⭐Live Allure TA 🚢 March 1, 2020 - Time to rub the lamp 🧞

[jagsfan]

I’m not ready for this to be over. 

I read the news and then come back here. 

My window on the world!

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, KikisDad said:

Glad you are cleared. Some of the crew has it. 

 

https://www.*****.com/2020/03/29/positive-cases-of-coronavirus-reported-oasis-of-the-seas-among-the-crew

cc edits out the site royal Caribbean blog, sorry

John was on Allure not Oasis. 

[KikisDad]

44 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

John was on Allure not Oasis. 

My mistake. I always mixed these two up

[John&LaLa]

51 minutes ago, jagsfan said:

I’m not ready for this to be over. 

I read the news and then come back here. 

My window on the world!

 

Everything has to end eventually, it's been live right at a month now. 

 

Someone may have requested a Friends of Bella thread.😉

[depplep]

How old is Bella?

[John&LaLa]

31 minutes ago, depplep said:

How old is Bella?

 

9 in May

 

Our last Westie made it 14+

 

Chewie 🐾🐾

 

[John&LaLa]

Leaving Barcelona

 

Our flight home was on BA 477, a code share with AA 6289. We were to leave at 7:55 am, so we left the hotel right before 4 am

Got to BCN around 4:30, it was a 35 euro fare and I gave the cabbie 40 euros.

The lines for Vueling were huge, BA not bad at all.

 

And since we were Business Class no line at all. 

 

Check in didn't start till 6 am, so we just hung out. I eventually found Laura a proper seat. Probably should have slept in an extra hour.

Check in was smooth, even got to go through expedited security. Sitting up front really paid off this trip.

 

Once we cleared customs it was off to find the lounge. It was above the Burger King.

There are a lot of Burger King's in Barcelona

 

Great lounge, well stocked and eerily quiet. 

 

Hard liquor had a higher quality selection than the C&A lounges.😉

 

Plenty of beer

 

Meats and cheeses

 

Local wines

 

Awesome coffee machine

 

You had to ask for the key to the showers

 

Pat and Laura practicing social distancing

 

Hung out there about an hour ( wanted to stay longer) and then off to our gate. 

Boarded first and settled in for our flight to London.

 

We did have a delay leaving due to Air Traffic Controler shortage so the Captain invited folks to come up and say hi. We declined.

 

This was my first flight on BA, that just seems odd.

Flight was non descript, our flight attendant smiled more than any person I've ever met. We had a lovely English breakfast with that ham they call bacon.

We got to wave goodbye to Allure as we flew out

 

I guess these are the Pyrenees

 

There were outlets under the seat, but they didn't get turned on the first hour or so. Crazy

 

At the end of the flight they collected our loose change for a charity. I thought it was nice. I coughed up everything less than a Euro. Quite the handful it turns out, probably 2-3 Euros in total.

 

A big shout out to the fabulous crew that got us out of Spain.

 

Next up, London Heathrow

 

 

 

 

Edited March 30, 2020 by John&LaLa

[JamesEM]

Great idea collecting loose change, most people just discard the coins once they get back home.

[bigeck]

The loose change thing has been going for years. Spain was and still a holiday destination for many Brits. 

Gets rid of all the shrapnel that just lies in a drawer when you go home, and you never take it the next time you go.

Vueling is a cheap and cheerful airline. I've used them from Edinburgh to Spain before as it's the only direct flight.

BA was a much better choice. depending on flight times, I prefer to use BA and change at Gatwick.

 

 

[kernow]

I think the loose change donations is a common thing worldwide (never paid attention to the fact that US airlines don't do it). They did it on our Emirates flights last month, if we remember on our return flight we're ready with our coins before we board.

[Ocean Boy]

I really like  BA. I have flown them several times from Boston to London. Their fight crews always seem so friendly. I also like how they seem to always give a 20 minute warning that the seatbelt sign will be going on for landing just in case you need to use the bathroom.

 

The first time I used them I didn't realize they include your title on your boarding pass. I walked on an the flight attendant said nice to know we have a physician on board.  Made me cringe just a little bit.

 

 

[Biker19]

7 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

I coughed up everything less than a Euro.

😄🤣

Edited March 30, 2020 by Biker19

[John&LaLa]

21 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

😄🤣

 

I guess that didn't come out right

[John&LaLa]

3 hours ago, bigeck said:

The loose change thing has been going for years. Spain was and still a holiday destination for many Brits. 

