TxTravelPro

I am an easy traveler. I travel a few times a month, mostly in North America.
I am NOT demanding. As an x-airline employee I am used to not being seen or heard mostly.
Now having said that, I am definitely an American traveler which evidently means I AM very high maintenance by European terms.
Being a travel professional, it has been my experience that international travelers in the US can be very demanding. So I am just very confused.
Maybe you can shed light on the situation.
I left Dallas at 1pm Friday and flew right into storms in ORD. The flight for LHR finally left 90 minutes late but we were all very happy that we got to leave.
I had the same seat from DFW-LHR and got to sit next to a great guy from Dallas. It was funny how much alike we were... couldn't ask for a better person to sit next to for so many hours (except for my husband, sister or daughter).
So, we make up time and get to LHR only 30 minutes late, which gives me 1.5 hours to make my TXL connection.
We pull short of the terminal and the captain says that we will have to wait for a stairway and busses because we have no gate. The flight attendant, who was not very friendly, was in a hurry to get off the plane and said that this was a bad sign. In all the years she has flown the route (AA 777) she has only had this happen a few times and because they do one load at a time from the plane, it takes a long time to get to my seat 31H.
I was relieved that it only too 30 minutes to get off the plane. 1 hour to go.
While on the bus I asked an attendant where I was to go for my in-transit connection.
She said get off the bus and get in the queue to the left to go to terminal 1.
So, I jump off the bus first and dash up the stairs. There was a small line wrapping around a corner. I made my way around that line, jogged around the corner and STOP. Hundreds of people trying to merge into a small hall. A roped off lift to the right but 95% of the people had to go to the left.
I told the lady that my flight was about to board and she said I could take the lift down and go to the left for terminal 1.
I go down the lift and the door opens to a thousand people trying to go to the left. A mob. I show the guy my BP and he says to join the others waiting for a bus to take me to the terminal. A bus. So I am at the back of this huge mob. It was so claustrophobic and hot. A large group moved onto a bus and the guy at the front starting asking for parties of 1 or 2. I pushed my way past a group/tour of about 200 people but was stopped about 10 feet from the door.
An elderly couple were behind me. The lady was sobbing from the stress. Her husband comforted her. A loud NYC couple with 2 children started freaking out, shoving past people and I turned and told them we are all trying to get to the terminal. She was a total *&^%* and just pushed past me and the crying elderly woman.
The next bus arrived about 15 minutes later and people in the mob started shoving to get through the single doorway. The NYC people pushed in front of me and the guy at the door put his hand down in from of me and said "no more". I said "Sir, please... we are so close to being able to catch our flights." He let me and the elderly couple crowd into the already dangerously full buss. The mean NYC lady had on a hug backpack and was knocking people all over the place. But she was determined to get to her gate. They were funny to listen to... like a Woody Allen film. A person from London said we would never make our flights and if we did we could kiss our luggage goodbye.

TxTravelPro

So the NYC family started talking to their kids about the fact that they would not have thier toys and stuff. The parents were so neurotic and the kids started in the pity party.
Seriously, it was pretty bad.
So, we finally get to the terminal and there are 3 busses unloading in front of us. The let one off at a time and wait before allowing others off, so it took about 20 minutes to unload.
We see a group of people in the lobby, but have no clue...
We get off the bus, head in and see thousands of people snaked through several rooms. Hopeless. All these people are going through security.
NYC family pleads aggressively to go to the front. I decide I am going to pretend I am the nanny or something.
I stick to them like glue and they sail through to the front... mind you, people were saying what inconsiderate pigs we were but the airport employees were allowing others to do the same based on flight time.
So we go through an employee/handicap line to the front of the line only to see another huge line at the security check. NYC family spots a BA speed line that was empty. They go to it, I follow. They let us through taking one of their carry on bags and mine to hand check.
NYC family freaks out and starts saying that its only a stethiscope (sp). The 8 year old boy was saying to the security person "Way to go. Make us miss our flight. How inconsiderate. It's ONLY a stethiscope" It was crazy. I have never, ever heard an 8 year old criticize an adult like this kid did.
I think the Mom must talk to the Dad like this at home
I thanks mean NYC Mom for allowing me to pretend I was the nanny and she said "No Problem, good luck." and we were on our way.
My gate was about 300 yards (2 long halls and the whole terminal) from the check point. I had 10 minutes until take off. Without NYC family it would have taken several hours, minimum.
I RUN to the abandoned gate. They see me coming and wave at me to hurry.
After 24 hours of travel (no sleep) nothing to drink since the plane to LHR I thought I might pass out but I really wanted to get on the flight.
Evidently it is some sort of holiday in the UK and the flights were full.
I'm so thirsty and hot... but I made it.
I got on the plane which was so quiet and orderly in contrast.
The plane did not leave for 2 hours. Mechanical delay. Unlike Amercian carriers, they left the plane available for those delayed while the mechanic worked. We were not allowed to get off but others could board, which was nice.

