I had started this trip report but didn't label it as one, so I'll start over.
Copied from my old thread:
Last week on Wednesday I arrived in my favorite city for a week's stay, Sept 14-22. My last visit was 2014, so I was very eager to get there!
I booked in January for ~1100USD, which was a good price (same as 2014 and 2013) as they had been around $1400 USD, then fares started dropping to tempt travelers to go to Europe. I watched them get as low as $750 USD. I called AA to see if I could rebook at the lower fares, but it would have netted me about $13 after the international change fees. Oh, well.
My flight leaving Chicago was actually on BA, and it was lovely but slightly delayed. While we were taxiing the runway, one of the FAs noticed a passenger wasn't looking too well. She apparently had very bloodshot eyes and was not very alert. He tried asking her all kinds of questions like what day of the week it was and she could not answer, so back to the gate! Paramedics got her off and we lined up again, I think we left about 45 mins late. I wasn't surprised because I had been checking the flight stats and that flight had delays at least 3x per week.
I had paid to select my seat, and had been watching the seat map. I eventually changed my original seat to one further back, and that was a good thing. Once we were all boarded, the flight looked to be about 60% full, and me and the other person in my row had 4 seats for the 2 of us! I was determined to sleep, and my sinus meds were making me drowsy anyway, so once meal service was over, I lifted that arm rest and stretched out as much as you can on on two seats. The rest of the flight was uneventful, and we landed at 0810 instead of 0745. I'd never been to T5, so even with stopping to repack some things in my bag, make a stop in the toilets, find my way to immigration, and top up my Oystercard, I tapped in at 0859 (that's what my journey history says!), and was at the Citadines Holborn/Covent Garden by 1015. I had Scottish pound notes that I bought from a friend, and they worked in the Oyster top up machine.
I was a hot sweaty mess and it was a hot sweaty day. I had requested an early check in, but the desk clerk said they were fully booked the night before. I asked for the toilet and gave my self a quick wash (awkward as people kept coming in - they're also a business center for meetings, but whatever) and changed my clothes. Let me tell you here that men's Hanes X-Temp undershirts/T-Shirts are the BEST THING EVER. I have been having problems with my body temperature due to low iron levels, and moving makes me sweat right through everything. These shirts soaked it right up and didn't allow any moisture through to my thin, light colored T-shirts.
I left my bag in storage and headed out for breakfast in London!