A long weekend in Lisbon
#17
Original Poster



Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAC GGL, FB Plat, *A Sen, IHG Plat, ITAExec, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 7,880
The lack of any update in the last 45 minutes is because we were boarding from the wifi black spot that is gate A6

Arriving at the gate and there were people everywhere. This gate is always a mess as the position is horrible and there really isn’t anywhere for people to queue sensibly. I sidled along the edge of the tensa barrier and asked at the desk if they were pre-boarding group zero, and was let through to wait at the head of the escalator.
It was only a couple of minutes before they started the escalator and I was first on the plane and into seat 12C. Another seat block next to me, 12B is empty on this almost full plane and so it’s poor man’s club Europe again this afternoon
We have finally pushed back a full half hour late and are currently taxiing around Heathrow.
Next Stop: Lisbon in a couple of hours time.

Arriving at the gate and there were people everywhere. This gate is always a mess as the position is horrible and there really isn’t anywhere for people to queue sensibly. I sidled along the edge of the tensa barrier and asked at the desk if they were pre-boarding group zero, and was let through to wait at the head of the escalator.
It was only a couple of minutes before they started the escalator and I was first on the plane and into seat 12C. Another seat block next to me, 12B is empty on this almost full plane and so it’s poor man’s club Europe again this afternoon

We have finally pushed back a full half hour late and are currently taxiing around Heathrow.
Next Stop: Lisbon in a couple of hours time.
#18
Original Poster



Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAC GGL, FB Plat, *A Sen, IHG Plat, ITAExec, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 7,880
#19
Original Poster



Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAC GGL, FB Plat, *A Sen, IHG Plat, ITAExec, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 7,880
Quite the queue for the runway this afternoon and it was 15:50 before we got our chance to get out of London.
As an aside: I have a request from one of the CCR servers for Pastel de Nata so if you haven’t seen me post/comment on some sort of take home by tomorrow afternoon please feel free to prompt me.
Once we were well into our ascent the captains announcement was made that he expects a 2:40 flight time and we will be arriving roughly 35 minutes late. A couple of minutes later, once the seatbelt light was off, the snack and a drink service commenced and today’s snack was chocolate digestives. Finally a snack that I fully approve of

Next up, the BoB trolley run started and I settled for a couple of JD and a coffee and that saw me all the way through to the pilots announcement that we would soon be starting our descent.
It had been a little bumpy previously, but nothing of great note, however the seatbelt sign had been on for the last half hour of smooth flight so I hit the call bell to ask of they would check with the flight deck. I got some serious attitude in return around the flight deck knowing what they were doing and expecting turbulence etc. My only response was to please check before they were clearing up puddles and, lo and behold, 30 seconds later the seatbelt light was off.
Whilst I was attending to natures call I asked the crew at the back if they would check if anyone had any skyflyer logbooks. After the almost standard conversation around them being at checkin, and the families desk, etc they promised to ask around and happily one of the crew at the front had two. At least that replaces my spare I usually carry around plus an extra!

And that sums up this pretty uneventful flight. Seats for landing at 18:20 and on the ground at 18:30.
As an aside: I have a request from one of the CCR servers for Pastel de Nata so if you haven’t seen me post/comment on some sort of take home by tomorrow afternoon please feel free to prompt me.
Once we were well into our ascent the captains announcement was made that he expects a 2:40 flight time and we will be arriving roughly 35 minutes late. A couple of minutes later, once the seatbelt light was off, the snack and a drink service commenced and today’s snack was chocolate digestives. Finally a snack that I fully approve of


Next up, the BoB trolley run started and I settled for a couple of JD and a coffee and that saw me all the way through to the pilots announcement that we would soon be starting our descent.
It had been a little bumpy previously, but nothing of great note, however the seatbelt sign had been on for the last half hour of smooth flight so I hit the call bell to ask of they would check with the flight deck. I got some serious attitude in return around the flight deck knowing what they were doing and expecting turbulence etc. My only response was to please check before they were clearing up puddles and, lo and behold, 30 seconds later the seatbelt light was off.
Whilst I was attending to natures call I asked the crew at the back if they would check if anyone had any skyflyer logbooks. After the almost standard conversation around them being at checkin, and the families desk, etc they promised to ask around and happily one of the crew at the front had two. At least that replaces my spare I usually carry around plus an extra!

