I'll try not to go too OMNI with this report, but it was interesting in several respects, so here goes (BTW, I'm posting this BEFORE reading all that I missed, so forgive if some sounds ignorant).

IAD-LHR-IAD

OMNI: Thanks to FT, arranged to meet the famous RUDI at Dulles. Thanks to inconvenient UA, almost missed that meeting and certainly sweated a little. His plane was to arrive at 8:58 and mine was to leave at 9:30, so there was little margin for error. But on the plus side, he was to arrive C7 and I to depart C3. But then his plane was delayed (uh-oh) and the gate agent at C3 was trying to get the door closed early (double uh-oh). So I ignored C3s pleading and threatening about giving up my seat if I didn't board and waited at C7, where I did have a frantic and fast, yet charming meeting with Rudi, his brother, niece and (I think) sister-in-law. Pleasantries and gifts exchanged, Rudi walked me to my gate where a severly non-plussed colleague of mine was waiting for me and we bid adieu. Very nice to meet you, rudi!

NON-OMNI: As I passed THROUGH the business class on the 777, I noticed the new massage seats, reading lamps and noise-reducing head-sets. When I arrived in coach, there were not even seat-back screens, only cabin-front and aisle tvs. (I traveled in coach since I was with a co-worker. I will NEVER, repeat NEVER do this again on a trans-oceanic flight, co-workers be ****ed. It sucks and I kicked myself the whole time for trying to be gallant. 'nuf said.) While the service in coach was improved in coach on the int'l UA flight (and was far better than first class on Shuttle by UA), I longed for footrests and reclining. I highly recommend the later flights out of IAD (there's a 9:30 to LHR, CDG and franfurt, respectively). The late hour departure increases the liklihood of a decent night's sleep (assuming, again, you are in business or higher), so long as you dont mind arriving in Eurpoe after 9am.

Tried the Heathrow Express train service and found it excellent, and a reasonably priced alternative in express class.

OMNI: Pub crawl couldn't have gone better! Found historic pubs all the way from Hampstead down to SOHO, across to Fleet street, over to Westminster to an ill-advised and short-lived foray into the South side across the Thames. In all, my 10 pints of bitter at 8 pubs to my local friend's 8 at 8 (not that I was keeping score, mind you )

Also managed to catch the superbowl at a sports club that was having a superbowl party in SOHO Sunday night (beginning at 11:30 Pm) but was unhappy that I had to bribe the doorkeeper 20 pounds just to get in.

Hey, I even managed to squeeze some work in there!

NON-OMNI: Heathrow express back to airport monday AM. Through the tightest security I have ever experienced (the officer took all of the contents from my bag and even opened up my portable CD player and took out the CD and eyed it warily. He runs my cellular and pager throught the x-ray TWO extra times!!). Later, I unexpectedly earn 500 UAMP bonus points for spending 120 pounds on port wine and Cuban cigars at the World Duty Free shop. The cigars were overpriced, but I did find some ports that were a bargain. At the RCC, agent insists on seeing both my RCC card AND Boarding pass... Flight home was a blur of back spasms and horrid food, puncuated by very friendly service from the London-based main cabin flight crew.

WAY-OMNI Now for the REALLY big news, boy did I get a surprise when I got home......

[This message has been edited by Matt Wald (edited 02-02-99).]

[This message has been edited by Matt Wald (edited 02-02-99).]