Off to Heathrow… a little later than normal with FlixBus
TRIP REPORT: Still for the Friends
Before a big adventure, it’s time to sort out something rather important for the next ten years – my passport. That means it’s time to head to the North West of England and to the Passport Office. A little sidequest before the main adventure.
- Still for the friends
- But first. A trip to Liverpool, North West England. But why?
- To the… daytime Heathrow run?
- Lounging around the usual suspects
- AA87 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare
- HOTEL: Crowne Plaza O’Hare
- HOTEL: Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Exploring Modern Photography at MCoP
- Gundam Base, Chicago
- Quick Food Adventures
- An Early Return to O’Hare and the American Airlines Flagship Lounge
- AA882 to Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport
- An Atlanta Transit
- BA226 to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to London Heathrow Terminal 3 in World Traveller
- Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory
- Still for Friends
Two weeks later – 5:00. Great Charles Queensway/Lombard Street.
After a few hours of sleep, it was time for the great escape from the flat. And as usual, I was running late.
Because running on time would never happen on this blog.
I made it to the bus stop where the FlixBus services depart, with time to spare, and the coach was waiting to go. That was a good thing to see.
With my tickets scanned, my baggage was taken in the hold of the coach.
Boarding the bus, I found someone sitting in my seat, unsurprisingly. Yes, I booted them. I have no issues doing that any more (especially as every seat on these buses is an assigned seat – there is no such thing as free seating on FlixBus).
With my seats secured, I settled down… a little, as the person in front of me leaned their seat back. I went in the opposite diagonal seat to have some space, and as the coach filled up for its run to Heathrow.
The seat itself is fine enough – it’s a fabric-covered seat (which I prefer to National Express’s leather-covered seats), with the option to recline. Even if it feels like FlixBus has progressively reduced the seat pitch on the coaches recently (with coaches that had the toilet in the middle of the coach being withdrawn and changed to a more normal configuration, with the toilet at the back of the coach).
With the HS2 works still causing diversion, the coach would be departing Birmingham via Kings Heath, heading towards the M40, M42, cutting across the Chilterns to the M4 and down to Heathrow.
Well, anything to avoid the M25 in the morning, as some might say.
For me, as I was departing a lot later in the morning than usual, I enjoyed watching the sun rise, and the mist rise from the fields as the coach made its way from Birmingham to Heathrow.
We arrived at Heathrow Central Bus Station on time (which, considering there was peak-time traffic, is no small achievement).
Under the north runway.
And a National Express Coach pulls in to ruin the photo. Nothing changes.
At this point, I collected the bags and readied myself for the first great bag-push through the public-accessible tunnels under the airport.
Under the bus station and pushing towards Terminal 3.
It doesn’t change.
I popped out at Terminal 3 and completed the last of my preparations as I wanted to get all the items containing batteries in one bag (as it simplifies security and means I only have to put the rucksack in the overhead bin when I get on the plane).
I’m used to seeing this with many LED lights normally. Kinda different seeing it in the daylight
I also played Heathrow Helper whilst there, pointing people where they needed to go when they asked me. Although considering the lack of sleep I had, it might have been done sarcastically.
With everything prepped, I headed to Zone D to check in. As usual, I followed the signs, making my way past the line of dragons to the premium check-in zone. There was a short queue, and I was seen too quickly.
Time to go to the checked luggage area.
Priority.
Now, there was one thing I needed to do with the staff – I needed to change my frequent flyer number. As British Airways has said in so many words, “Go away, poor person”, throwing away its lower-yield leisure traveller, I took my frequent flyer data elsewhere. Thus, I took advantage of the Royal Jordanian status match, matching my IHG Platinum to RJ Golden Sparrow.
The name has made me break out in giggles multiple times.
Thus, when I went to change my frequent flyer number, there was more than an eyebrow raise when I said “Royal Jordanian”. But there was no issue, and the oneworld Sapphire that I had matched worked, with luggage privileges preserved.
The only difference was that there was no fast track offering. No issue for me, as I’m not too fussed (and that Heathrow has finally fully implemented 3D scanners).
I headed up to the departures level and through the normal security lines – except each time when I tried to line up, I was pushed to another line… until I ended straight back at FastTrack.
Well, that was a saving of a little time, I suppose.
Thankfully, I was able to pass through the security lines quickly and was through to the other side within 10 minutes.
Hello from the other side.
More than acceptable for Heathrow.
With the formalities completed, I headed back to Duty Free to pick up some tea for a friend (because getting Fortnum’s to ship a small canister of Tea is a pain, and it’s easier to pick up tea at Duty Free). On the plus side, there were reasonable savings, with a 5% Club Avolta discount and a bunch of points in different programmes.
Never sniff at free points.
With that done, it was time to celebrate my new status – and head to my Heathrow Terminal 3 home.
To the lounge complex.
You know where it is.
Next:
Who put stairs in the way? To the Cathay Pacific Lounge and the American Airlines Lounge
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