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Have you ever turned left on a plane . Travelled in 1st class
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No but I did once sit on concorde and we taxied a little.. amazing and as much as I'm terrified of flying, I'd have loved to have flown on her.
I do have plans to go first class at some point on a plane or at least business class |
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By (user no longer on site) 49 weeks ago
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I did First Class on British Airways to Dubai.
I am tattooed and had a polo shirt on. I was told that a few years earlier I would have been asked to cover up or refused entry
That summer it up for me really. Yes the seats, well seat made to a bed was amazing. Free champagne. But all very pretentious and a few treated the air crew like crap |
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By (user no longer on site) 49 weeks ago
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Not a plane but did sneek free first class train ride to Manchester in for the price off economy class
Didn’t realise tickets and such were numbered and everyone was alcaded a seat
So I just sat in the first carriage not knowing it was first class
ticket guy came around about hafe a hour in to the journey check my ticket and sed I was in the wrong carriage I should be 2 carriages down I sed sorry went to get up and he sed wouldn’t bother moving now just sit whare you are it be quite empty to day
Jack pot free upgrade  |
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"Premium economy or business, never 1st, wouldn’t waste my money - flights for sleeping, I don’t even take the free food & alcohol anymore. "
And lots of them have cut down on a lot of stuff in recent years. You hardly get decent food as you used to anymore or good wine etc. Certainly not on all of them. |
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"Back in July this year. I flew Virgin Upper Class to Orlando. It was nice, but it’s still an airliner….
"
I bet that earned a few miles! And virgin clubhouse access ?!
I still have half a million from when I used to do Heathrow to Nigeria every week for work. VA has to be the most generous Air-miles program there is |
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"Premium economy or business, never 1st, wouldn’t waste my money - flights for sleeping, I don’t even take the free food & alcohol anymore.
And lots of them have cut down on a lot of stuff in recent years. You hardly get decent food as you used to anymore or good wine etc. Certainly not on all of them."
The exception in the clubhouse lounge at Heathrow. Do an hour there then sleep on a night flight
I just want to sleep as long as possible , I try and take night flights and be out of uk airspace at 23:59 so it doesn’t count as a day in uk. |
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I have flown to Australia on an Emirates A380 in First. _Absolutely_ incredible. Only time I have ever arrived more relaxed than when I left - and that was on a 24 hour flight!
No idea what it cost (client insisted on paying) but it is an amazing experience. |
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By (user no longer on site) 49 weeks ago
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I flew first class from São Paulo to Heathrow. There was only 8 first class seats. It was unbelievable and started in the lounge before we boarded the plane  |
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Once in business class but only a short haul to Frankfurt (as I remember), hardly noticed the difference apart from the use of the lounges at the airports. Had the offer of a business class seat to Australia but swapped it for two economies so I could take my girlfriend at the time. Didn’t realise at the time I could probably have taken four people in economy for the price of one in business. |
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By (user no longer on site) 49 weeks ago
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"Premium economy or business, never 1st, wouldn’t waste my money - flights for sleeping, I don’t even take the free food & alcohol anymore.
And lots of them have cut down on a lot of stuff in recent years. You hardly get decent food as you used to anymore or good wine etc. Certainly not on all of them.
The exception in the clubhouse lounge at Heathrow. Do an hour there then sleep on a night flight
I just want to sleep as long as possible , I try and take night flights and be out of uk airspace at 23:59 so it doesn’t count as a day in uk. "
One hour in the Heathrow Clubhouse is not nearly enough time.
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By (user no longer on site) 49 weeks ago
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"Back in July this year. I flew Virgin Upper Class to Orlando. It was nice, but it’s still an airliner….
I bet that earned a few miles! And virgin clubhouse access ?!
I still have half a million from when I used to do Heathrow to Nigeria every week for work. VA has to be the most generous Air-miles program there is "
It was actually the lounge access that made it for me. Flight out was daytime so an early arrival at the lounge, chilling and dining before boarding was nice, and the flight seemed to pass quickly although it was @9hrs. Coming back was a night flight and I just don't sleep well travelling so the bed didn't make much difference. Arriving back @8am it was nice to be able to take a shower, relax and a good breakfast before getting on the road. |
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By (user no longer on site) 49 weeks ago
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"Premium economy or business, never 1st, wouldn’t waste my money - flights for sleeping, I don’t even take the free food & alcohol anymore.
