VS20 - 19 May 2009

Much fuller than the flight out. Food truly appalling, both in concept and in execution. You can't really get annoyed because the staff are so sweet-natured and helpful. If that sounds patronising it isn't supposed to.

Dollar Car rental debacle

What the fuck. 90 minutes to rent a car and over 15 inutes at the desk while the paperwork gets done - Jeezus! And after all that they gave me a PT Cruiser - I assume this is by way of a demonstration as to how Chrysler ended up in bankruptcy. Dreadful. And I owned a Toyota Camry for a few months in 2001.

Revolutionary Road

Not sure why Kate Winslet wins awards when her American accent is so patently poor. The story is interesting enough and the movie is somewhat claustrophobic. I made a note as I watched that it reminded me of Tennessee Williams and then I later read a review coutesy or MRQE that Bird had recomme ded the original book on which the movie was based...fill in the details.

VS19 - Upper Class 13 May 2009

Virgin lounge - top stuff. This is the reason people like to fly Virgin. Fuck all to do with the bearded wanker. The flight was strangely half empty in Upper Class (miles being spent like they're going out of fashion, since you ask).

It's quite obvious that in Upper Class the economies are still taking place. I remember many years ago, say 96 or 97 the food was truly outstanding. That hasn't beein the case for some time, but just recently it is clear they have really economised. On this flight I tried the pumpkin ravioli and it was one of the best dishes I've eaten on a flight. Perhaps that's not a high bar, nevertheless kudos to Virgin.

Nazis on screen - always a winner, except when it's not

Valkyrie - CO19 LHR-EWR

Absurd Tom Cruise performance. A good argument could be made to stop Hollywood ever retelling a historical event. Unutterably appalling in every respect except one - Nazis are still compelling on screen. How odd.

Wifi - works until you need it

So you get stuck in Continental's partner lounge at the newly deserted T4, which appears to be primarily KLM. "do you have Wifi?" 

"Sure. Here's the details"

Computer finds network, but it can't get a website outside, so there's obviously a problem. I can see other networks from BT Openzone and T-Mobile. I try the BT one, Takes my money, slow as fuck. I try the T-Mobile one and it charges me money, but at least it works. A further example that WiFi hotspots work just great right up to the point that you need them.

Wonders never cease

Earl Butz (crazy name, crazy guy!) was Secretary of Agriculture in the early 1970's in tricky Dicky's administration. To my generation (why don't y'all f-f-f-fade away...sorry about that), he is best known for slandering black people with the generalisation that, "all they are looking for in life are a tight pussy, loose shoes and a warm place to shit."

I think that shows keen aspiration. All I'm looking for is a flight that gets in on time and isn't kept waiting because another flight is using our stand. Imagine my surprise then, when yesterday's BA559 from FCO to LHR got onto the stand 15 minutes early at 1840. I've been in shock ever since.

Praise be!

It's my money and I want it NOW!

What is it with banks? A few months ago I was in Rome and needed to withdraw some cash. At each ATM machine at different banks I was denied. Just as I gave up and was walking back to the car at around 11:00pm I took a call from a very pleasant chap in India asking if I could explain why someone was trying to withdraw money with my card in Rome. I told him the reason and asked if he could assist me in getting some money in Rome. He told me that I could get some now he had removed the security flag on my account, but to give it 30 minutes.

Hoping to avoid a repeat of that fiasco, I called my bank (First Direct/HSBC since you didn't ask) and alerted them to the fact that I was in Rome and would likely want to get at my money. The response was that I shouldn't have any problems, but if I did I should make a further hideously expensive phone call to them to sort it out.

Fast forward to yesterday evening and I was heading back out to my hotel and asked the taxi driver to stop at an ATM. First one - no joy. Second one - no joy. Expensive telephone call to the bank...and a third stop at an ATM - success! Isn't life grand?

Crowne Plaza Rome - Yay - upgrade!

It rarely happens, but I booked one room for one night on the internet. Crowne Plaza, Rome - St Peter and I was asked if I was a member of their Priority Club. I am, but I don't carry the plastic. No problem says the pleasant guy at check in, you've been upgraded to a suite.

Very nice too - meeting table, two  sofas, coffee table, two bathrooms. Perfect!

Shame about the aircrews sharing the floor with me, who seemed to slam doors throughout the night. Bah.

BA556 Terminal 5 in a bus

I remember so many bad experiences with British Airways and many of them came down to lack of space at LHR. Well those excuses should now be a thing of the past, with T5 up and running for a year or more. So why on earth did BA556 to Rome FCO see me on a bloody bus to the plane?

Not being totally au fait with T5 and still thinking it's a vast improvement over other LHR terminals I didn't see the significance of the gate A10. When I got to A10, I was met with a stern looking BA woman who said, "you're a very naughty man, Mr McGregor. I should put you over my knee." Seriously, that's what she said. Then I saw she was standing in front of A10b or c showing a destination of SFO. I told her I wasn't McGregor and was going to Rome. She pointed me in the direction of A10d. So off I toddled and waited for the bus. What joy.

So there we have it, a brand new terminal and they are boarding short haul and long haul flights by bus. Pathetic!