Always Arrive at the Airport 3 Hours Early

Well today is coming home day. I woke up at 4:45am and finished packing a couple of items, did some dishes and was at oval station at 5:30am just in time for the first train. It was uneventful until I got to Paddington station. Where I lost my ticket again. To get on the tube, you have to put your ticket in the turn style and to leave you have to use your ticket to get out. Well I ended up looking at some attendant with a "Puss n Boots" look and told him I really did purchase it. He let me “Out”. Next was to figure out how to get to the next train to Heathrow, after asking 3 attending officials, and trying a defunct machine with no change, I got a ticket to board the slow train. The fast train takes 15 minutes and had a 15 minute wait and the slow train takes 30 minutes and had an 8 minute wait. So the Dutchman in me said buy the slow train (£6.90 v.s £16.90) so we bought it together. Then I heard the train was delayed so I argued with the Dutchman and said let’s go on the fast train. But it shares the same track and was probably further delayed. Finally after a while we got on the slow train.

There are 5 terminals in Heathrow and my ticket said "verify terminal and gate at airport". The train stops at terminal 1,2, and 3 first and then goes to 4. I asked the conductor how often the trains go to terminal 4 and he said every 4 minutes. I decided to get off, check the flight screens and then get back on if need be. Something inside said "Terminal 4" but my logic said, "Play it safe, get off and check" so I got off and didn't find any screens. I walked for about 15 minutes and finally found an information booth that directed me to terminal 4. So another 15 minute walk and I finally found the train going to terminal 4; next train 21 minutes. My flight is at 8:50, I have to check in my luggage at 7:50, and it is now 7:25. So I can just make it. The train takes 4 minutes to get there so I think the original guy who answered my question “How often...” as a “How long will it take”. So I sit there patiently waiting and fortunately the train comes 2 minutes early. Unfortunately it leaves 5 minutes late.

Fortunately, a worker told me to take the elevator and that the KLM (which is on my ticket) booth is right at the top of the elevator and fortunately there is an elevator with the door open. So off I go up the elevator.

When I arrived at Heathrow, I was in the queue with a young man from the USA going to see his girlfriend. We had a nice 20 minute chat. That same guy happened to be on this same elevator.

So I finally make it to the KLM section and there is a long lineup. It is 7:45. I wait about 15 minutes and the sign says "final check in 8:39" so I am safe. After the 15 minutes a helper looks at my ticket and says I am at the wrong end and I have to check into the NWA terminal. So off I race, only to find that they closed 10 minutes prior and I missed my flight. They said there is another flight at 10am and if I go to the KLM booth, I can catch that one.

So off I run and wait again for 15 minutes only to find out that the next flight is at 2:20 to Minneapolis and then another to Detroit which I arrive at 9:42 (in theory). The cost to change the ticket is $250.00 USD but I showed her my ticket and explained it, she said she could do it for $100.00 USD.

So I guess this is my crash day. So I am sitting at Starbucks with 15min left of battery writing this post.

I am now plugged in on the other side of security waiting for my aeroplane and getting caught up with work. Meanwhile I spot a female police officer riding a police bike inside the terminal.

Cheers. At least I am on my way home.