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#238751 by honey lamb
04 Nov 2005, 18:16
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Having spent a gorgeous few days of warm sunshine in Washington while the heavens opened at home [:D] we headed back to IAD. We were there very early as mcbenjamin had promised Aer John a tour of his operations (Top man [^]) Encumbered by the luggage I chose to sit and people-watch while the two headed off and with my iPod I was perfectly content. I was opposite the VS desks and watched as they prepared for opening and was joined by some other early arrivals who were quite content to chat. Aer John arrived back just as security was setting up ready for the off and so we went ahead and were first in line for the UC check-in. To my right was the PE line and to my left the bag drop line and the three of us were straining like greyhounds at the leash for the signal to proceed. The guy at the desk cast a glance at us and then beckoned me over and so triumphantly [:p] I swanned over to the desk with Aer John in tow! Oh dear! Pride goeth before a fall and I was to get my come-uppance for such hubris. Placing my passports and tickets on the desk, including my Aer Lingus one, I pleasantly asked if my bags could be tagged all the way through to Cork only to be told, no it was not possible. [:0] There then followed an interval of Oh, yes we can Oh, no you cant as yer man stuck to his guns. Stunned, I asked since when and was told twelve months ago. We pointed out that we had tagged our bags through in March, May and July of this year and that could not possibly be the case and as we continued to glare at him he reached for the phone. [:(!] Ah, dear, sweet Virgin Atlantic! You have redeemed yourself fully! I may have railed at you for not being able to view my booking on the Manage your Flight page but I partially forgave you when I was able to use OLCI on my outbound journey. Now the message came back loud and clear the EI sector was in the system and therefore the bags could be tagged through ([:?]Im still not convinced that that was the case that it had to be in the system as I am sure that on one of the trips we took earlier I had not told VS of the EI connection as my connecting time was something like 5 hours, but Ill check) He however still had the upper hand and suddenly disappeared for about 10 minutes and came back wheeling a trolley with various labels which he then proceeded to position to his satisfaction before extracting a Transfer at LHR tag and returning to complete our booking. By this time battle lines were drawn. Is it a suite-configured 343? I asked politely, just in case there had been a change of aircraft. He looked at me blankly and replied, Im sorry, I dont understand the question. At this Aer John hissed in my ear that it wasnt as he had seen the plane in the system when with mcbenjamin and so not to prolong it any further, I turned to go. Fortunately my travel savvy son realised he had not returned our tickets. It didnt really matter for the VS one but I would have been in deep doo-doo [:I] the next morning in LHR without the EI one.

After that mcbenjamin escorted through the staff security line so no waiting there (I told you he was top man [oo]) and on to the Clubhouse. He had mentioned the manager there (I think she was the manager) was an Irish lady named Kathy and pointed her out to me in the distance before whisking Aer John away for more behind the scenes viewing (I told you he was top man [oo]). I went off for some duty free whereupon on returning I met Kathy and we chatted for a time before she was required elsewhere. I settled down for a glass of champers and perused the menu before seeking the inflight menu to assist my decision. It came back as one already seen on V-Flyer with lamb as one of the main courses (Mmmmmmmm! Lamb![y]) However shortly afterwards one of the staff came with a new inflight menu and said that it had changed the previous day. How I railed earlier on in the year when they failed to change the menu after three months. This time I railed that they had done it at the proper time. The choices for me were not so appetising. The main choices were cod, chicken and butternut ravioli [:$] and really nothing much inspired me. Still I enjoyed my meal in the Clubhouse and I must say I liked that Clubhouse very much even if all there was to see were the d*mn mobile lounges going to and fro. After a while Aer John returned and I bid farewell to mcbenjamin as nice a person as you could wish to meet. Thanks for everything, Benjamin. [:X] At this point the Clubhouse let itself down a little bit as there was nothing on the menu that Aer John liked and it was impossible to order off menu. I had no choice but to go down to Fudruckers and get him a burger and fries. [:(]

Just as boarding was called we met Kathy again and she escorted us to the Priority line cutting a swathe through the masses that were thronging the gate area. [:D] She told us she would say goodbye on board but, although she was on board later she was obviously working very hard to get everyone settled and I guessed there were a few op-ups happening.

The plane was once again VFLY and once on board we recognised one of the crew as having been on our flight in July from MCO. We werent very impressed with her then as she was very bossy and seemed to flit about the cabin without doing any actual work and I didnt seem to see any difference on this flight. The FSM came and introduced herself and the crew assigned to our section was really nice and therefore I will judge the crew on these merits.

At this stage I am going to utter absolute heresy! [:0] I was tired, not feeling that well (probably from all the hanging about while Aer John went off with mcbenjamin) and I just wished it was a GNF. There was nothing on the menu that really appealed so having partaken of my pre-flight champagne and had a G & T after take-off I donned the sleep suit, put in the earplugs and tucked myself up for a good nights sleep [|)] except, I didnt have any! Not a wink! At one stage I was on the point of dropping off and was disturbed by a crowd at the bar about 4 hours into the flight. [:(] Given that we were in 1H & K and I had earplugs, God alone knows what it must have been like at the back of the zone near to them! I gave up at about 5:30 and the cabin crew noticed I was awake and offered me breakfast. At that stage all I wanted was fruit and so had that and some tea. Later on I was sorry I hadnt had more but at that stage I was quite content. We flew over our home town but as it was still pitch dark (and raining) there was nothing to be seen. About 30 minutes from landing I managed to rouse Aer John who also had treated it like a GNF, had had some ice cream and then slept like a baby. [|)]

The flight landed on time but as it was very windy outside so the plane was buffeted quite a bit on approach. We were quickly to the gate and then left to do our usual stint of checking in via the FCC before doubling back to Revivals. When we arrived at the door for the bus there was a good crowd waiting there and although a couple of buses came they were very slow to let us on. It was while we were there we heard of the engine scrape on VS4. [:0] On arrival at the FCC we found the escalator was blocked and a BAA guy was only letting people up a few at a time because of the crowds above. Although we were through reasonably quickly in about 20 minutes or so we then had to wait at the Aer Lingus counter before doubling back to Revivals an hour and a quarter after touchdown. This left us with only a short time there. Aer John had some breakfast but there really wasnt time for a shower which I would dearly have loved. I dont know if it would have been quicker to go straight to Revivals but we still would have had to check in for our EI flight and so would have had to have left earlier. Who knows? [?] If Immigration had been anything like FCC, then probably not.

After that it was a quick hop over to T1 where security was very light and off for the quick hop home.

I cant honestly say that the VS flight was a bad flight mainly because I had chosen to try and sleep. However there was nothing that made it outstanding. The two trips however made me appreciate just how special the suites are.
#318247 by Decker
04 Nov 2005, 18:28
Thanks for a wonderfully detailed report Honey Lamb. Especially liked the touch about the crew member. Volumes spoken in words. Big [y] to MCB too - stout work fella [^]
#318265 by mcmbenjamin
04 Nov 2005, 20:40
Wow! [:)] Thanks for the complements! Glad to give the tour and be of help. [;)]

I felt bad that you had to wait in the main terminal for us to return.

Anycase, pleasure to meet you and Aer John.

Benjamin
#318279 by ChuckC
04 Nov 2005, 22:30
Honey Lamb,
Have now savored your homeward TR. Thanks again for all the extra detail.

And Benjamin, very good of you to put out the extra special VFlyer hospitality!

Best to all,
Chuck-

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