle of Man and flying from Heathrow. It is time for the National Express coach trip. To be honest, on the way out it is not too bad, but by the end of this report I will be cursing it on the way back after 20 hours of travelling. I was told the next coach was in 5 minutes, so a quick ticket purchase and run to the stand, the coach was 20 minutes late! Better than the following one I understand though - he ran out of petrol - bit of a faux pas for a coach driver you would have thought.
While on the coach from LGW to LHR (how I long for the IOM- LHR flights, but we will never get them back!) I was totting up the TPs for this trip. Hmm I am about 200 short of gold by the end. I know I have a couple more OW trips coming later in the year, but maybe I should try and rearrange a couple of legs, or do a detour somewhere and make it this time round. Then, when I travel with the boss at the end of September, I can show him into GF at LHR and the lounge I have heard so much about in Sydney when we get there! Time to consult ITA when I get to the lounge I think, and we can see what is available.
An hour later, and we arrive at the coach station at Heathrow, and a quick walk through the tunnel takes me to Terminal 3 for tonight's BA9. I am about 4 hours before departure, but I have already checked in, so a quick trip to bag drop, and then off to the lounge. Actually, I quite like this lounge. I like the styling - dark wood and leather, and there seems to be plenty of space, although I guess it might get fuller later this evening as the Asian flights leave.
I have read much about the new catering arrangements and when I had a quick look at the food selection. 17:50 was obviously not a time people wanted to eat! So I helped myself to a plate of cold meats, cheese and crackers, and actually it was quite nice. Washed down with a lovely Pinot Noir and a bag of Kettle Crisps - how sophisticated am I! Actually, at 18:00 the hot food came out, so I had to try it. A baked potato and the vegetable Thai red curry was actually quite nice, and another glass of wine of course!
More lounge pics to follow
The lounge did fill up later on, but did not feel too crowded. So time to check out the showers (very nice) and the back for a quick soft drink and I discovered the divine lemon shortbread biscuits.
My only problem with the lounge was that I had been charging my ipad at one of the in seat sockets, and after 30 minutes I noticed it was not charging. Quick panic - not sure this much flying and a flat ipad was a good idea, so I found another socket - same problem - and then another socket. Right - time to run down to Dixons to see what the problem was - let's hope it is the charger and not the ipad! A very helpful man in Dixons tested the ipad, the lead and the charger, and they all worked fine. So it seems that all three sockets I used in the lounge had some kind of problem. Anyway, panic over, time to find gate 36.
Gate 36 turns out to be half way to Bangkok. No matter, the exercise will help work off the 2 small dinners I have already had, and prepare me for number 3. At the gate there was a queue for Fast-Track, and it was shorter than the other one - a good start. What followed was not so good. Although we had been called from the lounge, we were not boarding, so we ended up in the sheep pen with everyone else and when boarding started. The staff did ask people to board by row number, but it was mainly ignored, so the scrum commenced.
Soon enough, after only a little scratching and biting, I was down the air bridge and heading up the stairs to the upper deck of the 747. It was my first time up there, and my travel agent had managed to get me 61K pre- assigned. While it wasn't the famous 62 seats, I was happy. The seat was remarkably private, to the extent the cabin crew forgot I was there with the boarding drinks, and had to be prompted - but apart from that service was excellent - discreet but friendly. The seat itself was comfortable and there was plenty of storage in the side lockers. However, the footstool seemed very wobbly!
Dinner was served about an hour after take-off and I decided to forgo the starter as I didn't fancy it and headed straight for the weeping tiger Thai beef. It was tasty, and not too overcooked. The summer pudding was nice and fruity and a good contrast.
Meanwhile the crew had kept me topped up with a lovely Shiraz which went well with the beef, and after 3 glasses, I had to politely ask them to stop. I had some work to do, and I am not sure the rest of the bottle would have helped.
After a couple of hours work, I reclined the seat and got a few hours kip, relaxing in the privacy of the seat, and to be honest the flat bed was great - much better than some of the later flights I would be taking.
About 90 minutes before landing breakfast was served, with fruit and a full English. This was well cooked, and did not contain the anaemic sausages so often talked about on BA.
Landing cards were handed out, and although I was heading straight onto Sydney, I picked one up as I fancied a bit of fresh air outside the terminal - a schoolboy error it turned out!
I was not in a rush getting off the plane, so took a couple of pictures of the cabin as it emptied, had a quick chat with the pilot, and got a cockpit shot for the kids.
A short chat with the cabin crew, and down the stairs and into the humidity of Bangkok, felt even on the airbridge. There was a short queue at the premium immigration channel, and of course I picked the slowest moving line. But soon enough I was through, and as I said before - realised the schoolboy error about fresh air - it was hot and sticky, and full of cars, so turned around, found the check-in to get a fast track card, and went back through security. I wondered if I would get a strange look at immigration, but no one noticed I had entered the country not only the same day, but only 15 minutes ago! Mad Englishman I guess might have been thought, if not said.