18 Jun 2018
PHX-PHL, AA629, 0958-1737 (4h 40m), A321, First seats 1A/C

Up at 0600 for the long journey home, and away from the hotel at 0655. The very convenient run up I-10 West (heading North!) to Exit 149 for the Rental Center, which is very well signed once you get off the Interstate, had us at the Avis returns area at 0715. By 0720 we were on the shuttle to Terminal 4, and by 0745 the bags were in the care of AA and we had our BPs for the next 2 sectors. Again the codeshare sector (PHL-DUB) caused a bit of difficulty and much rattling of the Agent’s keyboard, but I was pleased to discover the overprint of “TSA PRECHK” on them all, so clearly [despite recent changes to the program] we are still deemed ‘suitable people’.

After a last kerb-side cigarette or two, we made our way through Security (no queues, no problems) and made our way to the Admirals Club between Gates A19 and A21 … very handy for our Gate 22 departure, but otherwise a typically quite underwhelming and crowded Lounge.





I think we had some yoghurt and berries to keep us going until Group 1 boarding at 0928 (AA is very precise). Our friendly male FA provided PDB in the form of a couple of requested Mimosas, with the comment that he would make better ones when we were airborne. Which he subsequently did!



Lunch was quite acceptable, with My Lady having the Lasagne while I attacked the Greek Salad with Chicken Breast.





Thus acceptably nourished, we endured the subsequent boredom by assiduous use of our Kindles before our eventual arrival at PHL. On this occasion we arrived at the C Gates, a mere 1,300 yards from our intended departure gate in A West!

With 3 hours to kill, we decided to evaluate the BA Lounge near the A Gates. I have to say it was somewhat underwhelming, and although actual champagne was on self-pour the food offer was decidedly uninspiring. Slightly better than a typical Admirals Club, but that was the best I could say. The group of 5 Millennials seemed to have had the right idea, as they brought their own pizza into the First section.









Eventually boredom overtook us, and we decided to venture out to land-side for a couple of cigarettes. We sat on a bench by the Taxi pickup zone and the rail station outside Terminal A, enjoying our last bit of warmth for half an hour, before exercising our TSA Pre✓ privilege to re-enter the Terminal without difficulty. Then, having declared the BA Lounge a bit of a waste of time, we plodded down to A West and the nearest Admirals Club. This proved to be one floor down, small and quite crowded, but we weren’t there for long anyway.



PHL-DUB, AA722, 2110-0855 (6h 45m, revised to 6h by the Captain), A330, Business seats 1H/2H

Finally, off to Gate A12, where we boarded punctually at 2025 and resumed our ‘usual’ seats. At which point things started to go gently downhill.This 2 hour ground delay nibbled away at our comfortable 4h connection time at DUB, of course.

Eventually, at 0030, the meal was served. By this stage I was more interested in sleep than anything else, but I was well pleased with the Korean Braised Short Ribs … extremely tasty, and with a lovely bulgogi sauce.





And so the (abbreviated) night passed, with occasional bursts of light turbulence, before a rather disappointing hot breakfast was served. The pastry was cold and rather dry, the ham almost tasteless and the scrambled egg curiously artificial. On this occasion, BA does it better [usually].



………..

19 June 2018
We arrived back at DUB, touched down at 1015 and were on the stand at 1025 ... 1h 30m late, but at least some time was made up en route.

And so to the Irish Border, where we met the new e-passport readers for EU passengers. Similar to the typical UK ones, they have one significant difference. After placing the passport face down on the glass, it is then seized by the machine and briskly dragged inside the workings for scrutiny. This unexpected process led to my fingers, still pressing down on the passport, almost being scanned as well!

Having survived that process, it was the usual wait for bags at Reclaim, grab a trolley, and make our weary way across to Terminal 1 for the next leg. At the BA Priority desk, more delays ensued, as one Agent’s terminal wasn’t working and the other Agent wasn’t working at all. After about 10 minutes, normality was restored, and we were bag-dropped and BPd for the last 2 sectors. It was then time for a couple of much-needed kerb-side cigarettes!!

Re-entering through Fast Track security was both quick and painless, and a quick left turn took us up to the DAA Lounge where we loitered briefly before making our way to the distant Gate 204.

