When my weekend trip to Boston came to be booked, I took the weird decission to give BA another try, as the flight times suited me better, with a 1pm arrival into BOS, and a 5:15am arrival into the UK - giving more time in Boston, and a better flight to get back to work on my return [:#]
This is all the more weird as I would have gone VS gold on these flights, and also the VS11/12 were operated by A346's on the days I wanted - my preference for VS in Y Class (guaranteed V:Port and the 2-4-2 config).
However, I was looking forward to seeing how things shaped up on the other side after 4 years away.
I got a cab into LHR, and checked in manually (i'm still computer shy and don't check in online with any airline - somehow i don't trust it!) - which was probably a wise decission, as the fast bag drop line in Terminal 4 seemed just as long as the conventional line.
security check lines were quite short at that time, and was soon through to the mall that is airside at T4. where a garfunkels breakfast was duly ordered.
we left from gate 10, which is quite central, so no long walk, but waited fro the queue to die down before boarding, and we were practically last on.
I was on a 744 (G-BNLZ) and the seats seemed much narrower than I recalled, and it seemed a snug fit (or maybe I have got larger in the last 4 years!!). I was also a little shocked at the size of the tv screen - I have been spoilt by V:Port.
on the subject of IFE, it was naff - all channels had sound drop outs and interference all the way through the flight - not good [n]
the controls for the IFE are on top of the arm rest, which meant that my neighbour kept changing volume and channel accidentally with his elbow [:(!] Awful design.
Food was very poor. 'Chicken or salmon' was the choice, and i was presented with a chicken caserole, with mushrooms and mushroom sauce. Seeing as I dont like mushrooms it would have been nice to know in advance.
the pre landing meal was worse ('all day deli bag'), we didnt have a choice, my friend got a ham sandwich, and i got a vegetarian meal - no choice, no apology and no smiles from the crew (we were incidentally the first economy row served -so they would not have run out of options!)
The flight back was on G-CIVE (another B744), and it to had a couple of dropped channels on the IFE, restricting the choice - however no sound drop outs this time.
trying to sleep was a nightmare. I had been unable to pre-book any seats on both flights, as the preset allocation had run out by the time I ordered - so I was in an aisle seat by the toilets, and was continually nugdged as people walked past [B)] and woken by people talking in the toilet queue.
amenity kits were pretty bad too - eye shades, toothbrush/paste and socks were all that were on offer.
No pens for filling in customs cards, and no ear plugs (the most important bit of any kit for me).
Food was also poor on return, this time it was chicken or pasta in 'beef sauce' - went for the chicken (beef sauce did not sound apetising), which had no fungus this time, but was below average in quality.
Crew were a little better on the inbound, who at least joked they couldnt accept my Virgin Credit card when ordering duty free.
got into London having had no sleep, and then had to endure a full day work, including two meetings at customers offices in the morning (fortunatlely they knew I had only come back that morning so were gentle with me!)
Boston was good fun, lobster at 'Legal Seafood' was great, fine Italian restaurants, views, sights, a trip to Salem (museum is a little bit weird there!) and also a quick visit to Chelmsford Massachusetts (as I come from Chelmsford Essex!)
Looking back, the flights were not fun, the crew were (other than one example) miserable, and I did not feel valued at any point. IFE was also very lousy - worse than Nova, Odyssey and V:Port.
I wish I had booked VS now. We all find little niggling faults in our experiences from time to time, but this experience has reminded me why I fly VS, and why I will continue to do so.
