50th B'dy trip pics to NY..lots of pics

[kgfive]

Couple of weeks ago I posted,LINK, (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=179119) that I got a fantastic surprise 50th birthday pressie trip to NY :grin:. Back now and here is a short report and few pics ....... night before my trip I checked in online with Virgin and was pleased to see I had been upgraded to Premium seat 29C. Checked seat plan and it was 2nd row as you enter Aircraft and an aisle seat which I was fair chuffed with (more on seat later).

On Tuesday 20th Nov I headed off from Prestwick up to Glasgow Airport for BMI flight to London Heathrow, nothing much to report there except I had great view of Continental 757 (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip007.jpg)which we will be using for our holiday on 18th Dec........ arrived at LHR T1 and headed off to T3 for VS 045 to NY. I waited at check in desk (I was on a stand-by ticket and had to check if I was really on the flight or bumped off) and asked if my E-ticket was ok for travel. I was told YES and just to proceed to the gate BUT the other check-in person said that they were having probs with the bar codes on E-Tickets and she would print me a boarding pass .... "OH!!! just a sec" she said as she looked up my details on her PC ..... OH NO. I thought I was getting bumped off - slight cold sweat broke out for a NANO SEC ... "Mr Kidd", she said, "you are in J class" ..... hold the bus .... did I hear right, did she say J or Y .... my ears prick up and heart thumps, the male staff member proceeds to get a boarding card for printing but she stops him and says "No, it's a blue card for J" ... YES J ...J ...J ... J Class ..... Geez OH the gods are looking down on me. I am going Upper Class :grin:. .... Boarding pass in hand, I head off to the gate while phoning home to shout excitedly to DW that I am flying Upper Class, I won't relay the phone call but, suffice to say, I just lost 45 years and was like a 5yr old let loose in Santa's Grotto. I also got presented with a bottle of Champagne and copy of the Captain's Flight Plan anddddddddd - invited up to Flight Deck when the A/C landed :grin:.... Soooooo here is a few pics of the Flight, Tudor Hotel NY, Empire State Bldg, Grand Central Station and other sights of NY. A few pics are a bit hazy and you can guess why lol. Hope you enjoy ..... I did :grin:. My A/C outbound was V-HOT 747-400, seat 14K. First pic is of similar A/C and my seat was 3rd window from the front but on the other side.
I hope I have not posted too many pics and bored the pants off you all but my adrenalin is still pumping as to what I have just experienced and wanted to share as much as poss :wave: 747-400 (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip169.jpg)


My Seat (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip020.jpg) Cabin (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip019.jpg) Pate for starter (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip024.jpg) Stk & Mushroom pie (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip025.jpg) Treacle tart (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip029.jpg)

S&P (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip022.jpg) Moi (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip027.jpg) Mood lighting (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip030.jpg)Me at the bar (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip031.jpg) Me & fellow passenger (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip033.jpg)

Her hubby was with her lol (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip035.jpg)My shoes & cabin (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip042.jpg) Me flying (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip062.jpg) Flight deck (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip064.jpg)

Time sq (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip067.jpg) Me in Time Sq (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip076.jpg) Memorial for 9/11 (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip083.jpg) On staten isld ferry (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip090.jpg)

Statue of Liberty (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip095.jpg) Ground Zero (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip097.jpg) Central park horse and carriages (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip107.jpg)

Time Sq (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip113.jpg) Grand Central stn (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip114.jpg) Inside GCS (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip126.jpg) Empire State Bldg (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip132.jpg)

View from top (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip133.jpg) View looking down (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip137.jpg) Macy's PArade from ESB (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip140.jpg)

Looking up to ESB (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip149.jpg) Tudor Hotel (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip155.jpg) My room (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip121.jpg) My A340 ride home (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip166.jpg) PE on way home (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip172.jpg)

PE again (http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/kgfive/50thBdayTrip171.jpg)

[Michelle]

Sounds and looks brilliant :)

Your link for the A340 ride home is the same one as your hotel room.

[disney dave]

sounds like you had a brilliant time, love the photos.

[kgfive]

Sounds and looks brilliant :)

Your link for the A340 ride home is the same one as your hotel room.

Thanks Michelle I have changed it, think it might have cost a bit to fly home on a bed like that :pgig:

[Michelle]

Thanks Michelle I have changed it, think it might have cost a bit to fly home on a bed like that :pgig:

That's better:)

I think it would too, but would be nice. :pgig:

[highlander447]

Thanks for sharing, looking forward to seeing it in flesh very soon

[Ste]

So excited now :tounge:

[kgfive]

Thanks for sharing, looking forward to seeing it in flesh very soon

I was a bit apprehensive about NY ( some negative feed back from people ) but found it to be fantastic. Busy....YES Friendly ....YES Easy to get about ....WOW YES Safe ....YES My Hotel was East 42nd St close to 2nd Ave but was still easy access to everything I wanted. 15 min walk to Time Sq , Taxis were cheap. Was amazed how many NY'ers wanted to buy me a drink in every bar I was in :grin: .. quick I wanna go back lol . You will enjoy :wave:

[Mazzy]

Wow, what a fanastic birthday present! :d: Loved the photos, can't believe the size of the pie on the plane! :tounge: Glad you enjoyed New York, we are heading over there for the first time the end of March, so looking forward to it even more now. :D

[Catherine]

wow great pics, so familiar. Thats fab getting an upgrade to UC.

