leroy11
Feb 22, 00, 10:44 am
Sabena-operated DL-ticketed flight BOS - Brussels – AA also places its code on this particular flight
I was actually very lucky that they let me on the flight since I got held up at work and made it there 25 mins. before departure. The SN agent was very upset with me, but the DL agent effectively told her to calm down and efficiently gave me my boarding pass. I was pleasantly impressed with the service on board. I was one of the first on board since they did offer Medallion pre-boarding because DL was almost entirely handing the operation. A very nice stewardess led me to my seat in Steerage. Good legroom relative to what I’m used to on DL. Push-back was 10 mins. late – not bad considering they didn’t board ‘til 15 mins. prior to scheduled departure at 7:25. Flight time was a mere 6 hours. My vegetarian meal was good – lasagne and veggies – very tasty asparagus. The plane was an A330-300 in a 2-3-2 configuration in Y. Had nifty personal entertainment systems with casino gaming, video games (very basic racing – not too good!!) and films as well as info on BRU, ZRH and VIE? – Vienna. The trouble with the films was that the only free ones were the Little Mermaid and some not too good baseball flick – all the decent ones were $5 – fine domestically, but not internationally. Wine was good – they had nice sparkling white and the red was actually quite good. Breakfast also fine given the length of the flight – croissant and fruit. Arrival in Brussels was 30 mins. early.
Sabena-operated, DL-ticketed BRU - MAN
Left 10 mins. late because of poor weather in MAN. I tried to get on the Edinburgh flight at the gate next door, but SN knew DL’s rules too well!! Edinburgh was my final destination and that would have saved me a train ride. Brief flight with a good cheese sandwich (good relative to DL’s deli bags!!) Arrived 10 mins. late. Quickly out of immigration and headed for MAN airport rail station.
Trans Penine Trains MAN airport - Wigan
Train left on time for the 1 hr. journey. Stopped a lot at every station in MAN. Arrived on time. No trolley service on buffet car of any kind.
Virgin Trains (TO BE AVOIDED) Wigan - Edinburgh Waverley
Had 30 mins. to change stations – more than adequate given that it’s a 3 mins. walk and considering that Virgin was running 40 mins. late. Uneventful journey although there was a Virgin rep. passing through the train assisting people with missed connections. The delay probably wasn’t Virgin’s fault as a vehicle had ran into a rail bridge in Birmingham delaying trains for ˝ hour. Arrived 40 mins. late.
Adequate B&B in Edinburgh.
Good pub in Edinburgh – Three Sisters.
Great North Eastern Railways Edinburgh Waverley - Newcastle Central
Train left punctually for the 1 hr. 20 mins. journey. However, arrived 10 mins. late. These trains usually operate very punctually because it is the most modern train line in the UK.
Aer Lingus Newcastle - Dublin
Checked in an hour ahead for the quick 55 mins. hop to Dublin aboard a Fokker 50? Commuter turboprop. Lots of legroom – more than DL Coach transoceanic. Nice little snack. Arrived in DUB 5 mins. late.
Adequate B&B in Temple Bar area.
DL DUB - SNN - JFK
They insisted upon me arriving at the airport 2 ˝ hrs. ahead even though I only had carry-on and was GM. Did so and it was ridiculous!! Boarded 35 mins. ahead of departure and pushed back perhaps 3 or 4 mins. late for the quick 27 mins. hop to SNN aboard the B763ER. Plane 2/3 full in Steerage. They made everyone leave the plane in SNN with all of their belongings to clear US Immigration there – at the time, I thought it was a pain, but it was nice when we got to NYC. Reboarded after a 1 hr. wait ˝ hr. prior to dep. Pushed back on-time for the 7hr. 5 mins. flight to JFK. In-flight service was uninspiring. I think they must have been old Pan American employees. Veg. Special meal pretty weak imho although the snack later on was rather nice – a complete range of fruits. Wine was poor relative to SN. Arrived in JFK 15 mins. early. Escorted through Immigration since had already cleared it at SNN. Briskly went through Customs and went to the gate to try for stand-by on DL81 to BOS.
DL JFK - BOS
Went to gate for stand-by – cleared me on-the-spot as flight was perhaps 40% full in Y class. Very quick flight of only 35 mins. – touched down right on-time. Crew so much more enthusiastic than previous one.
