This is the bit I hate most – but ho hum, all good things must sometimes come to an end – always next year.
So even for a sensible 0830 flight, it’s check in 2 hours before ( lots and lots of security, starts as you walk into the front door, everything scanned even before you get to the check in desk), 45 minutes drive to Ercan. Up at 5AM then……. Not good after a very boozy night before.
But there are some compensations, like a beautiful dawn….
There was, of course, a seat allocation muck up, but that got sorted PDQ. Just as well, as I was not really in a fit state to argue with anybody and the ankle had decided to play up as well – charming…..
I had deliberately chosen flights with a bit of a gap at the new IST Istanbul airport (reputed to be the biggest in the world – see Day 1), just in case of any foul ups along the line, so time to have a look around. This just part of the general concourse – it’s huge ! Fantastic architecture though.
As expected, my incoming gate from Ercan was at one end of the airport and my departure gate to London was at the other end. I did however have time to have a quick snooze in one of the reclining chairs in a rest area, so that helped the pain in my head – funny that ?
We were called to the departure gate very early and had to queue to get in ! In itself very unusual.
It seemed. however, that half of the plane was full of people sponsored by the International Refugee Organisation, all sorts from the very young to the very old. This resulted in more ticket and passport checks at the boarding gate, some time before the scheduled departure time. I’d already been through one set of inspections and hand luggage x-ray machines. It was bedlam, as they had additional hand luggage inspections as well, which cut down the seating area available, etc. Not a good start when you are somewhat hung-over. Then the plane was late departing………..
Just to add insult to injury, I got bumped from my seat next to the emergency door (with more leg room) and had to put up with a more cramped seat – just what I needed with my ankle. I’m still in conversation with Turkish Airlines about this.
Anyway, I settled in to make the best of a bad job. In some considerable discomfort, I asked the flight attendants for some pain killers, eg ibuprofen. Apparently they don’t carry any on board, but the lovely lady sat next to me had some in her hand luggage – my saviour !
Later on there were some excellent clouds, good enough to photograph. Nearer to LGW, there were wind turbines in the sea, probably the London Array wind farm the outer Thames Estuary. Looked impressive from the sky.
Just for fun the pilot took us round in circles for a while, just so I take more cloud pix….No really, there was a big stack of planes waiting to land.
Down into Gatwick and the maelstrom that is arrivals. I’m not a fan of this passport scanning lark at the actual border. For some reason it didn’t like my passport, until I realised it didn’t like the protective cover I use – bit picky these robots.
Next point of stress was the luggage. Most people had already claimed theirs – no sign of mine ! Myself and 5/6 others were almost looking forward to having to go to the appropriate claims desk, but eventually it popped up.
So back to the Corner House Hotel for a good nights sleep…..
Not the best plane journey I’ve ever been on, even allowing for my slightly fragile state. Anyway, back in one piece, which is all that matters. Not very impressed with Gatwick though. Bit scruffy really, although I suppose for comparison I’d gone through one of the newest and best looking at Istanbul.