Our PDX->LHR flight was scheduled to arrive at 1:00pm, but we were about 45 minutes late. That left only 25 minutes for my connection which wasn't even enough to get off the plane. While waiting to deboard, I got a text notice that I would need to be rebooked. I was really worried about that because of the problem we had earlier at PDX trying to get me onto Kathi's flight.
I waited in line for about 1.5 hrs with a couple of hundred other people in similar situations. But when it was my turn they immediately put me on Kathi's flight out at 5:15pm.
So, we still had 2+ hours to wait, so we had a leisurely dinner at World Kitchen. We had a Veggie breakfast, with scrambled eggs, beans, veggie sausage, fries, and a latte. About £22 paid using 3 Swiipr cards provided by BA, US$9, US$18, £10, £15. If I was smarter, I would have started with the highest value £ card, but instead I paid £6, £13, and £3 using up most of two of the cards. There is no way to see remaining balance on the cards. Swippr is Evil scum! Theoretical balances remaining: $0.96, $0.66, £3, and £15.
Weather delay at LHR. Finally rolling at 8:02 pm. We were scheduled to depart at 6:45pm. Landed 11:01PM GMT+2 Let's see how long it takes to get our bags, do EES, and make our way to the hotel.
We're here at LIN 6 hours later than we originally expected.
Off the plane in 10 minutes through EES in 10 more minutes through immigration passport. Check and collecting bags at 26 minutes.
Our Shengen entry experience at LIN at 11pm was really quick. There were no lines at the kiosks and entering our data took less than 2 minutes each. There was no fee. Finally, the immigration inspector was quick and asked no questions at all. Perfectly fine experience.
In the room at 12:38am. Chris went out for a walk to buy train tickets but centrale was closed for security. Chat with police. Back to the room. Bought chocolate, almonds, yogurt.
One concensus (parroted by Google Gemini AI) is that due to the Iran war (Thanks Trump) jet fuel shortages and airspace closures are wrecking havoc on flight scheduling. Another is that weather in London the day before caused delays that are rippling to today. Another is that increased fuel prices are making many flights unprofitable, but the airlines obgligated to keep flying those routes in order to keep their airport slot reservations. Unless a force majore makes them cancel. So, claim the weather is bad, cancel the flight, save money and keep your slot. This was easily the most believable explanation while we sat in our plane at LHR under 50% cloud cover, blue skies, occasional light rain, waiting 1.5 hours to be cleared for takeoff into the terrible thunderstorm.
BA266 was delayed 2 hours making us miss the connection with BA576. Chris got put on BA578 at 2:50pm (somehow that 1h15m layover plus 45 minutes is going to allow for a 2h late flight. If they fly fast and get me out of the plane quickly, I just might make it. But Kathi was put on BA580, a flight 4 hours later. This has us arriving in Milan 4 hours apart. Chris will run to the hotel, get checked in, buy train tickets to Torino for the next day, then run back to LIN to meet Kathi and pick up the bags getting to our hotel around midnight. Not a great start! Or, looking at it another way, The Adventure Begins --- remember the definition of Adventure: (noun) discomfort recounted at leisure.
What really happened... BA266 got off the ground more like 2h45m late, did not fly especially quickly, did a 10 minute hold at LHR, landed but did not get to the gate quickly. Even before the doors opened, I got an announcement that I was missing my flight, still with 30 minutes before boarding closed, but in fact, there was no way to get through arrivals and to our gate in time. Chris waited in line for an hour, talked to an agent,
Our Shengen entry experience at LIN at 11pm was really quick. There were no lines at the kiosks and entering our data took less than 2 minutes each. There was no fee. Finally, the immigration inspector was quick and asked no questions at all. Perfectly fine experience.
We walked to the Metro, took the M4 Metro to Milano Dateo (5 stops), walked a few blocks in the rain, then another metro S5 to Repubblica, then just 2 blocks to San Gregorio Rooms. Our host was obliging and let us in remotely much later than anticipated earlier.
Via San Gregorio, 40 interno 5, piano 2, 20124 Milan, Italy
Transport Directions --- Linate Aeroporto, Subway M4 San Cristoforo 5 stops, 7 min to Milano Dateo, Change to S5 24562, Varese 2 stops, 5 min to Repubblica, 280m walk
San Gregorio Rooms Milano Centrale (US$191)
Thu, May 14, 2026 - Fri, May 15, 2026 , 1 night (Double Room)
The room was small but comfortable and very well located near Milano Centrali. Very good place to stay for a quick overnight in Milan. More pics after we wake up in a few hours!