Five in the morning is an ungodly hour to be standing around anywhere outside waiting for the airport bus to arrive. Especially when, like today, it’s windy and raining and I’m being pelted with raindrops that are travelling horizontally and not vertically. I suppose I should count my lucky stars that at least the temperature is no longer below freezing, even if only just. Earlier in the week the thermometer hit -13 degrees Celsius.

Check-In

I’m quite surprised when I check in for the flight the evening before that there are only three rows of Business Class for a total of twelve passengers. That’s quite unusual for British Airways, who usually have around thirty seats in the forward cabin. It certainly looks as though the flight is not going to be full. At the airport, I pass the British Airways check-in counters on my way to security, and they’re deserted.

The other good news is that Basel airport has introduced a 3D scanner on the fast track lane, which seriously speeds up the process and makes it much less of a hassle.

The Swissport Aspire Lounge

They’ve introduced these ridiculous little robots at Basel airport, and I’m still trying to figure out what the heck they’re supposed to be good for, beyond nearly mowing over unsuspecting travellers. There’s one of them just exiting the lounge as I approach reception.

The lounge is also very quiet. I count a total of eight guests, including myself. The staff have just finished setting up the warm breakfast buffet, but it’s still a bit early for me. I think I’ll wait until I’m on the plane.

Boarding

The flight shows up boarding on the displays forty minutes before departure. That’s because the lounge is in the Schengen area, whereas the flight will obviously be boarding from the non-Schengen side of the terminal. While we board, they’re still busy de-icing the aircraft. Eventually, the doors close at 06h50, twenty minutes ahead of our scheduled departure time.

The Cabin & Seat

The British Airways A 320 NEOs have the regular overhead bins, instead of the newer, larger ones that allow you to place hand luggage upright on its side. It’s not a problem on today’s flight because it’s half empty anyway. But the way British Airways packs them in, I’d have thought they’d go for the larger bin option. There are three rows of Business Class for a total of twelve passengers. However, only five seats are occupied this morning in the forward cabin. I’m seated on row 1, and the leg space is definitely much, much better here than it is on the rest of the plane, except, perhaps, for the emergency exit. I have the whole row of three to myself. The passenger on 1F also has the whole row to himself.

We push back and start up our engines ten minutes ahead of schedule. Not that it’ll make any difference. At Heathrow you are penalized for being early as much as you are for being late. Our flight time to London is 65 minutes.

The Service & Crew

As usual with British Airways, there is no service at all while we’re still on the ground. The crew are friendly and very senior, and it shows in the professional way they go about their duties. Their interaction is friendly but not pushy.

The Meal – English Breakfast

Once we’re settled into the cruise, the breakfast service begins. There is a choice of English breakfast or a vegetarian option with, if I heard correctly, a quiche. I have the English breakfast. The tray consists of a small bowl of fruit, the hot meal, a croissant and butter, and a Kellogg’s Nutrigrain. The meal hits the spot nicely, although I think there’s been some cost cutting. The hot meal seems to have shrunk, there’s no jam to go with the croissant, and there is no second round with the breadbasket. Other than that, the Kellogg’s Nutrigrain is an distgusting abomination. I find it hard to believe that somebody would actually buy this stuff.

Arrival in Heathrow

All things considered, Heathrow isn’t too bad this morning, and we end up having to do just the one orbit in a holding pattern due south of London City airport before we are released for the approach from the east.

We touch down on runway 27L. As we taxi towards T5 we’re overtaken by a B 777 which used a bit more runway to slow down to taxi speed.

Transfer in Heathrow T5

This was a pleasant and uneventful flight. It’s so nice how the flights empty out in January after the crazily busy Christmas period. I enter T5 and it looks as though I’ve just managed to get in before the mad rush sets in. Not that I’m in a hurry. It have over four hours to make my connection.