Wake up at 3am...
Early morning flight to Zurich. It is 3am. I, invariably, woke up half a dozen times between 11 and 3, to check if the alarm went out. The night before, always get to end in a lengthy conversation over dinner and often a movie as well. My wife never forgets to reminds me of booking a cab, finish packing and getting ready for the trip.
[fig above: the long walks at heathrow]
the mini-cab driver...
the mini-cab driver...
I book a private cab (as popularly called 'mini-cab' in UK) to get to the airport. That is not to avoid booking the publicly registered taxis, as known as 'black-cabs'. The mini-cabs are locally managed small-businesses that operate quite efficiently, often in a group of drivers themselves. They are also known to be a "profitable" business, under the current climate. 
Time flies in the cab, during the morning as I get to pass by some of the busiest streets of Harrow, Hayes and Heathrow in almost no time. The min-cab drivers, most cases from the Arab countries, invariably tune into a radio-channel that plays Hindi/Bollywood songs. That is a delight to hear!! You bet, its not easy to find one :)
Time flies in the cab, during the morning as I get to pass by some of the busiest streets of Harrow, Hayes and Heathrow in almost no time. The min-cab drivers, most cases from the Arab countries, invariably tune into a radio-channel that plays Hindi/Bollywood songs. That is a delight to hear!! You bet, its not easy to find one :)Heathrow airport security starts operating from about 4:45am. Once I drop my bags in the Swiss check-in counter, I get to the Costa coffee bar for a fresh cup of Americano and a croissant.
[fig above: a view of the morning sky]
Security Checks in Heathrow have gotten a bit better in the last few months. It is less often these days that they ask passengers to open shoes. This is good, however, it is still quite possible to be stood behind a long queue, even very early in the morning. Its Heathrow!
Long Walks...
The walk from the security check to a boarding gate could easily be a long 15- 20 minutes. My fate has so far not been very helpful. The Swiss flights nearly always park outside gates, far out in the newly built terminals (within Terminal 1).
As much as I like the new seating areas, around the gates and the architecture, I dislike the notion of having to walk that long to board the aircraft. The wheeled trolleys are a safe bet for that matter. I switch bags a bit. Not because of 
fashion, I choose bags to make my trip comfortable or efficient as possible. The other day I had to carry two laptop computers in my bag and I chose a leather handheld bag as opposed to a wheeled one. This was more to keep the laptop safe.
fashion, I choose bags to make my trip comfortable or efficient as possible. The other day I had to carry two laptop computers in my bag and I chose a leather handheld bag as opposed to a wheeled one. This was more to keep the laptop safe. [fig left: the coffee and muffin - served in the plane]
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