The London Underground is brilliant! OK, so it’s a little expensive, weekend engineering works are infuriating and I’m definitely biased. But trust me, it really is brilliant. This complete guide to the London Underground will help you overcome some of the trickier elements of travelling on the tube.
It is a complex world of unspoken rules, and if you break them, you’ll know about it. If it is your first visit to London, or you’ve been a few times and you want to feel like a local when using Transport for London, here is your complete London Underground guide to tube etiquette and more.
What gives you the guts to make the big decision, to quit your job, leave your home and take to the road? What did it take for us to do it? It was never going to be a permanent state of travel but it was still quite a big decision.
The Economy
Mr Fluskey and I graduated from the same university course in 2008. Our student loans had run dry and we still had rent to pay on our shared house until September. We rushed out and got jobs. I started at Harrods in June, and in September, a full scale financial crisis rocked the banking world. Those of us who had jobs watched our friends struggling to find one and so we clung onto ours fiercely. I was making reasonable money and so I stuck fast.
Our graduation day
The Job
Then the management team in my department changed. A manager who was a real bully took over and I started to dread going to work every day. I worked with some great people but its amazing how a bad manager can sour the whole experience.
A couple of goodunsIt wasn’t always bad, but this was the exception to the rule
In November, Karl travelled to South Africa for six weeks and I felt awful. He was off in the sun, I was having a dreadful time at work and then I got ill and felt completely isolated from him. It was at that time, I demanded we book a trip to Brazil’sRio Carnival the following February. Work was still rubbish and the long winter nights still took their toll but at least there was something to look forward to.
Karl in Swaziland
The Hostel
Staying in a very cheap hostel in Rio de Janeiro, we were exclusively in the company of people who were backpacking long term. One woman in our dorm room was travelling solo for a year. She was out partying in sparkly tops, meeting new friends every night and seemed to be having a wonderful time. The cogs began to turn and I asked Karl, “Remind me why we aren’t doing this!?”
The Gap Year
It is a very common thing to do, to take a gap year between college and university. Some people just take the time off to work, some to do nothing and some to travel. I’d thought about it, but the year after we finished sixth form college was the last year before the government increased university fees three fold. Taking a year out and then paying more on my return seemed like a very financially silly thing to do. Karl had done the same and I think we both had a sense that we had missed out on a very special experience. So if not now, when!? My mind was made up, we were going to go.
The Pitch
I worked out how much I could save and then it was time to convince Karl. Our contract ended in our London flat at the end of September 2009 and so I took the decision to make that our departure date.
In the end I just took to telling him that it was going to happen and this drip feed seemed to do the trick. He agreed and we both started saving properly.
On 22nd March 2017, our Virgin Atlantic plane was hit by lightning, which was very normal. We returned to London Gatwick Airport, which was not. What happened? Is lightning dangerous? Will I finally get the right things out of the overhead locker!?
£390 return to Sri Lanka? And on Emirates!? And confirmed!!? A no brainer! We booked that evening.
When January 2017 finally rolled around, we packed our bags and head off to London Gatwick Airport to catch our flight.
The Airport Experience
Emirates uses Gatwick North terminal which (when we visited) was undergoing a large airline switch. As Emirates economy hand luggage allowance is one piece at 7kg (15 1/2 lb) we had to check a bag in. The check in staff were polite enough but uninterested.
The gate we were allocated was up and over the bridge to a remote area with gate numbers in the 100s. These closed gate rooms are not designed to house the 400 plus people that can squeeze onto an Airbus A380. It felt quite cramped and seeing the business and first class passengers through the glass, seated in spacious comfort was a little irritating (especially after one has got up at 05:00 for ones flight). But then I wasn’t prepared to pay an extra £2000 plus for business class, so I can’t really complain.
The Emirates Airbus 380
First Impressions
Boarding was called in sections. We were sitting in zone D and our turn came in the second economy call. Airbus A380s are long planes and so it took a little while to walk back to our seats. If you are travelling with reduced mobility, I would definitely recommend advising the airline in advance to make sure you get a seat near the front.
I had gambled on our seats a little. The seating configuration in economy is 3-4-3 and so when choosing seats I had put us in the 3 seats on the side, me in the window and Mr Fluskey on the aisle. My thinking was that if someone did take the middle seat, it would be easy enough to swap for their preference of window or aisle. If in doubt, we could always cough on them, or start smooching across them. (Only joking, but I bet these tactics could work).
The first thing I noticed, standing a measly 5 foot (or 152 cm) high, was the overhead lockers. They came right down and had loads of space. Even I could get a full size cabin bag in one without looking slightly pathetic. It did mean that I actually had to watch my head though, a novelty. There was also ample space under the seat in front. However, Emirates has a reasonably strict hand luggage limit in economy of one piece at 7kg, so there’s little risk that they would run out of room anyway.
The Interior
The inside of the plane has been artificially reduced so that there is a fake wall between the interior and shell. This allows the windows on the inside layer to be about a third bigger than you might expect. It also keeps the temperature a little balmier for those who, like me, need to lean on the window to sleep.
