We are going home.
After twenty five days of adventure, we really want to go home. We have had a great time. We are flying out of Heathrow. We are concerned about the time it will take to move through ticketing, security and to gate.
We have heard stories about Heathrow crowds and delays. Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world. We need to start early. I settle the hotel bill. Betty discusses with a cab driver out front of the hotel. Again, we find that it is metered. It will be about fifty pounds.
It is about a fifty minute ride to Heathrow. Fortunately for us, our trip is counter-commute. It is about 0900 (9 AM). We arrive a little before 10:00. Terminal 4 is not crowded. We find the Delta ticket desk and check our carry on luggage. We are on the way home and the luggage is safe - nothing but dirty clothes. We have a four hour layover in Minneapolis, MN and a full flight home. We will take our chances with the luggage for the convenience of not dragging even a small piece of luggage through two airports.
Terminal 4 is efficient and almost pleasant. After checking in, you quickly pass through security. You do need to remove your shoes or belt. Passports are checked again. We now have two hours to kill. We find a coffee shop. It is crowded. We find a table and I go up to order. One issue with today's air travel is that you sit a lot and you eat a lot. The longer the flight, the more this is a problem. I can see why intoxication is a problem with passengers.
I am hoping that it is a large, newer plane. It is not. Delta must have one of the oldest international fleets crossing the Atlantic.
Our international flight will be over eleven hours if there are no delays. When compared to Air France on service and quality of the plane, Delta is painful. We are fortunate. The videos and the drinks are free.
We are moving with the sun. When flying to Europe, the advantage is that you pass through day/night. It is easier to sleep (nap) and your body clock resets itself quickly. When flying with the sun, it is like you are proving Einstein theory of "time travel" and the speed of light. You take off at 11:30 and land at 1400 (2:00 PM). Your body has traveled for eleven hours in a narrow tube and you are half a day older.
We will be traveling from the hotel to our house over twenty five hours. We will be sitting in airports for approximately eight hours. We will be on airplanes for fifteen hours. We will be driving about two hours.
We arrive in Minneapolis with no delays. We have Global Entry cards. It is the greatest travel advantage you can purchase. With the Pass, you walk up to the kiosk at the entry of customs. No lines. You place your card in the machine. You scan your passport. They check your fingerprints. The machine prints out your approval. It takes about two minutes. The line takes 30-40 minutes.
We pick up our two checked carry on bags. We do not need to pass through customs. We deposit our luggage for the flight home and enter security and fast tracked.
The Minneapolis International Terminal is very nice. There is shopping and the food court has a lot of options. We go for diet cokes and potato chips.
My theory is that if you have a two hours between connections, something bad will happen and you will be stressed. Four hour layover, you will have time to sit and be bored. This airport has cable monitors and WIFI. It also has the most important accessory of the 21st century - lots of charging stations.
The plane home is as promised full. I finally nap for about two hours. When I wake up, we have only about thirty minutes before landing.
We arrive home about midnight. We are both up by 6 AM and actually feel reasonably well.
Next - Portugal and Spain in the fall of 2017.
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