This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Travel to LAX and Check-in
Left a reasonable amount of time to drive from Palm Springs to LAX given the nightmarishness of the LA traffic in the rush hour and arrived for check in at just after 6 p.m. Whether it was because of new (outsourced) or old (soon to be outsourced) staff, the check in agent was not friendly or especially helpful. An irritation was that the plane was scheduled to be a 343 UCS and I had 4A and 5A reserved, but on check in my no. 1 had been moved to 5A with me in 3C since it had changed to a J2000 343. Not wishing to be right next to the bar we were annoyed but the best we could change to was 4A and C after quite a bit of discussion. Why do Virgin do this I mused ... split up a couple that is! It amuses me that we had five passport and boarding card checks from check-in to the lounge ... even managed to keep my shoes on through security AND get an apology from a TSA agent when a bag mix-up led to them accusing me of not taking my laptop out [:0]!
Air Canada Lounge and Pre-boarding Wait
T2 at LAX is really nothing much is it, basic shops, little decent by way of refreshment or food, but at least a decent magazine selection in the news store and a short walk to the gate. We though were headed for the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge. Reading other reports I expected it to be really poor but found friendly and humorous staff, and though it might be basic it is quiet and comfy. Selected a good pair of seats in front of the window to enjoy planes taxiing and taking off and saw VS7 Birthday Girl departing, then VS23 G-VSEA arriving. However I was dreading the food, indeed we tried the fish cakes (frankly worse than Kwik Save might do) and then restricted myself to Baby Bels and champagne instead [:I]. Nice to be escorted to the gate on time and good bye to LA once again.
On Board and Take-off
Knowing this to be J2000 I wasn't in despair, just saddened that after 2 yrs of UCS we still have this layout, and on presumably a premium destination like LA. Having said that, I was surprised at how fresh and clean looking, still, the J2000 is. Commented on this later on to the FSM, especially since the UCS we came out on VS7 was so tatty (dirty and fraying surround, carpet coming up, temperamental table and seat). J2000 clearly made from better quality and more durable materials. Though of course it's not as good or comfy and spacious but still beats some other transatlantic carriers I could mention. There were about 20 pax in Upper Class, and in PE and econ about 2/3 full, so hopefully everyone had some space and comfort.
A number of pax were unhappy however, I heard 4 who clearly had expected (as we had previously), and been told to expect, the UCS and had booked the flight specifically - they were not happy. After lots of crew soothing and some moving about all calmed down for a virtually on time take-off, turn over LA, climb over Las Vegas and northerly route over Greenland and into London. Captain informed us of a 10hr 14min flying time.
The 'Good Night Fright' and on board
Seat belt off sign after 12 mins and v. boring Sky News on 5 minutes later. Our FSM and UC CSS whose names I won't repeat here were lovely in character (and dare I say it in looks) and fabulous. The FSM came and introduced herself, handed out Carlos no. 11 and we had a chit chat about the UC/J2000 situation. FSM offered sincere apologies for non-UCS flight and offered us anything she could, like bottle of champagne, miles ... by way of compensation.
Unfortunately though some of the crew took GNF a little too gratuitously ... and here's my (bar room bore) rant about GNF. We have a ten hour flight, time to enjoy a meal and a movie, sleep for 6 hours and still have time to freshen up before landing. So why serve the meal as rushed as possible, which is what happened. We had to politely verbally restrain one FA by saying we felt rushed and please stop delivering food, wine, pudding and coffee while we were still consuming the previous item. And worst of all, no. 1 had to send back his entree because it went cold before eating it ... (b4 we start another GNF debate I totally understand its benefit out of New York or Boston). Had a chat with another FA who said she would write up our comments (said 'again'), she totally agreed with us, and said that crews had informed the powers that be on numerous occasions, and more that they were still surprised GNF is active on the VS24. Also suggested we tell Virgin again because they have heard it so often and one day it might sink in. Things would have been entirely better if there was a good food option pre-take-off.
Oh, watched Crash during dinner and what a damn fine movie it is ... even the IFE is still superior to many others and not even V:Port!
No. 1 said the flight was proving to be a disaster after no UCS, GNF etc. I said no, we still have good comfort, entertainment, IFBT, fabtastic crew but it's just not as good as UCS. So molified by Bailey's and my words sleep soon followed.
Nighty night[|)]
Had changed into sleep suit as soon as poss. after take-off, and post dinner or about 1130 LA time was sufficiently sated, fed and watered to put the seat fully down and pretend to read. Think I was snoring in about 5 minutes and managed around five hours of good quality sleep. The seat is still good as evidenced by sleep time, the no. 1 got about an hour more than me. It is unfortunately much harder, narrower and lumpy than the suite. For example, if you wake up for a pee it's harder to get out of without wriggling around to press the button to raise it up!
Into Heathrow and Home
Very smooth and uneventful flight and I woke about 90 mins before landing to sit at the bar and be served bacon butties and coffee (only two, honest gov. [:)]). With a hop and a skip out of sleep suit and into day clothes (plus bruised elbows while doing so in the loos!) we were soon landing in the rain and cold (well it was between 90F and 105F all the time in SoCal) at just after 3 p.m. We parked at gate 34. I thanked the crew profusely and resisted asking for telephone numbers [:0] and dates, to head for immigration, luggage (all sorts of order coming off with no obvious priority but our bags quite quickly), customs and the wonderful car home.
It was a good flight, my prejudices against GNF from LA were 100% confirmed, shame about the seat and no suite but it's really not that bad (stone me!) and I'll say it again and again where it's due, the crew just do it for me - they are fabulous (little devil in head says that's because I travel on AA to much but it's true however you compare)!
There's a plane at JFK, to fly you back from far away
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
