I’ve just checked in for the return legs and the upgrade prices are Ł99 and Ł69 respectively. At the moment the exit row seat next to me is empty on both flights so I’m not going to take the upgrade, but I’ll check again later.

I don’t expect it is like this all the time when booking last minute, but for these flights the economy + upgrade for all four legs would be nearly Ł1,000 less than buying business class flights in the first place.

A view from the waiting area, all very light and bright and modern.

The upgrade prices you are seeing are all in the normal range. I hardly ever look at short notice business class short haul prices so can’t say how out of place that is. When booking further in advance there are certainly decent C class prices to be had.

You know there is no bad weather only bad/wrong clothes. 😁😁 -10° is in some areas of the world almost summer. 😁😁

Indeed! This time I was prepared for the chill, last weeks last minute dash, not so much

All done. It’s a strange life being a dentist “I would have preferred more bleeding”!!!

Check up in three months time coinciding with my surgical check up so no need for yet another extra trip. Looking at the map on the way into the city, Casa Ceausescu is only a few minutes from the two surgeries that I need to attend, so I shall book a visit there to fill the time between the two visits.

As I was waiting for things to get started I was looking out into the garden and saw this little installation. Even dentists are getting into the ❤️ craze!



Back to the hotel now and time for beer with an ibuprofen chaser

A quick check on the upgrades, each leg is now Ł207! He who hesitates is lost.

It’ll be interesting to check again this evening

A quick update to close out today. When I returned to my room it was straight to bed for an afternoon snooze to catch up a bit of sleep. Then, feeling peckish, I thought I’d take a look at what the lobby shop in the HGI had to offer. The prices are beyond extortionate with, for instance, a single mars bar costing over Ł4! Not feeling the need to be mugged in plain sight I remembered that there was a supermarket in the airport.

Carrefour have a quite decently sized outlet in the bus area which is below the arrivals hall. It is reached by stairs near the end of the arrivals hall furthest from departures. Prices are sensible ( single mars bar under Ł1) and they carry a decent range of goodies and essentials. It’s ten minutes walk from the HGI

Armed with a sandwich and some coffee sachets it was back to the hotel room where I’m currently writing this update. No further plans for this evening beyond sleep and beer and more sleep so I will see you all in the morning for the trip back to Birmingham on AF

It's ridiculous isn't it. I don't mind paying over the odds for a room service burger because someone has actually cooked, prepared and brought it up while I sit on my lazy behind. But snacks and drinks are getting to silly prices. I'm looking at a 95g pack of crisps on display in my room which is 60 HK$. Nobody has curated that, the cleaning staff are refilling the 'pantry'.

So we have just loaded up at the local M&S and 7-11.

did you remind them you set off from Newcastle for the appointment 😆

Good morning from Bucharest!

I’ve definitely paid down my sleep debt, slept maybe 13 of the last 19 hours!

Time for breakfast. It’s 09:30 and the breakfast room is very busy but staff are keeping pace and everything is clean and the food mostly topped off









As yesterdays total food intake was a sandwich, time to do this justice

Leaving the hotel at 10:50 it is a five minute walk to the airport. Although there is plenty of snow on the ground there is now a well worn path from the airport to the hotel



I was going to check the price of an airport upgrade but checkin is closed, I guess it must open at T-2 hours



Security was very quiet and civilised



Once through to departures it was incredibly quiet



If you have been to Otopeni, or have seen any of my previous photos, you’ll know that this is a haven of peace and serenity compared to the normal madding crowds!

Back to the Dacia lounge for me, which is almost empty, and a coffee and juice to start with as my stomach is currently making its unhappiness at the amount of breakfast I ate loudly known!

After a couple of hours in the lounge drinking coffee and getting some work done, I saw our plane arrived pretty on its way to gate 1



I gave it a few minutes and then headed to the gate which is a short upstream walk from the lounge



It’s not too crazy, but there is plenty of time yet. Looks like a crew change so it’ll be a few minutes before we start boarding.

As an aside, there are literally dozens of border police roaming around spot-checking people, I’ve not seen that before

Boarding started after about a ten minute wait and I am in 14D, exit row, Aisle. As is quite often the case, the crew member was standing in my seat space and I jokingly apologised for having to evict her.

Now, colour me highly impressed, she said “Not a problem Mr JapesUK”, you could have knocked me down with a feather!

Into my seat which is clean and comfortable and seems pretty new .





14E has been showing as empty all the way but a gent has just arrived to claim it. I am guessing he begged a gate upgrade and I cannot begrudge him it, he is taller than I am!

We are now one minute from scheduled departure but passengers are still streaming aboard so I’m guessing we will be 10+ minutes pushing back.

A Quick Look at the diminutive safety card on this A22-300




I’m surprised to see, or more accurately, to not see a menu in the seat pocket. No Buy on Board?

The crew member has just dropped off a towel and mini water, only to myself, a AF status benefit?



Remember I said I don’t begrudge Mr 14E his seat? He’s a sniffer 😡

Next Stop: Paris in around three hours time

Offer him a tissue, it's the best way to tell someone they're annoying you with their sniffling.