Wait for me! I want to get on!
Another early morning … I had to wake at 0440 for a 0745 flight from Munich to London where I’d have a 7 hour wait before flying on to Los Angeles. A bloody long day!
In the hostel bathroom, I washed my face, put back on my dirty clothes from last night and didn’t even brush my teeth … in anticipation of having a shower at the Star Alliance lounge at the airport.
That almost didn’t happen as there was already a queue of people booked for using the showers and I didn’t have that much time.
Soon after our Lufthansa flight pushed back, the captain announced that someone had been left at the gate. Because his luggage was already on board, we had to go pick him up … which is a lot simpler than finding his luggage. A little slap is in order to the person who sent the aircraft off before checking properly!
We got to Heathrow a little later than the original arrival time of 0845 but there was no stress. I had 7h30 to self-connect to my next flight, to Los Angeles departing at 1615.
Get me outta here; I want to get off!
Air New Zealand at Heathrow was very good, opening check-in 4.5h prior rather than 3h like many airlines. This allowed me to relax airside prior to taking off to Los Angeles.
Just as the aircraft doors were ready to close, this man walked up to the crew and said something. After a brief discussion, he grabbed his hand luggage and hopped off. Some crew members had a mini-conference and consulted the passenger manifest and then closed the door.
Later in the flight I checked with one of the crew and indeed, the man had decided not to travel at the very last minute. It had been an impulse purchase and he had changed his mind (not sure if it was a refundable ticket, hahaha!). We were very fortunate he didn’t have luggage as that would have kicked off a long process of retrieving it from the hold.
So incongruous
Here I am flying Business Class on a longhaul flight because my partner works for the airline. I also use the nice airport lounges because I’ve gained Star Alliance status through work flights. But I’ve just come from many nights hostelling at backpackers and there’s many more of those to come!
It’s all so incongruous isn’t it! Some of the people I’m sitting with will have come from or are going to very expensive hotels that I could never justify!
Arriving at Los Angeles at 1945, I met up with Kim at the Renaissance Hotel by the airport for a two night stay before we continue to Mexico.