Help/advice MCO-BOS-LHR

It's a special birthday for me next month and after being totally indecisive about where I wanted to go (if anywhere) I decided I wanted to go to Orlando for some relaxation and retail therapy.

I wasn't doing anything but UC but there was a distinct lack of availability direct unless I wanted to pay nearly as much for Y ticket as previously paid for UC. Managed to get Z fares direct out of Manchester on my actual birthday (a little bit further for us than Gatwick but not much) but the return with a combination of the best price and connection timings was inbound via BOS to LHR. This is Delta First Class/VS UC on VS4234/VS12

I've never done this route before so have a few questions.

Hopefully 3 hours in Boston will be OK and time enough for a visit to Boston Clubhouse?
Presume we can check bags through to LHR at the Delta desk in MCO and use the Delta lounge?
Can I do online check in with Delta and then separately with VS. I have already allocated seats on both legs.
I intend to have at least 4 bags (2 each) for the return, am I ok allocation wise on the domestic leg and will they be checked through?

Sorry, the questions to some maybe fairly basic but any help or other advice on terminal gates etc. will be appreciated.

Jilly

Hopefully 3 hours in Boston will be OK and time enough for a visit to Boston Clubhouse?

Not done MCO - Bos but have done MCO - JFK a few times and after twice nearly missing my connection even though I had 4 + hours spare, would be a little wary - an hour delay turned into 2 and then 3 and I literally run to the gate

Presume we can check bags through to LHR at the Delta desk in MCO and use the Delta lounge?

Never had any trouble checking bags through, its actually been offered. Used my AMEX to get into Delta lounge so don't know if that would be automatically included.


Can I do online check in with Delta and then separately with VS. I have already allocated seats on both legs.

Always checked in at MCO

I intend to have at least 4 bags (2 each) for the return, am I ok allocation wise on the domestic leg and will they be checked through?

Delta First gives you 3 bags

Sorry, the questions to some maybe fairly basic but any help or other advice on terminal gates etc. will be appreciated.

Jilly

David

In my experience, 3 hours is plenty of time, especially on the return. Don't expect too much of the BOS clubhouse mind, it's ok, but it's nothing on LHR, LGW or JFK.

Assuming all flights are on the same booking, yes they'll check your bags all the way to LHR and you won't have to touch them in BOS. You will get access to the Delta SkyClub in MCO as you have a same day international flight in business class.

You can do online checkin with Delta and print boarding passes for both return flights. No need to go to VS as well.

Thanks, yes it's all on the same booking so that sounds good. As long as there's somewhere to sit and have a drink in Boston we don't expect LHR clubhouse standards.

I think we'll have lunch before we leave MCO, know now we have the have the Delta lounge, drinks and snacks on Delta flight and then a full meal service from BOS on the flight home so sure we won't go hungry. We're not big eaters but my nearest and dearest does love a beer and I like a nice glass of red.

TBH if there are any serious delays, either at MCO or BOS we don't mind some re-routing and/or next day flying to any uk airport as long as we're in Upper. I'm more concerned about getting lost in Boston airport

Jilly

[mitchja]

Delta are really good at re-routing / rebooking you if you do encounter delays. Do make sure you download their app as that gives you the quickest re-routing / rebooking options.

Earlier this year I was due to fly back from PHX to LHR via JFK (DL First PHX>JFK then VS Upper JFK>LHR). On the day I was due to fly back, the incoming DL flight from JFK to PHX was showing as being delayed meaning my flight would also be delayed departing PHX to JFK which in turn meant I'd miss my VS connection at JFK.

DL automatically gave me the option to re-route at no extra cost so I picked PHX>ATL>LHR from a long list of different flights. I ended up flying DL all the way back to LHR though in First / Delta One.

Do be careful though if re-routing with DL as if you pick DL & VS flights, often the VS flights will be just Economy - it does give you a warning message saying you will be in a lower class of travel and no refunds will be possible though before you accept the new flights.

The Delta app also gives you good checked baggage tracking as well (even on the VS flight legs). Why VS cannot add this option to their app I'll never know?

Thanks James that's useful information. Will make sure I install the app.

Jill

[buns]

Hi Jilly

Firstly, congratulations on your special birthday next month!!

We too will be off to MCO and like you, have found the only way back in UC is via BOS.

ISTBC but from my research it does seem as though after arrival at BOS fro MCO, you have to exit A Terminal and get across to E Terminal and go through security once again.

I chose the route back as the 3 hours is far better than the 50 minutes using ATL.

I am sure we each wil have plenty of time and as already said, the BOS Clubhouse is small, but it does do a very nice Clam Chowder

Happy Shopping and hope the exchange rate improves before we go

buns

Thanks Buns, yep I too realised that there was a transfer from A to E. I believe it is walkable via moving walkways or using the transfer bus. I think we will make that decision once we arrive in Boston.

Some of the transfer times in ATL were ridiculously tight, there was an option via JFK onto the A350 but really couldn't justify the extra cost.

Our flight back is on 23 November, if we're before you I will report back and, similarly, if you're first I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you for your birthday wishes and I intend to shop 'til I drop.

Jilly

[buns]

Thanks Buns


Our flight back is on 23 November, if we're before you I will report back and, similarly, if you're first I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you for your birthday wishes and I intend to shop 'til I drop.

Jilly

You are welcome Jilly
Having been caught out by the short connection time via ATL, and as much as I like that huge Airpot, we too opted for BOS only to discover how the connection works.

