Tallinn Tier Point Run – A delayed ride home
In this trip report:
- 400TP to Go…
- 2am at a Birmingham Coach Station and Heathrow Airport
- The new The Cathay Pacific Lounge at Heathrow
- AY3126 Heathrow to Helsinki
- Helsinki Airport Finnair Gate 22 Lounge
- AY107 Helsinki to Tallinn
- Exploring the old town of Tallinn
- Hotel Ulmestie
- Back to Tallinn Airport
- AY118 Tallinn to Helsinki
- The Finnair Gate 39 Premium Lounge
- AY381 Helsinki to Heathrow with an Airbus A350
- A Delayed Ride Home
- 200 Tier Points down… Let’s Tallinn that again!
With my coach long gone by the time I exited the plane – and the next one not for the best part of one and a half hours, I took a leisurely walk to the UK Border
Thank you A350, with your curved winglets and badger eyemask.
Delta 767
American Airlines Boeing 777 taxing, Air Canada plane landing
A pair of Virgins larking around
As the planes dissipated, it was time to approach the UK border. Whilst not busy, it took a fair few minutes to get to a machine to be processed.
Amazingly, I didn’t break the machine, and was let through.
Clearing the border, there are these SIM Card vending machines (also vending portable hotspots too).
They’re not the cheapest going – and I’d strongly advise you head to a Carphone Warehouse/Mobile phone shop/Corner shop that sells SIM cards unless you’re 1) desperate or 2) someone else is paying.
With me out of security it was time to backtrack to the Central Bus station
Not today Heathrow Express…
Ten minutes later, I was at the bus station. I went to the counter, and thankfully, the agents were able to issue me a replacement ticket… for £4.80 (change fee). Although if dare to pay by credit card – it’s an extra £1 on top.
Debit card it is.
Excess fare ticket.
With that, I settled into the 50 minute or so wait for the bus.
Eventually, I got bored, and headed outside. A few minutes later, my coach for Birmingham appeared. Convenient timing I’d say.
I boarded the coach and counted 10 people aboard if that. In other words, two seats to myself.
So underrated.
The coach pulled out on time, with plans to stop in Banbury, Coventry, Birmingham Airport and finally Birmingham itself. 2 hours 30 or so. Perfect for napping.
Bye Heathrow! See you next month!
To be honest, I dozed on and off on the coach ride home, listened to a lot of music, and got hooked of a version of Hallo Spaceboy by David Bowie and The Pet Shop Boys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ira7NnmoYI
Top tip: Don’t look in my music collection on my iPhone. It’s “eclectic”.
The miles burned away, with my local airport coming into view – meaning I was 15 minutes or so away from home.
And 15 minutes later, I was deposited at the busy place that is the 3rd ring of hell – Digbeth Coach Station.
A hail of a Uber to get me home (as I honestly didn’t feel like the walk into town, then to catch a bus from the opposite side of where I was), and I was at my front door – a short adventure done and dusted.
See. I can travel with one bag. Occasionally.
Next: 200TP down…
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