Europe 2008, again, finally
So it feels like I can actually talk about my big trip some more.
I learned so much in 2007, and applied it well in 2008.
I'd signed up with various airlines for their "Fare specials & alerts". British Airways had what seemed to me to be a very good one, and when I went to the website to check, I found that indeed, they had good fares. However, Expedia saved me about 5%, so I booked on BA but through Expedia. That worked fine except that I couldn't check in 24 hours ahead, and didn't have any choice of seat. I think that for next year I'll just book through BA so I can have those things.
BA flies directly between San Francisco and London, a real benefit for me. The plane was comfortable enough, the food good, the crew fabulously helpful and accommodating while being very professional, and I didn't have any trouble with Terminal 5 in Heathrow despite the horror stories that are out there.
On the trans-Atlantic flights this year, BA handed out a little parcel containing earphones (fair, not great), a toothbrush with a little teeny tiny tube of toothpaste, a sleep-mask, and socks. I don't know if they'll feel they can continue that in the coming market, but I hope so. It was marvelously reassuring and useful.
I was impressed also by the food. I did notice that there were concerns by some passengers as to the true vegetarianism of their vegetarian meals, but the cabin crew seemed to deal with that well, as I didn't hear anyone grumbling after it got sorted. The hot food was tasty without being over-salted or -sugared, as far as I could tell, and the fresh food was good and nicely varied. (Sandwiches came as half a Ham and Cheese with half a Tuna Salad, for instance.)
In-flight movies in the cheap seats are on little screens set in the back of the seat in front. I think for next year I'll bring better noise-canceling headphones, but the ones they give out worked ok. I watched a couple movies I'd not ever seen- Talented Mr. Ripley, and something that escapes me at the moment. But my favorite show is the in-flight data/map screens that show 'Your Flight' in the air. In 5th, 6th, and 7th grade i LIVED in the library at school, in the atlases and the encyclopediae and in the dictionaries, and that little in-flight flight maps makes me giddily happy.
I did my whole trip carry-on except for the last leg home when I checked my suitcase because it was just too much to deal with the few non-carry-on items. For next year I need a new suitcase and either backpack or over-the-shoulder-able tote, but I managed fine with what I had and it was a treat not to have to wait for luggage. I credit Rick Steeves, Travelsmith, REI, and other sites with giving me the ideas I needed to pack lightly. Next year, lighter still. I just need not to worry about having access to things- everything I needed I was able to buy when I got where I was going, and the few things I didn't make the effort to get this year- travel towel, for instance- I wish I had gotten, and will for next year.
Well. Time to get ready for work. If I have time tonight, a bit about flying over the US and the Atlantic Ocean. I never thought I'd ever do that once, and now I've d
I learned so much in 2007, and applied it well in 2008.
I'd signed up with various airlines for their "Fare specials & alerts". British Airways had what seemed to me to be a very good one, and when I went to the website to check, I found that indeed, they had good fares. However, Expedia saved me about 5%, so I booked on BA but through Expedia. That worked fine except that I couldn't check in 24 hours ahead, and didn't have any choice of seat. I think that for next year I'll just book through BA so I can have those things.
BA flies directly between San Francisco and London, a real benefit for me. The plane was comfortable enough, the food good, the crew fabulously helpful and accommodating while being very professional, and I didn't have any trouble with Terminal 5 in Heathrow despite the horror stories that are out there.
On the trans-Atlantic flights this year, BA handed out a little parcel containing earphones (fair, not great), a toothbrush with a little teeny tiny tube of toothpaste, a sleep-mask, and socks. I don't know if they'll feel they can continue that in the coming market, but I hope so. It was marvelously reassuring and useful.
I was impressed also by the food. I did notice that there were concerns by some passengers as to the true vegetarianism of their vegetarian meals, but the cabin crew seemed to deal with that well, as I didn't hear anyone grumbling after it got sorted. The hot food was tasty without being over-salted or -sugared, as far as I could tell, and the fresh food was good and nicely varied. (Sandwiches came as half a Ham and Cheese with half a Tuna Salad, for instance.)
In-flight movies in the cheap seats are on little screens set in the back of the seat in front. I think for next year I'll bring better noise-canceling headphones, but the ones they give out worked ok. I watched a couple movies I'd not ever seen- Talented Mr. Ripley, and something that escapes me at the moment. But my favorite show is the in-flight data/map screens that show 'Your Flight' in the air. In 5th, 6th, and 7th grade i LIVED in the library at school, in the atlases and the encyclopediae and in the dictionaries, and that little in-flight flight maps makes me giddily happy.
I did my whole trip carry-on except for the last leg home when I checked my suitcase because it was just too much to deal with the few non-carry-on items. For next year I need a new suitcase and either backpack or over-the-shoulder-able tote, but I managed fine with what I had and it was a treat not to have to wait for luggage. I credit Rick Steeves, Travelsmith, REI, and other sites with giving me the ideas I needed to pack lightly. Next year, lighter still. I just need not to worry about having access to things- everything I needed I was able to buy when I got where I was going, and the few things I didn't make the effort to get this year- travel towel, for instance- I wish I had gotten, and will for next year.
Well. Time to get ready for work. If I have time tonight, a bit about flying over the US and the Atlantic Ocean. I never thought I'd ever do that once, and now I've d