The flight from Heathrow to Boston was due to take off at 2:40pm, but at 1:50 we were still unsure whether we were going to spend the night in London or Manchester (Manchester NH that is). The nice man behind the Virgin standby desk at Heathrow, who had early told us the flight was very full and we should come back at 1:30 when he would know if there were spare seats, wasn't giving anything away with the same sad expression and body language that seemed to say 'no chance today standby people'. However at 1:57 we were called to the desk + told we had a seat, in economy, but we would be upgraded at the gate. So thro' security (quick stop for an iris scan), passport control, ran thro' departures + on to gate 1 (the furthest away) + I offered my boarding pass to the gate staff. 'Bing' went the machine - so no upgrade, then Mrs. M (as we shall refer to my lovely wife) handed hers across. 'Bing, bong' - an upgrade to Upper Class. Quick check with the desk + no other seats in Upper or Premium. Putting a brave face on it - it was her birthday after all - we got to the aircraft door, she turned left past the bar to her seat / bed, I went into cattle class. Turned out alright though - I now have a new best friend - well two really, Nick who sat next to me on the plane and who both laughed at my jokes and who made me chuckle; plus S....... , our cabin staff, who appeared every 15 minutes or so with new treats for Nick + me. It got to the point were we shared one of our chocolate orange desert with a less loved fellow pasanger + gave his wife + daughter some of our chocolate brownies. The journey just flew! I explained to Nick that given the free champagne on offer to Mrs M it would probably be necessary to carry her to the bus when we landed + Nick gallantly offer to help me by taking her feet. She seemed quite sober when we found her (she had slept after having her wine / gourmet meal / champers / etc), but was I felt impressed with my friends, particularly the lovely S..... who greeted me by the baggage carousel like a long lost friend. Though immigration quickly (made friends with the nice lady - who called us leaf spotters and told us about her holiday plans despite the every growing queue behind us). Then out to find the car retail agency continued ....