V-Flyer

Hi All, taken advantage of a pretty good price for upper-class - basically Manchester Orlando but an interesting routing.

Routing takes us Manchester and Atlanta then onward connection with Delta to Orlando - all that is pretty straightforward

But the return routing is Orlando to Boston at 9 AM - within a very long layover to depart Boston Manchester around 7 PM.
Given we have such a long layover can anyone tell me whether we'd be able to get out of the airport and spend the afternoon checking out the sights of Boston?

Also, I understand that route uses the EX air Berlin aircraft ... I've had conflicting reports as to whether the aircraft have been refurbished or simply repainted – virgin themselves were pretty unclear! Can anyone confirm whether the upper class seats have been renewed ( but I believe herringbone layout ditched?)

Last question – might seem silly – but does upper-class guarantee us fast track through security at Manchester ... I know the lounge choices are pretty awful

thanks to all

Yes you’ll be able to leave Logan airport - although when you check in at Orlando make sure your luggage is properly checked through to MAN. It should be, but double check. (Remember, on the outbound you’ll have to collect it at Atlanta to clear customs before rechecking it to Orlando but the same doesn’t apply on the return leg.)

Logan is remarkably close to the city for such a big airport - it’s on the subway (called the T) and is only 2 or 3 stops to the centre so all very simple and you can easily be eating clam chowder in Faneuil Hall within 30 minutes of landing.

The UC seats on the ex-Air Berlin A332s have been refurbished and are indeed not in the standard herringbone layout. They’ve had mixed reviews.

And yes, you’ll get priority security at MAN although it can still be pretty horrendous as they tend to send all the families and special assistance passengers through there, who understandably tend to take longer to be searched.

The Silver Line (bus) from the airport runs on a mainly dedicated busway to downtown Boston and connects to the Subway at South Station where you can connect to the Red line and then to other lines.

This is free when leaving the airport when sticking to the Silver line and then the T but not to buses.

gumshoe wrote: ...................you can easily be eating clam chowder in Faneuil Hall within 30 minutes of landing.

mmm - clam chowder, crusty bread and a nice, big, cold Sam Adams at Faneuil Hall - absolute bliss! Boston really is one of the easier airport-to-city trips you could hope to make, I love the place. Enjoy. Oh and the Boston Cubhouse isn't too shabby either.

MAN security isn’t the best or most organised, whilst T2 is marginally better than T3 it’s still not good and often gets clogged up with passengers who have absolutely no idea how to pack for air travel. It also doesn’t help when MAN also sell priority security access (along with priority immigration on the way back). The amount of ‘extras’ MAN airport try to sell you speaks volumes and don’t even get me started on their ridiculous drop-off charges now

The Silver line bus is free from the airport, but you do have to pay to go In the reverse direction back to BOS from the city.

Don’t go overboard and get back to BOS too early as the small BOS Clubhouse isn’t the best. The lack of windows makes it feel claustrophobic IMHO.

tontybear wrote:The Silver Line (bus) from the airport runs on a mainly dedicated busway to downtown Boston and connects to the Subway at South Station where you can connect to the Red line and then to other lines.

This is free when leaving the airport when sticking to the Silver line and then the T but not to buses.

I can vouch for that. I was worried when I went to Boston, boarded the Silver Line at the airport and transferred onto the Orange Line whether I'd be able to exit the station, but when I got to my destination (Back Bay) it was straight out through a gate without needing to swipe/scan a ticket like on the Tube in London.

If the OP has a few hours to kill, I definitely recommend going into Boston. As well as being close to the airport, it's very compact for a major North American city and the city centre is easily navigable by foot. I regret not combining a visit to Boston with my trip to New York late last year despite the lack of MAN flights in November as I was only there for one night for my sole visit to date and I reckon I need two nights to take in most of the sights. I just need to work out an excuse to go back again.

Boston is a great city, with a British feel in my opinion, and the city being so close it would be a no brainer. If you're feeling energetic follow the Pilgrim trail. about 3 miles I think