Rest assured, I will post something of our experience on V Flyer as we are returning a few days before you.

buns

[buns]

Hi Jill

We have just done the first leg of the MCO-BOS-LHR journey

We got to MCO in good time to find our flight delayed by 30 minutes.

We left the gate at 4:30 but were not airborne until 4:55. Great flight (albeit full)

Landed at 7:20 and eventually at Gate A17 at 19:30. After deplaning a spirited walk to “Ground Transportation” after getting past baggage claim and out to the main lower level, two flights of escalators took us to the moving walkway on the upper level past the central car park to Terminal E

Down in the escalator, past the Virgin Desks to the Gates and TSA

We were fortunate and had TSA pre check and were in the Clubhouse by 8pm - so half an hour

Hope this helps

buns

Thanks Buns, that definitely helps.

Enjoy your onward journey and again thanks for the information.

Jilly

[buns]

Thanks Buns, that definitely helps.

Enjoy your onward journey and again thanks for the information.

Jilly

Thanks you are welcome

We opted for walking as it kept us in the warm and not waiting outside in the cold for a bus

buns

Just wanted to update and says thank you for all the help, it really did put my mind at rest.

Checked in online with Delta before we left the villa we were staying in, the process seemed easier than using Virgin as the site had saved all our details. No TSA pre for MCO but we did have it for BOS which was more important.

Headed to MCO a bit early as we had to drop the car off a bit earlier due to pick up time. Check in area was quiet and very efficient. Security was around 20 mins and certainly not as bad as later in the day but The Sky Club was very busy and not a lot of seating to be had.

Flight to BOS took off a little early and the flight pretty full. The service from the Boston based cabin crew was outstanding and we would certainly use them again. My husband had some BBQ sliders but I wasn't feeling hungry so he had my chicken salad too. We landed around 6.25pm so knew we had plenty of time to get to Terminal E.

We walked from A, took us around 10 mins and no issues at all. Security at BOS (TSA pre) was extremely quiet and we went through in around 2 mins. To the Clubhouse, we were surprised just how small it was but the service was great and we decided to have the Clubhouse burger. He was also impressed by the beer/lager choices and tried a few ones he'd never come across before.

Quickly boarded in Boston and had an extremely friendly crew, although the FSM wasn't visible at all. We'd pre-ordered the beef but a lot of passengers went for the lighter bites - was really impressed with the choices offered. Again, I wasn't feeling hungry so after a couple of bites didn't bother with anything to eat for the whole flight. However, the crew member did offer me anything I wanted and couldn't do enough.

Unfortunately I couldn't seem to settle to sleep at all and get comfortable. I think knowing the flight was so much shorter than I'm used to had a detrimental effect. Approaching LHR we were due to land around 20 mins early but just as we were about to land the pilot aborted landing and decided to pull up quickly and go around again He said that visibility was poor and another aircraft may have been too close on the runway. Not something I want to repeat but the cabin was calm.

Immigration extremely quiet and our bags were ones of the first off. We went to Revivals as our son was picking us up. It was extremely busy in there and the service was extremely slow, but a good place to wait for him and the lattes were very gratefully received.

All in all, if the price was right, I would do the route again but still prefer to fly direct. I think we've decided that due to the service and the comfort of the Delta flight we'd like to do the route in reverse and stay a few nights in Boston next year. On the approach over Boston I really felt quite sad that it was dark and am 'itching' to see the city now.

Jilly

Thanks for the update, Jilly. Sounds like a quiet, efficient transit - just the way I like 'em. You really must spend a few days in Boston, it is a great city and easily navigated, without the need for a car.

Unfortunately I couldn't seem to settle to sleep at all and get comfortable. I think knowing the flight was so much shorter than I'm used to had a detrimental effect. Approaching LHR we were due to land around 20 mins early but just as we were about to land the pilot aborted landing and decided to pull up quickly and go around again He said that visibility was poor and another aircraft may have been too close on the runway. Not something I want to repeat but the cabin was calm.


Jilly

Jilly, funnily enough you did the exact same trip as my parents & little (6 year old) brother on the same day. I'm sure he would have made enough noise both legs to be known!? (Sorry!)

We all extended our trip and used BOS to get back.

My partner and I did the domestic leg MCO - BOS the night before and utilised the day flight home (VS158). I have used the 158 a few times this year and highly recommend it to avoid the nights sleep lost even when in upper.

They mentioned the aborted landing, never ideal especially as you then lost your landing slot for 20 minutes or so I hear.

Glad you found it easy, the parents did too & would do it again to get the reward availability!

Ash

Jilly, funnily enough you did the exact same trip as my parents & little (6 year old) brother on the same day. I'm sure he would have made enough noise both legs to be known!? (Sorry!)

We all extended our trip and used BOS to get back.

My partner and I did the domestic leg MCO - BOS the night before and utilised the day flight home (VS158). I have used the 158 a few times this year and highly recommend it to avoid the nights sleep lost even when in upper.

They mentioned the aborted landing, never ideal especially as you then lost your landing slot for 20 minutes or so I hear.

Glad you found it easy, the parents did too & would do it again to get the reward availability!

Ash[/quote]

Hi Ash

We walked between terminals with your family. Your little brother was an absolute delight (reminded my of one of my grandsons), in fact, more accurately, I ran between terminals with him

I know it was definitely them as your Mum mentioned you'd flown the day before.

Please give them our best wishes as it was a delight to meet them.

Jilly