Right. The time to finally head home had arrived. As I mentioned above, I had re-routed the end of the DONE4 to eliminate Japan and Taiwan about 2 weeks prior. To try to keep some SC earn, I arranged to be routed GVA-xMAD-xLHR (overnight) then DOH-xADL-MEL-HBA.
Then, about 4 days ago, I had brought that forward. by over a week, when i abandoned my drive down eastern France and the visit to the rellies. Great work by madrooster, under pressure I'm sure, to get it all done, with DONE4 change fees being waived by AA and taxes and carrier charges still really low. Now CGD-xMAD ect
Well, that seemed a reasonable idea at the time! By the time I left, European countries were closing borders and while I wasn't in danger of being trapped right then, there was only a few days in it. I flew CDG-MAD on the 14th; the 16th was the last time that flew.
It has been 20-off years since I was a CDG and now I realise I must have been at either T1 or T2 previously. I was on Iberia Express this morning and I quickly realised that T3 was the LCC terminal (or as good as) - hmmm ... I guess LCCs didn't exist 20 years ago, except maybe for Laker. Check in - discovered 'no lounge'
but given a 12 Euro voucher for Pret a Manger for breakfast. More than enough.
A bus board - and ... yes, that actually got approved as carry-on (both of them!) ... I was beside him at check-in.
Time to get serious!
Lovely Euro-business seat; three rows of 2-2 in J; 3 pax in all.
I know there guys are professionals, but I don't like seeing this: A paxing ?captain goes up to the coughpit for an extended chat, right to the time the guy brings the final manifest and the plane door closes.. presumably the cabin's not 'sterile' at this time, but I wish non-pilots would leave the coughpit alone.
BVFF, the last Concorde delivered to Air France, in 1980 - it seems so small!
Bulkhead legroom on the A320-200
Was offered breakfast, but
Pret had satisfied me. Just a decaf and a bikkie.
The western Pyrenees poking through low cloud. Time to Madrid, 2 hours.