I Flew from the USA to the UK for a KEBAB! (Last-Ever Manchester Flight)
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Date: 2025-04-07
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Comments and reviews: 20
itsnotme07
From one non-native Texan (North of Dallas) to another, no it's not weird you took this flight Noel. Whenever I fly into SFO and sometimes even OAK or SJC. depending on the cheaper fare. I'll try to plan some time to head over to Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay, CA. The BEST seafood outside of New England (Boston guy. When I was visiting California frequently back 15 years ago, I'd stop for lunch at Sam's before driving up to see my Mom in Sacramento. Could I have flown into SMF Sure. but that doesn't get me lunch at Sam's! This way, I get some cool drive time after the flight AND lunch or dinner at Sams. and a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. Why Because it's awesome and fun!
So how was the seat for Aer Lingus I flew from DFW to BOS to SNN back in 2008 for work (in Cork) and I sat in business class. The seats in that Airbus 330 were rock hard. I couldn't get comfortable at all and got zero sleep. So glad there was a car waiting for me to take me to Cork. It was the same crappy hard seat back to Boston. Horrible! Just hoping your Aer Lingus experience was better.
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From one non-native Texan (North of Dallas) to another, no it's not weird you took this flight Noel. Whenever I fly into SFO and sometimes even OAK or SJC. depending on the cheaper fare. I'll try to plan some time to head over to Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay, CA. The BEST seafood outside of New England (Boston guy. When I was visiting California frequently back 15 years ago, I'd stop for lunch at Sam's before driving up to see my Mom in Sacramento. Could I have flown into SMF Sure. but that doesn't get me lunch at Sam's! This way, I get some cool drive time after the flight AND lunch or dinner at Sams. and a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. Why Because it's awesome and fun!
So how was the seat for Aer Lingus I flew from DFW to BOS to SNN back in 2008 for work (in Cork) and I sat in business class. The seats in that Airbus 330 were rock hard. I couldn't get comfortable at all and got zero sleep. So glad there was a car waiting for me to take me to Cork. It was the same crappy hard seat back to Boston. Horrible! Just hoping your Aer Lingus experience was better.
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slafaraminecraft
Just last month my Dad, Sister, and I flew on this flight back to home to England to say a final goodbye to my Grandad. We are from England but have been living in Texas for 25 years at this point. The last time I personally went back home was over 10 years ago before that. I'm not a big traveler (I'm a teacher so don't have money for that kind of thing) so I can't say that I typically get invested in specific flights but It is sad to see the flight that took me to my Grandad's funeral and back gone. The crew on my flights were fantastic and I can honestly say I think it was the best fight I personally have ever taken. It is cool to see you on a flight that I've taken before, but sad to see it go.
Edit: Looking into it, that's the exact plane that I took as well.
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Just last month my Dad, Sister, and I flew on this flight back to home to England to say a final goodbye to my Grandad. We are from England but have been living in Texas for 25 years at this point. The last time I personally went back home was over 10 years ago before that. I'm not a big traveler (I'm a teacher so don't have money for that kind of thing) so I can't say that I typically get invested in specific flights but It is sad to see the flight that took me to my Grandad's funeral and back gone. The crew on my flights were fantastic and I can honestly say I think it was the best fight I personally have ever taken. It is cool to see you on a flight that I've taken before, but sad to see it go.
Edit: Looking into it, that's the exact plane that I took as well.
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SherryAnnOfTheWest
I've flown a lot of airlines business class (I'm a slave to who gives me the best deal and having gotten to an age where I no longer wish to do coach on long flights I shop around) and I have yet to fly Singapore Air. I've flown TAP, SAS, Lufthansa, Saudia, Delta One and some others and always had a great flight and great service. What I DON'T do any longer is book business/first class intercontinental in the USA. it's rarely a premium seat and I usually don't want to sleep anyway, so lie-flat seats aren't really something I'm willing to pay a lot for. I have however, found that premium economy is a great deal on flights within the USA that are longer than about 4-5 hours.
