12 Sep 22, BA2262, B777, KIN-LGW, 1845-0950, CW seats 4A/B
The previous day our check-out time was kindly extended from 1100 to 1200, and transport back to KIN confirmed for 1330. So, with the case packed [including the free bottle of Rum [which I found very tasty] we were ready to depart.
Departure on the dot of 1330 - Sandals really are VERY well organised in that respect, and just the 2 of us in a nice clean minibus again. Back down Highway 2000 to KIN, where sadly our driver gets pulled by the Police. Oh dear, doing 105kph in an 80kph speed limit [and there are bits that are 60kph!]. That appeared to cost him JMD5000, or c. USD33. What a wonderful mix of standards … Drive on the left, use US voltage and plug sockets, measure distances in km but frame the Law in mph!
https://japarliament.gov.jm/attachme...21-No.-22_.pdf
Anyway, at 1645 after that slight delay en route, we are KIN Departures. The BA desks are on the right end of the Hall [with toilets nearby],
Departures
Smoking allowed!
We queue for Club World, of course, and a Tensa barrier is unhooked to enable us to access the first available desk. The case is tagged through to JER and, importantly, apart from getting our BPs for both sectors, we also get our Premium passes for Security and the Club Kingston lounge.
And then back to the opposite end of Departures, where we find the Priority Security lane closed - which is not a problem, as there are very few people around. A fairly rude/abrupt collection of Security staff, and its shoes off and even BPs and Passports need to be scanned … neurotic or what? And on the other side I repack, noting that their hysteria failed to spot either of our disposable lighters. haha.
Up the escalator to the Retail Zone, where my wife is delighted to find that Jamaica has not [yet] banned the sale of menthol cigarettes. I generously allow her to use my allowance for some of these increasingly rare products. And then to the very far end and the elevator down to the Club Kingston lounge, which may be windowless but is nice. It’s well covered elsewhere on FT, so I’ll just note that the Patties are as good as ever, and that table service was provided for F&B.
Boarding was declared at 1810, and we were escorted on the long walk to Gate 6 where we queued briefly [as Group 1] before boarding at 1825. So far so good, until at 1850 we were advised of a minor tech issue which needed to be ’signed off’. OH NO! Not again? Happily it was quickly resolved … Doors at 1910, Pushback 1915 and airborne 1930: I can live with a 45 minute delay on a 9-hour flight!
Dinner? Yes please!
Hmmm … exciting, or what? Roast Chicken for me, Grilled Salmon for her. Both filed under ‘Acceptable’, although the other accompaniments were as dull as ever.
Her Salmon
My Chicken
And so for a bit of sleep … and amazingly Lady T slept as well. That’s a novelty!
13 Sep 22
Breakfast served at 0300 … that must still be Jamaica time. It was ‘food’: I’m not a fan of baked beans, and the scrambled egg was not surprisingly a bit worse than that served at the RP! And then it’s last call for the bathrooms, and tidy up the cabin, because it’s time to arrive at LGW. BTW, some CC were decided untidy, with over-tight clothing: perhaps the promised new uniforms will enable them to find something that fits?
1020 - having reset my watch, and we experienced the smoothest 777 landing ever! Scarcely a bump. Nice one, Captain! Which Gate? I can’t remember, but I think it may have been back to 15 where we started the trip. And a refreshing long walk to the Border, which was agreeably quiet and there Lady T’s passport refused to communicate with the E-gates. The “Helper’ tried to assist, trying different gates, but no … go and join the manual queue at the Border. There she was told she has a ‘temperamental passport’, which worked perfectly well at
LHR, PHX, ANU, PUJ, KIN!
Landside for a quick cigarette, back through Security and a quick visit to the BA Lounge. Interesting to see several’ ‘anonymous’ easyJet airframes with Latvian registrations - presumably leased for the Summer season?
And finally the last leg …
13 Sep 22, BA1362, A319, LGW-JER, 1250-1355, CE seats 2A/C
Another long walk to Gate 32, where we find G-EUPJ in the old BEA colour scheme waiting for us. [Here’s a pic I took in January, when it was raining!]
The Gate area seems very quiet as Group 1 are called for boarding. And why are we in Row 2? Ah, a family of 4 booked Row 1 long before us. OK, we can survive! And it’s just 3 rows of CE? I discover, talking to the crew, that there are just 10 pax in CE and a total load of 45! I hope BA doesn’t see an excuse to delete JER/LGW from their schedules!
Push back at 1250, so basically on time for a change! And away on the last leg, with a BA meal of Chicken Caesar Salad with soggy croutons … pretty dire, TBH. We saved the rather nice choccie pudding pots to have at home, at which point one of the CC kindly donated us another 2. Cheers!
And with a bone-rattling thud we have landed! The Reclaim Lottery was not in our favour this time, probably the last bag! Taxi home, arriving at 1430 … for an early night!
Hope some of you enjoyed reading - a bit boring/repetitive having done this 4 times previously. However, my next TR will be NEW … Crete/HER/Rethymno in October for our very first visit to Greece. New country/airport/hotel - quite excited!