So finishing up all our paperwork I checked again the Israel Government website where they announced overnight you don't need a PCR Test ( Oh damn, so paying for our arrival tests in advance was waste of money) but you must wear a mask on the flight and everywhere in Israel. This would be no problem for us as used to it from our last flight back from Miami on 1st May
So we arrived at the Airport at around 1145 for our PCR tests which were booked in the upper departure level of Terminal 5 but when we got there it was closed and you had to go downstairs to the arrival level where you would have it done there. So finding an elevator in the terminal is never easy but we did ask somebody who told us the where also to find the test centre which was at the right far end of the terminal. We checked in for our tests with a small five minute waiting time and was told it would be available around 4 hours later and our flight was at 1700 so hopefully it would be ok. From there we had to go the the BA ‘assistance’ check in desk as I had requested wheel chair assistance, right knee is still a problem and so is standing . Of course the BA check we needed was complete at the other end of the Terminal so with Noel desperately hanging on to the baggage trolley we made our way there and checked in and only waited a few minutes before someone came with a wheelchair to take us to the lounge as we know had a five hour wait till our flight departed.
There are additional advantages by using the assisted route as they jump the security queue and when arriving in a country they also use a different immigration channel. However at about 1500 the reports came back from the test and both were fine. The food in the BA lounge was not good for me (or others looking at the waste) but Jennifer concocted from a part break roll and grated cheese, Oh for the Virgin lounge. This BA lounge was very busy and at 1600 the guy arrived with the wheelchair and off we went to the gate using about four lifts and a train. WE arrived at the gate and boarding had started and immediately I noticed there had been an aircraft change from B777 to a B787 Dreamliner which was fine. We were told we must wear our masks on board as it was an Israel Government requirement and so we did. We eventually arrived at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport at around 23.50 . Jennifer had eaten well on the food provided whilst Noel had his self made pork roll with tomato which was actually very good.
As we need assistance you have to wait for everybody else to get off the plane first, not sure why as u still have o walk off the aircraft and down the ramp to meet the wheelchair. anyway we waited and finally they found somebody who took us on special route and said wait there and somebody will come to collect you with a electric buggy and then he left and we watched the BA crew leave and then waited. Finally the original chap came back about fifteen minutes later so I asked where the buggy was and after about twenty minutes wait it arrived. Apparently it was shift changeover time hence the delay but the lady who collected rushed us thro immigration and into the baggage hall where out two suitcases were whizzing around on the almost empty carousel. We collected our baggage on a trolley and headed outside expectantly to look for the Seabourn Rep. To be continued.
