First time Virgin in The Clubhouse

Well at last my long awaited trip to Mexico has arrived , I go every year but when Virgin started flying the route ( Gatwick - Cancun) I jumped at the chance to fly Virgin , then I started reading all the poor trip reports : (
Anyway with an open mind and hoping for the best I am good to go and thought I would share my ' Virgin , virgins impression'
Travelled to Gatwick a day early as I always do and checked into the Sofitel at north terminal, they let me check in early at 1pm so big thumbs up to them '- they had also emailed me a couple of days previously to confirm that I would get my favourite room when I checked in , which I did,
Concierge then helped me with my two suitcases ( don't ask ...) over to the south terminal to twilight check in ( I had already checked in online on the way to the airport, securing my choice of seat ( 9A) but only managing a pathetic sequence 7 due to the dodgy 3G connection)
Twilight check in was quite busy , I was surprised but the lady that checked me in was professional and friendly and informed me of the dreaded news that my flight VS093 would probably be delayed due to a problem on that day , Monday having a knock on effect for Tuesday . Not the end of the world, and having being forewarned this meant that when my alarm went off I just checked online to see and indeed confirm a new departure time of 2pm , so just went back to sleep for another hour; ):
Really liked the fact that they had told me of this possibility beforehand to enable me to plan ahead, I had also received a text at 1.30 am informing me of the delay- so 10/10 for communication Virgin!
So - this morning manged to control myself in the shopping emporium that is Gatwick south Departures and made my way to the clubhouse, very friendly welcome asked if I had used the clubhouse before and as I had not gave me a friendly but cursory explanation of how and where things were ( didn't matter I had gleaned all the info I needed from my learned friends here on the forum)
So brunch of fruit salad , egg benedict , coffee and of course Buck's Fizz , all delicious and served with a smile y)
Then sauntered over to the spa to see if I could get a manicure ( wasn't particularly bothered if I had a treatment or not so had not bothered to go there first to book) , secured an appointment and then set myself up with a second glass of Bucksfizz and my iPad in the quiet lounge area ( not sure of its official title, but the one with the ' groovy' seats lol) BTW - seem to have an excellent wifi connection here , it was pathetic over in the' cafe' area but great here .
To summarise so far , a shame about the delay - but things happened and as communication was good this has not had an poor impact on me at all.
Clubhouse - smaller than I. Thought but thankfully very quiet, friendly staff if a little dippy ( observed several people get wrong orders / missed drinks etc, mine by the way were always right )
Spa - fitted mei in ,asked all the right questions and were friendly , so far so good .
Soon to have my first flight on Virgin , First time upper class and first time on a 747 so will let you know how it all goes after the flight

Hi i fly to Cancun on 1st June have never been before and will also be my first Virgin flight i have requested seats 6 A and K. I am interested to see how it all goes for you.Have a great flight and holiday

Sorry that should be seats 7 A and K.....Hope they will be good seats for a couple....any feedback will be much appreciated

Hope ya have a good flight DOUGALSMUM y) y)

Looking forward to reading the TRs, fingers crossed the flight will be as good as the service received so far.

Ahh the LGW CH, one of the best around.. don't worry about the delay, just means more time in the CH and a couple more Bucks fizz

Safe flight 8D

Think your delay was due to the VS44 Vegas flight. Plane is G-VROS and is on the ground now getting ready for your departure.

I am planning on Mexico again in July with Virgin. Can only afford PE but might try and pay my way into the Clubhouse for me and the mrs.

Have a great flight. Look forward to your Trip report on your return

Sorry that should be seats 7 A and K.....Hope they will be good seats for a couple....any feedback will be much appreciated

Should be OK, depends if you foresee speaking a lot. They are facing each other, but still across the aisle. The occasional comment and small convo should be fine but if you foresee a massive debate as to the failings of the cypriot economy then I would suggest two on the same side next to each other to avoid disturbing other pax too much.

Others may disagree and wish to draw the cabin into debate.. lol. That would be fun actually if everyone played ball.. The A side vs the K side, who will win?

8D

Sorry that should be seats 7 A and K.....Hope they will be good seats for a couple....any feedback will be much appreciated

Should be OK, depends if you foresee speaking a lot. They are facing each other, but still across the aisle. The occasional comment and small convo should be fine but if you foresee a massive debate as to the failings of the cypriot economy then I would suggest two on the same side next to each other to avoid disturbing other pax too much.

The problem with the same side option is that to have a conversation one of you needs the neck swivelling capability of a London Hackney Cab driver.

Actually an easy compromise is for one party to perch on the ottoman. Good option for convivial dining too.

Soon to have my first flight on Virgin , First time upper class and first time on a 747 so will let you know how it all goes after the flight

Hope the standards remain high and that you have the best time.

we tend not to communicate too much when flying as himself tends to fall asleep Got economy seats in the bubble for the way home 79 A and B.Himself doesnt know we are flying upper on the outbound i upgraded as he is 40 the day after we fly. I have booked a through ticket DUB-LGW-CUN.Will i get our boarding passes in Dublin for Gatwick as i wasnt going to tell the other half we are in upper class till i got to the Gatwick Clubhouse

[honey lamb]

Will i get our boarding passes in Dublin for Gatwick as i wasnt going to tell the other half we are in upper class till i got to the Gatwick Clubhouse

In the past I would have said "No" as I have always had to check in again at either LHR or LGW when flying on a thru-ticket from Cork. However last year there was a passenger on my flight to San Francisco who had been thru-checked from Cork and the Virgin leg of the flight was printed on an Aer Lingus boarding pass. (I had flown in the night before and was on a separate ticket)

Will i get our boarding passes in Dublin for Gatwick as i wasnt going to tell the other half we are in upper class till i got to the Gatwick Clubhouse

In the past I would have said "No" as I have always had to check in again at either LHR or LGW when flying on a thru-ticket from Cork. However last year there was a passenger on my flight to San Francisco who had been thru-checked from Cork and the Virgin leg of the flight was printed on an Aer Lingus boarding pass. (I had flown in the night before and was on a separate ticket)

Is Aer Lingus a code share with virgin? If the whole trip was booked with Aer Lingus then don't see why this couldn't happen.

I would imagine that the kind of data that needed to be shared between airlines for this to happen could in fact prevent it.. think of the amount of data on FF that would have to be surrendered - maybe I am being overly suspicious but who fancies poaching a few clients.. ii)

The problem with the same side option is that to have a conversation one of you needs the neck swivelling capability of a London Hackney Cab driver.

Actually an easy compromise is for one party to perch on the ottoman. Good option for convivial dining too.

Vivid imagination there

Still sticking with my same side recommendation..... if you wish to converse, without requiring a chiropractic readjustment, then I'd recommend that you sit on your own ottoman and given the slope of the seat divide you can quite comfortably natter away over it without too much disruption and also without constantly battling for foot space ):

It is poss to eat this way too and still seems like a shared dining experience, again without playing footsie all the time.

we tend not to communicate too much when flying as himself tends to fall asleep

Lol, in that case it doesn't really matter. You may find he wants to take in all of the UC experience if it is a first time deal, so not much sleep taken.. Nice surprise. Hope you have a good'un 8D

I am on the returning VS094 today! Currently sitting around the pool before getting ready to head back to Cancun Airport. Looks like it is English Rose and was too disappointed to see the UK delayed departure however based on the army of staff waiting to clean when I arrived on the 2nd am hoping for a speedy turnaround and on-time departure. Full travel report on its way for both flights upon my return (6A/K for both).

Cheers,
Chris.