Arrived at the airport early - dropped work colleague off at Easyjet check-in at Terminal 2C (he was coming back to cover me on the 23rd so I could move). Now when I checked in I declined the on line upgrade and so checked into 9A (emergency exit row)......however then had a change of heart and on my Executive club page I could still upgraded even thought checked in. However, having done that I then couldn't access my booking or choose seat etc as there were now two or me on the same flight. Got to BCN airport and a very rude ground person insisted that I use the self-service check-in (as Club Europe desks are only bag drop sir!)......I explained that it wouldn't work but still no change of heart and so had to prove that I couldn't check-in. This person should not be dealing with "premium passengers" - a lot of people at BCN are going via LHR on Club World or First tickets and this is not the "face of BA" that needs to be at your starting airport. Anyway enough of her.......once I was allowed to the desk there was initial confusion as it still showed me in 9A (although with a premium paid) - after a few phone calls I was moved appropriately and then boarding pass printed. However this showed me as having a 'paper ticket'....more calls and a short wait and finally an e-ticket boarding pass. I did ask about moving to the earlier flight but told that this was delayed and best to stay on the later one that I was checked in for.
Through security (very busy for BCN), a wander around the shops and then off to the lounge. This was also quite busy - earlier flight was showing as over 2 hours delay so leaving after ours. In the end we were about an hour delayed as well, but still took off before the earlier flight but about 15 minutes. The lounge is nice but WiFi is pay for and there are only 3 or 4 computers (one is always broken!)......time pass fairly quickly - nipped out to McD as the food options are ok in the lounge but needed more. No mention of "EU statutory stuff" for the earlier flight that were over two hours delayed.
Eventually boarding was called so wandered off to gate - not actually boarding when we got there but at least the plane was there. One side, when boarding started, was for Club Europe etc and Gold/Silver Exec club card holders......a scrum started as people decided that that meant blue was enough to got that side and if you had one gold card you could take your wife and three children. Hey ho waited my turn and then almost straight on to my seat in 1A.
Once boarding was completed, a short taxi and off back home. There was a small issue before push-back in that the people in 3C/D wanted to "sit next to each other" so took 3D/E - the purser explained very politely that 3E is not sold and that they were limiting the space of the person in 3F.....a small muscial chairs then followed an everyone was reseated - they ended up in 4D/F but sat in 4E/F - obviously couldn't cope with not being right next to each other
As we taxied there was an annoucement that no phones during take off also applied to the iPhones with flight safe mode switched on (directed at 4E 
) The reason for the delay was bad weather and thunderstorms in Southern England delaying all departures etc. Drinks round served by the purser - he was very good, efficient and polite - much more than normal and made everyone feel special! Food options on the short flight were chicken in a mushroom sauce on polenta and vegetables, fish in cream suace on pasta and an anti-pasta plate....I had the fish which was very nice. Service remained very good on the flight, with regular drinks replacements and checks in Club by the purser to make sure everyone was ok. About 15 minutes before landing the duty free trolley came out, only for the pilot to say we were about 10 minutes out of LHR and that we wouldn't be holding tonight. We arrived about 20 minutes before the 'earlier flight' and my colleague on EasyJet arrived about 4 hours late! The crew did a very rapid clear up etc as they hadn't been expecting this and soon we were landing at LHR. The usual bus to the terminal and then a quick walk to through immigration (empty) and customs (carry on only) as I wanted to get something from the arrivals shop for the house move (special offer champagne) - although I was there at 22:50 and it 'shuts' at 23:00 it had already closed. Typical. Out into arrivals to find my pre-booked taxi driver and home to stress about the move!
All in all a very good flight and the purser was amazing and just the person you want working in a premium cabin!