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Cheers.
Leo.
I was actually very lucky that they let me on the flight since I got held up at work and made it there 25 mins. before departure. The SN agent was very upset with me, but the DL agent effectively told her to calm down and efficiently gave me my boarding pass. I was pleasantly impressed with the service on board. I was one of the first on board since they did offer Medallion pre-boarding because DL was almost entirely handing the operation. A very nice stewardess led me to my seat in Steerage. Good legroom relative to what I’m used to on DL. Push-back was 10 mins. late – not bad considering they didn’t board ‘til 15 mins. prior to scheduled departure at 7:25. Flight time was a mere 6 hours. My vegetarian meal was good – lasagne and veggies – very tasty asparagus. The plane was an A330-300 in a 2-3-2 configuration in Y. Had nifty personal entertainment systems with casino gaming, video games (very basic racing – not too good!!) and films as well as info on BRU, ZRH and VIE? – Vienna. The trouble with the films was that the only free ones were the Little Mermaid and some not too good baseball flick – all the decent ones were $5 – fine domestically, but not internationally. Wine was good – they had nice sparkling white and the red was actually quite good. Breakfast also fine given the length of the flight – croissant and fruit. Arrival in Brussels was 30 mins. early.
Sabena-operated, DL-ticketed BRU - MAN
Left 10 mins. late because of poor weather in MAN. I tried to get on the Edinburgh flight at the gate next door, but SN knew DL’s rules too well!! Edinburgh was my final destination and that would have saved me a train ride. Brief flight with a good cheese sandwich (good relative to DL’s deli bags!!) Arrived 10 mins. late. Quickly out of immigration and headed for MAN airport rail station.
Trans Penine Trains MAN airport - Wigan
Train left on time for the 1 hr. journey. Stopped a lot at every station in MAN. Arrived on time. No trolley service on buffet car of any kind.
Virgin Trains (TO BE AVOIDED) Wigan - Edinburgh Waverley
Had 30 mins. to change stations – more than adequate given that it’s a 3 mins. walk and considering that Virgin was running 40 mins. late. Uneventful journey although there was a Virgin rep. passing through the train assisting people with missed connections. The delay probably wasn’t Virgin’s fault as a vehicle had ran into a rail bridge in Birmingham delaying trains for ˝ hour. Arrived 40 mins. late.
Adequate B&B in Edinburgh.
Good pub in Edinburgh – Three Sisters.
Great North Eastern Railways Edinburgh Waverley - Newcastle Central
Train left punctually for the 1 hr. 20 mins. journey. However, arrived 10 mins. late. These trains usually operate very punctually because it is the most modern train line in the UK.
Aer Lingus Newcastle - Dublin
Checked in an hour ahead for the quick 55 mins. hop to Dublin aboard a Fokker 50? Commuter turboprop. Lots of legroom – more than DL Coach transoceanic. Nice little snack. Arrived in DUB 5 mins. late.
Adequate B&B in Temple Bar area.
DL DUB - SNN - JFK
They insisted upon me arriving at the airport 2 ˝ hrs. ahead even though I only had carry-on and was GM. Did so and it was ridiculous!! Boarded 35 mins. ahead of departure and pushed back perhaps 3 or 4 mins. late for the quick 27 mins. hop to SNN aboard the B763ER. Plane 2/3 full in Steerage. They made everyone leave the plane in SNN with all of their belongings to clear US Immigration there – at the time, I thought it was a pain, but it was nice when we got to NYC. Reboarded after a 1 hr. wait ˝ hr. prior to dep. Pushed back on-time for the 7hr. 5 mins. flight to JFK. In-flight service was uninspiring. I think they must have been old Pan American employees. Veg. Special meal pretty weak imho although the snack later on was rather nice – a complete range of fruits. Wine was poor relative to SN. Arrived in JFK 15 mins. early. Escorted through Immigration since had already cleared it at SNN. Briskly went through Customs and went to the gate to try for stand-by on DL81 to BOS.
DL JFK - BOS
Went to gate for stand-by – cleared me on-the-spot as flight was perhaps 40% full in Y class. Very quick flight of only 35 mins. – touched down right on-time. Crew so much more enthusiastic than previous one.
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Cheers.
Leo.