Flying High... British Airways!

A direct connection? Damn right! With work in China beckoning, I needed to fly back from England at the end of my 2024 summer holiday. I wasn't playing, I didn't want any stopover, British Airways sorted my direct flight back to Shanghai, China! With the current drama concerning flight paths over Russia, that China bound flight felt super long haul! Oh, Heathrow! 

Staying at a nearby Terminal 4 hotel at Heathrow Airport made sense, it allowed me to check in without any stress at Heathrow's own Terminal 5. Was that that the truth? Not quite because that British Airways check-in system saw me speaking to two people before I could drop my bag, it was a tad confusing. It was comical because the ground agent hadn't seen a Chinese visa like mine, it was bizarre to consider but questioned the everchanging reasons for travel to China these days. Now, I was impressed by the security check because I didn't need to take anything out of my carry on items, that was a change I could deal with! Now, Terminal 5 was about to test me, I needed a stiff drink and it was only ten in the morning or something! I had been gifted lounge access by a family member, not at the British Airways lounge but at the 'Plaza Premium Lounge'. It was compact to say the very least but served a reasonable breakfast and some mixed drinks. It was interesting to listen to said conversations, how boring their travel plans sounded! 

The lounge was jam-packed, I made sure I ate my breakfast with a second helping ensured. I noticed that the lounge had shower facilities, such amenities that I didn't need to use in the end. I felt quite relaxed about my then upcoming flight back to China, I had enjoyed my summer holiday to the fullest with stops in Portugal, Belgium and then England, it was time for me to make some money for the next trip, which would be to Macau in August 2024. I noticed the time as I checked the departures board to see that my flight to Shanghai was being prepared. I had no idea where I needed to head towards, giving myself enough time to reach the boarding gate. To be honest, it was nice to experience the lounge and to have a different pre-flight experience but I'd never turn down a Wetherspoons airport breakfast with a double gin and tonic! Heathrow's Terminal 5 was absolutely heaving, it felt more like a hectic shopping centre than an airport terminal! 'Plaza Premium Lounge' already knew that I needed another drink! To the stables, B?

Now, I am going to lay this out frankly because Terminal 5 tested me! Sure, I am used to flying from large international terminals such as Hong Kong, Beijing Capital and Shanghai Pudong but the signage was all over the place at Heathrow's T5! I didn't know where I was going and that was saying something because all of the signs were in English and not in Mandarin Chinese! Traditional Chinese text for HKG, I beg! I made it to the people mover, it had just left the station and it took a little bit before the next one could arrive. It was held for about three minutes or so, but why? I guess, security? It was a shambles because at Shanghai Pudong, nobody would even think about pulling any stunts, so at PVG its just a matter of seconds between services to the further gates. I'm just not suited to the United Kingdom, nothing made sense, only the newer baggage screening machines impressed me. As I was about to say a very fond farewell to Heathrow, I saw my gate number for the British Airways flight to Shanghai! I was ready to go! 

My beef wasn't with British Airways, it was with my passenger experience at Terminal 5. My British Airways experience was about to begin and I hadn't experienced any negativity yet, nor would I for the whole journey from London Heathrow over to China's Shanghai Pudong. I sensed where my boarding gate was, it was not a surprise to see many confused Chinese passengers who didn't speak English and seemed stressed about where their gate would be? I used my questionable Mandarin Chinese skills to reassure them that their flight was the same as mine, that they were in the right place with enough time. Unlike in February 2023, I didn't have any COVID QR Code anxiety as I sat at that boarding gate! It felt like a world away from that dread filled moment in February 2023 as I returned 'post Pandemic'. I knew my direct flight would arrive into a very different China than Feb 2023 had done. I was ready to reach Ningbo, I wanted to get back to my reality. BA knew that I felt very British when I saw their livery! Yes, B! 

With a small ground delay taken care of, my Dreamliner departed London Heathrow bound for China's Shanghai Pudong. I already knew that I was going to enjoy a few wines because the flight over to Lisbon with Capital Airlines was practically dry! What was I going to watch? It was great to have a daytime departure, I did benefit from sleeping on that flight from Hangzhou to Lisbon but on the way back from London to Shanghai I yearned for a different experience. Obviously, the flight would be taking a little longer because of Russia being a no-fly for flag carriers condemning the current conflict. I saw it as more time to speak with the crew, drink wine and watch a whole complete series. Things were feeling easy breezy, my holiday had been a success and the smooth flight made up for the chaotic airport experience at Terminal 5. Now, would it be a UK favourite for lunch or Chinese food? I already knew what I wanted! British Airways got on with the drinks service pretty soon after take-off, I was definitely 'Flying High!' Let's go home! 

With regards to the IFE offerings, I was selective. I stuck with one British sit-com series for the first part of the flight. As I opened my first bottle of red wine, I started to watch 'Big Boys'. It was a somewhat joyous yet tearjerker of a show, showing a 'coming out story' and 'dealing with grief'. I sipped on that BA served red wine, for an economy beverage it tasted nice, I wasn't like the others drinking hot water! No thank you, ma'am! No, I politely declined the noodles because I was on my way back to China, you already know that I went for the chicken curry! It was a little confusing because my meal hadn't arrived, now I wasn't mad because the crew member apologised for the delay and kindly slipped me another two bottles of wine! Now, I had no complaints as I had wine, a good series and a chicken curry! People around me thought I had a drinking problem, I was simply getting my moneys worth! Of course, I was impressed with my BA flight experience with those points considered. Not me teaching Chinese to one of the crew! 

I had several hours to pose a certain request to the cabin crew, being a photo with whom felt comfortable to do so. I was so lucky because on a general level, my British Airways cabin crew in economy were really nice and friendly. I was able to speak in Chinese with the Mandarin speaking crew members, they were so shocked that I could speak some Mandarin and that I called China my second home. The flight was long haul, there was plenty of time to sneak a few more biscuits from the galley as my Dreamliner flew closer towards Shanghai, China. The moment came for me to ask the million pound question! Would the crew be willing to take a blog appropriate photo with me? Yes, I got what I had wanted but a months worth of eating rich foods and drinking everything in-sight leaves me looking back at myself in slight disgust! I am being really critical, I usually prefer to take photos from a selfie stance, I will have to be kind to myself. That photo actually forced me to get more active and change eating habits! More wine? 

For the remainder of the flight I relaxed in my seat with sleep possible towards the end of the flight, those day time hours played with my body clock as time zones were crossed! I was glad I had those extra wines because it kind of rocked me to sleep with the movement of the aircraft. From England to China, my flight with British Airways concluded at the time when we landed smoothly into Shanghai's Pudong International Airport. Disembarking my flight left me a lasting memory because the Mandarin speaking crew member who I had been chatting with made me smile, she remembered my name as she wished me a fond farewell! I know people can be critical on British Airways, for me the experience was worthwhile and with a direct connection I was home before tea time! With British Airways ticked off my list, I knew for certain as I headed back to Ningbo that I won't be flying long haul for a long while yet! Could this be the end of such a route? Rumours are rife! I flew with BA on that route at the right time! Oh, Air Macau's up next! 

12 Hours Is A Lot! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure