To Heathrow Terminal 3 and Cathay Pacific Lounge
50 Up. Growing Old with In Style
In this mammoth trip report (note, headings subject to change)
- Yes. I’m that old. Next.
- Off to Heathrow, Terminal 3 and Cathay Pacific Lounge
- BA768 London Heathrow to Oslo (Club Europe)
- The Best Laid Oslo Plans, and the OSL Lounge
- TK1754 Oslo to Istanbul International Airport (Business Class)
- A new airport – Istanbul transit. Shame it was in a rush….
- TK055 Istanbul to Singapore (Business Class)
- Welcome back to Changi, Ibis Budget Ruby, Geylang
- Back to Changi Terminal 4 and AirAsia AK710 Singapore to Kuala Lumpur International.
- Into Kuala Lumpur and the Holiday Inn Express KLCC
- To the Batu Caves
- Exploring Kuala Lumpur
- Back to KLIA, The Golden Circle Lounge
- MH627 Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi (Economy Class) with Malaysia Airlines
- HOTEL: Intercontinental Singapore, Bugis
- For the love of Nasi Lemak and Hawker Markets
- 30-minute glasses. Yes. They are a thing
- Exploring Singapore, whilst avoiding Rain
- Pokémon Centre Singapore
- Back to Changi, and the Lounge
- TK209 Singapore Changi to Istanbul Airport (Business Class)
- Into Istanbul and the Sheraton Levent, Istanbul
- Back to Istanbul Airport and the Turkish Airlines Lounge
- TK1753 Istanbul Airport to Oslo Airport
- A leisurely Oslo transit
- SK815 Oslo Airport to London Heathrow
- Homeward
- Older, Never Wiser
Sleep patterns are for wimps.
With my sleep still disrupted, I was taking my time getting things ready. This being a “not going to Chicago trip, I have this luxury. The ability to pack light. Even if that means a full backpack.
With everything ready to go, I was running late. Unsurprisingly.
Thus, I headed out for an Uber ride to the FlixBus stop. And realised the first wrong thing. I was wearing some old prescription glasses.
Sigh. I’d fix that in Singapore. That’s the problem, some days, wrong glasses mean vision over the nose for a bit.
Arriving at the Flixbus stop, they have finally moved it from its original location on Great Charles Street (opposite University College Birmingham) to opposite the Chest Clinic. This is actually better, as there is more space for coaches to park (as the FlixBus stop where they parked was just a bus stop. This has many more spaces for coaches to park.
The bus waiting
Non-branded bus that morning
The 920 coach was waiting there for me, with the driver in a very much of a “get on the bus” mood, not wanting to check tickets.
I got on and found that it was a little bit of bedlam, as people were not sitting in assigned seats (and someone else was in mine).
Yes, I booted them, and other people had to sit in their assigned seats. What’s so problematic about that? FlixBus assigns one seat per person, and you can pay for a seat if you want (and pay double to block the seat next to you if you really want).
With my seat returned to me and no one sitting next to me and everyone else settled, thus began the ride to Heathrow.
The journey would take the coach up the Aston Expressway, down the M6, onto the M42 and down the Chilterns on the M40, through to the M25 and M4 for Heathrow – a standard route for Flixbus.
Into Darkness
Whilst the legroom was cramped, at least I had two seats to spread out on. Which made a little difference – to the point I was able to get some sleep between Banbury and Heathrow. I’ll chalk that win up when I can get it.
Underneath the north runway
I double checked my ticket, as I needed to confirm which terminal I’d be flying out of. Surprisingly, British Airways has been shifting flights across Heathrow 5 and 3 again, with the Oslo flights being moved to Terminal 3 (indicating this was more of an Origin and Destination traffic, rather than the more lucrative connecting traffic).
Thus, arriving at Heathrow Central Bus Station, I got off the bus and followed the signs to the steps and escalators down. No lifts needed today for once.
Trust me, if I could do Chicago trips like this, I would.
Rip-off cash machine
Under we go
Once under the road network of Heathrow, I followed the signs to Terminal 3, popping out into the purple hue of the forecourt, with this time, Christmas gifts.
These walkways are far too familiar.
Pink it is.
I took a few minutes at this point to split my backpack into a daybag and backpack, as I like to keep electronics in a bag that’s by my feet these days – rather than in an overhead bin.
With that done, I headed to the British Airways check-in desks. For those on early flights, check-in/bag drop opens at 04:30.
With a boarding pass issued quickly, I was free to proceed and up through to Fast Track.
Watch this maroon thing. We’ll get back to it during this trip.
Fast Track entrance
Into the fast track lanes. No people queuing…
The beauty of travelling this time of morning is that there are normally very few other idiotstravellingg. Thus, I was in and out of the fast-track security gates in under 3 minutes.
Three minutes flat for security.
I can’t ask for faster than that.
Of course, this meant I had to wait in the public area before I could head to the lounge. And no, I’m not dumb enough to head to the BA lounge.
I have taste.
I thus waited it out for the Cathay Pacific Lounge to open. I have patience for a better lounge.
Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge
There were initially some accessibility issues getting to the lounge, with the entrance person advising that the lifts were soon to be out of order for repair work. So be careful out there, people, if you want to use one of the better lounges at Heathrow.
Heading into the lounge, I was welcomed and directed up to the business class end of the lounge.
However, we all know the first stop – and that’s to the Noodle Bar. Yes. I am unoriginal.
I also grazed on the hot items until my dim sum and noodles were ready.
Omlettes
Potato slices and tomatoes
Beenz.
Bacon and Sausages
Patries and Fruits
Tea.
As well as had a glass of bubbly.
Well, it would have been rude not to.
I sat back and watched the morning aircraft depart and arrive, and did the one thing I try to do on these more personal trips – slow down a little.
Because sometimes the greatest thing to have during these trips is time, and not being on someone else’s clock.
I nibbled my way through the dim sum and noodles, taking the time to sit back and not worrying about other lounges to visit. Yes, I could have visited the BA, AA or Qantas lounges, but for what purpose? I had noodles – I was happy.
Because Wanton noodles and a basket of dim sum make the world a better place
The long table
However, with a 07:45 flight to Oslo, time was certainly ticking.
I exited the lounge and fought the lifts to get down to the departure level. Given I was departing from Gate 29, I pootled in that direction.
Down we go.
It was also the lounge where I left the UK for Chicago last time.
That’s a lot quieter than last time.
And it’s amazing how empty a lounge can be when loading a flight with an A320’s worth of passengers, versus a 787-9’s worth.
The waiting chariot north
There wasn’t much of a wait, and priority boarding was called shortly after I arrived at the gate area. That was my cue to enjoy the first part of my birthday adventure.
Next:
BA786 London Heathrow to Oslo (Club Europe)
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