Gets rid of all the shrapnel that just lies in a drawer when you go home, and you never take it the next time you go.

Vueling is a cheap and cheerful airline. I've used them from Edinburgh to Spain before as it's the only direct flight.

BA was a much better choice. depending on flight times, I prefer to use BA and change at Gatwick.

 

 

 

I'd guess they are the SouthWest airlines of Europe. Easily 75% of the Barcelona traffic that morning

[John&LaLa]

I just realized this morning that the GPS on my phone was operational during the flight.

 

Isle of Wight

 

Twickenham

 

Part of the Millenium Dome

I'm guessing we flew over London then turned back to make our approach into LHR

 

 

Pat has much better pictures. Stuff like Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and Parliment.  I had to much glare most of the trip

[John&LaLa]

Heathrow 

 

Like I mentioned earlier, we had delays leaving BCN, but the pilot made up some time and we landed about 30 minutes late.

Took a while to get to the gate, so we ended up with just over an hour to get to our new gate. 

Bottom line is we didn't get a chance to visit the Lounge or even see much of the airport.

I did notice a lot of high end shops. Cartier, Gucci, etc..

However, while passing all the shopping we may have missed our turn, and eventually had to double back a little.

I really try and avoid tight connections in an unfamiliar airport.

 

At the gate with 20 minutes to spare, and like I said earlier, Pat got secondary screening. 

Lets board the Boeing 777-300. BTW, we were Zone 2, because there actually is a First Class on this plane. 

 

Easier to practice social distancing in the front of a plane😉

 

Kind of surprised this wasn't leather

BTW, the two ladies behind me spent 15 minutes disinfecting their entire pod

 

Lots of leg room

 

Pat was impressed. First time up front

 

Lots of gadgets

 

Let's head to Miami

 

 

 

[John&LaLa]

Time for an observation.

 

I'm wondering if in the near future, we'll see airlines leaving the middle seats open for social distancing.🤔

 

That's what BA did on our flight to LHR so we could be considered Business Class. 

I know that's a lot of revenue, but it might be necessary

 

However, I wasn't a fan of the semi permanent tray covering the middle seat

 

[grapau27]

7 hours ago, JamesEM said:

Great idea collecting loose change, most people just discard the coins once they get back home.

Jet2 and Easy Jet give you little envelopes to put loose change in.

[grapau27]

3 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

I really like  BA. I have flown them several times from Boston to London. Their fight crews always seem so friendly. I also like how they seem to always give a 20 minute warning that the seatbelt sign will be going on for landing just in case you need to use the bathroom.

 

The first time I used them I didn't realize they include your title on your boarding pass. I walked on an the flight attendant said nice to know we have a physician on board.  Made me cringe just a little bit.

 

 

Any medical emergencies on board they will ask if any doctors on board and you could be a lifesaver.

[jagsfan]

I always think of the warm scones and clotted cream ba gives you. 

Last April we flew LHR-ATL Virgin Upper Class. 

I might be able to talk my DH into one more Europe flight if I promise him Upper Class again. 

[Milwaukee Eight]

4 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Any medical emergencies on board they will ask if any doctors on board and you could be a lifesaver.

Never got us a upgrade or discount. Lol

[grapau27]

2 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Never got us a upgrade or discount. Lol

If you are a doctor in an emergency you would be a hero imo.

[John&LaLa]

American Airlines Fine Dining at 35,000 feet.

 

Water was in one of the many cubbies in the pod

 

Prawns were very good

Pat and I had the beef, he really enjoyed it

Laura had the chicken, it was pretty good

I'm surprised she didn't get the salmon

Her server was way slower than ours

 

They lied about the snack.  Blamed it on shoreside. 

Gee, sounds just like Royal Caribbean

 

Tito's got me in hot water with my flight attendant

 

No Beringer. 😱

[Milwaukee Eight]

13 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

If you are a doctor in an emergency you would be a hero imo.

Not me but I’m close to one who is. 

[grapau27]

2 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Not me but I’m close to one who is. 

On Friday at 8pm millions of UK citizens went outside to clap their hands for our NHS doctors and nurses on the front line against coronavirus.

I personally have massive respect for them and they were marvelous to me in December when I was in hospital after my heart attack.

Best wishes to the person who is close to you too.