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Gear Up: I’m Just Dreaming

What better way to cross the Atlantic than in the
luxury of Boeing's new dream machine?
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author recounts a fortunate upgrade to Virgin Atlantic Upper Class on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, experiencing luxurious amenities like the Heathrow Clubhouse and lie-flat beds on a flight from London to Boston.
  • The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is highlighted for its advanced design, offering 20% better fuel efficiency due to composite construction and enhanced passenger comfort through higher cabin humidity and a lower cabin altitude of 6,000 feet.
  • The article details the 787's engineering innovations, such as "bleedless" engines, its development driven by efficiency, and its resolution of initial lithium battery issues, contributing to a quieter and more comfortable flying experience.
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On some days, the stars just line up perfectly. So perfectly that I become reluctant to touch or perturb anything. This day I was on a roll. “Just keep quiet and try not to attract attention” was my mantra at London’s Heathrow Airport.

It all started with Virgin Atlantic’s winter sale. Upper class was going for close to coach fares from New York to London and return. I don’t have a lot of transoceanic travel experience by most measures, but I have some. And I still think it is a thrill. I haven’t crossed the Atlantic on Singapore Airlines or Emirates (often said to be excellent), but I have experienced Virgin’s upper class and found it to be fabulous.

Dick Karl

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.

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