Now it is time to discuss our air travel portion of our trip.
We flew a direct flight from Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) to London-Heathrow (LHR) on British Airways. The flight in itself was pretty decent, the air crew was awesome! The gate crew was wonderful, there was a woman at the gate who moved us to the bulkhead seats, they had a tray that pulled down and you could put a type of baby carrier that the airline provided for the child to sit/sleep in. That was wonderful. My daughter didn’t like it too much, but it saved me so much stress. So all in all the flight over was pretty good.
We took a train to Edinburgh. That will be talked about in another post.
We had to fly back from Edinburgh to LHR. Oh my dear sweet heavens! I can’t really say what I want to say. But it was the most disorganized, stressful, please let me punch someone time I have EVER experienced. I am more a vocal person when it comes to violence. Meaning, I talk a lot and don’t follow through.
So, we get to Edinburgh Airport on time the crew at the check-in look and act like they just woke up and eventually get us all through. We wait in line for the security check, really nice guy let us go through the handicapped area, yay for toddler in a stroller. We wait and wait and wait. Finally get through with time to spare, when it comes to air travel I really don’t like to wait to the last minute.
The time to spare turned into almost 2 ½ to 3 hrs. Our flight left almost an hour late, because British Airways overbooked the flights back to LHR! So, a very nice looking, tall thin lady comes over the PA system stating that they needed about 3 or 4 more people to change flights. If those people didn’t show up anytime soon then the plane wasn’t going to take off and we were just out of luck. Because we as passengers/PAYING CUSTOMERS were just wanting to get the heck home and because of British Airways incompetence we were the ones getting punished.
Not our fault. Get my happy butt on the way home. We finally board and make our way to LHR. THEN we have to go through customs AND security! I understand Scotland and England are 2 separate countries, but really? So, we finally go through that. I left my husband waiting for his mother because the security people looked absolutely confused on what to do with doing rechecks!
Myself and my children “run” the mile to get to the BA/AA gate and have to do a darn security check again. Really?! In that time my toddler has stripped off her clothes and people are boarding. I had 3 people, before I got to the line to board, tell me that I could check my child’s stroller at the gate right before I get on the actual plane. This is where mommy has a meltdown. A male gate employee comes up and tells me that he needs to take the stroller. I proceed to look at him with pure anger and frustration tell him what has been told to me prior, and he was a butt in the whole process. I yell with tears running down my face, “you all need a meeting and get your crap together!” I finally get my naked child out of her stroller, walk it calmly to the guy with the stroller and said if it is lost, you are personally responsible for my sanity when we land in DFW.
I am officially not a fan of British Airways or American Airlines for that matter and honestly every other flight I have been on with AA has been pretty darn good. Your gate crews really need to work on their people skills. Airport baggage handlers have to put up with EVERYONE from both sides and have a better attitudes. Flight crew was very nice and SUPER helpful on the way home.
Summary:
From DFW to LHR absolutely wonderful!
From Edinburgh to LHR to DFW the biggest pain in the butt, that I wouldn’t want to wish on my worst enemy.
We also didn’t get our baggage until 2 days AFTER we were home!!! That was because of the delay in Edinburgh to LHR.
If I can tell any of my friends not to fly British Airways, unless it was the ONLY option I am and will. Disappointed so much.
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