It’s about 5 am when I hit publish on this – meaning that I have abandoned the city of bus strikes – and instead on a coach out of Birmingham to my destination southwards.
Again, I’m sometimes asked why I do the National Express Coach first thing in the morning, rather than other things. It boils down to cost, believe it or not.
Heathrow hotel overnights are notoriously expensive (especially since the industry has decided we are back in “normal” times”, with an overnight starting at £100 or so.
Sometimes, it’s an option, but considering I was in my other life until late today… it wasn’t. Especially by the time I factor if there’s a train company on strike or not.
Driving – whilst driving down the M40 in the middle of the night is not the most awful thing (although at that time of night, it resembles a speedway rather than a motorway), there is the cost of Heathrow long-term parking.
And if you factor in the cost of fuel, as well as the cost of parking (and dealing with the drive back from Heathrow in a jet lagged state)… I’d rather let someone else take the strain.
Finally what about Elmdon International – Gateway to the West Midlands (Birmingham Airport)?
It’s turning into at least one connection or more at that point. In addition, oneworld coverage to the USA is limited to… Aer Lingus. Unless I’m paying top-of-the-fare buckets, the tier-point collection is more of a challenge than I would like.
And loyalty does matter – it makes some of my travel “better value”, avoiding excess luggage fees and so on (and lounges being such a mixed bag these days… I’ll take what benefits I can get).
But now. To the open road. To adventures. To see friends old and new
And hoping I didn’t forget something.
Editors note. I’ll proof it much later on and post an update. Sometimes I feel writing free-hand is a skill I’m losing and it’s nice to just go back to keyboard, the images I’ve taken and just write.
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This is partly why I made the switch to Flying Blue. Being able to get to places on one hop in AMS or CDG (if I really must as I hate that place) from BHX.