Round The World and other travels
A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries
This is: Round The World 2006-07
The big trip resumes
It seemed like rather a lot had happened since the first week in May
: a lengthy period of idleness (happily coinciding with one of the
best summers in living memory
), trips to a number of short-haul destinations followed by a 7-week
gap in my travels
and, most recently of all, a return to work under a new contract.
But I always knew that the magic date in August would eventually
arrive and this was it. I had set my alarm for 0500 and somehow
managed to drag myself out of bed. I left home shortly after 6 and
drove along a largely deserted M9, making it to the secure airpark
before 7. A quick transfer to EDI and soon I was thanking my lucky
stars for the recently-reported reinstatement of the dedicated Gold
& Silver Fast Bag Drop at BA Check-in. The queue for the other desks
was huge, even at this time on a Saturday morning. I was on my way
upstairs within a very few minutes, ready to negotiate the next
hurdle - the enhanced security regime, following the recent alleged
'liquid bombs' plot. Passage through Security really wasn't that bad
and I was soon making my way into the familiar surroundings of the
BA Lounge. I munched my way through a bowl of Bran Flakes, then had
a coffee and Danish until the flight was called at 0835.
(Link to flight log in side panel)
The transfer from Terminal 1 to 4 proceeded smoothly enough, although I could see that the queues for those passing through Security at the Flight Connections Centre were horrendous. Luckily, as I was arriving from a domestic flight, it didn't affect me at all. On arrival at Terminal 4, I made my way to the main lounge pavilion opposite Gate 10 and was admitted to the First Lounge. It was the busiest I've ever seen it, but I managed to locate a reasonably private seat. I passed the time reading the papers and working my way through an unlikely sounding sequence of a bowl of cornflakes, a glass of Champagne and a bowl of soup!
I made my way to the gate as soon as it was posted on the screens and was the first person through the Club & First fast track. Normally the next thing to report would be stepping on board, yet the next step was where it nearly all went wrong : I'm referring, of course, to the additional security checks recently introduced at the gate for USA-bound flights. I'd better not go into details, but let's just say it wasn't much fun being an insulin-dependent diabetic in the prevailing security climate. Thankfully, it was all sorted out.
(Link to flight log in side panel)
I had an easy passage through a very busy ORD and was soon aboard a taxi, bound for the Magnificent Mile and the InterContinental. At the hotel, I was very quickly recognised as a Royal Ambassador and given a more private check-in at the Guest Services desk, where my upgrade was fully explained to me. I was delighted with my 15th floor Business Suite. The plan had been to freshen up and head out for an introductory stroll, but this was abandoned when it started to rain heavily. With the unfavourable weather and my growing sense of tiredness, I decided that it was just too much of an effort. Instead, I had a light room service supper and a relaxing bath, before allowing myself to slip quickly and easily into a deep sleep, after having been up and about for 22 hours.