How fantastic it was to fly off from a local airport last week. Usually a break in the sun at this time of year for us involves a two-plus hour drive up the M3 to Heathrow at stupid o’clock in the morning, praying that there are no overnight motorway closures and that the valet parking person will turn up on time – or an overnight stay in an airport hotel which seems a bit pointless as I rarely sleep in case I miss the flight… and I can do that at home. Returning back to the UK jet lagged on an early flight, the drive home seems endless and picking up breakfast essentials at Fleet Services is always a gloomy way to end a trip for me.
This time it was a taxi ride to Bournemouth International Airport, a smooth waft through Customs with time for a relaxed breakfast and short queues all the way onto the plane – which took off promptly and actually landed 30 minutes early on the return journey. What really made me smile was to be allocated the front row window seat at no extra cost (but not so much for my husband who drew 14F!). Admittedly we weren’t travelling long haul this time but the local experience did remind me that sun and fun don’t have to be on the other side of the world in January – our destination was sunny and warm every day with no jet lag involved at all.
Here in the south-west we can choose between Bournemouth, Southampton, Bristol and Exeter Airports and I’ll certainly be looking at their flight options again as it was such a great experience keeping it local this time.
