Heading home...

The table might be a bit too small for breakfast?

Saturday, we got up, packed the final items, and headed to the airport.  We like airports!!  But we did NOT like this one.  The check in for BA was a line about 60+ people long and they hadn’t even opened the counter yet!  And it was under 3 hours.  But we found a machine that worked (eventually) so that Bill could check in (travelling for work on other airlines has a few limitations).  Anyway, we got our tickets and headed through security and off to the lounge.  Theresa’s status got us into a good little spot with some food and drinks.  It was very nice.  Turns out they also had pasteis de nata, so we had our third “final” call, er, uh, tasting.  But then it was time to head to the gate.

Our final final Pasteis de Nata.
I don't like filo dough, so just eating the middle!

Not so fast!!  First Passport control.  OK.  The signage wasn’t good, but what we figured out was, if you arrived from within the EU, you went to one line.  From outside of the EU, another line.  But the guy asked “did you arrive here from the United States?”  No.  Theresa went through London and Bill through Madrid.  So, he points to one line, and we noticed it was MUCH shorter than the other line and we were (briefly) grateful.  Eventually, we made it to the front, and with difficulty, Theresa got her passport to scan and got through.  With much greater difficulty and more than a couple of minutes, Bill got the attendant to come over and determine that he needed to be in the other (longer) line.  ☹  Through passport control, there was a LONG walk to a …bus!  Theresa was on the bus before Bill was through the passport line.  Much much later, Bill made it to the gate.  Upgrade?  No.  Not for either of us.  Well, it was only 2.5 hours, and turns out the middle between each of us and our “seat mates” was open so at least we had some room. Bill asked the window woman to take a picture of a plane and she …well she obliged with a picture that wasn’t worth keeping.  So, I’ll not share it here.

The coach service was ... sparse!

English food!!

Once in London (or rather Heathrow), we got through all the checks and finagled our way to the hotel, which was two Underground hops and a meanderingly inefficient walk away.  We took a short time to collect ourselves, and then headed out to a nearby church and then food.  Theresa found this little bar with fish and chips (of course) but every meal came with a drink (soft or hard!).  The place was crowded with locals and a smattering of tourists, and the prices were really good.  The only bad thing we could say, is that while we were there, we learned a friend was actually also near Heathrow and only 10 miles away!  Had we known that, we would have headed that way and met up with her.  But otherwise, it was a great dinner!

Not bad prices!!  (tho GBP = $1.25)

On our way back from dinner.

Back in the hotel, we headed to the “Runway Bar” on the 14^th floor, overlooking the AOA (Airport Operations Area).  It was a great view, but a bit chilly and we didn’t plan to stay and buy “rooftop prices” so we ran around and escaped before the waiter could catch up with us.

On Sunday, we began the last jump home.  Reversing the chaotic path back to T3, we navigated security and were inside in about 25 minutes.  We found the Cathay Pacific lounge, and Theresa’s status gave us access to their First Class section.  We enjoyed a seated restaurant, with an Asian breakfast, and drinks.  Afterwards, we got a couple of seats overlooking the ramp area, and enjoyed a peaceful bit of time.

View from the Runway Bar.

Take Off!!

First Class dining!

Not a bad way to wait!

Comfy!

Then it was time to run to the gate for our flight.  Theresa was confirmed in Business Class, but so far Bill was still in coach.  24 hours ago he was 2^nd in line with 9 Business or First class seats.  12 hours ago, he was still 2^nd, but with 3 upgrade seats.  6 hours ago, there were 4 seats.  And one hour ago, he was 7^th with 2 seats.  ☹  The two seats were not yet assigned as he boarded, so to the far back he went and settled in for a …grumbly toned flight.  But…

A few seat swaps in, and presto!!

People seem to pop onto and drop off the upgrade list inexplicably.  And sometimes people don’t show up.  Well, two seats next to each other opened up, and Bill got 8D, and this other guy got 8G (adjacent in the middle section).  The gate agent came back and found Bill, gave him the new boarding pass, and up he went!!  When the second guy got there, Theresa invited for him to swap and take her window seat (in row 9) and we got to sit together for the flight!!  Yay God!  Yay!!  Thanks!!

Pretty sure this is how movies are meant to be seen!

We watched Oppenheimer, but Theresa took a nap in the middle (3 hours exceeding her limit, it seems!).  Not too much else exciting happened on the flight and finally we made it home.  Tired!!  Straining to stay up to at least 8, we went to bed and ended the trip!