The lighting as we boarded was bright white and so lacked a touch of flare. I think I have grown used to Virgin Atlantic’s use of mood lighting. They did have music playing which I always enjoy; a little Frank Sinatra.
The Seat
I was pleasantly surprised with the size of the seats on the Airbus A380. As I’ve mentioned, I’m a shorty and so legroom isn’t really an issue for me while I’m sitting. I do appreciate a little more room when I’m doing the awkward bum shuffle out to the toilet though.
The seat pitch was 34 inches, which is pretty good by economy class standards. The seat itself was 18 inches wide and that I really liked. I like to curl up on flights to get comfortable. I do it on chairs at home and at the cinema, I have to stop myself doing it at fancy dinners, it’s just how I feel cozy. The head rest was adjustable so it even came down to my height.
My favourite touch was the stickers that were provided. These send a message to the crew about when to prod you awake, or leave you to snooze.
The Entertainment
Emirates’ entertainment is called ICE (Information Communication Entertainment) and is exceptional. The touchscreens are huge for an economy cabin at 13.3 inches, the size of a decent laptop screen. Emirates provide thousands of options, headlined by hundreds of films including recent releases and Disney classics. I had to look all the films up in advance so I could plan my viewing or I may have spent the whole flight trying to pick. The touch screens are pretty responsive, but they are never perfect when we are used to our smartphones.
All of the seats had USB plug sockets, and two out of three had a proper plug. I’m not sure why this isn’t all of them, but if you need to work on your laptop, I’m sure you can do some negotiating with your nextdoor neighbour.
The Amenities
Here I think the Emirates product is a bit of a let down. The blankets provided were well above average in their size and quality, but the headphones were of the two-prong connector variety and more than a little clunky. I know they do this so that you aren’t tempted to walk off with them but I didn’t enjoy using them and switched back to mine very quickly.
No wash kit was provided. I’ve come to expect this on other airlines and so I was left disappointed. However, there were hand lotions and other helpful things in the toilets, a nice touch in economy.
The Food
Salty, salty, salty! I know why they do this, tastebuds are deadened at altitude, but in an already dehydrating environment, it left me gasping for water. There has been research into the umami taste at altitude but it seems Emirates haven’t gotten that far.
Saying that, I had a meat option and I was pleasantly surprised at how tender the chicken was. It was also a very good portion size.
If you wanted an alcoholic drink with your food, you had to ask specifically as they weren’t out on the trolley, and the first drinks service was just soft drinks. I suppose this is probably obvious when you think that it’s a Middle Eastern airline, but they do have a bar upstairs in business/first so I guessed the drink might be more plentiful.
A word of warning!
If you are vegetarian PREBOOK YOUR MEAL! We took four flights to Sri Lanka and back and not one meal service had a vegetarian option as standard.
The Crew
The crew were delightful. Emirates is very proud of its multinational staff, they even make an announcement to tell you how many countries are represented and how many language they speak.
Considering they have to look after almost 400 economy passengers on a full flight, they stayed calm, friendly and attentive
So should I fly Emirates?
I would definitely recommend flying on the Emirates Airbus A380. It is a comfortable plane and they have multiple flights from London Gatwick and London Heathrow so you can choose a time that is right for you. However, next time I will bring a big bottle of water and my own teeth-cleaning kit. It is also worth noting that their Boeing 777 planes are older and smaller. The seats are less spacious and the screens are also much smaller and poorer quality. If you have he choice, go with the Airbus A380.
Welcome to this No1 Traveller Lounge Gatwick North review. Having not been away for many months my planning for our trip to Sri Lanka got a little out of hand. I had booked the hostels, the flights and the trains, and with little else to do, I booked us into an airport lounge. Hence we found ourselves with two passes to the No1 Traveller Lounge Gatwick North terminal.
The No1 Traveller Lounge Gatwick North Terminal costs from £32 (when booked online) for three hours unless you have a Dragonpass card or are a Premium passenger on China Eastern, Finnair, Georgian Airways, Icelandair, Royal Air Maroc, Rwand Air, TUI, Westjet or Rossiya.
No1 Traveller Lounge Gatwick North review
We arrived at about 06:45 in time for our 09:00 flights. My first impression as I walked in, was of a hotel breakfast buffet. The chatter, the clatter of cutlery and the whirring of coffee machines filled the air.
The island bar is the first thing you see as you enter the lounge
The Seating
Passing the island-bar, we took a look around at the seating areas immediately in view.
Firstly, to the right of the bar was the mini cinema, which appeared to be the middle age men den. The news was on quietly and it was quite dark.
Between that and the window was the busiest seating area. It’s the first area you reach after the bar and sits to one side of the breakfast buffet.
The temperature in the lounge was a bit too cold for comfort. I overheard people saying they had moved seats several times to avoid the worst of the air conditioning. The temperature outside was -3°c/37°f and so I was hoping for a cosier inside experience. You can see the people sitting by windows in their jumpers and scarves.
On the other side of the buffet was the bistro area. It consisted of a few sets of tables and chairs, rather than the front room feel of the other areas. The larger tables had all been reserved and so there wasn’t much room.
