Blowin’ in the wind – A wind of change
Index:
- Don’t go you go anywhere else that’s remotely different?
- To Manchester Airport, British Airways Terraces Lounge
- American Airlines AA55 Manchester Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- Automated Processing Chaos
- Crowne Plaza O’Hare
- Intstawalk: State Street Chicago
- Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- A wind of change
- Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5, British Airways Terraces First Lounge
- British Airways BA9294 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow
- British Airways Arrivals Lounge London Heathrow
- Virgin Trains London Euston to Birmingham New Street
- The Answer My Friend Is Blowin’ in the wind…
Heading into downtown Chicago, I was planning to have a quick walk around the city before heading back to the airport and sorting out the way home.
However, on the way – I got message from BA. Things like this are never welcome.
It seemed the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo were going to stalk the United Kingdom. As a result when it even gets remotely blowy, the UK Domestic flight programme normally is put in the bin, and as such BA1388 which was due to operate London Heathrow to Manchester would be cancelled.
Checking online, a message had been delivered to the booking reference online.
Whilst I was on the road, there was nothing that could be done without a long call to BA or . I therefore decided to sort this out at the airport. I did try accessing the booking, but the BA systems weren’t responding.
Sigh.
Getting back from downtown Chicago, I popped back to the Hyatt to pick up my trash and catch a shuttle back to the airport. Even though I had an hour or so extra to check in, it made sense in case I needed to change my plans dramatically.
Getting to the check in area, I was welcomed, and the agent started unpicking what was going on. It seemed British Airways was trying to be “proactive” and booking me on the direct flight back to Manchester. Whilst this is a reasonable re-route, I had been paying attention to weather reports – and ongoing train travel could had been difficult. I therefore requested a re-route to Heathrow and I would make my own way to Manchester.
That and I couldn’t face an American Airlines 767 in what I would had assumed in a non Main Cabin Extra seat at that point in time.
The agent tapped away, and the change was accepted without any problems. For me, this was an ideal change as it would position me in a reasonable way to get home.
With the new tickets issued, it was time to explore the changes that had hit Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5…
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