Air France is still the reigning champion among the international airlines we have traveled. Betty did a great job with Delta in an upgrade to "Comfort Plus". The location on the plane was great with more leg room. It is just the service. Air France has Delta beat by a mile and a half on service and quality of food and comfort. Delta flight was an older model Boeing refitted. Delta has entertainment screens in the seat in front of your seat. Air France has it in the your seat arm rest which pulls out. Much better arrangement. Easier to see and more private..
Delta's seat are the most uncomfortable of any airlines I have flown. I am older so I am boney in the butt. In general, airlines have gone out of their way to make air travel uncomfortable to force upgrades. But, when you upgrade and still get seats with flat cushions, it is discouraging. Hey, I discovered a new handicap - boney backside.
The trip over was fine. It was a long journey. With connections and airport early arrivals, we were traveling about twenty hours.
I would not describe ourselves as experienced travelers. I would describe myself more as "moving up the curve". We, now, know not to exchange money at Travelex at the departing airport since ATMs at the arriving airport will be everywhere and much with lower fees and better exchange rates and to take taxis from the airport when possible.
Arriving after a long trip, you are unfamiliar with the location of your hotel or apartment and possibly the language. You are intimidated. Travel books are great but they are not real. With the pressure on, simple questions like "which train", "which way", "what platform" "where to transfer - you quickly panic. All of the transportation options are expensive. There are five of us plus one (part of a party is with us for three days) and the expense quickly adds up.
London has one of the most expensive transportation systems in the world.
The advantage of taxis is that the price is metered and rate is set. Another advantage is that the driver knows where they are going - and in London, particularly, that is so helpful.
We piled into a very nice van taxi with our luggage (everyone of us has one carry on and backpack - travel light is the only way to go ). We give the driver our best guess an the address (advice: have the addresses readily available, not buried in the backpack). We sat back and watched.
We arrived within 45 minutes and the cost was substantially less than taking train and the Tube. More importantly, we did not get lost and were still talking civilly to each other. Nothing test friendship or relationship more than dragging luggage and backpacks on and off trains while getting lost.
The next best decision is that - this time - we bought an international phone plan. So we called the owner (after three attempts as to how to dial) and within 20 minutes we are touring the apartment. We are unpacked and deciding on a Pub.
Tomorrow will be the beginning.
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