TxTravelPro

The BA flight to TXL was very different from what I am used to...
This was the first non-AA flight I have taken... funny, but true.
The seats did not recline. No bags allowed under the seat when in exit row, which you can do in the US. 1st class was exactly the same as coach, just better food apparently.
I was hot, sweaty and stinky by my standards. I apologized to my seat mates who were just wonderful. We chatted for a while, which was nice.
I felt so bad by that point and I was shaking. Not sure why. It felt like heart palpitations. So I concentrated on relaxing quietly for the flight.
I was not too crazy about the flying style of the pilot. The take off was odd. They gained altitude so slowly.
A cold sandwich of bacon and egg was served. My seatmates thought it was pretty disgusting. I liked it. Who knew? Cold bacon and egg on a roll could be good. I was starving though.
The plane seemed old and rickety (Small Airbus) and the yaw on the descent/landing was unnerving to me.
We landed safely in TXL and I took a deep breath.
Get off the plane and I literally crossed my fingers that my bag made it.
It did! Yay!
I never expected German customs to be so simple. They asked nothing. Nothing about what I was bringing in. Nothing. He smiled and stamped my passport and I was free to go. Took less than 5 minutes with the line and everything!

TxTravelPro

ATM. Check. Cab... right outside the door.
I took out the address and intersection of the hotel I had preprinted on a piece of paper and handed it to the cabbie.
He said he knew where it was and off we go. Well, it took a long time, maybe 25 minutes and he pulls up in front of the Sol Melia property. I told him that it was not my hotel and he opens the Mapsco and looks up the hotel. It was 4 or 5 blocks further.
The fare was 20 Euro. I am not sure whether I was 'taken for a ride' on this or not. He was nice and I gave him a 5 Euro tip. I forgot to find out if you tip cabbies here. He was thrilled, so I guess most people do not, or that was a lot.

The hotel (Mandala Suites) is odd. It has an office space lobby. More of a doctor waiting room than a hotel lobby.
I go in and she gives me my key and walks me to the room. It's more like an apartment, with a entrance separate to the office where the lobby is.
The room has a kitchen, bathroom, walk-in closet, bedroom and large patio. Tiny TV with only CNN in English. Bummer.
The furniture reminds me of a hotel in Mexico. Rattan with striped upholstery.
Everything is clean.
The bed was very odd. A queen bed with white fitted sheet. On top was a twin size comforter/duvet. Twin. It covered only 2/3 of the width of the top of the bed. 1 pillow. It is comfortable but very odd. A queen bed for 1 person.
The refrigerator does not get cold, which I only discovered after spending 15 Euro on cold groceries. I called down and the pretty blonde girl at the reception was so rude. I ask if they have someone who could check the fridge and she says "NO, this is the best we have".
So I ask if there is an ice machine. "NO".
Geez.
I ask for an iron/board and she abruptly said "NO, you must go to the laundry room to iron."
I asked where the laundry room is and she said in the lower level, across on the other side." I was confused. Other side of what? She was so incredibly impatient. I would think this is because she was busy, but since she has been this way from the get go it appears it is just how she is.
Well, I did figure it out. What a drag, having to iron a weeks worth of clothes in the hot, humid basement.
It scares me just a little, honestly.
Pressing service costs 6 Euro per piece and I am always concerned they will not do a good job.

So now it is Sunday and it appears pretty much everthing is closed.
I slept 10 hours and feel like myself again. I am going iron and then head out to walk in the city.

OH... yesterday I did stumble upon a small demonstration in Berlin to legalize marijuana

Cheers!

Dukey

Travel usually broadens most people's horizons and tolerances.

Interesting report and thanks for posting.

xyz123

Yeah...this is the summer bank holiday weekend in London and the rest of the UK and I made the mistake last year of being in London during this weekend what with the Notting Hill Carnival with its thousands of visitors and assorted knifings and muggings that always accompany it.

No wonder so many people were trying to get out of London.