Cheers and Beers in Boston - November 2016 Day 6 (Last flights of the trip and our final thoughts)

BONZO · 5 Jan 17, 12:41 AM

Cheers and Beers in Boston

CAST LIST

Me (Shaun): looking forward to the beers!
Alison: looking forward to the Cheers!

Link to trip report index: Here

Tuesday 29th November 2016

Just to wrap things up – the last couple of flights and our thoughts on the trip (and hardly any photos!)

The flight was quite short, but we hit a very turbulent patch part way which woke us both up. All the cabin crew were told to be seated as well for a while, and service was suspended. Luckily it didn’t last too long and we both drifted off to sleep again.

About an hour or so before landing we woke up and just had a coffee and warm pastry to keep us going. We landed smoothly and on time and said thank you to the cabin crew (2 of whom were retiring at the end of the flight) as we left.

We headed through flight connections as we were going back to Dublin – it was a bit slow but not too bad, and we had time for a snack and coffee in the lounge before going to the gate. Boarding had just started when we got there, but it was very easy and we found our seats and got settled in for the short hop over to Irish Sea.

We saw the captain (or could have been first officer) chatting to the cabin crew at one point – he looked about 12 years old! Maybe it’s a bit like London policemen – you know you’re getting old when the policemen look young!

After a short taxi we took off and waited patiently for the breakfast. So patient that apparently I fell asleep and didn’t wake up until we landed!

Alison had some fruit and coffee.

We followed signs through connections and waited it out in the lounge for a couple of hours until our return flight to London City airport was called for boarding. We voluntarily handed over our wheeled bags (they often call for volunteers here as the overhead lockers get full quickly if the flight is full). It didn’t matter to us at this stage as we weren’t in a great hurry at the other end. The bags never take too long there anyway as it’s so small.

We took off and headed for home but it seemed like a very long route – we flew over London, past City, over our house, right out to the Isle of Thanet and the Kent coast and then turned and headed all the way in towards London again!

You can see the 02 from here:

We had the usual smooth experience at the airport having landed bang on time – just had time for a quick restroom visit before we grabbed our bags from the conveyor belt and headed out to the DLR, hopped on a train, changed onto National Rail for a couple of stops and then jumped in a cab for the 5 minute ride to home.

Some thoughts of the trip:

We LOVED the Harpoon Brewery – great fun, great beer and wonderful pretzels!
It’s the first time we’ve been Stateside close-ish to Christmas and it was lovely, very festive.
3 nights/4 days was just right to get a flavour of Boston and left us wanting to go back again
Boston was really quite refined and understated compared to some other US cities we’ve been to
Upper deck on the 747 is wonderful!
Global Entry was amazing
We had no real lows at all

Next trip is in January 2017 – going East this time! Watch this space!

Sue · 5 Jan 17, 05:26 PM

Really enjoyed these reports thanks, we travel to the US a lot for road trips and I don't really like the cities but there was something about Boston we loved.
It is compact and 'seeable' plus the history makes it really enjoyable and we too will go back. It's a great starting point to see a bit of New England in the Fall as well.
As Ale lovers, we must try that Harpoon brewery next trip

P&S · 5 Jan 17, 10:00 PM

We have been to a lot of cities in the world but we love Boston and cannot wait to go back

Can I just ask why you do the short journeys and you don't just fly direct please

BONZO · 6 Jan 17, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by P&S

We have been to a lot of cities in the world but we love Boston and cannot wait to go back

Can I just ask why you do the short journeys and you don't just fly direct please

Hi - I'll get Alison to explain in detail later but it's all due to (a) Cost saving by going ex-EU (b) maximising tier points / avios.

Simply put, flying direct would cost more.

• Flights are typically priced in the currency of the departing city, and therefore a strong pound against these currencies can make the flights relatively cheaper.

• The taxes & charges to fly from the UK, especially in Business Class, are higher in the UK than Europe

• It can work out that the longer the trip / higher the class = greater saving

BONZO · 6 Jan 17, 05:04 PM

As an example, my eldest daughter visited a friend in Sydney last year in the summer.

BA Business Class direct from London Heathrow to Sydney = circa 4k return

Going via Dublin BA Business Class i.e. London to Dublin, Dublin to London, London to Sydney return = circa 2K return

Cutiepie · 8 Jan 17, 10:51 AM

Another great trip. Thanks for sharing

kingofhonour · 19 Feb 17, 08:18 PM

great trip report,picked up some good tips from it too,thanks for doing the trippie.