And lots of them have cut down on a lot of stuff in recent years. You hardly get decent food as you used to anymore or good wine etc. Certainly not on all of them.
The exception in the clubhouse lounge at Heathrow. Do an hour there then sleep on a night flight
I just want to sleep as long as possible , I try and take night flights and be out of uk airspace at 23:59 so it doesn’t count as a day in uk.
One hour in the Heathrow Clubhouse is not nearly enough time.
"
I agree. I get there as early as they will let me in and chill before the flight. They even used to give a complimentary treatment like a massage or hair treatment. I didn’t bother with the gym… |
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Nope. I don't think I've even been on a plane with a first class section.
Actually, I remember I have been on one with a first class section but I definitely wasn't in it. BA flight to Germany for the school exchange in 1998. Defo wasn't sitting in first class then!!
We happily fly cattle class. It's all the same shite just with different colours on the seats  |
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Nope, but I've flown cargo may times, which I'm my opinion is pretty comfortable. Find yourself a cosy space of your choosing amongst the cargo after take off. Roll out your roll mat (ideally youve treated yourself to a good self inflating one) and sleeping bag. Then crawl in, head phones on and sleeping bag hood up and over nice an tight. Drift away to the land of nod until a member of aircrew kicks you to wake up and find a seat for landing.
That's how I liked to fly. Lots of space to spread out, away from other people and wrapped up in a nice cozy bed.
Mr |
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By *lecom1Couple 49 weeks ago
Stornoway |
Used to fly first class regularly to Baghdad in the late 50's early 60's as a kid. The oil company paid the tickets. At first on KLM on a Lockheed Electra prop plane. Still remember the tin of goodies us kids got and that you could turn up at check in 45 mins before the flight left and get through onto the plane 15 mins before it left. |
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"Nope. I don't think I've even been on a plane with a first class section.
Actually, I remember I have been on one with a first class section but I definitely wasn't in it. BA flight to Germany for the school exchange in 1998. Defo wasn't sitting in first class then!!
We happily fly cattle class. It's all the same shite just with different colours on the seats "
Exact same, just different coloured seat? Eh, no.
Leaving aside any differences in terms of f&b, there is a big difference in terms of seating, and that’s where the difference is for me. A couple of inches legroom and a seat that reclines a couple of inches vs loads of legroom and a seat that reclines flat. On a long haul flight it’s a huge difference. On a 13 hour flight in October I got 9 hours sleep.
I stick to economy on short haul flights, unless the price difference is minimal. |
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"Yes likewise, a few times. To India and Dubai and San Francisco. Utterly amazing. Total pleasure but not sure I’d pay that much personally as was rare upgraded work trips, from business class. "
Same here. Business class is more than good enough, I really don’t see much value for the additional cost of moving from business to 1st. |
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"Once in business class but only a short haul to Frankfurt (as I remember), hardly noticed the difference apart from the use of the lounges at the airports. Had the offer of a business class seat to Australia but swapped it for two economies so I could take my girlfriend at the time. Didn’t realise at the time I could probably have taken four people in economy for the price of one in business."
On short haul flights around Europe, many “business class” fares merely give increased flexibility, lounge access and fast track security, but the seating on the plane is the same in row 1 as row 10 … or might leave the centre seat free between 1a and 1c, for example.
On long haul flights, separate cabin, different seating, flat beds etc, different f&b. |
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By (user no longer on site) 49 weeks ago
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"Used to fly first class regularly to Baghdad in the late 50's early 60's as a kid. The oil company paid the tickets. At first on KLM on a Lockheed Electra prop plane. Still remember the tin of goodies us kids got and that you could turn up at check in 45 mins before the flight left and get through onto the plane 15 mins before it left."
Still can turn up 15 mins before a flight nowadays, just on smaller jets. 
M |
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By (user no longer on site) 49 weeks ago
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Never in First. Once by accident in business, because they'd overbooked economy and upgraded me.
The experience in business was awesome. Couldn't afford it ever again and I'm not that organised to sort out airmiles for the free upgrade. But I can't deny, it's wonderful. |
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"Nope. I don't think I've even been on a plane with a first class section.
