This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Anyway, we left the hotel around 10.00 and headed down the freeway towards IAD. Our cunning plan was to spend a few hours at the National Air & Space Museum neat IAD before checking in. This again was an excellent decision and I would highly recommend this to anyone wondering what to do on the last day before flying out of this airport.
So eventually we made our way to the Dollar to drop the car off and then on the bus to the terminal. We arrived around 3.30 to find a reasonably busy check in area but only one person at the UC desk. As soon as we arrived however a young chap came over and opened up a second desk so that we didn't have to wait and within a few minutes we were done.
Making our way around to security the queues were horrendous so I was glad that as we entered the chap that checked our boarding passes directed us to a different area which had about 10 people waiting. As reached the end of the line a younger couple were having a small argument with the security man the result of which saw them sent to the other queue and them having faces like thunder. Anyway we were through in a few more minutes and then as we looked for where to go next it became obvious that we didn't need to use the mobile lounge for the return journey to the terminal as they had a tunnel there instead. Why can't they use this for people coming in?
Coming up the escalator we found the gate and CH, handed over our invitation and looked for somewhere to sit. It seemed really busy and we ended up sitting by the doors. After ordering dome drinks and food it soon became obvious why it was so busy. A steady stream of South African Airways passengers were coming in. Another thing we noticed were the number of Virgin America passengers that came in and were turned away. A couple of people were really angry as they had apparently been told at check in that they could use the lounge.We did overhear the concierge offer entrance for $35 which I thought was quite reasonable compared to the cost of entering the UK CHs. A short while later the SAA flight was called and the CH emptied pretty quickly.
After a wander round the shops and a couple more drinks our flight was called and as the gate was across the concourse I had a quick look to see how busy it was. As there were only a few people there we decided to get on board. Passes checked we got into our seats and made ourselves comfortable. Drinks were served, sleep suits offered and the FSM came around and introduced herself. We pushed back pretty much on time and we were in the air a few minutes later.
Once the seat belt sign was off orders were taken for food and I decided to have the salad and steak but by the time it arrived I had lost my appetite so I ate the meat and decided to get my head down and watch a film. However the IFE was playing up and had to be rebooted twice so I plugged in my ipod and decided to try and get some sleep.
The flight was really bumpy and I found it quite difficult to get comfortable but eventually the land of nod welcomed me in and I stayed there for a few hours before being woken for breakfast. As usual we were about an hour or so from landing so I had some weetabix and a bacon roll with a glass of milk.
As seems normal these days we were circling for a while before our final approach and then we came into a very cloudy and wet LHR with a very bouncy landing, don't you just hate those crosswinds[:)]. The taxi to the gate was as per usual and we were soon off and making our way to immigration. When we arrived, the non EU queue was huge. I've not seen it that busy before and made me think that these things don't just happen in the good ole USA (see previous trip report). We joined the EU queue which was relatively short but the family in front of us were unfortunately sent to the non EU queue as they didn't have EU passports. The immigration officer said a lot of people try it on when it's busy but it would be unfair to let them get away with it. i suppose she had a point.
As we came down to the baggage hall I grabbed a trolly and as luck would have it our bags were just coming around on the carousel. I asked Mrs M if she was hungry which she was so we decided to go up to arrivals. After another breakfast we made our way back to the long term car park and then once again down the M4 home. Another enjoyable trip concluded.
Miopyk[8D]
