Tier Point Run to Hawaii/San Juan in Feb 2014: Day 1 – Manchester MAN to London Heathrow LHR

Woke up just after 4am and after some last-minute packing I was ready for my taxi ride to Manchester airport (well Vick was taking me). BPs had been printed off, laptop bag was packed, and we would be off very soon. I was starting to get excited…

Manchester airport was deserted. I had never seen this airport so quiet. I popped in to say hello to the BA check in desk and they were very pleased it was so quiet.

They couldn’t help me with checking in to my onward flights to Los Angeles and Honolulu, but they did point out about my ability to use Fast Track Security (as if I would need it today)!

I had a little laugh with them, and I headed on to Security.

I can’t remember the last time I used the Fast Track Lane at Manchester, so I thought what the heck, I was going to use it today.

There was one couple in front of me (including one wheelchair) and then one other gent. The other lanes had a similar number of people in them.

I whizzed through in 2 mins – no full body scan for Fast Track and I was in the lounge in another 2 mins.

As I walked through the shops it did remind me that I had not brought my neck pillow with me – not critical, but it was sort of useful for the last trip I went on.

AA seats are not that comfortable if you want to get your head down.

Anyway, I was first into the lounge, so they put a special batch of toast on for me.

I was aiming to have a little sustenance in Manchester (cappuccino and toast), and then I would test the cleanliness of the Galeries First Lounge at T5 a little later on.

I was well and truly on my way now…

Why do people start drinking at 6am? In fact how do people start drinking at 6am?

Showers in the lounge at Manchester – I only ended up in here because the loos were being cleaned!

The flight to Heathrow was fine – the key event was the announcement that Priority Boarding was being applied at Gate 141 at Manchester T3.

I haven’t seen this before, but it was a nice surprise. Shame that Bronze card holders are included too!

Everyone had been very pleasant so far, so I was looking forward to my onward trip to Brussels and back next.

Follow the whole story here: Tier Point Run to Hawaii/San Juan in Feb 2014