Cue big anniversary last year, cancelled holiday to Asia which was moved to our anniversary this year and again cancelled last November saw us electing to go toLondon instead of Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok and KL.
So armed with Oyster and Rail cards we checked in at Aberdeen for BA1305 operated by 319”PM”.
Checking in was a breeze and two minutes later through a quiet security up to The Northern Lights Lounge. Suitably refreshed by tea and croque monsieur boarded for an early departure. Clear conditions provided a superb view of the Tay estuary and the road and rail bridges with a miniaturised Dundee far below. Arriving 35 minutes early at LHR with bags awaiting us on arrival -perfect.
We stayed in South Kensington opposite the V&A so transport links by bus, tube and rail were easily accessible. We visited Richmond and Windsor the next day and Oxford the day after making good use of travel cards and reductions offered. We hadn’t visited Richmond before and it was lovely; buildings, riverside and plenty of places to snack/eat. A short train journey on South Western Trains took us to Windsor&Eton Riverside for an afternoon there including a nice pub where we had a lunchtime drink.
Oxford was a very speedy journey from Paddington on GWR but very quiet with many closed shops reflecting the impact of the pandemic on tourism however The Ashmolian Museum had an Impressionist exhibition of Camille Pissarro, my favourite impressionist painter. Returning to the railway station we had just missed a fast train to Paddington but there was an alternative service to Marleybone which our tickets were valid for.cue Chiltern Railways via Aylesbury and Gerrards Cross to Marleybone where we took a bus to Camden Lock.
We braved Central London on stormy Friday taking refuge in Covent Garden, Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly and The Burlington Arcade , again ravaged by shop closures, although it did have a ski run in honour of The Winter Olympics.
Saturday saw us return to Heathrow for our return flight. A seamless tube journey changing at Earl’s Court took us to Hatton Cross where we took the bus to ARD shop before heading toT5.
That’s when everything went awry. Queues ten deep at check in; queue control practically non existent and not a single manager in sight! We managed to check in at First after a lengthy wait and then entered security. The girl manning our section simply got up and left her post leaving many of us waiting for bags still to be scanned!
Again a lengthy process with no manager to give direction, support or reassure customers. Up to the Lounge for much needed respite - not gin but Bloody Mary’s! Apt for the chaos behind us…. Unknown to us there is much worse to come.
A one hour delay from 1710 to 1810. Not bad given the impact of the storms on the previous day. It did strike me that the whole operation of airport and airline seemed stretched and insufficiently resourced. 1810 came and went - no further information. I checked FR 24 and our aircraft was again PM having arrived late at 1651 from CDG. 1840 eventually shows BA1314 departing from Gate 20. Cue further chaos the two previous departures had been cancelled. The gate agents didn’t need to speak their whole demeanour said Charlie Bravo Alpha ( can’t be a***d)!
A call for gate bags on a full flight generated around thirty folks volunteering. Great but given by now we had yet a further delay as the operating crew hadn’t reached the aircraft from previous flights! Believe you me I was itching to get these bags tagged as the gate agents stood stock still perhaps hoping miraculously the bags would tag themselves!
Eventually the First Officer arrives and makes a PA to advise the delay, reasons and when we can board. Things start moving and bags finally begin to get tagged. Boarding finally commences around 1925 and once on board more issues. No catering, but more importantly no tug and ground crew to operate it. Fully boarded and nowhere to go. Catering finally arrives at 2015 and us loaded as no tug is available. Then, hallelujah, at 2035 a wingman and a tug driver.
Cue delayed pushback and taxiing out for a delayed 2051 departure; a mere 3 hours 41 minutes behind schedule. Quickly airborne from 27R and climbing turn over Slough and head northwards.
The operating crew are great, calming what could have become a nasty scenario, and doing everything they can to ensure passengers are looked after. Along comes food, then drink then clump, thump, bump! Clear Air Turbulence! Can today get any better?!!! Cue seatbelt signs on and a good ten-fifteen minutes of strong turbulent conditions with a descent to more stable air and greater headwinds.
Finally arrival in a snowy Aberdeen at 2212 3 hours 27 minutes late followed by car journey home to Monifieth.
Full marks to the BA flight crew. Zero points for everyone else!