BA268 LAX-LHR 19 MAR 12 (CLUB WORLD)
Posted: 21 Mar 2012, 08:05Arrived on American Eagle from San Diego, and after leaving the terminal it was a short walk around to the Thomas Bradley International Terminal at LAX. Odd not having any luggage to check-in, as this was supposedly through-checked to LHR. The terminal was very quiet. We were already aware of a delay in the flight, having received a text and e-mail message from BA. Wandered around the landside shops – currently there is nothing much airside, although this may change with the rebuild of the airport. Cleared security with another total body scan and off to the “One World Lounge Complex” on the 5th Floor. Asked here if my luggage would be ok for this flight – they checked using the details on my baggage tags and was told that it would be (see later about this).
The lounge is relatively big with four different areas – it did get very busy later on as there are a number of One World flights and we were delayed. There is also a separate First area which didn’t seem that big and probably gets relatively busy given the number of flights out of there around that time. There was a good offering of three American reds, two American whites and a sparkling American (Tattinger champagne is only available in First!). Plenty of soft drinks, snacks and a good selection of hot and cold food if you want to eat before the flight. Free WiFi, which was not that good but also there was about 10-15 computers. Time seemed to pass relatively quickly as we had work to do and also catching up with a colleague who was off on QF to Sydney. My name was called just before boarding – not for an upgrade but instead a passport check as I had not checked in at LAX. I think that this need for a passport check may explain the issues I experienced on arrival in LHR.
Flight
When the flight was called, we headed off to the gate – they were just starting to board Economy when we arrived. Someone was escorted from the lounge to the gate but what I think was the Station Manager for One World – initially we thought that they were in First, as they pushed pass everyone to get through to the plane and also were escorted to the plane door by this individual who then spoke personally to the CSD at the plane about them.....however they were only in Club!! We had seats upstairs again – so much prefer these as there is extra luggage space by the windows and it feels much nicer than the ones downstairs in Club. We pushed back around an hour or so late – no explanation as to the delay (which seems unusual). Taxied to the runway and then after entry onto the runway, we taxied down it and exited – apparently the ATC had decided to stop us taking off as they had preference for someone else, even though we were on the actual runway – slightly odd to me!
After take-off, the crew came round with the usual hot towels and then the drinks. The CSD came around and spoke to four people upstairs – I presume that they were BA Gold or above? I had my Kir Royale and nuts, and decided to try and watch something. My screen appeared to be in broadcast mode only (fixed films on a loop) and not in on demand mode. Asked and was initially told that my screen needed to be reset....then shortly was informed that actually the entertainment was broken from the outbound and it was only operational in broadcast mode. Again I would have expected an announcement from the CSD to explain this to everyone, but this didn’t happen – very poor show.
Wasn’t sure whether I was going to eat on board, but was feeling a bit peckish so thought that I would. The menu for this flight was:
Starters
Duo of Santa Barbara hot smoked and balik salmon with fingerling potato salad
Organic heirloom tomatoes with Burrata mozzarella and lemon mosto basil dressing
Main
Meaux mustard marinated fillet of beef with Maderia wine jus, glazed root vegetables and fondant potatoes
Organic chicken tikka masala with basmati rice, dal, caramelised onions and toasted naan bread
Spinach and ricotta lasagnette with tomato vodka sauce and sautéed chanterelle mushrooms
Main course prawn salad
Dessert
Flourless Valrhona chocolate cake with strawberry and whipped cream
Rouge Affinee and Idiazabal cheese with grapes
I had the salmon (pretty good and nice potato salad), the spinach and ricotta lasagnette (tasted better than it looked) and the chocolate cake (this was really really good and the best part of the meal!). Had a glass of Poulliy-Fume with dinner, which was good.
Finished my film (watched 50/50 which was nothing too heavy for a late-evening flight) with a Glenlivet 15 year old, and afterwards converted my seat into my bed (so much better than having to stand up) and settled down for some sleep. Managed about 6 hours, waking only once for a drink – pretty good all in all.
Breakfast was being served as I woke – had some fruit (nice and fresh) and then the bacon roll – different from VS as had loads of bacon in it and a crunchy toasted roll – mmm!! Watched something on my iPad (not possible to watch anything from the loop system as everything was part way through) and then it was time for landing at LHR.
Arrival
Great views over London as we came in, and then a short taxi to our gate. Unfortunately the gate guidance system for parking had not been turned on and therefore we had to wait and wait......very annoying after a long-haul flight that was delayed. Once off, it was the usual route-march from a B gate through a deserted immigration to baggage reclaim. The bags took a while to start appearing, and then my colleagues appeared. After a while it became apparent that it was only the crew and me left waiting for baggage around an hour after the flight had landed. Various members of the crew had been to baggage services and as a result there were repeated messages that the bags were still being off-loaded. Eventually I decided to ask at baggage services whether mine had actually been loaded. Checking my baggage tags, she informed me that the bags had last been scanned in San Diego and that she could not tell me if they had arrived in LAX, had been loaded onto the flight but the only thing that was definite was that they had not been offloaded in LHR (I knew that as I was asking about their location, and if they had been off-loaded then I would have them!!). Was given the usual missing baggage reference and told they may be with the crew bags – wandered back but still nothing – the senior first officer and captain told me that I was probably best heading home rather than waiting, which seemed like a good idea.
I wonder if the bags weren’t loaded as I didn’t initially do a passport check – this is really annoying, as I had asked about my bags in the lounge about 4 hours before the flight boarded and they could have done this then.
Received a text around 23:00 from BA baggage services which seems to suggest that my bags were being flown on BA282 on the 19th March 2012. This is the flight that left before ours on the same day as ours – this is not possible, as when we arrived in LAX the BA282 was pushed back and ready to leave, so unless they opened the baggage doors on the taxi-way / runway, then my bags can’t have made that flight. I am hoping that this means that they are on BA282 which left on the evening of 20th March and that they should arrive this morning......fingers crossed!!
Overall
1. It had to stop sometime that one of my bags wouldn’t make it given the amount of flights I have done recently – fingers crossed that they arrive but it is annoying never the less.
2. The CSD seemed only interested in the Gold passengers – would have been nice to be informed that the entertainment system was broken by them, rather than having to find it out for ourselves.
3. Always try to get a seat upstairs on a BA long-haul flight, as feels like a different cabin to downstairs in Club.
