Tag: uk

This was my long-awaited trip to England.

I was so excited that my heart skipped multiple beats when I heard the British Airways (BA) boarding announcement at the Hewanorra International Airport.

It was time for my “Our Tropical Living” adventure in a new country. I smiled when I saw the plane and thought, “oh my gosh, I am doing this!”

I could not believe that this island girl was going to a big city she had dreamt of visiting many years ago.  

Seat 37 E

It was a packed flight to England. All I can say is, the setup of BA is “spectacularly beautiful!”

The plane had been to Trinidad prior to arriving in Saint Lucia so the overhead compartments close to my seat were packed.

It was difficult for me to get an ideal overhead bin to put my hand luggage in.

During check in, an announcement was made to check hand luggage at no extra cost due to possible limited spacing.

Had I known better, I would have done just that!

Up in the air

The plane left Saint Lucia at minutes to 10 p.m. It was an overnight flight so there was nothing to see outside except darkness.

Since I was not hungry, I refused all meals offered.

I had a long night ahead, so I tried to sleep.

A comfy blanket and pillow were provided!

I wondered how I would be able to stay on the plane for 8 hours and 20 minutes.

Economy

I flew economy and it was an uneasy experience. I was in the middle seat and felt like a filling in a sandwich.

I had no access to the armrest and felt like I was being squeezed due to the passenger’s body mass.

The poor legroom made it even more uncomfortable.

I kept telling myself that I was okay and I would arrive shortly.

I constantly checked my watch. I was desperate to get to my destination.

The plane got really cold but the seat warmers came on at intervals.

Professional flight attendants

As I watched the flight attendants do the safety briefing, I wondered why they chose that career.

I cannot imagine being in the air for so many hours at a time.

I used to think that being a flight attendant entailed traveling expeditions, wearing red lipstick, putting your hair in a bun and rocking a nice, neat uniform.

Really, it is a job in the sky. The flight attendants worked throughout the flight.

They pushed the food carts, served passengers, collected garbage, ensured everyone was okay, had their seatbelts on at the required times and attended to passengers with questions.

Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is massive with many terminals. This is a first-class shopping area. The floor is filled with glitter!

I was mesmerized by the beauty of the World Duty Free shopping area.

The gate to catch my flight closed at 9:15 a.m. and it was 9:12 a.m. when I hurriedly passed through the shopping area.

I wanted to “eye shop” but I knew I would miss my flight if I did.

I had no idea where I was going but I kept following the signs.

I was pleased that I could read and write because I would have been lost. Many signs, many gates, many flights and lots of people!

I was worried that I would go to the wrong gate. I wanted to run like some people but after almost 10 minutes of walking quickly, I was already out of breath.

I was happy to see the queue when I arrived at the gate.

33 J

The plane was packed by the time I got to my seat. I looked at the overhead bin to see if my bag would fit, I knew it would not and I did not want to hunt for a compartment.

Thank God for a good Samaritan named Sherwin- “Frosty!”

He assisted me as soon as he saw me looking for a spot. He took my bag and searched for a place.  

I was so thankful for the assistance because searching for space and trying to fit a heavy bag when there are others can be tiring.

Take off

The plane was scheduled to leave Gatwick Airport at 10 a.m. so it was a daytime experience.

Headphones were provided but I did not feel like watching a movie.

I felt cramped as the person in front me reclined their seat and the person behind pushed their bag closer towards the back of my feet.

My bag between my legs did not make the small space any better. I wish to travel first class the next time I travel on BA.  

I understand why people travel first class. Why not pay for comfort, especially for a long flight.

I got leg cramps so took bathroom breaks to stretch my legs. Some people stood for parts of the flight to ease off on the cramps.

I appreciated that there were multiple washrooms to use.

All the way up

Despite the mild turbulence which made me feel like I would die, I was ready to enjoy the complimentary meal and complimentary beverages and wines this time around.

Eats and treats

You do not go hungry on BA. There was an open bar. I felt like I was at a hotel in the air.

Travel tips

Check in online to save you time once you get to the airport.

Book your seat early, at least 24 hours in advance to get a seat of your choice.

Travel with a book to read or hold a puzzle book for entertainment.

Travel light!

Reems Sonson

Our Tropical Living

Come live and love island life

Thank you for taking time to stop by and choosing to read my blog! Remember to leave a comment and share!

If you would like to receive an update when I post something new, you could subscribe to my blog by adding your email address to the subscription bar then confirming the subscription in your email.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Follow me on Instagram

https://instagram.com/reemssonson

Follow and like my page on Facebook

https://facebook.com/ourtropicalliving

This is not a paid or sponsored blog post.