Actually, I remember I have been on one with a first class section but I definitely wasn't in it. BA flight to Germany for the school exchange in 1998. Defo wasn't sitting in first class then!!
We happily fly cattle class. It's all the same shite just with different colours on the seats
Exact same, just different coloured seat? Eh, no.
Leaving aside any differences in terms of f&b, there is a big difference in terms of seating, and that’s where the difference is for me. A couple of inches legroom and a seat that reclines a couple of inches vs loads of legroom and a seat that reclines flat. On a long haul flight it’s a huge difference. On a 13 hour flight in October I got 9 hours sleep.
I stick to economy on short haul flights, unless the price difference is minimal. "
I think the longest flight I've ever taken is 4.5hrs. Done on Ryanair or easyJet several times. Ditto Mr KC, who is 6ft 4in tall. I'd much rather spend my money on the hotel and activities once away, rather than on the flights. I would avoid flying long haul these days anyway because aeroplane toilets are not wheelchair accessible, almost no airlines carry aisle chairs on board so I'd be struggling to hold my bladder that long. 4.5h flight, I can do. Toilet immediately before. Toilet ASAP at the destination terminal and don't drink anything too close to departure or much onboard. |
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"Nope. I don't think I've even been on a plane with a first class section.
Actually, I remember I have been on one with a first class section but I definitely wasn't in it. BA flight to Germany for the school exchange in 1998. Defo wasn't sitting in first class then!!
We happily fly cattle class. It's all the same shite just with different colours on the seats
Exact same, just different coloured seat? Eh, no.
Leaving aside any differences in terms of f&b, there is a big difference in terms of seating, and that’s where the difference is for me. A couple of inches legroom and a seat that reclines a couple of inches vs loads of legroom and a seat that reclines flat. On a long haul flight it’s a huge difference. On a 13 hour flight in October I got 9 hours sleep.
I stick to economy on short haul flights, unless the price difference is minimal.
I think the longest flight I've ever taken is 4.5hrs. Done on Ryanair or easyJet several times. Ditto Mr KC, who is 6ft 4in tall. I'd much rather spend my money on the hotel and activities once away, rather than on the flights. I would avoid flying long haul these days anyway because aeroplane toilets are not wheelchair accessible, almost no airlines carry aisle chairs on board so I'd be struggling to hold my bladder that long. 4.5h flight, I can do. Toilet immediately before. Toilet ASAP at the destination terminal and don't drink anything too close to departure or much onboard. "
Interesting … I would have thought that the larger planes used for long haul flights would be better in terms of accessibility, but clearly not. |
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Have a Google for this article re: wheelchair accessible toilets on aircraft:
Which Airlines Say where Accessible Toilets on Planes are?
Wednesday, 22 June 2022 09:23
Written by Roberto Castiglioni
You'll see that only dual aisle aircraft ever have "wheelchair accessible" toilets but even then, some (like Aer Lingus) only say it's accessible to the toilet door, not inside the toilet, so you have to be able to walk from the door to the toilet.
For those few aircraft that do have wheelchair accessible toilets on twin aisle, very large planes, they are most located in the economy class area, not in First. Obviously no airline wants to sacrifice First Class space for a wheelchair accessible loo. Crew on these types of plane are supposed to be trained to assist customers with an aisle chair but aisle chairs are instruments of torture. They're hard to transfer into and incredibly uncomfortable. I've heard accounts of disabled people on long haul flights being told that the aisle chair is unavailable or that crew state they are unable to assist (even though they are supposed to).
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By *mily36CWoman 49 weeks ago
. (or anywhere beginning with B..!?) |
"I usually fly business so near enough! "
Same... but I've heard Emirate suites on the A380s are another level of class with its own spa shower too ...for the super rich I guess  |
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By (user no longer on site) 49 weeks ago
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I travelled first class from Heathrow to Paris....was it worth it....No....for just a short journey....
We were only separated by curtains & were right behind the cock pit |
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By *abioMan 49 weeks ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
Flown on virgin “upper class” you can bid on an upgrade and end up getting it fairly cheaply depending on time of year you are travelling…
Virgin clubhouse at Heathrow is epic… I’d get there a good 4 hours before the flight |
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"I travelled first class from Heathrow to Paris....was it worth it....No....for just a short journey....
