lost or what?

British queues of madness

Taking the tube to Heathrow

Bonus update because I got to Heathrow way too early and have time to kill before my flight, also because I have an amusing tale to tell.
Getting to Heathrow was relatively painless, I took the tube as its not far and I had time to kill. Due to the regular maintenance this of course requires you to transfer around different lines to negotiate line closures, but I have done that before.
Once arriving at the airport, I found myself to be in what I thought was a tiny terminal, but as it turns out there is also a 'B' section for flights to the USA which you transfer to underground, I walked there and back.
Walking back from the B section to the A section seemed to have the security confused.

Anyway, taking it back a step, I was surprised to find there are no customs checks to leave the UK to go to Germany, a benefit of being in the EU (for now at least).
In theory, you can fly without any ID on a print at home ticket, just like the security issue we have in Australia.
Even more surprising, I found out my work paid for ticket has no baggage included, so I had to buy the luxury of taking a bag for 20 pounds.
This is where the fun starts!
Me: Can I get a receipt please?
Her: If you take your ticket I just printed to the ticket purchasing counter they can print you a receipt.
Me: That long line snaking around the building?
Her: Yes that one....
Now at this stage I will point out that I am flying Lufthansa, which is German, but the ticket and baggage handling team were all Menzies employees.

Me: I dont queue for no reason, I am not British, surely you can print me a receipt from here?
Her: Sir, you need to go queue at the ticket counter for a receipt.
Me: thats ridiculous, if I bought a can of coke at Tescos would they send me down the street to queue for a receipt?
Her: Its not the same thing, and besides theres nothing you can do about it.
......I owned the silence, this sounds like a challenge.

Me: Actually I think you overcharged me, can you please show me how much you charged me?
Her: No, I cant show you, well I could show you on the screen, actually I am not sure I can now, please go to the ticket purchasing counter.
Me: Actually, I think you just stole money from me, overcharged me in fact, I think you have a deal going with your office to overcharge people and claim the difference.
Her: Now you are being stupid, I have done no such thing.
Me: Prove it...with a receipt, or get your manager.
I should point out, there was no one else in the check in queue except me, I wasnt playing this game and holding up a thousand people.
She got on the phone and the manager comes out from behind the window.

Manager: How can I help sir?
Me: I did not get a receipt for my baggage purchase, I need one, plus I think I may have been overcharged, but now she cant tell me how much I was charged, if only there was a receipt, plus she then accused me of being stupid.
Manager to her: Did you call this gentlemen stupid?
Her: well, no, sort of, not really, he was....
Manager: Sir, please wait here, whilst I go fetch you a receipt.
Me to her: You really did bring that upon yourself by telling me there was nothing I could do about it. Perhaps you could mention this experience at your next review and suggest a possible enhancement would be the ability to print receipts where the sale for extra baggage is made.
She said nothing and soon after I got an apology from the manager and a receipt.