Tier Point Run to Sofia in Nov 2024: Day 28 – London Heathrow LHR to Sofia SOF

By Nige on December 6, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Type: Post
Story: Tier Point Run to Sofia in Nov 2024 Category: Travel
Tags: British Airways | LHR | London Heathrow | SOF | Sofia | Trips

T3 wasn’t too busy. Fast track Security wasn’t busy either, so I was soon wandering over to the Cathay Pacific lounge.

Unfortunately, I was advised that I would need to use the business lounge initially due to them expecting a number of their own status passengers shortly.

I turned them down and headed to a lounge where I might be loved a tad more.

I picked up my First Dining invitation and dumped my bag on my normal seat.

A decent breakfast was enjoyed. I still don’t understand why the mushrooms are not seasoned!

I did some work in the First Lounge, interspersed with some walks around the terminal. You’ve got to get your steps in!

The flight left from Gate 29, which was a more traditional gate at T3 with a holding pen. By the time I arrived, there were already a couple of guys hanging around the boarding door. I took up a place close to the door too.

Boarding was another farce of an exercise. There were lots of people hanging around the gate, (which of course included me).

Boarding was delayed, so passengers started getting a bit arsey and everyone just wanted to get on board. There was very little control in evidence from the gate staff.

I settled in to seat 01F, and I was looking forward to a bit of a snooze, if I’m honest, but my attention was drawn to other passengers in Club Europe.

Another GGL and partner were seated on the other side of the aisle in row 1, who apparently knew everyone. Little more needed to be said about that! 🙂

We pushed back about 25 mins late and then took an age to taxi onto 27R heading west, due to it being runway switchover time.

By the time we were in the air, it was 50 mins after scheduled departure time, so I suspected we were running about 30 mins late.

As we banked left and turned 180 degrees, I could see Gatwick on the starboard side of the aircraft in the distance.

From the menu handed out, Christmas had officially arrived! Christmas dinner was served, and I was looking forward to my first of the season!

It turned out to be very tasty. A worthy replacement to the chicken balti I was looking forward to earlier in the day.

We arrived with a great view of Sofia, nicely lit up. My last night time arrival for the near future.

Gate B5 was our arrival point, and I sneaked to the front of the deboarding queue of passengers standing in the aisle to the dismay of the guy in 01C. Oh well…

The Cabin Crew Lead checked that I was heading back to Heathrow – he had looked at the manifest for the flight heading home and found me on his list!

Tier Point Run to Sofia in Nov 2024