Having been 'selected' to visit Portugal to deliver a couple of training packages, I found myself having to arrange my first ever trip on the company expense and it was a novelty. I have at least 3 more to do before mid-September with the potential for 2 more afterwards so practice needed. Due to company rules, as the flight is less than 4 hours, it's into Economy I go, despite a business class ticked with TAP being cheaper.
A little tweak of timings meant I got a BA flight out of LHR at around 3pm rather than the 6am TAP flight my boss wanted me on.
As is the policy, a hire car on a one-way trip to Heathrow was arranged and through the rain I arrived at the Enterprise depot. Handover took only a few seconds and I was on the bus to T3. Anyone who has used the BA check-ins at T3 will know, it's hardly the most glamorous part of the terminal and a far cry from the Virgin experience in Zone A. Still, I had no choice so bag dropped and into the security area I headed.
On trips like this I really miss the Virgin PSW as the main area was slow and as usual, I was behind 'Mr Rank BO'. With nasal olfactorys out of commission I was in the Duty Free area. With no CH to restore my wrecked body I popped into Smiths for some water where water + Telegraph was cheaper than water alone. Had lunch in Rhubarb as it was much quieter than anywhere else while waiting for a gate to be announced. The boards soon showed Gate 24 and while heading to the gate, I had to pass the staircase up to the Clubhouse. I could hear each step laughing at me...
Gate 24 means a little bus ride from the waiting area. While waiting, there gate team were prowling around, looking for anyone who dared to have 2 bags as carry-on. Several offending items were removed including a large guitar case. Just as I was boarding, there was an announcement for myself to contact the gate. "YESS!!!" I thought, "Nice little Op-Up to Club Europe."
One of the greatest things a Man can have, is Hope. When Hope is crushed, you don't have a lot left. My Hope was crushed, trampled on and for good measure, shredded into confetti.
No Op-Up, they had merely not marked me off as in the gate area.
Rather than endure the crush of the first 2, I took the 3rd bus and had a leisurely boarding up the steps. Why do steps still make flying feel quite special in a way that air bridges never do?
Settled into Seat 13D and even managed to get my bag into the overhead despite a full flight. Taxi out was short and took off to the west and turned south over Southampton for a straight run to Lisbon.
No IFE other than the map which remained on right up to decent. Luckily iPad and Bose QC15's filled the void, along with noise from behind... Food was a simple ham and mustard roll, sealed to remain fresh. Being sealed, the plastic surround looked like a little pillow where the air inside had expanded. I will say this, it was actually very tasty, for an airline roll. Keeping it simple does work.
Descent into LIS was pretty much direct and a smooth landing. Air bridge to terminal and a walk to collect bag. After the British Summer so far, walking out of the terminal was like walking into a blast furnace and was a bit of a shock.
Crew-wise, just like my last BA flight AMS-LHR, barely a smile from any of the crew and a lukewarm welcome. "To fly, To Serve" still has a long way to go in my book.
With more trips to come, I'll see if it improves but I'm not holding my breath.
Thanks
Darren
Darren
