Digital01

Excellent finale. What champagne did they serve on the return? The tattinger again?

I can't believe I just read you are considering the BA flight even if it is non-stop with all of your bad experiences!

Genius1

A good conclusion SFO777, thank you. LH First Class remains on my to-do list.

SAtraveller

Thanks again SFO777, your excellent reports keep LH F at the top of my wish list. Sorry about your credit card though.... Seems like your wife thoroughly tested its boundaries

worldiswide

We have spent several afternoons in Bicester Village outside of London.. looks like the same level of designer labels from the mall..Is there a bunch of these throughout Europe ? I do have a bunch of smythson items that i thought were a good deal.. who knows. Loro Piana comment is right on the mark. I have a business associate whose wife managed the Chicago store for a while and they definitely have loyal customers.

makin'miles

Outstanding report, as always! Thanks for putting it together, and the tip on that outlet mall!

SFO777

Thank you fivevsone and Linda VH.

Thanks ellielovesem. I think Mrs. SFO was hoping to find another one in Florence.

Thanks Bretteee. The lack of LH F awards on UA.com is more a function of LH not releasing F seats to partners until inside 14 days at the earliest. It's been a while since I've been in the FRA Business Class lounge so I can't comment on your question.

LOL. I know, I know on the caviar. I just decided that I didn't need to be like Short hair Francis and try to clean out the galley. The "dialogue" was actually very good. Good thing that they weren't "lukewarm". I'm thinking LH needs some help on some of these translations.

Thanks so much HMPS for your generous comments. (Blushing )
As for our UK friends, I actually toyed with returning on BA. They had a well timed but short 75 minute connection from LIN. In the end I chickened out when the French ATC announced a strike for that date. The last thing I wanted was another date with BA IRROPS.

Thank you FlightCancelled for your kind comments and for the data point on your DEN boarding experience. Wow, I've never seen that ex-DEN. Amazing.
Must have been a rogue agent who was no doubt reassigned shortly thereafter.

LOL. Only a thought so far, but nonstop is a selling point even if it is BA. And what are the odds of a third consecution BA debacle?

Thanks 1P and for the Penfolds endorsement. Will definitely have to try it on our next LH flight in June.

Now you really have me second guessing that one.

Thanks Digital01. Indeed, the Taittinger which seems to be the new standard. OMG, now I'm really worried about my sanity for even thinking about BA.

Thank you Genius1.

Thanks very much SAtraveller. Indeed. But happy wife, happy life.

Thank you worldiswide.

Thanks makin'miles. You are most welcome.

BRITINJAPAN3

I think the results are in, No BA unless for our entertainment.

wrp96

On the BA board, they've even advised him to avoid BA again - unless it's solely for the rest of our's entertainment.

injian

Amazing as always, SFO777. Waiting for the day when I can try out the 747-400 but I think it will be phased out before I get the chance.

HMPS

You and wrp96 beat me to this .

I was going to remind SFO777 about how the denizens of BAEC board have disinvited him.
My suggestion is post your flights on BA well in advance. That way you may get either the BEST ride or the WORST ride of your life.

Personal question : Does dear Mrs SFO777 know you are contemplating BA ? Is she like Mrs HMPS who will put up with a so so flight vs. making an extra connection ?
For our next trip back from BOM I want to try the QR F on the A380 via LHR or CDG. Nope, no extra connections!

Speedbird876

All the food pictures look great, but, this one, ...

I. Want. It. Now!

worldtraveller73

Great finish as always. It was interesting to see the larger amount of flights on the in flight board departing the FCT. It seems more than it used to be. . . Even the Heathrow flights are likely connecting passengers?

I also agree that there appears to be more "normal" food on the in flight menu - even "Lemon Chicken"!? Who would have thought? A few years back it was reindeer loin.

Thanks for another nice report.

SFO777

LOL. OK, OK. I get the message. We will fly at our own risk. But there is a certain attraction to, at least on paper, being in London in 8 hours instead of 14 hours on a double connection. Plus we have one remaining 2-4-1. I figure the entertainment value of another BA debacle might be worth it. Or no. I'll have to think about this one.

Thank you injian.

Thanks Speedbird876. It tasted just as good as it looked.

Thanks so much worldtraveller73. Yeah, that's the most number of flights I've ever seen on the FCT monitor. Normal food indeed. And everything was delicious on our last few flights. Now if they would only bring back the LPGC.

HMPS

Yes we could use some entertainment" at your expense. just make sure there is nothing sharp lying around Mrs SFO if things do not measure up
Alternately get some tax breaks if you can give away the 2-4-1 in a charity raffle.
A thread alone on exchange with BAEC to do this would be welcome.

texmanufan

Great trip report. We just left Florence yesterday and although our stop there also had to do with the favorable exchange rate and leather shopping we didn't know about the mall. Btw we took the bus a few blocks away from the Westin Excelsior. 10 Euros round trip, leaves mostly every 30 minutes and takes 50.

Tom Hanks is in town for filming of the third Da Vinci Code movie. Had quite an area sectioned off at the Duomo for filming.

Love this thread and everything I learned from it - and the restaurant I wouldn't have known about. Was surprised how expansive the Antinori wine offerings were. They even had Col Solare for much cheaper than I have seen on a U.S. Wine list. And no I didn't come all the way here to drink their American wines. Great wines by the glass of some of their best wines.