Take the long way home or the short way back? – Long Way Home
In this adventure:
- I’ve got to stop looking at odd routings and thinking they’re good ideas
- Sleep? What’s that concept? Off to Heathrow T3
- Lounging around Heathrow T3
- AA99 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare
- The Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- The Nutella Cafe
- Fooding Around Chicago
- The Canon 100D – Good for aviation photography?
- Camera shift – from EOS 6D to EOS R
- Back to O’Hare, Air France Lounge
- AY10 Chicago to Helsinki Vantaa… with Air Italy?
- Two hours and 20 in Helsinki Vantaa
- AY1335 Helsinki Vantaa to London Heathrow
- Bussing back home
- Long Way Home or short way back?
The long way or the short way?
Both ways have appeal. But ultimately, its down to how you value your time. I tend to have a recovery day after a long haul trip, so normally – I can build in the creative routes home. There are occasions when I need to get back to the UK faster than I need to (and onward to somewhere else) – but there are times where I have time to myself.
And on those trips, I relish taking a path that is different to the usual Heathrow to Chicago and back again route.
Onto the one-line sum-ups from this trip:
The Cathay Pacific Lounge – It’s still my favourite lounge at Heathrow
The American Airlines Lounge – Whilst it doesn’t have the shine of the Cathay Lounge, it is perfectly serviceable
AA99 to Chicago – The Dreamliner Experiance can be improved with more space down the back of the plane. Dear Airlines 2-4-2 down the back of a Deamliner isn’t that cost heavy…
The Hyatt Regency O’Hare – More of the same – which in some ways is no bad thing. But I wish they’d get their billing department kicked into touch.
The Nutella Cafe – I’ll be back for another Crepe. But have better coffee please.
Air France-KLM Lounge, Chicago – One of the better lounges at Chicago O’Hare T5. Although that isn’t the highest of limbo bars to work through.
AY10 Chicago to Helsinki – An interesting offering from Finnair. But did I fly Finnair? Or did I fly Air Italy? Or Qatar Airways. Even now, I’m confused as heck.
Finnair Lounge Non Schengen – Shame there’s building work going on, and some facilties are scaled back. It’s not bad… but could do with a little polish once the renovation works are done.
AY1335 Helsinki to London – This is the Finnair service I know and love. Well delivered and executed.
That’s it from Long Way Home – the last part of the Summer-Autumn 2018 unexpected trilogy of travel to the USA.
Next: Yes, there’s a next! It’s coming up to Christmas – so it’s time to go and enjoy Europe and its winter markets. Please join me for something that I like to call Train vs Plane : Brussels Edition
Providing I start typing it up fast enough (this trip report will run through the Christmas week)
Until then – Thank you as always.
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