For the first time ever, we’re early to the airport; the roads were clear and we managed to make it up from Brighton in good time. However, it seems as though we’ve been a bit *too* keen, because we’re three and a half hours early and they haven’t even opened the flight yet. Now I know why they have all those coffee shops before you go airside…

Things have definitely changed since we last went long haul. British Airways have a new automated check-in system where you just punch your credit card in to an ATM-style device, and out pops your itinerary and boarding passes. You then throw your luggage at the baggage check guys, and waltz straight through to security.

Which would’ve been a great timesaver if we weren’t so bloody early.