A disrupted reunion

[andye]

I had been planning my trip to England last month for my 30 year med school reunion from 11 months before.

It was the culmination of hours on AFF picking up tips on earning and burning via multiple avenues. I was quite pleased with myself.

SYD-SIN SQ Y+ (52.5k VA + $209)
SIN-CMB-LHR UL J (75K AS + USD49)
LCY-BER BA Y (4.75k Avios +$35)
BER-DOH QR J, DOH-HKG QR F (90k AA + USD135)
HKG-SYD CX J (58K CX + HKD719)

So much to look forward to: QR SIN J lounge. New airline with UL. Time to sight-see in Berlin. The Al-Safwa. First ever F flight.

I did have an unprotected tight connection in HKG but seemed a risk worth taking

But even the best planned trips can throw up challenges

 

[andye]

First challenge:

Go to online checkin for UL flights and although I can get an electronic boarding pass for CMB-LHR, I can't be issued one for SIN-CMB. No joy calling UL either.

On departure day, I hadn't taken the whole day off work (I have a Monday morning clinic that avoids people staying in hospital all weekend) and ended up with a bit more admin than I'd hoped.

So I was later in the taxi than planned. Traffic was typical for Sydney late afternoon but was never worried.

I'd hoped there might be a UL desk open in SYD but I'd misread the flight schedules so no chance to try to get the boarding pass issue sorted. At least SYD security was a breeze.

 

[andye]

In Y+ and no relevant status, so no SQ lounge access. I'm nevee super-excited about the Amex lounge but I marginally prefer to The House (somewhat pettily I don't like the tiny glasses).

Third time in SQ Y+ this year and its a decent product. Its a B777-300 (slightly preferred the A350)



Slept much of the flight..

 

[andye]

...which was a blessing.

Arrived in SIN at 0020 and my flight to Colombo is at 0940.

SIN is good for transfers with the security at gate set-up. Went to the transfer desk but, as I feared, there was no UL agent until 3 hours before flight.

At least I can stay in the terminal.

I had been looking forward to the QR J lounge. I tried my luck with my CMB-LHR boarding pass (with rationale being I did have a OW J flight that day) but it was obviously a no-go. Also tried the PP lounge but no joy there either.

Ended up traipsing the terminal. Filled in a decent chunk of time writing up my April family holiday trip report. Had a very good noodle soup

 

[andye]

0640 came round and I hung around at the transfer desk. No-one from UL arrived. After 10 minutes, I lost confidence that they'd be able to retrieve my bag (I know, I know).
Headed for exit, completed the Singapore online immigration form, picked up bag (neatly arranged away from the carousel). No queues anywhere and I soon had the boarding pass.

 

[andye]

And so to the QR lounge. I was one of the first ones in.
Its quite a different vibe to the SQ J and the QF J/F lounges in SIN (all of which I do like)
Obviously pretty quiet but I had the feeling of a gentleman's club which I think would remain even when busier
I chose the Arabic Foules Medames to eat and, after a cup of tea, kept the staff busy pouring Tattinger

 

[andye]

The short leg to CMB is in an A320

Seats are 2+2 recliners (though a big recline) and feel quite dated but were pretty comfy with lots of legroom.

J cabin not full so I had a shadow. IFE in armrest though didnt use

 

[andye]

Food was predictably delicious and service very good
I dont remember a booze list but the tea selection was an unexpected highlight



Only a 4h flight so descending into Sri Lanka quite soon

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was wondering what the ‘diamond’ rice was! So thanks for ordering!

Wearing a suit the whole way is brave!

 

[andye]

I was wondering what the ‘diamond’ rice was! So thanks for ordering!

Wearing a suit the whole way is brave!

Straight from work but I do usually wear a jacket when flying

 

[andye]

The Serendib lounge in CMB has a great door. Pretty busy when in. Views of planes, reasonabe food spread and ok booze. Did manage to leave my phone charger though

 

[andye]

CMB-LHR was on an A330-300

Seats were lie-flat and comfortable but looked a little tired

 

[andye]

Not as many pics as I'd hoped but phone gave out

Service good and food tasty

 

[kelvedon]

Arriving in London just in time for the Rugby match. Is it on your itinerary?

 

[andye]

Arriving in London just in time for the Rugby match. Is it on your itinerary?

Reunion was last month so, despite the posting tempo, not a live report. I'm catching up on my TRs.

 

[andye]

Immigration pretty quick, bag carousel slow. Both fairly typical for LHR recently

After buying.an exhorbitant phone charger from Boots and finding a socket, head of to the Elizabeth line. It has transformed my London experience especially as I can make the connection at Stratford to the Central line (to get to sisterandye's in Woodford) without changing platforms.

Lovely catching up though its only.been a few months since I was last year.

Next morning, we headed down to Camberwell to help mumandye with some house stuff. At 86, she's still sharp as a tack but is slowing up.

 

[andye]

Following evening, make the trip to Shepherd's bush to see mstrandye1.

He's been working in London for the last 18 months. Till now he'd been living in a neautiful unit in a Paddington terrace (complete with risque Edwardian paintings of the landlady's mother) but said landlady had asked to get a fourth tenant in the dining room or increase the rent.

So I got to see him in his swcond day in his new pad which though not quita.as.imprrssive wasnt too bad either

We went out to dinner with mstrandye1&+1 at The Bird in Hand. Good food mostly Spanish but pizza available

 

[andye]

Have another productive day at mumandye's then we both* head up by bus/tube to sisterandye's place in Woodford.

Stop off in Oxford Street Moss Bros to hire dinner jacket. Pretty efficient service
Pleased to hear can drop off at any branch.

Friday night was fish & chips night when we were young. Continued the tradition but don't remember the portions being this generous


*well I say both. Mumandye decided she had a few more jobs to do and then took the most circuitous route she could separately. I could blame old age but she's been just the same all her life

 

[andye]

B-i-landye had been out on a boys night.

Little did he know that when he returned at 11pm, we were still going to be up for another 5 hours, catching up on each others' lives in different hemispheres (and probably rehashing a lot of the stuff we always say when we get together)

 

[andye]

So woke up a little later than anticipated.

I'd booked my hire car for the trip to Oxford for the reunion via a consolidator 9 months previously and was pretty happy with $220 for a Merc for 2 day.

Tried to ring the Entrrprise office in Paddington to say I was running late but no answer.

Had reviving cups of tea and bacon sandwiches before setting off on the tube.

Yes. You've guessed it. I arrived to find the staff member closing up saying "Sorry the office officially closed an hour ago. And the cars been booked out as you were a no-show"