Welcome to my next adventure which starts tomorrow at noon. Allready a long time since my last one.

Back in January I was thinking about a trip do use my last days of my BA Gold status. On a Monday evening I was playing around with the Avios websit and search for Business Class redemptions anywhere in the world. I know others would search on SeatSpy for such redemptions but I don't have a subscription there and the Avios website does more or less the same job. First I was looking for redemptions towards Asia. Destination such as SIN, KUL, HKG and so on but nothing was available. So, then let's try the other direction. I didn't had any plan to visit the US until my ESTA expires in June. As you might know things can take a sharp turn. Other popular airports like LAX, SFO or even New York were full as well. DFW would be a preferred destination as I haven't been to Dallas but also was full. Austin und Houston came on the list as there were some availability.

A redemption in C might be boring for others and I had some Youtuber in my ears to look for F availability. On the BA website I looked to which airports BA is flying with a First cabin. DFW and IAH are on the list. As a result I changed the search on the website for First redemptions. DFW was full as well but IAH hat availability. Houston Never been there but why not. Let's give it a try. Then I remembered myself to a couple at DUB airport last year after the NFL game. They came all the way from Houston and were wearing Astros shirt. Unfortunately, I don't have any contact to them. What me suprised that a redemption in F was cheapter than in C. O/W 95'000 Avios in C and 93'500 Avios in F. No brainer to go for F.

With the information from the Avios website I opened the "book with Avios" page on BA website und search for dates. First I was thinking about to spend a week somewhere but there weren't any availability. The only availability I got was Friday to IAH and Saturday evening back. Weekend trip to IAH? Can I do this? Well, others went on a Weekend to Madrid for Real Madrid game or went to Cincinnati to buy Bourbon. When they can do it, then I can it as well.

So we have availability from LHR to IAH and back but I need to get from Switzerland to LHR and back. Let's search from different Swiss airports like GVA or ZRH. BSL wasn't an option as the airport is more or less closed for runway works. I found availability from GVA but I would have to be in GVA 7am as the flight to IAH is leaving at 9am from LHR. Ok, it is not working as I would have to stay in GVA or LHR overnight. Hotels in LHR on Bath Road are little cheaper than the ones in GVA. On the booking website I could select for a layover. Ticket booked for 220'000 Avios and around £1000 taxes and fees. Crazy amount of T&F in my opinion.

Here is now the plan:
Thursday with BA 751 to LHR then with Bus 423 to the Marriott on Bath Road.
Friday with Bus 423 to T5, grab boarding pass and into CCR for breakfast. BA195 brings me to IAH.
Staurday evening BA 196 back to LHR
Sunday afternoon with BA752 back to GVA

Now, we are in Houston what can we do there? Any sports game Friday evening? NFL is offseason, NBA is going into Playoffs season but not clear if Houston Hornets play at home. NHL hasn't any team in Houston, MLB are the Houston Astros and they play at home. Openen Ticketmaster and secured a ticket for the Houston Astros for $54.

What else can we do? As I need some clothes I searched on the Nike website if they have a clearance store in the area. Oh, lucky there is one but way far outside. It is a little further than the Hobby Lobby airport. Well time to take an Uber or Lyft to get there. On Google Maps I saw that there is a Walmart, Walgreens, Best Buy, Barnes&Noble. Enough for me to spend the day.

Looks like not sightseeing this time in the city. I keep it for another time. I set some other priorities.

Weather is on the humid and hot side. Close to 90°F or to 30°C. Saturday are changes of showers and thunderstorms. I have to walk some time between the places out there. So I hope the weather is quiet.

See you tomorrow when I board a train to get to GVA with a short intermediate stop in Lausanne.