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I've flown a lot of airlines business class (I'm a slave to who gives me the best deal and having gotten to an age where I no longer wish to do coach on long flights I shop around) and I have yet to fly Singapore Air. I've flown TAP, SAS, Lufthansa, Saudia, Delta One and some others and always had a great flight and great service. What I DON'T do any longer is book business/first class intercontinental in the USA. it's rarely a premium seat and I usually don't want to sleep anyway, so lie-flat seats aren't really something I'm willing to pay a lot for. I have however, found that premium economy is a great deal on flights within the USA that are longer than about 4-5 hours.
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SherryAnnOfTheWest
Your mistake was to go to what looked like a chain place and not seek out a kebab shop owned and operated by a proper Turk or a good halal shop!
We had kebabs in Coventry years ago and we were the only Anglos in the place and I think I was the only woman! I felt a little funny, but they didn't make me feel unwelcome or anything, but just the fact that there were no other women in the joint made me feel a little out of place. Young, swarthy men kept coming in and about half of them didn't order, but went upstairs. Not sure what was going on up there, but we didn't ask. Delicious kebabs, though!
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Your mistake was to go to what looked like a chain place and not seek out a kebab shop owned and operated by a proper Turk or a good halal shop!
We had kebabs in Coventry years ago and we were the only Anglos in the place and I think I was the only woman! I felt a little funny, but they didn't make me feel unwelcome or anything, but just the fact that there were no other women in the joint made me feel a little out of place. Young, swarthy men kept coming in and about half of them didn't order, but went upstairs. Not sure what was going on up there, but we didn't ask. Delicious kebabs, though!
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mrvwbug4423
Oof, LaGuardia is literally the most difficult NYC airport to get to, no subway or LIRR connection. It is literally faster to get to EWR (the main United hub in NYC) from JFK than it is to get from JFK to LGA if traffic is backed up (Take JFK AirTrain to Jamaica, LIRR to Penn, NJT to EWR. Probably not too different than doing the Euston/Kings Cross scramble if you're heading up north after arriving into Heathrow (Heathrow to Paddington, circle line to Euston or Kings cross, though I suppose if you were heading to Nottingham you'd scramble over to St Pancras.
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Oof, LaGuardia is literally the most difficult NYC airport to get to, no subway or LIRR connection. It is literally faster to get to EWR (the main United hub in NYC) from JFK than it is to get from JFK to LGA if traffic is backed up (Take JFK AirTrain to Jamaica, LIRR to Penn, NJT to EWR. Probably not too different than doing the Euston/Kings Cross scramble if you're heading up north after arriving into Heathrow (Heathrow to Paddington, circle line to Euston or Kings cross, though I suppose if you were heading to Nottingham you'd scramble over to St Pancras.
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lvthud
As a Brit living in the US, we can get most UK foods here with a few minor exceptions, the one that really is annoying is wholetail scampi, it's a naughty treat but impossible to get. I talked to Young's a while back about shipping some over but they would do it (even when I offered to buy a pallet) due to environmental reasons. I did ask them if sending a pallet of scampi over or me flying 11000 miles round trip just to get scampi in the basket was worse, they didn't reply.
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As a Brit living in the US, we can get most UK foods here with a few minor exceptions, the one that really is annoying is wholetail scampi, it's a naughty treat but impossible to get. I talked to Young's a while back about shipping some over but they would do it (even when I offered to buy a pallet) due to environmental reasons. I did ask them if sending a pallet of scampi over or me flying 11000 miles round trip just to get scampi in the basket was worse, they didn't reply.
