Dropped at T4 by an uncharacteristically chatty AddLee bod I stared transfixed at the m_l_e that was check in. I'd got my boarding pass and was just looking for a fast bag drop when I remembered that Ag with BA gets you CW check in so off to CW Bag Drop it was where the queue was only 10 deep rather than the 100 deep for WT. No OpUp was offered and knowing was day time and shortish I just decided to be happy with my pre-chosen seat - 10B. The first row of WT+ with an extra bit of legroom.
No mention was made of Fast Track and the Fast Track signs made no mention of being usable by BAEC members so I joined the normal queue where I was pleasantly surprised to find no shoe carnival. Through and on to the Gate 1 Lounge were I demolished some pleasant enough sandwiches and (joy of joy) London Pride. Settling into the ComBiz centre I browsed V-Flyer and tried to download FireFox... BA seem to have reacted to my normal habit of downloading FireFox and now block the site with an admonition that this site has been flagged as illegal or sexual or somesuch.
With 30 minutes to go before takeoff I left the lounge noting that there wasn't a spare seat in the house. Gate 1B had a long queue and no priority boarding so I went and got some magazines for the journey then joined the (now much reduced) queue. The lack of priority boarding was explained as we joined a coach to be driven to our remote stand.
Boarding the plane I settled into my seat, noting with some bemusement that my companion for the flight was to be half of a couple I'd seen on the coach. I looked for her other half anticipating a 'would you mind taking this middle seat so my wife and I can sit together' but it didn't happen. Much relieved I ventured to suggest that her handbag would have to go in the overhead as there was no seat to put it under. I placed it in the overhead for her and then buckled in. No preflight drink but I'd brought my own water so could have my aspirin and Airborne.
Takeoff was takeoff and I spent some time reading up on the AVOD system than was fitted on this aircraft. As soon as the seatbelt signs went off one the crew approached our seats and said 'excuse me - is one of you crew?'. The lady to my left ventured that she was on staff travel, so I started to prepare myself for her upgrade. Instead the gentleman looked at me and explained that this lady's husband was in CW and there were no spare seats to upgrade his wife to so would I mind awfully moving into Club so the husband could sit next to his wife?
Somehow I found it in my heart to make this noble sacrifice and 2 minutes later I was in Club and the (Assumed) off duty Pilot was back in my old seat. Drink orders were immediately taken, and hearing that the lagers were Heinken or Carlsberg I opted for white wine.
Food choices were
Lunch
Starters
Mark Edward's Asian Crab Salad
or
Mixed Mediterranean meze plate
Fresh seasonal salad served with vinaigrette
Main
Vineet Bhatia's prawn bhuna masala with coconut and curry leaf rice
Shaun Hill's Lancashire Hotpot
Mushroom cappalletti pasta with herb creak sauce
Main course pesto chicken salad served with vinaigrette
Dessert
Raspberry and Chocolate Mousse
Coastal Cheddar and Bleu d'Auvergne cheese with garnishes
A Selection of fruit
Chocolates
Afternoon Tea
Snacks
Sandwiches of poached salmon/chunky egg with baby spinach
or
Roast MEditerranean vegetable salad with Buffalo Mozzarella cheese
Sweets
Fruit scones served warm with clotted cream and strawberry preserve
Lemon Meringue tart
I must admit I missed the VS wine list and the food was actually quite badly presented. The meze was really small portions just dumped on the plate and the bhuna was congealed. I was surprised as I remember BA food being better than this.
I didn't bother with the AVOD as I had work to do - and for this sort of thing the BA seat is infinitely more flexible but I really prefer the privacy of the suite.
The crew were polite but this was a really average flight with nothing outstanding. Head winds of 112 miles an hour meant that our flight took over 8 hours and we landed to a nearly deserted immigration hall. Probably about 100 people ahead of us. I was fourth in the queue but still it took about 45 minutes to be seen. The immigration officer was being very thorough and wasn't particularly friendly.
Luggage was on the belt by the time I was through - so off to the Brent Spiner voiced monorail to the Hilton Hotel shuttle and a quick overnight before leaving to my destination on Sunday.
All in all a mediocre flight, the upgrade was an unexpected bonus and I am grateful to the gentleman who made it possible but there just wasn't that buzz that you get with a good VS flight.
