London Heathrow🇬🇧 to Johannesburg 🇿🇦✈️: 26-27 July 2002

Описание: London Heathrow🇬🇧 to Johannesburg 🇿🇦✈️: 26-27 July 2002

Checked out of my B&B in West Brompton SW5 and took the underground #districtline🚇 to Earl’s Court changing to #piccadillyline🚇- 38 minute journey to Heathrow Terminal 4, transititioning from inner-city landmarks to suburban sights. The first of 12 stops is at Hammersmith where it remains at surface level until the eastern approach to Hounslow West where it enters a cut-and-cover tunnel. West of Hatton Cross, the line enters airport tunnels and branches to the Terminal 4 loop.

Speedbird #BA57 B747-436 (G-BNLC) boarding at Gate 4, Terminal 4
Flight time: 11hr 5min

G-BNLC delivered to British Airways in 1989 named the ‘City of Cardiff’. Withdrawn from service in 2008 and scrapped in 2011 at St Athan eCube Solutions, Cardiff, ironically where she now lies broken up and desolate*😭

I checked-in at BA counter; to my surprise and joy, the flight was overbooked and i was upgraded to World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy). I quickly went through security and spent some time watching ramp activity as planes took off from 27L. The sight of the iconic ‘Queen of the Skies’ parked at the gate brought a lump in my throat - the skies over LHR will never be the same again without her😢💕💔

When boarding was finally called, i walked along the jetway to the distinctive sound of the auxiliary power unit (APU) and stepped into the plane to World Traveller Plus in a 2-3-2 configuration through Club World, and quickly settled in Row 29A, a window seat with a footrest and a touchscreen mounted on an adjustable stand. A missing seat in the front row opposite the cabin crew seat adjacent to the over-wing emergency exit contributed to the extra leg room; that meant i could recline my seat without worrying about encroaching on anyone behind or in front of me. Soon after, i was offered a welcome drink of orange juice by an amazing crew👌💕 as another BA 747-400 was towed to the gate.

With the aircraft's doors armed and cross-checked, we pushed back and taxied to Rwy 27L, the safety demo on as we lined up for takeoff. Within minutes we had crossed the south coast of England, when the cabin lights came on. A click on the button of the armrest unlocked the touchscreen; i watched ‘Hart’s War’ as the crew came around taking dinner orders - i chose steamed chicken, mashed potatoes and veggies served with a bread roll, and cheesecake for dessert. I watched another movie and managed to get three hours of sleep.

The day was breaking to the wonderful glow of a golden sunrise ahead when the cabin lights were turned up and a full English Breakfast served with a muffin, yogurt and orange juice, an hour before landing. After the cabin was cleared we were on descent as the captain announced that we had made good time and expected us to land on schedule. A sign that we were close to landing was when the curtains between the cabins were pulled back and the pilot told the cabin crew to take their seats for landing. We were on ‘Full Flap’ on our final approach when the 18 wheels touched down on Rwy 03L and we taxied along Alpha to Terminal A, and watched the crew carry out "Doors to manual and cross-check" procedure as we docked at the gate. We deplaned through Club World and i was on my way to passport control and baggage claim, delighted to be back home as i took a shuttle to Pretoria, 60km away.