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HappyDudeDK
My Sunday evening ritual - watching the latest Noel Philips vlog
Idea: Why not do a roundtrip of countries food specialities Houston -> Copenhagen for a a danish hot dog. Then To Sweden for meatballs, Italy and having a pizza Margherita before cruising to Turkey for a baklava. Moving on to Japan for some sushi, Mexico for tamales, Seattle for coffee and ending the Noel Food Trek in Philadelphia and a cheese steak sandwich
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My Sunday evening ritual - watching the latest Noel Philips vlog
Idea: Why not do a roundtrip of countries food specialities Houston -> Copenhagen for a a danish hot dog. Then To Sweden for meatballs, Italy and having a pizza Margherita before cruising to Turkey for a baklava. Moving on to Japan for some sushi, Mexico for tamales, Seattle for coffee and ending the Noel Food Trek in Philadelphia and a cheese steak sandwich
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paulcoinc
I'm going back to the US next month for the first time in nine years. I've lived in Australia for going on ten years. It's going to be really weird going home. I don't think I'm going back to the same place I left. America has changed so much. It's still home as is Australia now.
If you are ever in Cairns QLD I can send you to a shop with really good kababs. Aussie family inside joke reffered to as laundry.
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I'm going back to the US next month for the first time in nine years. I've lived in Australia for going on ten years. It's going to be really weird going home. I don't think I'm going back to the same place I left. America has changed so much. It's still home as is Australia now.
If you are ever in Cairns QLD I can send you to a shop with really good kababs. Aussie family inside joke reffered to as laundry.
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xkristianx4747
I remember seeing this on your insta and thinking Noel you are mental. The fact I remember the video back in 2020 and the flight when you made the move to US just felt so nostalgic. You came all the way to the uk just for a kebab brilliant. Sadly tho good things must come to an end the a350 route and the fact you flight got cancelled but thank you for another good video.
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I remember seeing this on your insta and thinking Noel you are mental. The fact I remember the video back in 2020 and the flight when you made the move to US just felt so nostalgic. You came all the way to the uk just for a kebab brilliant. Sadly tho good things must come to an end the a350 route and the fact you flight got cancelled but thank you for another good video.
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tlcrf80mins73
Hey Noel, thanks for answering a question that's been puzzling me. Only last Thursday I flew Singapore to Manchester. The flight that would usually continue on to Houston. That flight has been SQ52 for as long as I've been flying that route (20-odd years) - I noticed when I booked it this time that the flight number had changed and didn't know why. And now I know why!
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Hey Noel, thanks for answering a question that's been puzzling me. Only last Thursday I flew Singapore to Manchester. The flight that would usually continue on to Houston. That flight has been SQ52 for as long as I've been flying that route (20-odd years) - I noticed when I booked it this time that the flight number had changed and didn't know why. And now I know why!
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nicholasrv8834
Noel, I too feel the hard product on SQ lacks a little. The sideways position to sleep is not the most comfortable. Are there any other airlines which have the same layout
Same for the bed. Having to literally get up from recline to flip the seatback into fully flat is very strange. I have never seen it anywhere else. Is SQ the only airline that does this Cheers.
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Noel, I too feel the hard product on SQ lacks a little. The sideways position to sleep is not the most comfortable. Are there any other airlines which have the same layout
Same for the bed. Having to literally get up from recline to flip the seatback into fully flat is very strange. I have never seen it anywhere else. Is SQ the only airline that does this Cheers.
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djmark143
Great you were able to catch that last direct flight Noel, as an avid follower I can fully understand how special this flight was for you. And sure you also really wanted to get that kebab of course! I have like the luxury of having three kebab places within a half mile radius where I live, so no need for me to fly half way across the globe. Great video again Noel.
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Great you were able to catch that last direct flight Noel, as an avid follower I can fully understand how special this flight was for you. And sure you also really wanted to get that kebab of course! I have like the luxury of having three kebab places within a half mile radius where I live, so no need for me to fly half way across the globe. Great video again Noel.
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seanodonnell460
I like you Neil but why did you move to the US I'm not going to get in to politics here but things are going to become more complicated with travel especially if you are not a US passport holder going back in to the States. More and more countries are issuing travel adversaries and I would not feel comfortable with just a green card. Hope all the best for you!
