Friday 18th Mar 16 BA2667 RAK-LGW 1720

A320-200 G-GATJ

Back to the airport for the trip home, the car park is like, well, a car park, everybody is in everybody else's way and no one's backing down... By the time we park I probably could've walked faster but my driver took his responsibility to deliver me to the drop off point seriously and seemed offended by my offer to get out and walk!



Looks like a new terminal is being added at RAK.

I check in my bag and head to security, there’s a lane marked Fast Track but there aren’t any staff around so I just join the normal queue and wait my turn. All the women are going through one scanner and the men through another, everyone gets a pat down and the female security officer is extremely thorough! Going back the other way at least passport control only take 15 minutes this time. I mooch round the shops and end up buying dates and a box of almond cookies. I think it’s compulsory...

The only thing I can say about the Onda VIP Lounge is that it makes LGW(N) No.1 Traveller look good! If I come to Marrakech again I’ll skip the lounge and try one of the cafés in the departure area.

After another walk across the tarmac we board our flight home , an A320-200 which I've not flown on before. I wasn't able to get 02F for this flight so I opted for 01A instead. Waiting for boarding to finish, I feel like I should join the crew in welcoming everyone on board! I look up and see a middle aged man who looks rather like Jeremy Clarkson. Then he's followed into the cabin by Richard Hammond and James May lookalikes and I realise that the former Top Gear team are on board my flight. Turns out they've been filming in Jaipur and Morocco for their new show.

Mr Clarkson takes 01C, my friend Jane is huge fan and she's going to be sooo jealous! I'd rather James May was there but I guess highest paid/longest legs won the row 1 contest.

The captain unusually comes out to introduce himself and chat on the main broadcast before take-off. It was a nice touch I thought. The cabin crew say it's his thing; he likes to see his passengers.

After a nice chat the captain goes back up front to do his thing and before long we're in the air. Bye bye Morocco.



The CSM keeps addressing me by name, I know it's on his manifest but it's a nice touch, especially as my seat mate is obviously being addressed by his name because he's so well known. The champagne is served really quickly this time and before long out comes dinner; I'm offered the choice of chicken or lemon sole. I ask for the sole. It's stuffed with leeks and served with new potatoes and balled squash – I don’t take any photos this time as I felt a bit selfconscious taking pictures when I had a seat mate...didn't want to look like a weirdo! I have a Sav Blanc with the meal and finish up with two cups of coffee and a single malt. The coffee is my new discovery; I never knew it was real!

I actually feel uncomfortable having someone well known next me, how weird is that? I chat a little with him but far less than I probably would if he wasn't a celebrity (yes dear reader, I'm one of those annoying passengers who will try to converse with you if you're sat next to me...)

The service on this flight has been excellent, the CC are friendly and chatty and I really enjoy myself.

I think about asking for another malt but decide that might be a bit greedy and we're only 40 minutes to run now anyway.

I think I like seat 01A, I'm a nosy person so I quite enjoy seeing the CC going about their work. I do feel a bit sorry for them in that they have to grab a quick meal standing up in the galley, that can't be good for you day in, day out. The captain keeps popping out from the flight deck to chat with the CC and Jeremy Clarkson; I've never been on a flight where we've seen so much of the senior pilot.

We land a few minutes ahead of time and then it’s through the passport gates, bag collection and onto the train to rainy Portsmouth.