Older, for sure. Wiser? Of course not!
Older, Yes. Wiser? No.
- Age is a social construct. Frequent flyer programmes, doubly so.
- Morning coaches. Coach Fun and comedies
- British Airways Galleries North Lounge, Heathrow Terminal 5
- BA772 London Heathrow to Zurich (Eurotraveller)
- Into Zurich
- Experiments in photography: The Canon EOS R50
- Back to Zurich Airport and a dreaded Text message
- IC3 Zurich Airport to Basel Hbf
- To EuroAirport Basel and The Queue from Hades
- The Skyview Lounge, EuroAirport Basel
- BA749 Euroairport Basel to London Heathrow (EuroTraveller)
- Little Britain at its worst
- Older yes. Wiser? Dear deity… of course not!
Travelling during winter months does put you in the hands of deities, as you have to have the weather delays that make that sort of travel… fun.
That means you have to make decisions – sometimes hard ones. I could have kiboshed this trip and called it quits (and for the laughable amount of Avios and Tier Points I got, I really should have, and delayed my travels into the new year).
It’s one thing I like when I travel by myself – having the flexibility to make changes on the fly, to adjust rapidly and to take stuff in my stride.
That and having lounge access takes the sting out of any long delay.
But loyalty programmes wait for no one, and this got me to complete the remaining “four sectors to silver” requirement in two flights. However, I suspect that I would have done better under the old programme to earn Avios.
It’s no wonder that people earn Avios from every other method other than flying (mostly credit cards, bonuses, Nectar and so on) – because flying isn’t the way to earn them – unless you are pushing your hands deep in your pockets.
But at that point, I suspect it’s not “your” hand you’re pushing in your pocket, it’s your employer who sending you left, right and centre at corporate rates.
On the upside, I left a couple of days between my flying and putting in a claim for compensation for the train trip between Zurich Airport and EuroAirport Basel. This was met in full, with a refund of CHF45 (£40 or so) refunded after a week or so.
I can’t argue with that.
As for the trip – well, it wasn’t how I expected a day trip to Zurich to go. But sometimes, you get what you need (to misquote Bob Dylan).
And I needed an adventure. And that – no matter how much I protested… is what I got. Par for the course, these days.
Onto the wrap-up.
Heathrow Airport
It’s usual self at Terminal 5. Shame the UK Border Force are thinking everyone is invading the country.
British Airways
For a there-and-back experience, it was acceptable – although they need to work on the seating at the back of the aircraft. It’s tight down back.
But as long as the water bottles come, I’m happy in EuroTraveller.
Zurich Airport
If you do have a flight from the E Dock – remember, it’s a long way to the main terminal area. And allow time for immigration if you don’t have a Swiss or EU passport.
Basel Airport
Small and formed well, it has a lounge that punches above its weight, as well as reasonable enough facilities. Shame a lot of post-security stuff was closed when I went through
Swiss Federal Railways
The service is excellent and on time. That’s wonderful.
I do wish they made the ticket machines a lot easier to use. You can mess up a train ticket without trying with their ticket machines…
Next:
If you think this requalification campaign is over, you have another thought coming rapidly. Whilst we have the requisite number of flights we’re still over 360 Tier points short of silver.
At the time of writing, I’m on the ground on the West Coast of the USA in a hotel room putting the final words in this trip report after “enjoying” a trans-continental flight with not enough meals loaded.
Go me in Digging for Silver – well more than a few airlines as you’ll find out.
See you in the Snapshots!
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