Blowin’ in the wind – BA0294 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow
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…
BA0294 Chicago O’Hare T5 to London Heathrow T5
British Airways
Seat 35A, World Traveller (Economy Class), Boeing 747-400
3,952 miles flown, 3,952+3,952 Avios Earned, 35 Tier Points Earned
With a bounce down the jetway, I headed aboard the waiting Boeing 747-400. Yes, it’s time for one of British Airways more venerable aircraft, that have seen better days, but for the trip home… it will suffice.
I headed down the cabin, through Club World and World Traveller Plus – and into World Traveller.
Yes – it’s economy class, but it could be worse
Legroom – not bad, but not exactly great
The seats looked deliciously empty – as the flight was going to be quiet tonight. So quiet that the gentleman in took it upon himself to move seat… and then move back when the person booked into the seat arrived (much to his disappointment).
Whilst I didn’t have am empty row – and empty seat next to me meant room for me and my seat-mate to expand in peace.
IFE system – A bit dated, but at least there was some content on it.
Meanwhile outside, sunset begun to fall.
Soon, our turn for pushback was approved, and the safety video played. With that done, our Boeing 747-400 was sent on its way for a long taxi around O’Hare International Airport.
Our plane eventually found a place to line up, and the four Rolls Royce Trent RB-211’s spooled up for take off.
With our plane in the air, night had descended as the twinkling lights of the ground came out for its night-time beauty.
As the crew were released, the CSD introduced themselves and thanked me for being a British Airways Gold. An enhanced amenity kit from World Traveller Plus was offered – and taken.
It’s the small things that count – a shame the headphones had seen better days…
As we broke through the cloud layer, the last of the daylight shone before giving way to night.
The crew were fast out of the traps, and the drinks carts made their way along. I partook of my usual inflight beverage when in economy class…
The more things change… although can we drop the mini cans of Diet coke please?
Now, I had a problem when I was on the outbound trip – how do you make a GhettoIFE system with an iPhone 6? The problem is simple sadly – the phone is now too wide to go the old-fashioned way. However – thinking outside the box (or sideways), the answer as usual is delicately simple…
Well it’s a GhettoIFE6 System – there is plenty of qualification for having your own IFE and not having to hold it for 8 hours.
Dinner was soon offered, with a pasta dish, and an American version of Cottage Pie. How bad could it be?
Salad – at least its not just green leaves
And desert. Yes. A cake slice. Not a cookie AA, US, UA or EI …
So the salad was nice and fresh (always a good thing), the cake was as good. The Cottage Pie tasted… not like any cottage pie I’ve tried in the past… but still edible and filling, which for a transatlantic meal in economy class is all you can ask for.
Meanwhile, I found something that sums up my travel for multiple years… Monty Python Live (or rather their “last” live show), with sketch about a Dead Parrot…
“‘E’s not pinin’! ‘E’s passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! ‘E’s expired and gone to meet ‘is maker! ‘E’s a stiff! Bereft of life, ‘e rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed ‘im to the perch ‘e’d be pushing up the daisies! ‘Is metabolic processes are now ‘istory! ‘E’s off the twig! ‘E’s kicked the bucket, ‘e’s shuffled off ‘is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!”
Oh go on. Who doesn’t like The Dead Parrot Sketch…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmcz2vYKjs
Looking around, this 747 was still in good shape, and was gentle for this nighttime flight across the pond, which is always welcome.
Although those 74s are really showing their age.
I myself was showing my age, and appropriately fell asleep against the bulkhead. Bulkheads have their uses… especially on long haul flights.
By the time I woke up, breakfast was being served. And this being a short transatlantic breakfast, there is only one word to use. And that’s disappointing… no matter which airline you’re on in economy class.
A nicely presented croissant with coffee.
It’s an effort I suppose. Although I’d prefer fresh fruit or something different. Pastries are an easy throw-out, easy clean up – so perfect from an airline perspective I suppose.
Outside, one of sights I love of night to morning flying – is the early morning sunrise in the sky.
With the cabin cleandown done by the crew, the Boeing 747-400 was prepared for landing. With the lights up and a cleaned cabin, everything was set for the final twenty minutes of flight.
Everything open, staring into World Traveller Plus…
With the plane closing in on London, our plane begun its turns to approach into Heathrow Airport.
Soon, our plane dropped through the cloud layer and begun our final approach into Heathrow.
(You’ll be glad to know that my video footage seems to have gone missing – so no shakiecam footage to deal with. Don’t worry. Any future footage will be shot with a DSLR… and stored a lot better).
Landing was with a usual bump as we landed into a very wet Heathrow. And I mean wet.
Arriving on 27L meant a relativity quick taxi through Heathrow and over to the Terminal 5 complex, where we would be docking at T5B – Not a million mile hike to the main terminal, but still a distance away.
With a few gentle turns, our Boeing 747 came to a stop at the gate, and it was time to leave this plane that had carried me across the pond.
Overall: Economy class travel is what you make of it. For me, it’s been a matter of a comfortable seat, a reasonable cabin and food that doesn’t taste like its been scrapped off the floor. Even some airlines can’t manage the basics. British Airways managed the basics pretty well with a comfortable cabin and edible food. Some of the niceties of World Traveller Plus did arrive, with an attentive crew helped a lot too.
Next: British Airways Arrival Lounge
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Thank you your review of economy class travel. The added bonus was that it was not (yet another) a review of a Middle Eastern carriers first class-shower-full bedroom-bathroom-family room suite. I have to believe that a great number of people get beneficial information from your review of economy class on BA