orlandosgr8 · 10 May 17, 04:58 PM

A good trip home, and a great trip report

5 Jan 17, 12:41 AM	#1
	5 Jan 17, 12:41 AM BONZO Imagineer
BONZO Imagineer Join Date: Mar 02	Cheers and Beers in Boston - November 2016 Day 6 (Last flights of the trip and our final thoughts) Cheers and Beers in Boston CAST LIST Me (Shaun): looking forward to the beers! Alison: looking forward to the Cheers! Link to trip report index: Here Tuesday 29th November 2016 Just to wrap things up – the last couple of flights and our thoughts on the trip (and hardly any photos!) The flight was quite short, but we hit a very turbulent patch part way which woke us both up. All the cabin crew were told to be seated as well for a while, and service was suspended. Luckily it didn’t last too long and we both drifted off to sleep again. About an hour or so before landing we woke up and just had a coffee and warm pastry to keep us going. We landed smoothly and on time and said thank you to the cabin crew (2 of whom were retiring at the end of the flight) as we left. We headed through flight connections as we were going back to Dublin – it was a bit slow but not too bad, and we had time for a snack and coffee in the lounge before going to the gate. Boarding had just started when we got there, but it was very easy and we found our seats and got settled in for the short hop over to Irish Sea. We saw the captain (or could have been first officer) chatting to the cabin crew at one point – he looked about 12 years old! Maybe it’s a bit like London policemen – you know you’re getting old when the policemen look young! After a short taxi we took off and waited patiently for the breakfast. So patient that apparently I fell asleep and didn’t wake up until we landed! Alison had some fruit and coffee. We followed signs through connections and waited it out in the lounge for a couple of hours until our return flight to London City airport was called for boarding. We voluntarily handed over our wheeled bags (they often call for volunteers here as the overhead lockers get full quickly if the flight is full). It didn’t matter to us at this stage as we weren’t in a great hurry at the other end. The bags never take too long there anyway as it’s so small. We took off and headed for home but it seemed like a very long route – we flew over London, past City, over our house, right out to the Isle of Thanet and the Kent coast and then turned and headed all the way in towards London again! You can see the 02 from here: We had the usual smooth experience at the airport having landed bang on time – just had time for a quick restroom visit before we grabbed our bags from the conveyor belt and headed out to the DLR, hopped on a train, changed onto National Rail for a couple of stops and then jumped in a cab for the 5 minute ride to home. Some thoughts of the trip: We LOVED the Harpoon Brewery – great fun, great beer and wonderful pretzels! It’s the first time we’ve been Stateside close-ish to Christmas and it was lovely, very festive. 3 nights/4 days was just right to get a flavour of Boston and left us wanting to go back again Boston was really quite refined and understated compared to some other US cities we’ve been to Upper deck on the 747 is wonderful! Global Entry was amazing We had no real lows at all Next trip is in January 2017 – going East this time! Watch this space! __________________ http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sign...igpic534_1.gif 1988 ~ Contemporary ~ Honeymoon 1989 ~ Off site 1994 ~ EuroDisney ~ Santa Fe 1999 ~ Off site 2001 ~ CBR (Aruba) ~ Poly (Tahiti) 2003 ~ WL & HRH 2004 ~ Pop Century, RPH, CSR, PBH, Contemporary 2006 ~ DLP ~ Newport Bay 2007 ~ POR ~ HRH ~ GF 2008 ~ All star sports, BCV, RPH, Vero Beach, VWL 2010 ~ OKW ~ BCV ~ HRH ~POP Century ~ Vero Beach ~ VWL 2013 ~ AKL ~ HRH ~ BCV ~ Vero Beach ~ VWL Edited at 01:14 AM.

5 Jan 17, 05:26 PM	#2
	5 Jan 17, 05:26 PM Sue Imagineer
Sue Imagineer Join Date: Aug 04 Location: On a road trip Sue's Reviews Hotel Reviews: 3 Restaurant Reviews: 17	Really enjoyed these reports thanks, we travel to the US a lot for road trips and I don't really like the cities but there was something about Boston we loved. It is compact and 'seeable' plus the history makes it really enjoyable and we too will go back. It's a great starting point to see a bit of New England in the Fall as well. As Ale lovers, we must try that Harpoon brewery next trip __________________ ”Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts” - Richard Feynman. Theoretical Physicist 7th Magical Trip - August /September 2008. FOOD & TRIP REPORTS Route 66 and all that TRIP REPORTS

6 Jan 17, 05:04 PM	#5
	6 Jan 17, 05:04 PM BONZO Imagineer Thread Starter
BONZO Thread Starter Imagineer Join Date: Mar 02	As an example, my eldest daughter visited a friend in Sydney last year in the summer. BA Business Class direct from London Heathrow to Sydney = circa 4k return Going via Dublin BA Business Class i.e. London to Dublin, Dublin to London, London to Sydney return = circa 2K return __________________ http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sign...igpic534_1.gif 1988 ~ Contemporary ~ Honeymoon 1989 ~ Off site 1994 ~ EuroDisney ~ Santa Fe 1999 ~ Off site 2001 ~ CBR (Aruba) ~ Poly (Tahiti) 2003 ~ WL & HRH 2004 ~ Pop Century, RPH, CSR, PBH, Contemporary 2006 ~ DLP ~ Newport Bay 2007 ~ POR ~ HRH ~ GF 2008 ~ All star sports, BCV, RPH, Vero Beach, VWL 2010 ~ OKW ~ BCV ~ HRH ~POP Century ~ Vero Beach ~ VWL 2013 ~ AKL ~ HRH ~ BCV ~ Vero Beach ~ VWL Edited at 05:06 PM.