As we had booked an ex-DUB to SFO combining BA and VS, we booked our positioning flight with Aer Lingus. We would normally stay at LHR for one night anyway, but I didn't want to rush so we added an extra night and stayed 2 nights at the Radisson so we could arrive the night before our DUB return flight and relax, then crash out in the hotel after those 2 flights.
Our outbound was due to leave at 15:50 and arrive at DUB at 17:10 giving us 2 hrs 15 mins for transfer to our return flight.
Well we did it, but it was hairy! The EI flight was delayed, except there was no info posted or announced. We could all see the plane sitting by the gate in T2 but no boarding calls, so we waited, and waited, in a terminal with no air-con, and I was cooking slowly, getting hotter and hotter and not in the good way.
Eventually boarding was called and was fairly quick, but we were about 45 minutes late leaving. The captain told us they'd been delayed arriving into LHR because of air traffic queuing at LHR and LHR had requested they delayed departure from DUB.
From there on in it was a bog standard flight, with nothing stand out. Arriving late into DUB T2 at the same time as another flight, we get to the passport desks and the Garda have only 2 desks open for 2 full flights, and the line we chose had a jobsworth who was scrutinising everyone. Another 20 minutes of our time gone, walked through and got help with finding our way to T1 and off we ran. I suddenly thought "sh1t" I don't have any euro cash for coffees etc, as we rocked up to security. Another 10 minute wait.
Once through I remembered that we were flying Club Europe with BA so had lounge access. But I had to go online to find out which lounge, and off we went. We had 20 minutes in the lounge. In that time I downed an espresso, a VAT and a coke and munched on a chocolate muffin, before we spotted our gate had been posted and off we ran for boarding.
Next the BA trip report.
Our outbound was due to leave at 15:50 and arrive at DUB at 17:10 giving us 2 hrs 15 mins for transfer to our return flight.
Well we did it, but it was hairy! The EI flight was delayed, except there was no info posted or announced. We could all see the plane sitting by the gate in T2 but no boarding calls, so we waited, and waited, in a terminal with no air-con, and I was cooking slowly, getting hotter and hotter and not in the good way.
Eventually boarding was called and was fairly quick, but we were about 45 minutes late leaving. The captain told us they'd been delayed arriving into LHR because of air traffic queuing at LHR and LHR had requested they delayed departure from DUB.
From there on in it was a bog standard flight, with nothing stand out. Arriving late into DUB T2 at the same time as another flight, we get to the passport desks and the Garda have only 2 desks open for 2 full flights, and the line we chose had a jobsworth who was scrutinising everyone. Another 20 minutes of our time gone, walked through and got help with finding our way to T1 and off we ran. I suddenly thought "sh1t" I don't have any euro cash for coffees etc, as we rocked up to security. Another 10 minute wait.
Once through I remembered that we were flying Club Europe with BA so had lounge access. But I had to go online to find out which lounge, and off we went. We had 20 minutes in the lounge. In that time I downed an espresso, a VAT and a coke and munched on a chocolate muffin, before we spotted our gate had been posted and off we ran for boarding.
Next the BA trip report.
At the end of the jetway TURN LEFT and... champagne, champagne for everyone