LONDON TRIP and our 6½ hour 1st class Avanti West Coast delay. We arrive Glasgow Central at 0415+1

Summary

Scott and his son Blair embark on a memorable trip to London, with a primary goal of visiting the Natural History Museum, a long-awaited item on Blair's bucket list. Despite initial weather concerns and an aircraft downgrade offer from EasyJet, they manage to fly to London. They explore the city, stay at the Millennium Hotel Conference Center using air miles, and enjoy local cuisine at Wagamama. The return journey hits a snag with a train delay, turning a 4.5-hour trip into an overnight adventure, but they make the most of it, showcasing the unpredictability and excitement of travel.

Takeaways

• 😀 Scott and his son Blair are traveling to London, with a primary goal of visiting the Natural History Museum, which has been on Blair's bucket list.
• 🌁 They experience foggy weather in Glasgow, which initially raises concerns about their flight but it eventually departs without issue.
• ✈️ Their flight to London is with EasyJet, and they receive an offer to voluntarily change their flight for compensation due to an aircraft downgrade.
• 🏨 They stay at the Millennium Hotel Conference Center in London, utilizing air miles to cover the cost, which is a significant discount from the normal rate.
• 🍽 Blair recommends Wagamama for dinner, where they enjoy a satisfying meal.
• 🍨 They indulge in ice cream, expressing delight with the taste.
• 🏛️ The Natural History Museum visit is a highlight of the trip, spending about three hours exploring before moving on to lunch.
• 🚂 On their return, they face a significant delay due to a broken-down train, which extends their travel time considerably.
• 🍷 At Preston station, Blair is seen drinking wine, inadvertently breaking the law as it's not permitted on the platform.
• 🌧️ The trip concludes with a rainy and delayed return to Glasgow, with the final leg involving a bus ride and a long walk.

Q & A

Who is the narrator of the video script?

The narrator is Scott.

What is the main purpose of Scott and Blair's trip to London?

The main purpose of their trip is to visit the Natural History Museum in London, which has been on Blair's bucket list for years.

What was the initial concern Scott had about their flight to London?

Scott was concerned about the flight due to the foggy weather in Glasgow, which made visibility poor.

How did EasyJet handle the overbooking situation on Scott's flight?

EasyJet offered passengers €300 each to voluntarily offload and catch a later flight due to the downgraded aircraft type.

What surprise did Scott have planned for Blair on their return trip?

Scott planned a first-class train ride back to Glasgow as a surprise for Blair.

Where did Scott and Blair stay in London, and how did they manage to get a discounted rate?

They stayed at the Millennium Hotel Conference Center in Gloucester, London. Scott used air miles to get a free stay, which is normally priced at £117 a night for a Sunday night.

What was Blair's recommendation for dinner in London?

Blair recommended Wagamama, where they had katsu curry and steak teriyaki.

What was the unexpected delay on their train ride back to Glasgow?

Their train was delayed due to a broken-down train on the line between Lockerbie and Carlisle.

How did the delay affect their return to Glasgow?

The delay caused them to miss the last train to Glasgow Airport and they had to take a bus to the airport and walk back to Scott's place from there.

What was the final outcome of their return journey to Glasgow?

They arrived back in Glasgow Central about 6 and 1/4 hours late and had to deal with a lack of taxis and heavy rain.