Round The World and other travels

A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries

This is: Far East 2009

Be prepared for the unexpected!

After a busy Festive Season (featuring my birthday, the end of my latest contract and a fair amount of socialising, in addition to Christmas and New Year), the time for me to set off on another of my big trips had arrived at what seemed like breakneck speed. It wasn't an early start, so I was able to attend to some matters at home before I had to leave. I also took the opportunity to check the status of my two flights and was concerned to see that the first of them was showing a significant delay. My departure from home was accompanied by a light wintry shower, but the journey to the airport took place in glorious winter sunshine. I parked at the usual place and was quickly transferred to the terminal building.

I got stuck behind a group of five at check-in, who were checking in at least two cases each, one of which weighed in at a ridiculous 33.7kg. They had to re-pack that one and pay excess baggage. When it was eventually my turn, I explained my concerns about my connection at Gatwick to the agent, whose initial response was "Och, you'll be fine!" ... "No, I really don't think I will!" ... "Let me just check." The ticket desk said to send me right over.

I was fully expecting to be moved onto Heathrow flights and was quite taken aback to be told that I was being re-routed on KLM via Amsterdam! I was also somewhat dismayed, as KLM and Skyteam in general don't know me from Adam. Still, much better to get to my destination on the intended day, rather than worry about being well treated. There were basically two ways of looking at the situation. Either I could be annoyed by the unexpected and not entirely welcome change to my plans, or I could be grateful that BA, probably at significant expense, was ensuring that I would reach my destination at an acceptable time. Being a model of patience and good-natured reasonableness , I naturally went with the second option.

Security was busier than when I'd passed through on my December trips, but as I have already noted, patience is a virtue - especially when witnessing how astonishingly clueless some of one's fellow-passengers can be. I made my way to the once so familiar territory of the BA Lounge, using the Open Doors policy to gain entry. (Even if Open Doors for Golds didn't exist, I'd like to think that they'd have let me in anyway, given the particular circumstances applying.) I was surprised, but not at all disappointed, to find the lounge deserted, as indeed it would remain throughout my visit. BA still puts out a nice spread at mealtimes and I made full use of it. I'd been told that the standard of furniture had improved and indeed it had! The Terraces look was well and truly on the way out, with lots of nice new armchairs and sofas that looked as though they'd maybe come from the now-abandoned First Lounge in Heathrow Terminal 1. For those who like to keep up-to-date with such things, here are a few pictures :-

I made my way along to Gate 2 in good time for the rather novel experience of a KLM flight.

(Link to flight log in side panel)

On arrival at Schiphol, I realised that I really needed to get my skates on! Luckily I was first to arrive at Passport Control, and was soon on the trail that would lead me to the C gates. The queue at Security was horrendous. There was an agent checking boarding passes on the way in and I asked her whether I was likely to make it through in time. She examined my boarding pass and grimaced when she saw the details, but said that she wasn't allowed to move anyone up the queue. She looked again, had a word with a colleague, then thankfully said : "Please follow me to the Business Class queue". Phew - saved! They were already boarding when I finally made it to Gate C4. I don't usually do this sort of brinksmanship!

(Link to flight log in side panel)

Well, here's one for the diary : today I was the last passenger off the plane! To be honest, I just couldn't be bothered jostling to retrieve my belongings from the overhead locker and, as I was already in the Schengen zone, there was no passport control to worry about. I just sat serenely until the scrum was over and then made my move. My case was one of the first off and, there being no queue at all at the taxi rank directly outside, I was very soon on my way to the Hilton Diagonal Mar in the bitterly cold night air.

A very friendly and helpful check-in agent explained that I had been upgraded to a top-floor Executive Room with Club access Ah, that's better! She also explained that the next day was a public holiday and that a lot of shops, etc would be closed. Well, I knew that 6 January was an important day in the Christian calendar, but I was surprised that it was a public holiday, coming so soon after Christmas and New Year. I didn't think it would affect me too much, however. Rather more worryingly, she also warned me to keep a close eye on my things when sight-seeing. It seems that the street crime problem has got worse in the 12 years or so since my one previous visit.

I settled into my room and ordered a pizza to make up for the day's deficiencies in the culinary department.