Travel Travails...
So here's my big old blog about my nightmare journey to Glasgow a couple of weeks ago.
I was flying up there to do the Highlight Comedy Club and had booked with BA cos they were the cheapest believe it or not!
I got to Gatwick in plenty of time, only to be told as I reached the bag drop that my flight had been cancelled an hour before. Hmmm. This was the best kept secret in aviation cos it was on the board as happening, my online check-in hadn't told me of any delays let alone cancellations, surely some mistake?
Apparently it was that old chestnut 'technical problems'. Funny how only half empty planes develop these problems eh? Three half empty flights to Scotland had 'technical problems' that Friday, and six hours after I arrived, we were all bundled onto a huge 777 instead.
For the first time in a loooong time I got to "go left" when I boarded. Yep I had a flat bed seat! For a 70 minute flight! Just my bleeding luck! I was like a kid in a candy store, pressing buttons, farting about with the screen, the lot. It took my mind off the fact that we were now landing in Edinburgh and had to get a bus to Glasgow, making what should've been a leisurely trip with enough rest time on arrival, a very close thing!
I made it to my hotel in Glasgow with just enough time to dump my bag and put some make-up on for the gig. The journey had taken just under 12 hours.
The gigs were fun, I got to work with my old mate Rudi Lickwood which is always a good thing. I also picked up a few bargains in the sales on the Saturday afternoon, hurrah!
On Sunday morning I was up bright and early and on the bus to the airport for my flight home. The flight was due to depart at 10am, and I was there at 7.30. I checked in, eventually (Glasgow BA staff are the snottiest of all airline staff!) and went through security.
I'd missed breakfast, availed myself of their excellent catering facilities
before making my way to the gate.
I noticed there weren't many people waiting, and got a bit of a nagging doubt in the pit of my stomach. Surely they wouldn't cancel this flight with 'technical problems' too would they? No, surely not.
Oh yes they would and wouldn't you know, we were shuffled onto the other 'quiet' flights due to leave throughout the day. How lucky that they had all those spare seats on the later flights eh?
No mind that one couple missed the connection for their honeymoon or that others were left in the lurch for connecting flights home. As long as you can save a few bob eh BA?
I ended up on another afternoon flight, but not into Gatwick of course - I had a return Gatwick Express train ticket, that would be too convenient - no we landed at Heathrow. Another £18 spent and another 12 hour journey.
Having said that, it was a nice surprise to see Terminal 5 which is rather sexy.
I was flying up there to do the Highlight Comedy Club and had booked with BA cos they were the cheapest believe it or not!
I got to Gatwick in plenty of time, only to be told as I reached the bag drop that my flight had been cancelled an hour before. Hmmm. This was the best kept secret in aviation cos it was on the board as happening, my online check-in hadn't told me of any delays let alone cancellations, surely some mistake?
Apparently it was that old chestnut 'technical problems'. Funny how only half empty planes develop these problems eh? Three half empty flights to Scotland had 'technical problems' that Friday, and six hours after I arrived, we were all bundled onto a huge 777 instead.
For the first time in a loooong time I got to "go left" when I boarded. Yep I had a flat bed seat! For a 70 minute flight! Just my bleeding luck! I was like a kid in a candy store, pressing buttons, farting about with the screen, the lot. It took my mind off the fact that we were now landing in Edinburgh and had to get a bus to Glasgow, making what should've been a leisurely trip with enough rest time on arrival, a very close thing!
I made it to my hotel in Glasgow with just enough time to dump my bag and put some make-up on for the gig. The journey had taken just under 12 hours.
The gigs were fun, I got to work with my old mate Rudi Lickwood which is always a good thing. I also picked up a few bargains in the sales on the Saturday afternoon, hurrah!
On Sunday morning I was up bright and early and on the bus to the airport for my flight home. The flight was due to depart at 10am, and I was there at 7.30. I checked in, eventually (Glasgow BA staff are the snottiest of all airline staff!) and went through security.
I'd missed breakfast, availed myself of their excellent catering facilities
before making my way to the gate.
I noticed there weren't many people waiting, and got a bit of a nagging doubt in the pit of my stomach. Surely they wouldn't cancel this flight with 'technical problems' too would they? No, surely not.
Oh yes they would and wouldn't you know, we were shuffled onto the other 'quiet' flights due to leave throughout the day. How lucky that they had all those spare seats on the later flights eh?
No mind that one couple missed the connection for their honeymoon or that others were left in the lurch for connecting flights home. As long as you can save a few bob eh BA?
I ended up on another afternoon flight, but not into Gatwick of course - I had a return Gatwick Express train ticket, that would be too convenient - no we landed at Heathrow. Another £18 spent and another 12 hour journey.
Having said that, it was a nice surprise to see Terminal 5 which is rather sexy.
Labels: Travel
posted by JoJo Smith at Tuesday, July 27, 2010
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