I arrived four hours early at BWI on Saturday afternoon, 8-11, to check in at BA for flight #2142 to LGW. I asked if an exit row seat in "World Traveller" was available, and was pleased to receive an upgrade to Club World. I proceeded to the "Cheasapeake Room" for a few bottles of Beck's beer.

The aircraft was in great shape, a 767-300ER (G-BNWV "Ireland" tail paint). I settled into 13-A, with no one next to me. Takeoff through nearby T-storms was no problem. I feasted on a salmon steak appetizer, followed by free range chicken with tarragon, washed down with a 1999 Saint-Aubin La Pucelle, Domaine Roux.

The flight was smooth and uneventful. The Club World "cradle seat" was very comfortable. What was missing was the flight tracker on the PVD. The service was warm and friendly, and I really enjoyed the gift of Molton Brown men's products.

Upon arrival at Gatwick, I proceeded to the BA First/Club World Arrivals lounge on the 7th floor of the Meridien Hotel. I took a shower, in a small bathroom with a huge picture window view of the North terminal. It was great to be buck naked overlooking scores of airliners, a first for me!

I had to wait hours for the Croatia Airlines flight to Dubrovnik. High winds at DUB delayed the inbound flight. When we got going, the NS back to DUB was smooth and again uneventful. But the approach was something else. Of course we approached from the north, and the winds inncreased during the decent. We had to turn in order to land due North. The runway at DUB is up on a bluff above the Adriatic, with mountians just to the east of the runway. It was like landing on an aircraft carrier!

On the return trip, it was OU to Zagreb, and OU again to LHR. The OU Airbus jets are first rate, as are the cabin crews. I have always had good luck with Croatia Air, but the meal on the LHR flight was poor (cold fish sticks). It was like being on Northwest, as far as the food service goes.

Following an ovenight stay in Mayfair, it was back to LHR for BA#217 to IAD. I took the Heathrow Express from Paddington. The BA check-in at the train station is a great idea; especially so when you see the mayhem at T4! I asked for and got an exit row seat, 26-C.

The bird, a beautiful 777-200 ("Historic Docklands," "United Kingdom" tail paint) was a jewel to behold. Actually, my first trip on a 777. Takeoff was most impressive; the GE90 engines are so powerful! I managed to snag a flight deck visit while over the water, and the Captain and First officer obliged my questions about the FMS, HF radio, and datalink. By the way, the flight deck on the 777 is very roomy; you could put in a sofa behind the pilot positions.

Service on the flight, even in "World Traveller," was excellent. A bit more polished than Virgin (and I am not knocking Virgin). Approach and landing on 19R at Dulles was smooth and quick; we arrived 1/2 hour ahead of schedule, even with a 70 mph head wind over most of the trip.

All in all, a very good job by BA, and pretty good by OU. I will patronize both again on my next trip overseas.