And that sums up this pretty uneventful flight. Seats for landing at 18:20 and on the ground at 18:30.
Last edited by JapesUK; Feb 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
#20
Original Poster



Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAC GGL, FB Plat, *A Sen, IHG Plat, ITAExec, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 7,880
A full thirty minutes to clear to land side and then the game of ‘hunt the pick up’ began. I’m honestly not sure why I decided on a transfer rather than just using
Uber, but that is most definitely water under the bridge!
There was no sign of the driver at arrivals, nor at the many meeting points so in the end I phoned him and he didn’t speak much English but was at ‘meeting taxi’. Out to the taxi ranks go I, nope, no sign of him. Eventually I asked the taxi marshall to speak to the driver and we ended up meeting outside the Vodafone store,
The car was actually parked up around the corner of the airport in an unsigned parking spot, I had no chance! All in all it took twenty minutes to find him and now, almost an hour after landing, I’m in the car heading to the hotel.
Uber, but that is most definitely water under the bridge!
There was no sign of the driver at arrivals, nor at the many meeting points so in the end I phoned him and he didn’t speak much English but was at ‘meeting taxi’. Out to the taxi ranks go I, nope, no sign of him. Eventually I asked the taxi marshall to speak to the driver and we ended up meeting outside the Vodafone store,
The car was actually parked up around the corner of the airport in an unsigned parking spot, I had no chance! All in all it took twenty minutes to find him and now, almost an hour after landing, I’m in the car heading to the hotel.
#21




Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hampshire UK
Programs: BA Bronze, Virgin Red, Accor Gold,IHG Platinum, SAS EBG, FB Gold
Posts: 549
A full thirty minutes to clear to land side and then the game of hunt the pick up began. Im honestly not sure why I decided on a transfer rather than just using
Uber, but that is most definitely water under the bridge!
There was no sign of the driver at arrivals, nor at the many meeting points so in the end I phoned him and he didnt speak much English but was at meeting taxi. Out to the taxi ranks go I, nope, no sign of him. Eventually I asked the taxi marshall to speak to the driver and we ended up meeting outside the Vodafone store,
The car was actually parked up around the corner of the airport in an unsigned parking spot, I had no chance! All in all it took twenty minutes to find him and now, almost an hour after landing, Im in the car heading to the hotel.
Uber, but that is most definitely water under the bridge!
There was no sign of the driver at arrivals, nor at the many meeting points so in the end I phoned him and he didnt speak much English but was at meeting taxi. Out to the taxi ranks go I, nope, no sign of him. Eventually I asked the taxi marshall to speak to the driver and we ended up meeting outside the Vodafone store,
The car was actually parked up around the corner of the airport in an unsigned parking spot, I had no chance! All in all it took twenty minutes to find him and now, almost an hour after landing, Im in the car heading to the hotel.
#24
Original Poster



Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAC GGL, FB Plat, *A Sen, IHG Plat, ITAExec, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 7,880
And finally at the hotel at almost exactly 8pm!
The hotel for the weekend is the Boutique hotel Alegria which has a certain dated charm





I am absolutely shattered so the plan of the night is an early bed!
The hotel for the weekend is the Boutique hotel Alegria which has a certain dated charm





I am absolutely shattered so the plan of the night is an early bed!
#25
Original Poster



Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAC GGL, FB Plat, *A Sen, IHG Plat, ITAExec, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 7,880
#26



Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 1,982
Lisbon is great. If you get a chance take a wonder down to Belem which is always relaxing by the water. If its raining, watch those bloody street tiles!! Its so easy to slip over
#27


Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: American Life Time 2 Million Mile Platinum
Posts: 566

#28
Original Poster



Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAC GGL, FB Plat, *A Sen, IHG Plat, ITAExec, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 7,880
#30


Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: American Life Time 2 Million Mile Platinum
Posts: 566
I must admit that the way you describe chatting up the flight attendants and your amazing spirits tolerance, you bring to mind the character "The Saint" (Roger Moore), even though all we ever see of you physically are your legs.
"Charming", dated or not seems to fit you......
"Charming", dated or not seems to fit you......



