The unglamorous side of traveling

I wanted to write about all the things wrong with London's Heathrow and British Airways, but I have been struggling with this post since I have been back from Dublin, because too many negative things happened, and I didn't know where to begin. Although we all live in a time when most people have had some kind of flight experience, I feel that I need to share some parts of what happened to me, because, I often talk about my travels and how wonderful they are, but  I rarely discuss all the problems that I face when I go anywhere. (photo credit: RDNE Stock Project)

I've been traveling since the day I was born, and I have been kept at airports, questioned to death, my luggage ransacked by security, and all the receipts in my purse looked at with a microscope so that they can catch me in a lie. I have been banned from entering the country where I live until I had to prove that I was not a criminal, gone through cancer-causing shuttle-looking contraption where multiple people got to see me unclothed (this is what they see when you get scanned). I have been poked, prodded, patted down, stripped-searched because they thought I sold drugs, and you name it, it has happened to me. And although I realize that these experiences may not be unique, I'm tired, tired of being treated like a terrorist each time I pass through security to a point where I'm asking myself, is it worth it to travel anymore? (Photo credit: bAlexas-Fotos)

This time around as I passed through London's security, and missing my connecting flight because British airways screwed up, I found myself angry, angry enough to want to scream. Of course, I couldn't do that. So, what happened? Well, Heathrow's security took away my passport, currency, credit cards, and lost it. After a substantial amount of time passed, it was found in another passenger's bin. Lucky for me, the passenger who returned it was honest. (photo credit: Eugenia Velasquez)

On the way back, all I had was a small carry on which was confiscated by British Airways. They said that my carry on was too big. Mind you, the same exact carry on that I was allowed to take with me on the airplane from London to Dublin, was now too big on the same size airplane from Dublin to London. When I pointed this out to British Airways' staff, they had no answer. And here's the thing. I measured my carry on before leaving Los Angeles, and it was smaller than their "Required size." Also, as I sat in my seat, I noticed other passengers coming in with carry on much larger than mine, and not only that, they had a lot more junk than the maximum two item limit. (photo credit: Gustavo Fring)

To say that this trip was exhausting would be an understatement. I got sick from all the stress when I got home. My suggestion is to not take British airways. They are super disorganized, change gates too many times, and their seats feel like you are in solitary confinement. Don't waste your money on their business class either because it's really not a business class. To save space and squeeze another dollar, they are set up like Yin and Yang, and if you're traveling solo, you'll be staring at a stranger's face. If you want to use the bathroom, you will have to climb over someone or they have to climb over you. As a solo traveler, should you decide to go this route, at least don't get a window seat, and the one next to it. Stay in the center so that you don't have to climb over someone. Even when you buy your seat ahead of time, British Airways may change your seat to somewhere else you don't want to sit and send you an email with a dumb excuse which is what happened to me. (photo credit: JC Gellidon)

Try to pass through a different airport than Heathrow if you have a choice. Their flight boards are inaccurate. It sent me to the wrong terminal. The British airways app is not any better. The excruciatingly crowded airport with long lines is the size of a country as you run from one end to another, up and down escalators which sometimes may not be working, into a bus or on an automated airport transit, and back on the ground with more walking/running. Don't trust gate numbers or British Airways security. I showed them my passport and ticket because I was at the right gate. They checked my documents and let me in. Then I had to scan my passport for the 10th time. It didn't work. A rude employee let me wait for a longtime until I kept complaining about their scanner not working, and not wanting to miss my flight again. He looked at my ticket, rolled his eyes, and said because their flight was going to Zurich. The irony was that it was their own employee who sent me through that line. and the guy at the gate was looking at me as though I was the stupid one. (photo credit: JESHOOTS-com)

And by the way, London is tremendous on facial recognition. If you're coming in from the U.S, they will take your photo multiple times as if you had reconstructive surgery from when they photographed you minutes ago. In Dublin, on my way back, I couldn't buy a sandwich without allowing the machine scan my airline ticket. These are crappy times. But I have to say that Dublin's security is kinder than London's. (AI photo designed by Freepik)

A lot of other things happened to me, but there is not enough room here for me to explain. When I told my family and friends about all the mishaps, they considered themselves lucky for staying put. Am I exaggerating? Google all the awful things that have happened to people who took British Airways or have passed through Heathrow. If you are determined to go to Heathrow, make sure that you have a minimum of 3 hour layover. Trust me on this. (photo credit: Sweder Breet)

And what's the verdict? Will I travel again? Am I spoiled because all of this sounds like a first world problem. Perhaps. But no matter. I still wish that I could be drugged or fall into a deep coma before passing through airport security. I used to be more tolerant, but after years of being abused, things are starting to affect me. (photo credit: Alana Jordan) 

So, there you have it. The not so glamorous side of traveling.

 

Side note: Don't make a single mistake, double and triple check everything to make sure you follow the rules to perfection before passing through security. One mistake can cost you their wrath, unlimited scrutiny, and your sanity.