In arrears?

What's been happening then? 

I left Manhattan on the 29th and arrived at the airport, as required, 4 hours before my flight. OK it's meant to be 3 hours but I like to be early. Just as well in this case as I was about to fall victim to Un-reliable-ted Airlines once again. My booking was from JFK to Washington then to London so I checked in then availed myself of the business lounge - back in the pointy end see - to check some email and have a few drinks. First revelation: You have to pay for drinkies in the United Airlines business lounge. It's the end of civilisation as we know it. Second revelation: you can't rely on aeroplanes. After I'd been at the airport for about 2 hours I hear my name being called over the PA, this is never a good thing. So I go to the white courtesy phone and find out that my flight from JFK to Washington isn't going to happen as the 'plane is late arriving in New York. This then means that I'd miss my London connection. And there are no other flights to London until tomorrow. "So what do I do?" says I. "You gotta go to La Guardia now". Now? How? "In a Cab, you've got 90 minutes, the cab takes 30. But it's a long weekend and a Friday evening so you better get going". Thanks for that, great help. So I run to get my bag, then I run to get a cab, almost get kidnapped by some dodgy tout telling me the taxi queue is for Manhattan only and I need to go with him. I realise as we head across the car park that this is not right. Picture me rushing and swearing at the git all at the same time. Eventually I get into a cab and he drives fantastically and quick to La Guardia. I run back in to the second airport in 2 hours and they check me onto the flight, then I run to the plane, grab my seat and spend 45 minutes on the tarmac waiting for take off clearance. Apparently it gets pretty busy at La Guardia on a Friday. So I still just made my connection in Washington, luckily running across the airport from gate 6 to gate 9 didn't take long.

I have to say that I am very glad that I never have to fly United again for as long as I live. 

It was quite a relief to land at Heathrow and you don't hear people say that very often. You always know when you are back at London's premier airport by the way all the lights are hanging out of the ceiling. And by the complete lack of any sort of ventilation or air-con. And by the 6 mile walk form the gate to the immigration area. And by the one immigration agent to process 200 people. Or by the massive mob of people all waiting, staring at one little screen trying to see where there bags are coming out. And by the complete lack of any form of Customs or Quarantine control. And of course by the nightmare road system to get back onto the motorway.

Ahhh, it's good to  be home.