Tier Point Run to Sofia in Jan 2024: Day 2 – Sofia SOF to London Heathrow LHR

By Nige on Mon 15 Jan 2024 at 22:00
Type: Post
Story: Tier Point Run to Sofia in Jan 2024
Tags: British Airways | LHR | London Heathrow | SOF | Sofia | Trips

Gate B7 was fairly packed when I got there, but most passengers decided to queue in an odd shaped curve away from the gate itself.

So I slipped through and waited at the side next to the gate where there was a tensa barrier up. On the other side, the tensa barrier was down suggesting that that was the side that passengers would enter through.

The gate team then closed off the open side and opened up the side I was standing next to. Lucky me! Five mins later, and they started the boarding process.

That gave me pole position, and after 10 mins or so waiting in the pen, I was on board after a wheelchair user was allowed to get onboard, which was an interesting watch in itself.

Whilst waiting at the top of the airbridge, the guy in the wheelchair had wanted to get out of the wheelchair and walk on crutches down the air bridge. The lady looking after him wasn’t that interested in engaging with him, but just emphasized that he needed to sit down.

That highlighted that he wasn’t used to this form of transport. I guess he must have broken something whilst he was in Sofia. Daft laddie…

Anyway, back on board into 01C. Some of the “regulars” joined me shortly after. There must have been at least another 3 or 4 doing a B2B.

Once everyone was on board, the captain announced that one passenger decided they didn’t want to fly after all, so we wasted 15 mins searching for their luggage so it could be be removed from the hold.

Flight: BA0891 Equip: A320
Sched Depart: 17:25 Actual: 18:14
Sched Arrival: 19:00 Actual: 20:03
Takeoff: 18:43 Landing: 19:57

Kate, the Cabin Services Manager asked whether I wanted a cup of tea whilst we were waiting to push back. Not sure why? Perhaps I looked like an old bloke that needed a hot drink?

Finally got away. Handed a menu and it appeared to be the same as last night. So it was going to be another Ruby curry for me!

We had to be deiced before hitting the runway, so that took 10 mins. Interestingly I can’t remember dicing in yesterday’s B2B and I suspect it was colder yesterday.

It was 6:40pm. before we were on the runway. Within 40 mins, I had been served a drink and nuts; been served the magnificent Ruby curry; eaten it, and my tray had been cleared away.

I’ve never known a service so quick, other than on a short domestic. Bizarre. I could only assume the captain was taking a shortcut home.

On these few trips, I’ve had plenty of Lindor offered by cabin crew. Nice touch.

Arrived into Gate 29 of T3. It was a long walk to Arrivals and a very odd experience with the automated passport kiosks. Whilst I was waiting, I watched the guy ahead of me going through the automated passport kiosk. He was processed normally – it looked like he got all of the normal messages and the gate opened and let him through.

When it was my turn, it started off OK, but after adjusting the camera (for my height) I saw a very small error message in a dialog box appear on its side and then the screen went blank! I assumed it had failed and needed to reboot, so after waiting 30 seconds, I took my passport out and the gate just opened! No messages or anything.

Follow the whole story here: Tier Point Run to Sofia in Jan 2024