My first TR of the year! Well, it proves iWife and I are still capable of travelling after our recent medical issues, despite the now horrendous cost of Travel Insurance! (£4200 for Worldwide multi-trip). Just to expand on that, I apparently had a mini-stroke (TIA) last year, which led to a fall and fractured vertebrae in my back: I don’t move as well as I used to! And poor Lady T started the year with a Lung Cancer diagnosis and several months of Chemo, which has also left her weak in the legs. So we are now officially a 2-Stick Household!


We managed our first trips of 2024 in September, visiting family in Yorkshire and then friends in PHX, but those were quite routine and didn’t justify a TR. That was swiftly this month by a return to Crete, this time staying in Chania Old Town, which is the purpose of this TR. New City, new Hotel, just the same airport as previously. BTW,I discovered it ...

So, let’s go on a trip to Mediterranean sunshine and historic buildings and Greek food and wine. We’ll be moving slowly, so you will be able to keep up!

Saturday 12 Oct 24.

The day inevitably started with the Taxi at 0530 for the 15-min run to JER Airport. Weekend and early hours rates applied, so that was £32 gone before we reALLY start! The airport was quiet, though, and check-in and Security was a breeze. A quick Duty Free purchase of ciggies, and on to the Lounge … and as we are just settling in our flight is called to Gate 10. Yes, boarding at 0620 for an 0700 departure. Oh, well, off we trot/totter!

BA1339, A319, JER-LHR, 0700-0810, CE Seats 1A/C

In the holding pen at Gate 10, I ask the desk Agent if they’re doing Pre-Boarding. “Oh, yes”, he says, and points us to a seating zone near the door to the Ramp area. “This is good”, I muse to myself … although we’re Group 1 anyway, we now trump Group 0 as well! And so we and the other halt and lame and infants are ushered to the aircraft steps [or Ramp, in the JER scenario]. Quickly into our seats, plenty of room on the overhead above Row 1, and our sticks folded to fit. And watch the rest of the pax getting on board, myopically peering at the row labels … “Yes, this is Row 1, yours is much further back.”

Oh, good, it’s Captain Speaking tine again. A 20 minute delay on departure, due to Flow Control by ATC at LHR. Oh, well, all you can do is wait, and eventually we headed off for the 161 miles to LHR. We had a sort of snack breakfast, but it was quite unmemorable and not worth photographing!

At LHR it’s the usual “Purple Signs for Flight Connections”, where after a long walk we get put through assorted barriers scanning BPs and make our way up to Main Security. TEDIOUS! The new scanners seem to alert to everything and anything, leading to the tray conveyor system being blocked by trays needing Secondary checks. But, eventually, we are free to make our way to the First Lounge and some sort of proper breakfast and pink Champagne for Lady T. And we got seats!

BA666, A320, LHR-CHQ, 1045-1645, CE Seats 1D/F

Gate … ummm, 17? Anyway, I totter up to desk, enquire about Pre-Boarding, and … BINGO. In fairness, we are both extremely slow and unsteady on our feet these days, so I do’t feel all that guilty about beating Group 0 onto the aircraft. Settle in quickly, sticks folded and stowed in the spacious overhead, and watch the Great Public boarding. “Yes, this is Row 1, etc.”

Less good to hear our cheerful Captain talking to us already … “Bit of a problem with the APU, yada, yada, Engineers are looking into it.” Eventually a 30-minute delay before we get going, and the Up And Away to Crete. Followed by drinks and …



Standard BA Curry!

Nothing to write home about, but what did I expect? It was edible, and nicely served by charming CC looking after 12 rows of CE. And after 3h 20m in a not very comfortable seat, we arrived at CHQ to be bussed to Immigration. There, in the mass of humanity, an Agent spotted we two old totters and fed us into an empty Fast Track lane … Thank You! Duly Bordered and stamped by a friendly lady, we made our way to Reclaim where, about 10 minutes later, our case materialised. Off to the outside world, where a very clear sign indicated our driver. He was pre-booked through the Hotel, as a complimentary add-on to our BA Hols booking, and we set off into Chania for a 30-minute drive. This is apparently part of their “Mr and Mrs Smith” booking package, and kindly applied to ours too. And … we are here!