Round The World and other travels
A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries
This is: South America 2009
Short hop to Frankfurt
I set out as planned shortly after three o'clock in the afternoon, the weather a disagreeable blend of leaden skies, gusty winds and light rain. Much heavier rain on the motorway prompted me to do a quick outside temperature check : 9C. In the middle of May, for heaven's sake! Even vague patriotic stirrings caused by Bruch's Scottish Fantasy being played on the radio failed to curb my enthusiasm to escape the country for a week or so, and with it this soul-destroying weather.
I surrendered my car at the usual secure car park, had an easy transfer to the terminal and was able to proceed directly to the Lufthansa premium check-in desk, which of course was manned by bmi staff. I decided to keep my pre-assigned seats when the agent informed me that, as far as she could see, LH had blocked the seat next to me. This certainly seemed like good news for the following day's long-haul flight. I checked my suitcase through to Buenos Aires, having packed an overnight bag for Frankfurt.
A bit of a hold-up then ensued at Security, where
my bag was given a good going-over on this occasion. The Diamond
Club lounge wasn't too busy for a Friday afternoon. I amused myself
by trying to spot mFT member Land-of-Miles, who was due to be
on bmi's Manchester flight and whose schedule for catching it
after a city-centre meeting seemed optimistic in the extreme.
Natural Scottish canniness and a keen sense of self-preservation
steered me away from walking up to any complete strangers and
enquiring whether I'd seen them on the Internet the previous evening
Further amusement was to follow when I decided to
double-check the various documents that I'd been handed downstairs.
I nearly laughed out loud when I looked at my Baggage Receipt.
Immediately under my name - and no, I am not making this up! - were
printed the words 'HOT HOT
HOT'. "Well, at least it's now official," I thought. "Damn, that
check-in agent's got taste!"
I made my way out to nearby Gate 4 some twenty minutes prior to the scheduled departure time, only to return to the lounge when a thirty-minute delay was announced.
(Link to flight log in side panel)
I had an easy passage through a quiet Terminal 1 at Frankfurt and, admittedly after a couple of false moves, soon found the bridge to the Sheraton. Most conveniently, soon after arriving in my room I felt suddenly tired and ready to sleep. I decided not to fight my instincts.