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

By Nige on December 6, 2024 at 11:06 pm
Type: Post
Story: Tier Point Run to Sofia in Nov 2024 Category: Travel
Tags: British Airways | LHR | London Heathrow | SOF | Sofia | Trips

It was a different despatch team to the normal crew, but they were happy to let me through the glass door. I was on my own for the Lap 7 B2B. Billy-no-mates!

It was only a min after the last passengers got off that we started boarding. That obviously didn’t really mean boarding – we simply created a new queue on the airbridge!

The new despatcher didn’t call Group 0 – just Groups 1, 2, and 3.

I wasn’t going to complain. I was at the front anyway! First time I have noticed a failure of Group 0 boarding in a long time.

Back on into seat 01F, and I got a nice welcome from the cabin crew again!

The menu handed out showed I would be enjoying another Turkey dinner on the way back to Heathrow.

The captain announced we gad an ATC restrictions which could have meant a 30 min delay in pushing back.

As it happened, it was brought forward, so we pushed back about 15 mins late.

The turkey was another fine example of a BA roast on short haul. The cheese and crackers were great and the pudding was another mousse thing, but with a Christmas twang to it.

I listened to Oh Wonder on the way back. I had forgotten how good their debut album was.

Whilst flying, I received some emails relating to Dovecote Arts funding. I wish I could find someone to lead on this, rather than having to lead on it myself.

It was a hairy landing, being affected by Storm Darragh.

We arrived at Gate 31 at Heathrow Terminal 3 about 15 mins late.

It didn’t take long for the airbridge to be attached, then I jogged down to Passport Control. It was surprisingly busy.

Through Passport Control in no time and jogged through the tunnels to the tube station. I ran to catch the tube train that was waiting to leave, then waited and waited and waited some more.

During that waiting, there were lots of people coming down the escalators, all running to get on the train, as if it was just about to leave. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.

We got regular updates about a signalling issue. Meanwhile, the next train to Cockfosters came in on the other platform with hardly anyone on it, and it left without any delay!

The train driver apologised for the other train leaving before us, but she didn’t understand why it was allowed to leave the station.

The lights finally went green, and we crawled out of the station. We stopped at a red light before reaching Hatton Cross.

So, an easy 5 min tube journey turned into an overcrowded 30 min trip.

I finally got back to the hotel at just after 11pm. Alarm set for 3:40am.

Tier Point Run to Sofia in Nov 2024