DUB-LHR, BA835, 1255-1425 (1h 30m), A310, CE seats 1D/F

Boarding had all the indications of a shambles, as the GA’s walked around encouraging pax to put bags in the hold - it was clearly a full flight again. After much milling around, “families with small children” were called: the definition of “small” is clearly flexible and unenforced! Anyway, at 1255 (our intended departure time) the doors were opened to Group 1 boarding … at which stage we then all stood on the airbridge going nowhere. Eventually allowed to proceed, we took our seats and waited … and waited.

At 1315 the Captain then came on the PA and apologised for the delay. (1) Late arrival of inbound aircraft. (2) A wheelchair pax on the inbound with a very delayed unloading process - indeed, we watched it happening from the airbridge. We eventually pushed back at 1320 (25 minutes late) and joined a long queue of aircraft trying to depart on rw 10 … the captain said there were at least 4 ahead of us, and of course aircraft were also landing on 10. Finally airborne at 1355 (that’s 1 hour late), where I saw another 9 aircraft queueing for takeoff! Fortunately the transit was quite quick, and we made up a bit of time; despite a short hold approaching LHR, we landed at 1447 and were at the gate at 1453 (about 30 minutes late).

However, the timing for the NEx coach to LGW, and the subsequent flight to JER, was getting rather critical. All the time-shifts outlined at the start of this narrative had destroyed our planned stress-free connections, and the need to shift the DUB-LHR (#8 in the list) had eaten much of our MCT for LHR-LGW. Time to demonstrate how quickly OAPs can move!! Head for Reclaim at high speed, inevitably Carousel 11 at the far end! By now there was no chance of catching the 1515 coach (#201) but the 1530 (#200) was still just achievable if the bags would kindly emerge! The next one, at 1540, would probably mean we would be too late for bag-drop at LGW! Phew, there they come at last! Dump on baggage trolley, move briskly through the throng muttering curses under my breath, out into Arrivals and across the plaza to the coach stops. “Where’s the next coach for LGW, please?” .. “Should be down there at stop 11 soon, mate”. And we and the coach arrive at the same moment!! Made it, with less than 5 minutes to spare!!

Off we go, in air conditioned comfort. Oh, good, plenty of congestion on the M25 all the way past the M3 and A3 junctions. But mercifully we reach LGW within the hour … only to call first at LGW(N) Terminal. More delay on the road between the Terminals due to roadworks!! Eventually, at 1640, we’re at the bus stop at LGW(S) … grab cases from the cargo compartment and start moving fast again. Up in the lift, along the walkway to Departures, left to the far end for the BA desks and, happily, one is free! “Bags to Jersey, please”. Access to the quiet “First”desks for BAEC Gold pax is a major benefit at times like this! Scamper upstairs to security, where Premium Gatwick is as friendly and efficient as ever (thank Heavens!). OH dives into Duty Free for some cigarettes, while I look for the Gate. Ah, Gate 4, another long-ish brisk walk … where we arrive at 1710. Boarding commences almost immediately! That was severely tight, and not a lot of fun.

LGW-JER, BA2776, 1750-1850 (1h), A319, CE seats 1A/B

With deep sighs of relief, having made our homebound sector, nothing else mattered. I know food was offered, but it was declined. A stiff Vodka and Tomic for me, and a Champagne for her, will suffice. And so we hopped across the Channel again, landed, recovered the bags, grabbed a taxi and were at home in sunny Jersey at 1920. The cases were left in the hall to be attended to in the morning, as we opened assorted windows and went straight to bed … where we both slept solidly for at least 10 hours

…………….

20 June 2018
Unpacked, attended to post, watched daytime TV, had dinner, bath and bed. Neither of us slept well!

21 June 2018
All 720 TPs posted, to start the new Membership year nicely. She does laundry, I write TR.

And I am again reminded that these TP-efficient 'creative routings' carry with them a certain element of risk, especially where tight connections are involved. Even fairly well planned ones remain at the mercy of airline changes and delays, which can really make life difficult. On this occasion we had at least 2 'just made it" moments, which isn't a lot of fun!

Next trip will be a repeat of the previous MLA, at the beginning of September. A nice simple, uncomplicated, JER-LGW-MLA. But more interesting will be the visit of our friends from PHX, for their first encounter with Jersey, at the beginning of August … that will undoubtedly be something of a culture shock for them both!

Thanks for reading. Bye for now.