Springtime Transatlantic Adventures
To the joy of Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 with FlixBus
In this Adventure
- So, 80 more Tier Points. Always demanding more, British Airways…
- To the joy of Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 with FlixBus
- British Airways Galleries South Lounge and T5B Lounge
- British Airways BA295 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare in World Traveller Plus
- Into the USA and the avid Hotel, Des Plaines
- Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Airplane Art Extra from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Midwestern Dining at its Finest – Chilli’s
- Deep Dish Pizza Special at Pequods
- A Monday Adventure
- Back to O’Hare, AA Lounge
- AA90 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow in Main Cabin Extra
- Luggage Trolley Drifting – Rushing to the bus
- Was it worth it?
A not-so-early start
For those who expect me to wake at 1 am to get up for a bus… you’ll be surprised, as I’ve found a new way to Heathrow… at 3 am with FlixBus, who seem to have ramped up their services from Birmingham to Heathrow Airport.
Unlike National Express (which departs from a fully featured coach station), FlixBus uses a bus stop on the edge of the city. Whilst it is within walking distance of Birmingham City Council House and most of the hotels, you do have a rather unfriendly road to cross.
Pay peanuts, get monkeys.
I’ve got no issue with it, mainly as it’s not too far from Château d’Kevin… which is good during the day. During the night, when there are no buses… there’s only one way route.
Yes. An Uber for a mile or so. Sigh. I could have wheeled the suitcase, but with the weight… that isn’t happening.
Waiting at the bus stop when I pulled in was the 920 Coach to London Heathrow.
I queued up, and the barcode for my ticket was scanned. With that scanned, I was allowed to board the coach and dump my baggage in the storage area.
I was also informed there would be a diversion en route, and hopefully, we wouldn’t be too delayed.
The Izari Coach is a common sight in the UK – a favourite of National Express and FlixBus. This one had been configured with extra space for a wheelchair lift, allowing two to be carried in-seat.
Blue seats – fabric based
My seat
I headed to my usual spot on a FlixBus – the row in front of the small room on the coach. There’s normally lots of legroom there, so it’s fine for me.
Down the coach.
In addition, there were only 10 people on the coach to Heathrow and Gatwick. Whilst I can deal with that, it’s going to hurt the bottom line for FlixBus.
The driver was planning to take the M1, M25 and M4 to Heathrow, but with the Aston Expressway shut, the driver decided to play follow the leader with another coach, taking us through the back of Birmingham, going via the back of Edgbaston, Mosley and Kings Heath, then joining the M40, M25 and M4.
On the M25, I think as dawn breaks.
With it being an early morning run, the coach arrived at Heathrow Central bus station around 20 minutes early.
The queue to enter the Heathrow Central Terminal Area.
Under the North Runway.
I could have got off and caught a Heathrow Express over, provided I was in the mood to wheel my bags around. As I was in no rush, I sat and waited for the next bus movement.
Tum tee tum.
Somewhere in the Heathrow mess.
Which was fun, as the driver took a circular route back onto the M4 and M25, around the Heathrow complex when they missed the right turning for Terminal 5.
Although the views were good – United Airlines Boeing 777- 200ER.
This meant we were around 10 minutes down by the time the coach pulled into Heathrow T5.
Unto the mess.
Parked at Terminal 5.
Oh well. I was more than early for the flight that day. I wasn’t rushed or in the mood to rush.
Arrivals entrance
With a trolley in hand and luggage loaded, it was time to head up to the departures level.
Departures Entrance
Into the maelstrom
The main Departures area
Departures list
Entering the departures zone, I paused for a minor repack (mainly to get the laptop bag out) and disposed of some items I didn’t need to have for the flight (the joy of last-minute packing).
All these things are done, I wandered over to the Club Check-in area at Zone A and queued up for the process.
They still haven’t worked out how to charge for emotional baggage. If airlines did, they’d not need any other fees.
I was called forward rather quickly (with the agents in the mood to check people in, rather than gossip), and the agent started accepting my bags for travel.
I had a flash of inspiration at that point – I asked the agent if there was 1) any upgrade space in World Traveller Plus, and 2) if there was a window seat.
The check-in agent – bless their cotton socks, dug around and found there both of those things were available. I misheard the agent when they quoted the price – I heard £340. So I was a little delighted when he put in the actual price of £314.
By doing this, I would not need to do the in-planning Heathrow Shuffle to Dublin and back (which would have been cheaper, but very time-consuming), and secure the points in one fell swoop – provided BA credited them in time.
That could be up to other gods.
My suitcase was accepted for travel without question, whilst the ski bag would need to be via the oversized belt – thankfully, this was close at counter A15.
Oversized luggage drop of.f
With new boarding passes in hand, I was able to dump my baggage and head through priority security. Sadly, at the north end of security, it was the traditional X-ray machines, as opposed to the CT-style scanners, meaning bags had to be unpacked and repacked.
Thankfully, the security staff took no note of my baggage that day, so I was allowed to proceed.
Whilst I try to avoid going for Duty-Free Shopping, one of the friends I was due to see told me some unwelcome news. And you can bet I went into full Mother Hen mode.
The bottom line is this… I am still fiercely protective of my friends. Normally, I’d bring this person over a bottle of alcohol to ease their time. But with them giving up drinking, I asked what else they would like. They said Loose Early Grey Tea.
Airside at Terminal 5
For once in my life, I was in the right terminal at Heathrow Airport.
Why? Apart from World Duty Free (which sells passable enough Whittards Tea), that isn’t the poshest in the place. (although I managed to score both Heathrow Rewards and Club Avola points)
And no, Harrods isn’t for posh kids. It’s an overpriced department store with a reasonable bakery. Towards the South Lounges is Fortnum and Mason.
That, my friends, is proper posh.
With a caddy of tea in hand, I headed up to the South Lounge (given that I was in the range of it).
Breakfast was fast turning into a requirement.
Next:
Terminal 5 South Lounge and Terminal 5B Lounge. Yes. Two lounges at Terminal 5.
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