Feeling a little disheartened at the crowds and cold, we decided to have another look for a good spot. Turning back towards the bar area, I spotted a doorway that I hadn’t seen on the way in.
The Library
Down two steps lay a room of tranquility. This clearly had a bit more thought put into the design elements. It felt vaguely reminiscent of a gentlemen’s club, but with rather hipster additions. Round to one side lay a snug, the reading room which is where we based ourselves. It had a larger corner sofa/bunkette which was surprisingly comfortable, spotlight lighting and small marble topped tables.
Turning left led to a larger room with vast leather sofas, a meeting table for eight and another meeting room for more private business lunches. Both of these areas were much emptier and the clients were quieter.
The Drinks
Once we were settled in, it was time for breakfast. We started with a quick trip to buffet and the bar.
The coffee machines were fine, but the coffee was a little uninspiring. I managed to walk off with a cup of hot milk when one of them forgot to put the coffee in my coffee.
No exciting surprises here, it’s pretty standard stuff on the buffet
The Food
On the buffet you’ll find fruit, yogurt, cereal, cheese and crackers, and jams etc. The cheese was a bit on the boring side; mild cheddar and Red Leicester but we took some of that and a few mini pastries.
Mr Fluskey said his orange juice tasted rubbish. The mini pastries were chewy rather than crisp, but they had a good flavour.
Starters done, we ordered beans on toast, and kedgeree from the a la carte menu. We were informed that there was no toast as the ovens weren’t working properly (I can only assume he meant toasters) and so would we like our baked beans and cheese with a roll? We would!
Is it me, or is this just wrong!?This kedgeree felt very indulgent. Shame it was more rice and less fish. Poached egg was super though!
The Staff
We found all the staff to be very friendly and attentive. We overheard some other people who were disgusted at the lack of toast and the staff’s response when they asked to know more. Honestly, I think they just couldn’t bear the thought of a roll with their baked beans (which nobody should order before they get into an enclosed metal capsule anyway!).
The Bathrooms
Determined to make the most of my time and money, I took a quick trip to the ladies. I was quite impressed with the facilities. There was obvious thought put into the design, with enough room in each bathroom to change clothes, brush teeth if needed. The only problem with having individual sinks in each bathroom, is that the queue can get quite bad as people spend longer in there.
On the way out, we spotted another little room that was completely empty. It sits next to the concierge room at the front. It would be a lovely spot as nobody seems to notice it. Mind you, it could be a complete nightmare getting any table service.
Overall impressions? Not a bad lounge. A bit too busy in some areas, but when you take everyone that wants to pay, it would be and definitely too cold! I’m not sure if £32 per person (online price) is worth it. If you have free or discounted access then go for it, but I’m sure you could have a nicer time as a couple with £64 elsewhere in Gatwick airport.
I would love to say that my travel career began young, as I was whisked around the world on a series of crazy adventures, but that is someone else’s story. My small beginnings were a teeny tiny con.
Small Beginnings – France
My brothers were all taken to France when I was about 4 years old and I was furious at being left out. My Dad is cheeky sod. He decided to convince me I too was off on a French jaunt. The con artist! We hopped on a boat that headed across a river somewhere in the UK (Devon somewhere I think). He told me we were crossing the Channel. When we landed in “France” and made our way to very Parisian cafe, Dad struck lucky. Our waitress spoke French with the family and I ordered some clotted cream ice cream (in French, I’ll have you know). I was completely suckered in and extremely proud that my brilliance with languages allowed me to read the menu and signs in fluent French.
My next big trip took me to a holiday park here in the UK. Knowing my Mum now, I am amazed we ever ended up in a caravan. The suggestion of a return trip would be met with a derisive snort and a flash of her India itinerary. Oh how easily we become travel snobs…….it must be hereditary.
I don’t have a huge collection of memories from this holiday, I think I was 5 or so, but a few have stuck with me. – Eating sweet, vividly coloured puffs of rice called Rainbow Drops. I ate them in the rain and marvelled at the food colourings (usually off-limits) dribbling down my fingers. – Burying my brother neck-deep in the sand at the beach and digging a moat around him in the hopes he would be stuck there forever. This was shortly followed by the immense panic he burst forth with when the sea began to fill up said moat.
– Singing my heart out at the “Fun Factory” kids club, where I introduced myself on alternate days as Rosie or Amy Harper. Amy was my best friend at the time. My poor Step-Dad was utterly confused when the Fun Factory entertainer told him how confident and charming Amy was. He was picking up his little Rosie.
At the age of six I was finally spirited away on an exotic holiday to the Greek island of Crete. Read on to hear all about it…Read on to hear all about it…
What do you remember about your first holidays? I’d love to hear your small beginnings.
My name is Rosie and I work for Virgin Atlantic helping passengers checking in. That is still so exciting to say! I have been working at London Heathrow Airport on and off for a year to support my crippling addiction to travel. Now you can see the reason for the Checking in online pun!
Most of my travels have been with my super-duper other half, Mr Fluskey so he will feature heavily. I haven’t entirely agreed this with him, but I think it would be strange to leave him out.
I suppose a chronological order would be best. So my next post will start at the very beginning (it’s a very good place to start).
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