Albuquerque🇺🇸 to London🇬🇧✈: 3-4 May 2000

Albuquerque New Mexico🇺🇸 to London Gatwick🇬🇧✈: 3.5.2000
Inching my way home - long day traveling across different time zones⏰
1st leg: Albuquerque NM to Phoenix AZ✈Took a shuttle through the rugged Southwest terrain east of the city towards the majestic Sandia Mountains providing a picturesque backdrop to the airport.Prominently displayed at the T-connector joining A and B concourses is “Dream of flight”, an enchanting larger-than-life 15-foot bronze sculpture of a Native American Shaman (medicine man) on a 7-foot marble pedestal being lifted into the air by a soaring eagle, commissioned by Santa Fe artist Lincoln Fox, for the Albuquerque International Sunport expansion in 1989.
America West Cactus #HP1354 B737-300 (N165AW)Boarding at Gate A7N165AW delivered brand new to America West in 1986 leased to Hola Airlines, Tunisair, Futura, and Phoenix Aviation rebranded AVE.com in 2005.
After engine start-up and quick taxiing, we took off into the skies over Kirtland Air Force Base which shares the same runways as Albuquerque International Sunport climbing up to our cruising altitude of 30,000 feet. Shortly after we were offered snacks, and opted for a packet of peanuts and orange juice. As we approached Phoenix i had a good view of downtown and proceeded to touch down at Sky Harbor International, flying time 56 mins.
After landing on 7L we taxied to the ramp via Taxiway Delta around the other side of Terminal 4 and parked at Gate A21, 10 mins walk to my connecting flight at Gate B25 on the opposite end where I had some time to sit, relax, plane-spot as my layover was over 10 hours.
Check-in counter opened at 15:00, after obtaining my boarding pass i proceeded through security/immigration and headed to BA Executive Club lounge up one level by Gate B22 with spectacular view of the twin runways and cosy atmosphere with wide selection of drinks and food spread.
Delighted to see ‘Queen of the Skies’ inbound from London Gatwick, B747-436 (G-BNLC) sporting ‘Colum’ ethnic tail livery arrive at 15:16 pm, park, deplane, off-load, refuel, board, engine-start and push-back within 15 minutes of docking, and taxi along Taxiway B back to London Gatwick.
G-BNLC named "City of Cardiff" delivered in 1989 in Landor livery, withdrawn from service in 2008 and ironically scrapped in 2011 in the city named after her*😭
2nd leg: Phoenix AZ🇺🇸 11 hours non-stop service to London Gatwick🇬🇧✈
Looking out of the window, i saw our B744 arrive and park at 20:17 pm 30 mins before boarding.
Speedbird #BA2288 B747-436 (G-BNLZ) boarding at Gate B25, Terminal 4
Missed out on the newly-revamped B747s with 'seat back' IFE in Economy and had to settle for the ‘Big Screen’😜 in front of the cabin.
Push-back was on schedule and after dimming the main cabin lights, we started taxiing to Rwy 8, queuing up behind some wide-bodies and were soon rolling down and airborne.
Ten minutes after wheels-up, the seat-belt sign was turned off, and the cabin lit up. We were offered a welcome drink and mixed nuts - i ordered chicken for dinner which came with rice and vegetables, a salad bowl, bread roll, dessert and a packet off crackers with cheese - excellent service by an awesome cabin crew*👌💥🍷
After dinner, the cabin lights were turned off, i watched a movie, perused the in-flight magazine, managed to get a few hours of sleep, and woke up as the crew raised the brightness in the cabin to serve breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, slice of tomato and a cup of coffee. Once the sun started to rise over the Atlantic Ocean, the coast line of Ireland came into view and 30 minutes later we started our descent over cloudy southern England into an overcast London Gatwick.
We touched down to a smooth landing on 8R and crossed the northern Taxiway 26R as the crew welcomed us to London Gatwick taxing to our gate at North Terminal.
G-BNLZ delivered to British Airways in 1993 named ‘City of Perth’ in Landor livery, withdrawn from service in 2015 and scrapped at Cotswold/Kemble in 2016*😭
After clearing immigration, baggage claim and customs, i took the airport shuttle transit, 2 min to South Terminal and took an escalator to Gatwick train station on Brighton Main Line where i boarded 'Connex' South Eastern train🚉 to Clapham Junction (35m travel time)) connection to Putney (38m travel time) and took Bus #414 at Stop D on Putney High Street (10m travel time), across River Thames onto Fulham Palace Road, short walk to my hub off Burlington Road in Fulham SW6, lot cheaper than taking Gatwick Express to Victoria, Earl’s Court and Putney Bridge*

[@elevatortimes]

At 15:47, I had no idea Sky Harbor Airport used to have that lady airport voice announcement! Now the voice announcements all sound so robotic.

[@Trey12392]

That was the uk🇬🇧 in 2000