I'll end the chronicle of this adventure with a toast to British Airways for making it all possible. Going home meant two more 11-hour flights, from Male to London Gatwick, then a bus transfer and overnight hotel before catching another long flight from Heathrow to Los Angeles. Both times I had a very civilized flight in World Traveler Plus. A kind manager even let me use the club lounge and the nice folks at the Sheraton Heathrow credited me for the prepaid night that I missed. BA's Terminal 5 is a city unto itself, and filled with random touches like a full-size horse lamp!
I'm living proof that being face-to-face can seal a deal that wouldn't happen otherwise. Thank you British Airways!
