This is: USA Road Trip 2011
(Link to flight log in side panel)
As I transferred to the main building of Heathrow's Terminal 5 using the underground transit system, I had that familiar feeling of mild disorientation and not being entirely sure what time of day it was - or at least what time my body felt it ought to be. For once, Security was blissfully quiet and I was soon striding towards the main lounge complex feeling confident that, despite having recently dropped to BA Silver, I would be admitted to the First Class lounge on the strength of my SFO-LHR boarding pass. It was therefore both a surprise and a delight to be redirected to the Concorde Room, although I should have realised that it is the true first class lounge, the so-called FCL being essentially for gold card holders.
It was nice to experience for the first time a facility that very much reminded me of Lufthansa's equivalent in Frankfurt, albeit without the dedicated border control and security functions and the shiny limousine fleet waiting below. It was a pity that I didn't feel able to sample the dining area, but I was far too full of food from my flight. Lesson for the future: maximise sleeping time on board and have breakfast here instead. When the time came, I wandered back towards the north-side domestic gates.
(Link to flight log in side panel)
Once back in my home airport, it was an easy matter to complete the journey home. I made it shortly after 4pm, having stopped briefly to pick up some essential provisions. Another fabulous trip had reached a successful conclusion, having provided a rich source of memories to relive for a long time. I somehow felt that it wouldn't be too long before I decided to take to the highways and byways of America once again. What I absolutely did not realise at the time is that I would soon be planning a return to the American south-west, to take place before the year was out ...