We were only separated by curtains & were right behind the cock pit"
Yeah, as I was saying above, on short haul giving there is usually no difference in the seating. Sometimes just a curtain, as you say. Or one seat kept free (Eg passengers in 1a and -c but 1b kept free).
What you are paying for on those flights is ticket flexibility, fast track security, lounge access etc.
One exception I have found is that some aer Lingus morning flights from LHR have flat beds, which are fantastic. |
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"Flown on virgin “upper class” you can bid on an upgrade and end up getting it fairly cheaply depending on time of year you are travelling…
Virgin clubhouse at Heathrow is epic… I’d get there a good 4 hours before the flight "
Same here … used to travel to New York a lot on virgin and got to the airport hours early to use the club House |
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"Yes, with Qantas, BA, Emirates
Qantas were by far the best"
Ever flown Qantas premium? Am thinking of taking the direct flight to Perth, wondering if Premium is worth a try … or either suck up the cost and go business or suck up the discomfort and go economy.
Sometimes I find premium a big step up from economy, sometimes not |
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By *arrapsMan 48 weeks ago
port talbot |
"Yes, with Qantas, BA, Emirates
Qantas were by far the best
Ever flown Qantas premium? Am thinking of taking the direct flight to Perth, wondering if Premium is worth a try … or either suck up the cost and go business or suck up the discomfort and go economy.
Sometimes I find premium a big step up from economy, sometimes not "
Emirates premium class, it’s like business class on some other airlines. |
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By (user no longer on site) 48 weeks ago
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"Not a plane but did sneek free first class train ride to Manchester in for the price off economy class
Didn’t realise tickets and such were numbered and everyone was alcaded a seat
So I just sat in the first carriage not knowing it was first class
ticket guy came around about hafe a hour in to the journey check my ticket and sed I was in the wrong carriage I should be 2 carriages down I sed sorry went to get up and he sed wouldn’t bother moving now just sit whare you are it be quite empty to day
Jack pot free upgrade "
Fantastic well
Possible you used a little bit
CHARM |
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By *abioMan 48 weeks ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
"Yes, with Qantas, BA, Emirates
Qantas were by far the best
Ever flown Qantas premium? Am thinking of taking the direct flight to Perth, wondering if Premium is worth a try … or either suck up the cost and go business or suck up the discomfort and go economy.
Sometimes I find premium a big step up from economy, sometimes not "
If you are flying direct the premium is going to be worth it if only for the extra legroom alone
17 hrs in cattle class doesn’t scream fun for me!….. |
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Anyone else remember the BAC 111 aircraft?
They had an inline dropdown staircase under the tail end and you carried on in a straight line on boarding and turned left or right according to which side your seat was.
One of the first I went on had all the seats rear facing as they had been on a troop carrying contract. really odd feeling during the unusually steep take off.
Lovely noisy engines, too! |
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"Not a plane but did sneek free first class train ride to Manchester in for the price off economy class
Didn’t realise tickets and such were numbered and everyone was alcaded a seat
So I just sat in the first carriage not knowing it was first class
ticket guy came around about hafe a hour in to the journey check my ticket and sed I was in the wrong carriage I should be 2 carriages down I sed sorry went to get up and he sed wouldn’t bother moving now just sit whare you are it be quite empty to day
Jack pot free upgrade "
Happened to me with being put in the wheelchair space in 1st class a few times, usually because the one I'd reserved in standard class was so inaccessible due to over crowding that it was impossible to board otherwise. I wasn't complaining! Once, my daughter and I had an entire first class carriage to ourselves because they'd double booked the standard class wheelchair space. We had a great time! |
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By (user no longer on site) 48 weeks ago
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"Nope. I don't think I've even been on a plane with a first class section.
Actually, I remember I have been on one with a first class section but I definitely wasn't in it. BA flight to Germany for the school exchange in 1998. Defo wasn't sitting in first class then!!
We happily fly cattle class. It's all the same shite just with different colours on the seats
Exact same, just different coloured seat? Eh, no.
