The trip began in Cincinnati (CVG), where I booked a repositioning flight to Boston to meet up with a friend. After arriving, we headed to the Air France lounge (via Priority Pass) before our Virgin Atlantic flight to London Heathrow (LHR). We had originally booked the flight specifically to try Virgin’s new A330neo, which promised an improved business class experience. Unfortunately, the aircraft was swapped for an A350-1000 before departure. While the A350 isn’t a bad plane, the A330-900neo’s business class product was supposed to be a significant upgrade, making the change disappointing.
I used 62,500 Flying Blue miles for the flight (transferred from Amex during a 1:1.3 conversion, effectively costing 48,000 Amex points) plus $190 in taxes. The flight itself was underwhelming—not only was the plane swap a letdown, but the food on board was also nothing memorable. To top it off, the experience at the in-plane lounge was soured when a flight attendant loudly shushed us after a passenger complained about noise. It was an awkward situation that could have been handled more respectfully.
After arriving at LHR, we spent the night at the Hilton Park Lane, where I was pleasantly surprised with a suite upgrade, thanks to my Hilton Honors Gold status. The next morning, we took a train to Gatwick (LGW) and boarded an EasyJet flight to Bilbao. We rented a car (later upgraded to a BMW 2 Series courtesy of my status) from Sixt and drove to our first stop, Biarritz.
Biarritz was a great mix of French elegance and coastal charm. We stayed at the Hotel du Palais, which was a fantastic choice that I have previously reviewed. The city offered beautiful beaches, picturesque views, and plenty of dining options where we could indulge in Basque cuisine. Exploring landmarks like the Rocher de la Vierge added to the experience.
Next, we headed to San Sebastián, staying at La Sala Plaza. Known for its world-class culinary scene, the city lived up to its reputation. We explored the pintxos bars in the Old Town and enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere of La Concha Beach. A hike up Monte Urgull provided some stunning views of the city. The hotel’s location made it easy to navigate around the city.
Our last stop was Bilbao, where we stayed at the Gran Domine Bilbao. The city had a unique character, combining old industrial vibes with modern cultural highlights like the Guggenheim Museum. We spent time exploring the museum and wandered through the Casco Viejo (Old Town) to experience traditional Basque culture. The hotel’s proximity to the Guggenheim was a huge plus.
For the return journey, I flew Vueling from Bilbao to Madrid, then took an Iberia A330 flight back to Boston. The business class product on the A330 is older, but for 34,000 Avios (transferred from Amex at a 1:1.3 rate, effectively costing 26,000 points) plus $140, it was an excellent and comfortable ride home, especially for the price. I then took a domestic flight back to CVG to wrap up the trip.
In conclusion, the Iberia flight offered excellent value, and I wouldn’t hesitate to book it again at the same price. The comfort and mileage cost made it a worthwhile choice. However, I’d think twice about flying Virgin Atlantic in the future. With the possibility of last-minute aircraft swaps and a subpar onboard experience, opting for Air France would be a better alternative, especially since it can be booked for ~50,000 miles on Flying Blue.
