This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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part 1 Jet Blue and the fighting passengers and part 2 back from JFK (if i make the plane) have been chronicled in other TRs so here is part 3 - will he fly or not.......
But first some background. In a faraway place known as the land of the mouse, the wicked ruler Obama the great, had decreed that many people who had come to his country from lands such as Meccico or Kenya without permit could stay and enjoy the fruits of his country (especially if they were related to him).
however travellers from the land of Brittania were required to jump through hoops of fire and complete the task of the ESTA or worse if they wanted to live in Mouseland.
our initial visa was due to expire Aug 30th (remember that date) so back in June we began the joyful task of trying to persuade US Immigration that we were friend not foe.
we were due a decision by Aug 23rd ,however if it was a denial then we would have to leave by no later than Sept 10th, trying to sell a house,2 cars and rehome a dog in less than 3 weeks. truly USCIS have less compassion than a starving Lion served a fine dish of pan fried Christian.
As the day of decision got nearer our stress levels rose (as did my alcohol consumption -well I am a V-flyer sir
). added to the PITA was an urgent need to return to the Uk on business.Finally on tuesday 16th came the news- we were granted another 2 years
. now the rush, flight booked thurs 18th to return Mond 22nd,appointment at US embassy 8.30 weds 24th (they have to stamp the visa into the PP) return FRiday 2nd as they need 5 working days to process and return.
so back to the UK I come with everything except 1 piece of paper which was due to arrive by the 22nd and would be emailed to me by our lawyer in time for the next day.
It didnt !
so a quick call to the Embassy 'can I change my appointment please ' -'yes the next available one is Sept 7th'
. add on the 5 wdays for return and I was facing being stuck in blighty for nearly 3 weeks .so plan B -if no form by Friday 26th change flights to the Sunday and go back before the visa expires -then have to come back again and do it all over !!!!!!!!!
fast forward to 4pm Thursday and an email arrives and with it the form
another call to the embassy to see if any cancellations and 'yes we have 830 tomorrow (Friday)'
early morning dash to london ,spend 50 mins in the embassy answering totally stupid questions and I depart sans passport but with a request that could they please try and rush it as I have a flight booked the following Fridaywhich is only 4 work days due to the BH. An additional 25 quid to the courier company also gets a guaranteed before 8am deliver the day after they get the passport.
so then i have to sit and wait and watch the couriers website hoping to see my tracking number go live. By 9am Thursday its looking bleak but then joy -I go live and delivery is promised to my office on friday -the day of travel
so friday morning having to get up at 5 to be there before 6 -I am awake at 2.30. My son picks me up and we go to site and wait. at seven I send him and his mate up to get bacon sarnies when suddenly theres a shout 'Pete its here' and I rush down to find a chap on a scooter who had just been about to ride off when the lads accosted him. His one word of English is 'p1ssport'which I gladly relieve him of
.No 1 son then drives me to LGW -all of 25 mins where I clear security in 5 minutes and then get to spend over 3 hours in the No1 lounge as the flight is delayed to 12.00.
OLCI had secured 79K in the bubble (and SEQ 1)and I wandered down to the gate around 11. There was a priority lane but it was inside the gate doors so you had to barge past the main line which wasnt the brightest of ideas. Boarding started straight away and shortly I was settling into my seat and my first glass of champagne (yea right).
A smooth take off heading west just after 12 and a flight time of 8.30 announced along with 420PAX.
first drinks run shortly after the seat belt sign was extinguished and within the hour food was served. MY first choice of chicken had sold out so the chilli beef taken ad it wasnt bad. Proper cutlery not plastic and also the return of wine in bottles says VS HAVE been listening. FC very attentive and friendly during the flight. Drinks and ice cream runs carried out and about 1.15 out tea of Tuna sandwich (so much better than that coronation chicken) and cookie and then hatches battened down for a good landing at 15.46.
priority diembarkation for upstairs and a power walk to immigration meant i was second through. No bags to collect so up to the airtrain and over to the Hertz bay and into my car by 4.10- what a result -UNTIL....well this story had to have a problem at the end and lo, the hire car had no barcode so i couldnt be scanned out
.someone eventaully solved it after about 20 minutes of frustration -then it was a great drive home ,with a quick road side stop to raise the roof as the heavens opend onto I75, then a short detour to collect a Lasagne and Mozzarella sticks
from our local Italain and at just after 730 I arrived home to be greeted by the dogs and so ends the adventure thats started back in June and now sees our dashing hero (well as author I get some licence) safely home and relaxing by the pool.
and thats where the story ends
or does it............because like all good sagas there could be.
episode 4 Flabound and the search for the card of Green ( permenant residency)
stay tuned...
