Long-haul travel had left me since I touched down from Newark with Virgin Atlantic Airways into London Heathrow in January 2013 so I was itching for those cabin doors to be secured! I had accepted a teaching opportunity with Meten English in China, getting my ticket booked I wanted to fly directly from mother England to the Middle Kingdom of China but those nonstop flights were getting rather pricey. Getting that Sri Lankan Airlines flight booked was a relief but I wasn't prepared for the craziness that my seventeen hour journey would show me! With my bags packed and that Chinese visa in my passport I was all ready to check my luggage in at London Heathrow's Terminal 3, scared yet excited I had been waiting for that day of departure for long enough! Note to self, the London Underground can be an unforgiving place when a large suitcase is in your possession! Yes, I had checked for my passport too many times! I used to be a Passenger Services Agent so checking in for a flight tends to be an interesting experience, I sometimes want to be on the other side of the check-in counter but that's for another time completely. I was ushered over to the Business Class check-in desk for Sri Lankan because I was traveling independently so that saved time for the flight was busy with numerous large families who had small children with them. I already knew that my connection in Colombo, Sri Lanka would be under two hours but that was thrown up into the air with the announcement that the flight would be arriving behind schedule from Sri Lanka. Yes, I had previous experience of traveling long-haul before that day but it had been awhile so some nerves did surface. With my boarding pass in my possession it was time to say goodbye to my parents, as goodbyes go by it wasn't tearful because I had to be on my game! With a possible delay and scrambled layover I headed for a Gin & Tonic!
Boarding wasn't hurried along at all but the inbound Sri Lankan Airlines jet was being prepared with much gusto, I was more than ready to be on my way! Departing one hour later than scheduled I was relieved to feel my Airbus aircraft take me closer to the clouds, it was going to be hectic in about ten hours so I just wanted the flight to be comfortable and quiet. Make mine a large one please, soon after take-off the traditionally dressed Sri Lankan cabin crew passed through the cabin with a warm flannel and our first refreshment of that long flight down to Colombo. Comfy as permitted whilst sitting in my Economy Class window seat, it finally sunk that I was going to start a new chapter of my life in China but that was slightly overshadowed by the pandemonium of boarding my Sri Lankan flight at Heathrow. Judging by the dimmed cabin lighting it was like that for eighty percent of the flight, no I didn't sleep!As in-flight entertainment goes I was impressed with Sri Lankan's Economy package as their were some Chinese films to watch as my flight soared across Eastern Europe on its way to Ceylon. Saying that I spent the next day on two Sri Lankan Airlines flights so by the time my aircraft touched down at Shanghai Pudong the choice of entertainment was limited. I switched between 'The Big Bang Theory' and segments of 'Meet Me In St. Louis' so I was well entertained on the first leg anyway. Why did I choose Sri Lankan Airlines in the first place? The price of a one way flight through Colombo worked out much cheaper than flying direct to Shanghai, China but the experience did count for something in the end. London and home seemed like a distant memory as I made my way closer to China, I was distracted by the red wine and Chinese films provided to me by Sri Lankan Airlines. I was able to stretch out on the second flight for that cabin wasn't very busy at all. Go!
Getting my blog on I made my up to the front Economy Class galley for a photo with one or two of the beautiful Sri Lankan Airlines cabin crew. Firstly, I had a polite chat with the lady on my left hand side and when her colleague on the right of me returned I managed to get a snap. The two crew members that I spoke to were so friendly and didn't mind to have a chat with me when I mentioned my previous Virgin Atlantic Airways job. I was like 'will I make my connection to Shanghai?' The crew member in the dark blue reassured me that with Colombo Airport being small they usually hold the flight for as long as possible, so she stressed that I had nothing to worry about. I might look like I've just got out of bed in this photo but its difficult to look on-fleek when traveling in Economy Class on a ten hour flight! So, back in my seat I tried to catch some sleep but my brain was on overdrive with the move I only napped. Touching down at Colombo Airport felt like a race to the finish line, several other flights were being held because of our late arrival from London Heathrow. I had no choice but to politely shove my way to the nearest exit that being used for the disembarkation process, I was sorry not sorry because I had one very important connection that I didn't want to miss! A small airport Colombo thankfully was I raced to the security check-point, by that time I was probably looking like the hottest mess that the airport had ever seen before! Giving some of my British coins to the security officer because I didn't have enough time to put them in my pocket but he appreciated that offering nonetheless. Recognising one passenger from the Heathrow flight we agreed about the craziness of the transfer between flights. I must of been waiting less than five minutes before I boarded the Shanghai flight. It was a light flight so I got comfy, I was quite exhausted but so glad to be on the way to China!
Departing from London Heathrow at 22:00, dinner could of been a midnight snack by the time the crew started to serve dinner on the first of my two Sri Lankan Airlines flights. I went for the meat option, I believe it was some kind of chicken curry that tasted exceptionally good for Economy Class airplane food, I must of been hungry because I even ate the salad! After desert it was time for a cup of Ceylon tea, oh I loved that Sri Lankan brew! Drinks were served twice by the crew but requests could be made to the cabin crew but most of the passengers slept the majority of the long flight. I had about three glasses of red wine so I was conservative to say the least, I know not to over-indulge when flying because alcohol isn't the best when flying at 40,000 ft! En-route to Shanghai I tried the sweet and sour chicken, if truth be told I wasn't very hungry and the previous flight was taking its toll on me. I wanted China!Arriving thirty minutes before our scheduled time of arrival we touched down at Pudong International Airport. Thankfully making it to China in one piece thanks to Sri Lankan Airlines, when thinking about the late departure from London and the hurried transfer it did feel good to land early into Shanghai! After all the hospitality I was ready to disembark and attempt to make my way through immigration, that part was a breeze and my luggage had made the connection even though it looked like my case was thrown from one aircraft to the other. I had eaten well and was made to feel comfortable throughout my long flights from England to China. The cabin crew were great on both flights but shone especially on the first flight over from Heathrow. The delay may have added some stress to my epic journey but that didn't matter when I saw the Chinese signs as I made my way to immigration and baggage claim at Pudong Airport. OK, Sri Lankan Airlines surprised me for certain!
More Ceylon Tea, Please?
Joseph Harrison
