Ooops, sorry! I got a bit carried away after my weekend trip to London and wandering around the street markets. But I DO have three trip reports and if you want to know how.
.well you must just wait and see! Down to business
EI714 ORK-LHR 18th May
There was nothing really remarkable about this flight. I had booked it after Aer Lingus had started charging for on-line seat selection so waited to see what check-in would offer me. There was a long line waiting to check in for the flight so I used the kiosk and went to the Tag and Bag desk and was through in minutes with the assigned seat of 29A. The in-coming flight arrived on time and we were quickly boarded. The flight was due to leave at 14:40 but we had taxied well before then and were in the air at our departure time. I swear Aer Lingus is becoming more and more like Ryanair every day! One glance at the Cork airport website shows before time departures on a regular basis. Im not complaining. It beats delays!
I was a little apprehensive when a two and a half year old pitched up in the seat beside me but I need not have worried. He was delightful. He showed me how to fasten my seat belt, pointed in the direction the plane was going, showed me the wings and the safety card. Methinks a cabin crew in the making. [:D]
We arrived ten minutes early but not on the runway parallel to T1 and the Bath Road so we were taxiing for ages till we got to our stand. It was then a quick trot to baggage claim. I had decided to check my bags I hadnt the stomach to organise my lotions, potions and gels for security and when I returned from a quick trip to the Ladies my case was trundling on the carousel ahead of me so I had to run to catch up with it.
I decided to forego the HEX in favour of the Underground as my destination was London Bridge and if any of you care to point out I would have been better flying into LGW as there is a direct rail service, yes, I am aware of that but the fares were coming in at nearly 200 per leg. [:0] I had an Oyster card which I topped up and apart from a mid-station stop somewhere between Osterley and Boston Manor because of congestion and the fact that there is a long walk to the Jubilee line in Green Park (and two sets of stairs) the journey was uneventful.
EI715 LHR-ORK 20th May
After a weekend which included dinner with on set of friends on Friday, breakfast with a friend on Saturday and dinner that night with some more friends I headed back to LHR the same way I had come on the Underground. As the journey progressed to LHR the carriage became more and more congested with luggage and really this is the main disadvantage over the HEX as there really is no dedicated luggage area except a small space by the doors and if passengers are standing there, it is impossible to put your case there. At one stage one guy placed a large heavy case in such a way that it was blocking the exit until it was pointed out to him. [V]
Once at LHR I checked in at a kiosk once more by-passing a long queue. This time I was assigned 14A and was more than happy with it. At this stage it was just gone 12 noon and my flight wasnt till 2:15 and I debated briefly as to whether I would stick around or go airside. The terminal was its usual crowded self and I felt it would be less congested down by the gates so off I went. Security lines were short but my handbag got searched and my camera and iPod swabbed and I also got a pat down. Pity it wasnt the rather dishy looking security guy who did it!! [:w]
The gate area was relatively deserted when I got there. It is quite a bleak area but its main advantage is that it is parallel to the runway if you are interested in aircraft. Unfortunately it was the landing runway today which was a bit of a disappointment as there were very few heavies landing and I had been looking forward to seeing a few VS planes taking off. Over the last couple of years there have been attempts to liven up the place a bit. Vending machines have been added as well as televisions showing BBC news and a bar-cum-snack bar which was very welcome and necessary. The very latest addition has been tables and chairs next to the snack bar you know the kind, high tables and chairs you have to hoist yourselves up on to in order to eat! While I was there I noticed a lady with whom I used to work. Take note of her. She is essential to the story!
The incoming flight was on time and we were quickly boarded. Sitting next to me were two guys who were from the north side of Cork City judging by their accents and who had gone over for the Cup Final. They had been promised tickets and had been let down and had obviously watched it in a pub. The smell of alcohol oozed from every pore in their bodies. They had been supporting Man United and when some Chelsea supporters boarded the banter flew between the two groups, together with a few verses of How Much is that Doggie in the Window The atmosphere was convivial and great fun.
The doors were closed 10 minutes before departure but then the captain came on to say that ATC had indicated that there was congestion and rather than have aircraft in a holding pattern near the runway they were holding them at the gates. We had been given a slot 25 minutes hence. I groaned inwardly at that as it is very near the runway changeover time and I have been caught before on that flight with that. It leads to horrendous delays. He indicated however that he had managed to reduce it to 15 minutes and sure enough at 2:25 we pushed back. There were only four aircraft ahead of us so we were in the air some ten minutes later and on the ground five minutes late in ORK.
Although we had arrived behind a flight from somewhere in the Med our bags came first after all they had to turn the plane around for a 4:15 departure. Mine didnt come in the first load and halfway through the second load the belt coming up from the bowels of the airport stopped suddenly. I thought it was that a couple of cases got jammed. One intrepid passenger leaped over the carousel and dislodged them and a couple of cases coming up behind, one of which was mine. As I passed the end of the carousel I noticed that an umbrella had got wedged under the belt. Im ashamed to say I didnt care. [:I] I had my case. A quick trip over to the long term car park and as I was getting into the car the plane which had now morphed into EI722 took off once more.
VS20 SFO-LHR 19th May
Huh? VS20? You were in London. How can you do a trip report on it? [?]
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you a trip report by proxy. Remember that lady I referred to in the last TR? She and I worked alongside each other for the past 3-4 years and because we were for a time in an off-site office we got to know each other better than we might have done otherwise. I wouldnt go so far as to say we were friends but we like and respect each other. She is older than me in fact is past retiring age but still does sessional work. Anyhow, when I spotted her she was on one of those high chairs, clinging on for dear life with a cup of coffee in front of her. When I approached her she gazed at me with bleary, unseeing eyes and somewhere from the mists of exhaustion remembered my name. I knew she had family in the San Francisco area and went there every Thanksgiving but I also knew that last year was the exception and I guessed correctly she had been there. I suggested that she move to a more comfortable seat for a nap and I would mind her things and call her for the flight which suggestion she gratefully accepted. As we gathered her belongings I noticed a telltale red label on her carry-on. [y]
HL: You flew on Virgin Atlantic (a statement not a question)
Friend: Yes. Theyre great
HL: How was your flight?
Friend: Not a problem. It was great. The flight attendants were wonderful. They couldnt do enough for you and the meal was really nice. I dont normally like airline food but the meals on Virgin are generally good. The only thing was I didnt sleep.
Having tucked her in the poor soul was asleep within minutes and was able to grab an hour and a halfs nap and woke a couple of minutes before the time I decided I would call her. Boarding had commenced and as we waited and later on were on our way to the aircraft she told me she had watched a really good film (cant remember what) on board the flight.
Friend: You know, they have such a great variety on Virgin. I just love their entertainment system. Its really the best Ive come across. Do you use it? I love the flight map
I acknowledged I watched a couple of films, a few television programmes and played a few games of trivia with Aer John
At that stage we were in the jet bridge just by the door of the aircraft waiting to board and at that stage she turned to me and said
You know, Virgin Atlantic are just great!
Well if that ain't a trip report, what is?
