During the packing session last evening I attempted to check in online with the British Airways app on my iPad. I managed to get through the logon and validation screens but all attempts to check in and reserve seats failed. I then decided to phone BA and check in that way. I was informed by a very softly spoken lady that the flight was very full, and the online and phone check in had been suspended so that seats could be allocated at the airport. I thanked her, and when she asked if there was anything else she could help with I decided to chance my arm and enquire about any upgrade available. Sorry, but nothing available, for the same reasons.
We are up breakfasted and on the road to the airport in good time and all is going well. No dramas on the journey, a little traffic jam at one junction. Interestingly on the road signs around Shanghai I have noticed that their matrix signs display the traffic status in coloured leds at the junction showing the traffic conditions at the roads leading to and from the junction, fascinating.
We have a strange conversation with the guide who tries to convince us that the journey to London is not much longer than that to Beijing. At first I am thinking she is saying this in jest, but no, she is serious. We attempt to explain that there is the matter of the seven hour time difference which needs to be taken into account and added on, but I fear she does not understand this concept. She consults our itinerary and seems convinced it is only a five hour trip. My companion and I exchange sideways glances and say nothing more.
At the airport now and our guide is being over helpful in assisting with our baggage. Our carefully prepared baggage strategy is scuppered now, and instead of the two of us being able to manage the five check in bags and our associated hand luggage, the intervention of someone trying to help sees the bags all falling to the floor. At check in our guide is also trying to convince us we need to repack, or at least place our bags on the scales in a particular order to avoid being over allowance. We try to convince her that we have a six bag limit, each of thirty-two kilos but she persists. My fellow traveller points out that we have travelled before, at which point she becomes a little defensive. The lady behind the counter understands the situation and processes our luggage without issue. Boarding passes in hand we proceed toward immigration and bid farewell to our guide.
All formalities completed there is only a short time for last minute shopping. We wait for flight boarding standing near to the gate rather than sitting, this is a twelve hour flight after all, when there is an announcement from the gate calling my name. I am a little perplexed, but hopeful. When I get to the gate the British Airways lady advises me that my luck is in, we have been upgraded. So, all the rubbing of statues, touching of lucky charms and who knows, even our lucky Chinese coin have indeed turned up trumps in the end.
So, our time in China comes to an end. We have experienced much and learnt plenty, but I will always consider this advice to be the most important; “Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance”.
Goodbye until the next time, 再见.
