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.

A Houston Walmart? Talk about a ring of hell.

Houston Space Center tour instead?

Enjoy the Houston Cheaters.

My kind of weekend trip. Looking forward to it.

Enjoy the Astros game. Before the game, I highly recommend stopping at Xochi, which is in walking distance to Daikin Park; food and drinks are good, especially at pre-game happy hour prices.

Why not go to Space Center Houston, as suggested by Gardyloo? It’s tops on most visitor’s lists for good reason. You’d probably want a rental car to get there.

Lunch at Truth BBQ is also worthwhile. Get there early to beat the crowd or else you’ll find a line outside the door. The “Whole Truth” sandwich is a great choice: brisket + jalape�o cheese sausage. Savor the meats and set the bun aside. Yum!

Alternatively, Houston has a great fast food burger chain called Becks Prime. Several locations, with high quality burgers and tasty parmesan truffle fries.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science is also quite good and not too far from downtown.

See answer below

Thanks for the recommendation of restaurant before the game. I should have enough time before the game.

About the Space Centre and other landmark recommendation. Well I can't rent a car as I don't have a driving licence. I would have to take Uber or public transportation. Furthermore, I have to do something next time I go to Houston. The reason for Walmart and the other stores are, that I need several things out of them and I don't know when I visit the next time the US. So far nothing is planned for the next two years. Anyhow, I have part of Saturday time to do all my shopping before the flight is going home. If I would have a day or two more time it would be different story.

Departure board and my train is 13:04 to Geneva

Waiting for the arrival

And took a place and enjoy the ride

It takes around 2 hours time to get to GVA.

I see your crazy IAH weekend trip and raise it with…. BKK-KUL-LHR return in TG J and BA F, arriving in the morning for the farewell GGL DO and leaving the same evening back the same way*

*barring any last minute work craziness and wife objections

Enjoy your trip, sounds great!

Arrived in GVA


Train station. To the right is my train.

Fast track is moved but was quite empty. There were two scanners bjt one was breaking down as I arrived.

My toiletteries big was part of interest and the reason my backpack went to secondary. Nothing to worries as I keep the allowed limits


My flight is on the board.


Upstairs into the lounge

GVA has a BA lounge. The only one in Switzerland and before passport control.

The front is mostly empty.

I just had lunch in the train, so, I don't est much.

Your trip sounds crazy as well. enjoy it as well.

Bon voyage! ​​​​​​

I have an Astros shirt somewhere from when my brother in law used to visit Houston when he was with Shell.

You never know how speedy passport control is. Time to head to the gate early enough.



Automatic gates were empty. All other control had a queue. The one for all passport was the longest. With the automatic gate it is a matter of seconds to get through.


G-TNEE for me today.

Gate C55 and waiting now for boarding.

Boarding started on time but the boatding not boarding took a while. Finally on board and into 2F.

Boarding conpleted a little bit ahead of schedule. Let's see how fast we leave the gste.

Next stop LHR in a little bit over an hour time.

It's only BKK-KUL-LHR 😁 you need to add at least 5 more flights