Leaving aside any differences in terms of f&b, there is a big difference in terms of seating, and that’s where the difference is for me. A couple of inches legroom and a seat that reclines a couple of inches vs loads of legroom and a seat that reclines flat. On a long haul flight it’s a huge difference. On a 13 hour flight in October I got 9 hours sleep.
I stick to economy on short haul flights, unless the price difference is minimal.
I think the longest flight I've ever taken is 4.5hrs. Done on Ryanair or easyJet several times. Ditto Mr KC, who is 6ft 4in tall. I'd much rather spend my money on the hotel and activities once away, rather than on the flights. I would avoid flying long haul these days anyway because aeroplane toilets are not wheelchair accessible, almost no airlines carry aisle chairs on board so I'd be struggling to hold my bladder that long. 4.5h flight, I can do. Toilet immediately before. Toilet ASAP at the destination terminal and don't drink anything too close to departure or much onboard.
Interesting … I would have thought that the larger planes used for long haul flights would be better in terms of accessibility, but clearly not. "
This is where flying first class will make a difference. It is a requirement on long distance planes for aisle wheelchairs to be installed exactly for this - as someone in need of a wheelchair would not be expected to hold it on a 7+ hour flight.
Toilets in first class can fit an aisle chair. |
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"Nope. I don't think I've even been on a plane with a first class section.
Actually, I remember I have been on one with a first class section but I definitely wasn't in it. BA flight to Germany for the school exchange in 1998. Defo wasn't sitting in first class then!!
We happily fly cattle class. It's all the same shite just with different colours on the seats
Exact same, just different coloured seat? Eh, no.
Leaving aside any differences in terms of f&b, there is a big difference in terms of seating, and that’s where the difference is for me. A couple of inches legroom and a seat that reclines a couple of inches vs loads of legroom and a seat that reclines flat. On a long haul flight it’s a huge difference. On a 13 hour flight in October I got 9 hours sleep.
I stick to economy on short haul flights, unless the price difference is minimal.
I think the longest flight I've ever taken is 4.5hrs. Done on Ryanair or easyJet several times. Ditto Mr KC, who is 6ft 4in tall. I'd much rather spend my money on the hotel and activities once away, rather than on the flights. I would avoid flying long haul these days anyway because aeroplane toilets are not wheelchair accessible, almost no airlines carry aisle chairs on board so I'd be struggling to hold my bladder that long. 4.5h flight, I can do. Toilet immediately before. Toilet ASAP at the destination terminal and don't drink anything too close to departure or much onboard.
Interesting … I would have thought that the larger planes used for long haul flights would be better in terms of accessibility, but clearly not.
This is where flying first class will make a difference. It is a requirement on long distance planes for aisle wheelchairs to be installed exactly for this - as someone in need of a wheelchair would not be expected to hold it on a 7+ hour flight.
Toilets in first class can fit an aisle chair. "
But disabled people shouldn't have to pay a premium to access basic services, like toilets. And from the experience of disabled friends, what is supposed to happen and be available does not always match reality, unfortunately. There are many cases where on board aisle chairs are not available on long haul flights and also many types of aircraft where the onboard toilet that is supposed to be accessible is actually far too small and the disabled person can only use it with the door open etc.
I have never been on a flight with an onboard aisle chair or wheelchair accessible toilet - 4.5hrs plus arriving at the gate a while beforehand etc is still a long time to not go to the toilet, but is technically short haul. |
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Twice first class. Twice business class. Free upgrade both times. Sadly things have changed and I can see that happening again. But wow amazing experience. If money no object then that’s the way to travel. But sadly I have better things to spend our money on so cattle class all the way now!
Mrs J  |
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Flown a few times long haul via work many years ago. First time I was 22 (those were the days) flying to Tokyo. It would have been great but I barely slept for 3 days before getting presentation ready. I fell asleep before take-off and woke up with about one hour left of a 12 hour flight. Missed all the food and drink and attentive service by lovely ladies. They felt sorry for me and gave me a bottle of champagne as I left. Was hoping to bump into one of them later at the hotel but no such luck I only stayed 24 hours and came back - the flight back was more enjoyable Nowadays more likely to be EasyJet. |
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By (user no longer on site) 48 weeks ago
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Always over 3 hours Work travel has spoiled holidays. I’ve travelled an awful lot for work and always in business so now when I go long haul holiday it has to be business.
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