Back to the lounge and it had been switched out to lunch










Felt much like a pay to use lounge spread from a food perspective, pretty disappointing. I tried a couple of the sandwiches and they were both front filled, no filling at the back half of the sandwich.

with two flights and, hopefully, enough time for a quick visit to the Cathay T3 lounge, I�ll clearly not starve

This, of course, can be frustrating, especially if you're paying a high price for food.

Indeed Or considered a first world problem fit only for trip reports and flyer forums

Good review of the Hampton, I like the pictures - especially the frosty morning control tower and Spitfire! The Hilton standard for Hamptons is a free (basic) breakfast for all guests, though I've not heard of DIY table-clearing before There are US anecdotes about free breakfasts for emergency services personnel at Hamptons, which may keep any 'other' free-loaders in check...

I suspect we are going to be a little late away. Called to gate ten only to find the passengers were still disembarking. No seats whatsoever in the gate area so joined the gate lice queue.





and our chariot for the afternoon

Boarding started surprisingly quickly after the last passengers had disembarked, the crew obviously did an incredible job turning the plane around in such a short time. Seat 1D today so plenty of leg room as usual.




The flow of humanity onto the plane has stopped but we are still sitting with doors open so clearly there are some laggards� and as I type this the final laggard appears for seat 1F next to me

Boarding complete and it is time to belt up, next stop, London Heathrow

I was highly amused by the pilots description of the A321neo as the �stretch limo� version of the A320 when he was extolling people to pay attention to the safety briefing. Briefing complete, and a fairly quick taxi, and we are on our way to London.

I�d ordered the Muslim afternoon tea again but this time it looked suspiciously like the normal non-vegetarian offering. Being a man of the world I, of course, split the scone in half and had one half Devon style and the other half Cornwall style. One of each of the white wines were pleasant enough accompaniments.





The crew were excellent, eight rows in front of the curtain were served by the time we were staring our descent and there was time for a little glass off fizz before it was ten minutes to landing.

A slightly bumpy descent into and through the low cloud over london and we broke out into some spectacular views over the city which, unfortunately, I couldn�t photograph from the aisle seat!

Pushback had been about five minutes late and we were pretty sure to make this delay up in flight so not surprised that we arrived in LHR nicely on time. The landing included a real shake when we were only a few hundred feet off the ground and then one of the most impressive landing �bounces� I�ve ever experienced!

Taxing into the terminal and we hit one of those snarls that can happen in Heathrow, only this time we could see the whole performance from the window. The plane on our stand was waiting to push back but was blocked by a plane that was itself blocked by a plane on the next stand.. the LHR domino effect. After 15 minutes they have managed to get everyone on the move and we will shortly be arriving at the stand. Time to disembark and next up is the joy and pleasure that is the T5 to T3 transit.

When I was in Edinburgh, which is, oh gods, more than 5 years ago... whichever contract lounge KLM was using had a decent selection of Scotch, better than what the BA lounge in your post displays. I wonder how they fare today. Or rather, does it still exist. KLM now uses Aspire, but that doesn't sound right.

The breakfast seems pretty decent for that class of a hotel. Don't know how the prices are, I wouldn't mind bussing my own table at a cheap and cheerful HIX/Hampton/whatever the case may be, if it's not trying to extract full service prices.

The transit took an age as usual and there was just enough time for a cheeky trip into the Cathay lounges. First class dining was full so merrily over the the business lounge which is generally pretty quick to serve. By the time I got back from the bar with a TsingTao and a champagne my dim sum and chicken fried rice were ready.




A scant few minutes later it was off to the gate and no sooner had I checked through than they called boarding.

Seat 1C on this leg so currently sat on the 1B tray table whilst everyone boards to save myself from the constant bumping as everyone passes 1C.

For anyone that doesn�t travel on these A320�s, seat 1C is the bottleneck from the door and galley into the standard aisle so you are guaranteed to get battered during boarding if actually sat in the seat because it sticks out into the walking space.




We are due to depart in 15 minutes, boarding is going smoothly, so high hopes for an on time departures.

We are on G-EUUF tonight and it looks like it is my first time on this one. Boarding complete ten minutes before departure so now it is time kick back and enjoy the trip, next stop Otopeni Airport.

Luckily, I prefer window seats.

Not that it makes a difference, bulkhead row is blocked on both my legs, 320 one and 32N the other. Forther back ASR is available but bloody expensive!

I don't get how BA gets away with charging for ASR in J and people still rave about it so much.

(shame I missed the 767s on Euro trunk routes, that would have been fun...)

Landed 23:40 and it�s a remote stand so waiting for the sardines to be packed onto the bus. An absolutely amazing, engaging, amusing crew this evening and much chatter and laughter.

I�d ordered the Hindu special which was the same as before and went well with a glass of shiraz.




The standard menu was also really good and I would happily have had any one of the dishes from it






Towards the end I started talking to the couple in 1D and 1F and we had a lovely 30 minute chinwag! It turned out that they are fellow flyer talk members and were happy to be pictured here, so please say hi to gingerlucy and her partner.

Driver was waiting for me after I cleared security and quickly to the hotel, easy check in, and up to the room where it is now 00:45 local time. I’ve been given exactly the same suite upgrade this week as the past two weeks, someone has obviously decided that I like this room. On the basis that you’ve seen it all before I’ll not take any photos, instead I will wish you a goodnight and, next up, breakfast in the lounge.

Let the day commence! Eight much needed hours of sleep and the need for coffee is strong.





It�s another lovely morning here in Bucharest so unless things change in the next hour I�ll be taking a stroll over to the dentist for, hopefully, my last visit until an April check up.




Standard offering on the buffet and the A La Carte menus are out on the tables. Coffee first then maybe food.









Beyond the dentist visit I don�t have a plan for today so it�s time to drink coffee and google for inspiration

And I’m done, for now! An hour and three quarters round trip for exactly two minutes in the chair. End result is that she is happy with everything and wants the first checkup to be in three months time. Typically I have tier point runs in December and March that include Bucharest and neither work for her.

The weather here in Bucharest has changed for the worse and I got thoroughly drenched on the way back to the hotel, and this also scuppers my afternoon plans for a wander around a bit of the city I had not visited yet. New plan, drink coffee in the lounge and work out what my options are for a February trip, be that a holiday or a tier point run. After that, see if I can find a fairly local interesting restaurant for an reasonably early combined lunch and dinner and then an early night as I have another 4am checkout.

A quick scroll around google maps and I spotted Smokareala. It it literally just down the road from a part of the city I�d previously explored, I missed it by no more than 50 feet on previous travels. Reviews look good and initial indications are very promising.





Recommendations were the Brisket, ribs, and pulled pork and when I said I�d go for the brisket and ribs he suggested I have the �Houston� platter which contains all three plus extras. Sounds good to me! Beer on tap is Zagana Blond and is very very drinkable, there may be multiple of these

An array of sauce has just appeared and I am sitting here with my stomach literally growling with anticipation.