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I like you Neil but why did you move to the US I'm not going to get in to politics here but things are going to become more complicated with travel especially if you are not a US passport holder going back in to the States. More and more countries are issuing travel adversaries and I would not feel comfortable with just a green card. Hope all the best for you!
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cfriedel123
Very cool to see the history you have with this flight and with your journey from the UK to your new home in America three years ago. Also, regarding going to the UK for a kebab, I don't think it's crazy at all. I have driven 12 hours to eat BBQ before and then I drove back. I do like to travel though =) Keep up the great work!
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Very cool to see the history you have with this flight and with your journey from the UK to your new home in America three years ago. Also, regarding going to the UK for a kebab, I don't think it's crazy at all. I have driven 12 hours to eat BBQ before and then I drove back. I do like to travel though =) Keep up the great work!
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panacea_.
21: 20 did not expect that haha.
so wholesome to see you so homesick for texas when in the UK, i am in exactly the same position noel, as as Brit looking to move to the US.
funnily enough i’m actually taking a flight to houston this summer for my first road trip in the states!
love your videos as always noel: )
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21: 20 did not expect that haha.
so wholesome to see you so homesick for texas when in the UK, i am in exactly the same position noel, as as Brit looking to move to the US.
funnily enough i’m actually taking a flight to houston this summer for my first road trip in the states!
love your videos as always noel: )
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egpx
Hmmm, that wasn't really a glowing endorsement for that kebab. It's a shame we didn't get a review of the Shamrock flight but I understand that the cabin crew are a bit touchy about being filmed. For the benefit of those that might be interested, I've flown Aer Lingus Business Class and here's my review: it was ok.
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Hmmm, that wasn't really a glowing endorsement for that kebab. It's a shame we didn't get a review of the Shamrock flight but I understand that the cabin crew are a bit touchy about being filmed. For the benefit of those that might be interested, I've flown Aer Lingus Business Class and here's my review: it was ok.
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Emperorvalse
Was there a particular reason to fly Aer Lingus to JFK then cross to LGA Was this the only non-stop flight to the US from MAN
I just get exhausted from watching some of your videos as I keep forgetting how stressful the flying experience can be even as a status passenger in the premium cabins.
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Was there a particular reason to fly Aer Lingus to JFK then cross to LGA Was this the only non-stop flight to the US from MAN
I just get exhausted from watching some of your videos as I keep forgetting how stressful the flying experience can be even as a status passenger in the premium cabins.
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ThemeParkBazza
We did that money saving Premium Economy to Business upgrade trick last week flying back from Singapore to Orlando in United Polaris. Agree with what you say about going back to our other home in the UK. Manchester Airport is a mess though, can’t wait until it’s not a building site in T2
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We did that money saving Premium Economy to Business upgrade trick last week flying back from Singapore to Orlando in United Polaris. Agree with what you say about going back to our other home in the UK. Manchester Airport is a mess though, can’t wait until it’s not a building site in T2
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apatel8t3
Noel you flew all that way for a kebab then went to a place called Mr bakers that possibly looked like a chain. That’s not authentic. Come on mate! I know Manchester can do better than that. Btw if you want a good kebab in Houston check out London sizzler on 59 and hillcroft. Owned by Brit’s!
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Noel you flew all that way for a kebab then went to a place called Mr bakers that possibly looked like a chain. That’s not authentic. Come on mate! I know Manchester can do better than that. Btw if you want a good kebab in Houston check out London sizzler on 59 and hillcroft. Owned by Brit’s!
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brandonthedeaf
I was amused when you flew to TX just for a steak dinner. And here you are, coming full circle flying back to Manchester for food several years later. What’s also comedic is that you’ve experienced lengthy delays on BOTH return legs without fail. I mean, you can’t make that up.
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I was amused when you flew to TX just for a steak dinner. And here you are, coming full circle flying back to Manchester for food several years later. What’s also comedic is that you’ve experienced lengthy delays on BOTH return legs without fail. I mean, you can’t make that up.
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