[No1 tinkfan]

Sounds and looks like you had a fab time

[Lynn]

Hope we get an upgrade.

Can't wait :spin:

[kerryh]

The photos are great!! Lucky you getting an upgrade.

[kgfive]

Hope we get an upgrade.

Can't wait :spin:

Think someone had a hand in my upgrade ;) it was more than just luck me thinks :wave:

[Lynn]

Think someone had a hand in my upgrade ;) it was more than just luck me thinks :wave:

Oh well, never mind :cry: I can but wish :d:

[anna68]

lucky you - fab

[Catherine]

Think someone had a hand in my upgrade ;) it was more than just luck me thinks :wave:

Give us a clue ??

[lizzie145]

thanks for the pics - i am so excited as i am flying UC to NY for Xmas.

The food looked great as did the champagne - my fav drink.

How did you get to go on the flight deck, i would love to go as its been years since i went on one

[kgfive]

thanks for the pics - i am so excited as i am flying UC to NY for Xmas.

The food looked great as did the champagne - my fav drink.

How did you get to go on the flight deck, i would love to go as its been years since i went on one

I got talking to the Flight Services Manager and told her my job is Aircraft Engine Repair .. blah..blah..blah lol also that DW had arranged my flights for my B'day and later when she came back with the Champagne I was just about to ask for a Flight Deck visit when she said about the Captain inviting me up .... so it was a mixture of my job interests and birthday that me thinks got me up there. My advice is to ask nicely and even ask before departure as you may get a look before the flight. Good luck and I am sure you will enjoy the flight and the Champers is fantastic :thumbs-up post pics when you get back.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kgfive http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=1891276#post1891276)
Think someone had a hand in my upgrade ;) it was more than just luck me thinks :wave:

Give us a clue ??

If you read my report you will see it said I was on " Stand By Ticket " which was arranged by friend from Virgin .... but thats not what got me UC, I am sure it was DW's phone calls and letter to the powers that be that done the trick. Nothing else to say on the matter as I not been told the exact reason :wave:

[Catherine]

Sounds fantastic to me, if you can get a free uprade, i think its fab.

Can he get me one ;) ;) ;)

I have only had the privaledge of flying PE, really enjoyed that, especially the new purple leather seats.

[kgfive]

I knew about the upgrade before I got on the Aircraft, talking to the FSM I think got me into the Flight Deck. On my return flight I only had Economy seat 51A on A340-600, but as it was a "Y" class ( full fare class ticket ) my a**e hardly hit my seat when I got approached with the " Hello Mr Kidd, this is your new seat 20G in PE " ...smiles and thank you from me and mumbles and huffs from people behind me he he he smug that I am lol. What ever was done to get my UC on my outbound was only for 1 way as the Inbound flight only had 80 pax. UC had 6 pax, PE had 10 pax. You will only get FREE upgrade if A/C is over booked and they upgrading pax on "Y" tickets, then Frequent Flyers then the lucky pax who are DRESSED neatly.

You will get offered a Massage .... take it, I got told off from DW for refusing one, also go sit at the bar for a while like I did it's fantastic experience .......enjoy :wave:

[colufan]

My DH and I flew to NY for our 40th birthdays and flew home PE class. We had the first two seats as you came onto the plane, unfortunately :pgig: we could not seat in our seats until everyone had boarded. The ever so lovely flight crew requested that we sat at the UC bar and helped ourselves to champagne until the plane was loaded. :spin:

Was well worth the money to upgrade but unfortunately will not be able to with the DD's on upcoming holiday, so we will just have to go away again without them. :grin:

[beth-xx]

Oh That Looks Awsome What Was It 1+ Class Lol Glad You Had A Good Time :d

[mobeckwith]

that all looks wonderfull,i especially like the salt and pepper pots :blush: .mo.

[kgfive]

that all looks wonderfull,i especially like the salt and pepper pots :blush: .mo.

Me too and I brought them home with me, turned them over and on the bottom is reads "PINCHED FROM VIRGIN ATLANTIC" :blush:

[jester]

KG you have put my mind to rest am going in Jan and have been told some horror stories was regretting booking, (always feel safe in Orlando)
But you have eased my mind about NY will try to look forward to it now

[Little Monkey]

I have just had a lovely time viewing all your pics - could feel your excitement in every one of them...! What a great 50th present and one you certainly will NEVER forget....thanks for sharing!!