Great idea for a thread I agree about the lack of distractions on board a plane, it's a great argument against on board phone service or wifi.

Ooh - 'The West Wing'! We're currently four episodes into series four for the umpteenth time! We've had to replace some series DVDs since they've worn out from repeated viewings :)

I'm enjoying this thread too - but can we start one about 'The West Wing'?! :D

Great idea, cws ^ Looking forward to spending the week reading about your travels.

Updated to complete Monday's travel, taking me to a night stop in Madrid, I will now try to answer some of the questions in a separate post.

Hmmm ... your pseudo-BizJet seemed pretty dank, albeit survivable for an 1 hour sector. I've had better food offering in the back of an RAF C-130 :D

I don't know why (and I'm trying not to be a fawning gushbag), but I am really looking forward to the remainder of this, er, non-trip report.

Not sure if I should be looking to get out a little this week, just to mix things up.

Really great idea for a thread CWS

As I am an infrequent flyer, it's really interesting to read how someone with your flight frequencies manages on a daily basis. I normally need a holiday after a TP run :)

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Just think of it as a dissertation on the suffering associated with earning BAEC LTG. :)

I have no idea how some people can live that sort of existence, but then they are all younger than me.

Such an interesting thread so far - very much looking forward to the rest. Always interesting to compare your life on the road with that of others. CWS - I stand in awe of your organisation and resilience.

I've done a lot of travelling over the last 2 years - probably looking at GGL in the not too distant future. Its part of my job (and I thought I knew what I was getting into) but I can definitely say, hand on heart, its really wearing me down. Its cost me my relationship with my boyfriend, I have little social life and my puggies (and friends) barely see me.

It started out fun and exciting. Now - not so much :( Waking up in another hotel, breakfast on my own, queues for security, boarding, arrivals, hire cars, hotel check-ins - the never ending expenses claim forms, a flat tyre at T5 last week...first world problems I know. But collectively, its wearing.

Trouble is I like meeting new people and I still enjoy what I actually do so I need to stick with the travel for now. Things can only get better. Off for as holiday in 2 weeks time ^

BTW - Dr Gee - you're not my old physics teacher are you? :confused: :)

This is excellent, really interesting to read how the never ending flyers do it! One thing though CWS, im confused by your bus route and hotel arrival times (not that it matters!!). Thanks for fitting in the time to do this.

Glad to have been of assistance!

A bit of trivia for you, the bridge you walked over is just one half of what was originally there. (Hence the few steps down to the building level) The other half was removed and the dock partially filled in to create the land mass for the buildings that now stand there. Heron Quay was the "inspiration" for London City Airport as they landed a Dash-8 there to prove it could be done.

You were very lucky with the Hilton Madrid shuttle. I like this hotel but you can wait over 45 mins the shuttle. On my last visit when the shuttle finally did arrive it was only. For BA crew. Fortunately the dap attain saw our BA Gold tags and invited our family to share the shuttle. Still you right about good links into the city and the rooms are very good as are the room service burgers

Just had time to read this through....great 'diary'.
Looking forward to the next bit.

I agree totally with breakfast 'breathgate'...but do as my dentist advises - brush before breakfast but floss and mouthwash after.
...my dentist is probably a very rich man!

Firstly I am extremely grateful to heckenhocker, Flexible preferences, Tobias-UK, katie666, Tintin_on_the_road, bobbob1976, gustavmahler, rxfleming, thejohn, Sixth Freedom, AeroWesty, Crampedin13A, Paralytic, expatboy, Frequent_Flyer1, 1HourPhoto, pablol, Vinotraveller, AeroWesty, IAMORGAN, Cymro, 710 77345, Physci, redshift27, csutter, golfmad, Speedbird876, fredandgingermad, BA0197, Banana4321, bradders81, TRVLUPGD, bafan, crazy8534, HIDDY, longpause, paulwuk, ABZGirl and Genius1. I am genuinely very humbled that all of you have taken the time to comment in this thread, and I've read all your comments with interest. That's a huge list of names.

Well you got that flight a bit wrong! I get a hefty negotiated deal on Hilton rates, and no reduction at all on Ibis, but yes, I'll look at that for further travel.

Funnily enough, I don't listen to music during working hours, it seems wrong somehow. Obviously when the day is done I'm straight off to Zane Lowe's and NME's recent finds.

How strange, but there again you're something of a FTer proximity magnet, are you not? I was in coach 3, you would have spotted me desperately trying to upload stuff into Flyertalk!

I used the Transport for London search tool, it didn't through up the Jubilee line and now I know why. The TfL tool also probably doesn't know about the footbridge over to Canary Wharf since this morning it did suggest a DLR ride to from South Quay to Canary Wharf Jubilee and then Canning Town, which makes no sense at all! So I followed dddc's advice and it was quick enough to just walk over the water.

Ah that was unclear: I'm travelling every day until and including Saturday, except that Friday is my day off from flying.

The latest version of the App is a lot better than previous versions, it is more or less usable now. But I use it as a backup, it isn't too tricky for me to get a printed copy, I've even got Iberia.com to behave this week!


Well indeed, a lot of my work is dealing with people who speak various languages; and in some cultures (most cultures?) the personal connection is a key part of doing business or gaining trust. The English speaking world is actually on a bit of limb here, I feel. I don't really parse the travel as a chore or a thrill, it's just work: some people drive buses, I sit on an aircraft, and it certainly beats dagging sheep in the pouring rain.

This week I'm on inflexible tickets, and I've booked them all myself, they are all on 125 tickets this week. I know the system well now, and the limitations, what may go wrong and so on. I often take risks on separate tickets too, and BA haven't caused me any grief there (they would be churlish to complain). I do use travel agents for complex trips outside oneworld, Lufthansa and Air France KLM, if it's not worth my while doing the homework. I use Tripcase, which is better in North America than Europe, but it keep all telephone numbers together, lets me know if a flight is badly out of kilter and what the alternatives are.

Yes I am about to appoint this to the travel bag. The two fripperies I take with me - and I'm hard on myself not to take such trifles - are Vicks inhaler tube and witch-hazel eye drops. They really make a difference when flying. I also do the bags within bags, it makes easier to find things, especially in security.

I haven't got it with me at the moment, but I hope for a reunion with it tomorrow!

Following this with great interest! I generally keep some form of fresh-breath solution at hand (Mrs LE has reminded me kindly that there is nothing more off-putting than stale garlic breath).

Very interested to see where you are going next, and indeed if our travels might intersect (increasing chance of EU-travel this week).