TRIP REPORT: Surprise, Surprise! To Onwards Surprises

To Onward Surprises
Surprise, Surprise!

In this surprise-laden adventure…

• We all know the drill by now… don’t we?
• The early morning road to nowhere (and Heathrow Terminal 3 first thing in the morning, with an equipment change shock)
• Morning Lounging at the Cathay Pacific and American Airlines Lounges
• AA87 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare – Main Cabin Extra
• Into the USA and The Crowne Plaza O’Hare
• Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Airplane Art Special from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Various nibbles around Chicago
• An Instagram Trap? Coffee at Brü
• Chicago Classics: Giordano’s Deep Dish Pizza
• Enjoying a Chicago River tour… in the rain
• Back to O’Hare and the British Airways lounge
• BA296 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow – Club World (Club Suites)
• Racing across Heathrow… but where’s the coach?
• To onward surprises

There’s been more than a few surprises this trip – to put it bluntly. Some very early on and unwelcome, others that have made me consider “maybe sticking with BA isn’t that bad after all”.

Let’s list a few of the travel-related surprises:

• The joy of the seat shift onboard American Airlines
• The upgrade on the way home with British Airways
• Seeing and flying Club Suites for the first time
• The Chicago Rain (that shouldn’t surprise me any more)
• And National Express attempting to pull the mother of all ghosting moves on me

As we know, the trick is to anticipate surprises. Have backup plans that can help you take advantage of a situation – or be at least flexible enough to accept the situation, knowing sometimes things happen

Be the surprises welcome. Or unwelcome. Going with the flow helps a lot in life.

As well as travel.

Onto the wrap-up

American Airlines on the ground at Heathrow

What. A. Shambles. It also didn’t help this is where I found out my seat was shifted from a lovely window to an aisle.

Cathay Pacific Lounge at Heathrow

It’s still my favourite lounge, with the lovely tones as well as good food options

American Airlines Lounge at Heathrow

Functional is the name of the game. It’s not stellar, but it’s convenient for the aircraft to the USA.

American Airlines 87 (Main Cabin Extra)

Whilst Main Cabin Extra was welcome, and the new seats are pretty comfortable, I spent too many times falling out of the seat, when I tried to fall asleep. A passable flight but I might have a chat with the Collins Aerospace rep about torture-testing seat wings…

Crowne Plaza O’Hare

Dependable as always – a perfect stop for a night after a flight

Hyatt Regency O’Hare

Things are improving here one step at a time. But there are times when a hotel needs a refit… and it needs to come soon for this place…

Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5

I’m not going to miss departing from here – even though  I caught it at a better time than usual (when it’s less of a hot mess).

British Airways Lounge at O’Hare Terminal 5

It was a box of a lounge. Hopefully, another airline will take it over and refurbish it. Well, it can’t be any worse than the Swissport lounge.

British Airways 296 to Heathrow

A new product with good service? What more can I ask for? It was a damn good service offered by the airline that day.

We’ll close on a song, Take it away, Cilla.

And my British readers – I’m surprised you didn’t pick up on the title… 

That’s your lot for Surprise, Surprise! I hope you’ve enjoyed it – compared to some of the transatlantic adventures I have. For those of you who stuck around the middle bits

I’m sure the TATL gods will notice I’m due for punishment soon and will reward me in kind.

Next from the keyboard of this blogger…

I’m starting the ramp-up for Aircraft Interiors Expo 2024 over at Economy Class and Beyond Towers (with the first 7:30 am press briefing already booked in my calendar). We’ll have coverage from the show… well as much coverage as I can do.

Why? I’ve got an office move to manage back home too at the same time.

Until next time, Toodlepip.