This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
We arrived at the UC Wing at about 14.30. using our own driver as our tickets were Sale tickets and not eligible for a Virgin car. The whole process of check-in went seamlessly as usual. No one at all at the Private Security Channel and we were in the CH inside of 10 minutes of arriving at Heathrow. Now we are both retired ,we only afford to do this once a year on our vacation but it really is quite special still and I don't think we will ever get blase or tired about it. We both realise how special the whole thing is and how lucky we are to be able to use it
I know there has been some criticism of the CH and the changes made in the last year or two but we found it charming and enjoyable as usual. Maybe because of the time, it was pretty empty with plenty of spare room in all parts of the CH.
We found our usual table near the Bar and my Missus made her usual appointment to have a manicure. Whilst she was doing that, I ordered my first glass of champagne. When she got back we ordered a chicken curry followed by a fresh fruit salad . All of it delicious and beautifully served
The flight was called at about 17.00 and we walked to the Gate and we were waived through the final security at the Departure Gate and boarded and got to our seats.
I think as Meg has already mentioned our plane was changed from a 787 to a A330 a few days before although we retained the same seats. The UC cabin was almost full with only 1 spare seat.
The flight was good and the Cabin Crew friendly and efficient. After having lunch at the CH I wasn't too hungry so just ordered the cheese course with a glass of port. My Missus who is a slightly anxious flyer had her bed made up and slept almost the entire way.
Even though we had been warned that the flight would arrive in Boston over an hour late because of strong winds we actually arrived on time.
Can I just add as many other have before that the old A330 is just about ok. This was an aircraft with the old 1-2-1 configuration and clearly means that the cabin is very cramped. However I think the biggest grouch is the lack of overhead bins for the centre seat passengers. Also the outside bins aren't too deep. We tried to stow our 2 smallish leather holdalls widthways ( does that make sense ! ) to make room for other passengers bags but they just didn't fit so we had to stow them lengthways.
Although we arrived on time at about 19.35. we met an absolute scrum in the Arrivals Hall because our flight got in behind 2 other arrivals. The self check machines in Immigration were only open to American passengers so we were made to queue behind about 300 plus other International passengers to be manually checked and vetted by an Immigration Officer. It took about an hour to get to the front of the queue to be met by a serious looking and extremely slow and careful Immigration Officer.
Finally collected our bags and met our pick up car and got to XV Beacon hotel just after 21.00. It was a hot and humid night in Boston town so we decided to have a little stroll around Boston Common and went for our usual first drink in the little Irish Bar opposite the hotel. ( Think it's called the Emmit Bar and Grill )
We agree with Meg that the new later departure time for the VS11 now makes it a very long day. I think in previous years before Delta nicked the earlier departure time, we would depart Heathrow at 14.30 and arrive Boston around teatime. That used to give us time to have a cuppa at our hotel , and then have a nice stroll and a first evening in Boston and have a dinner somewhere. Usually 75 Chestnut just off Cambridge Street
The next morning at 9 am we arranged for the hotel car to take us to the Hertz desk back at Logan and for the first time in 13 vacations , Hertz almost had the car we actually ordered and we were promised. Booked a Land Rover Discovery and we were allocated an Evoque so quite pleased.
Then we headed off for our first week in the town of Kerhonkson in New York State where we had rented a house.
I will try to write a trip report on our stay there if anyone interested