Virgin upper virgin!

Morning all,

Well we're 2 days away from our first UC experience to celebrate our 15 year wedding anniversary and I'm getting nervous as I have no idea what to expect from both the lounge and on-board experience. I've had a look through the trip reports so that's given me some help but I have no idea in terms of dress code etc. or how long we'll need to do the lounges justice etc.

We're flying:
22nd Oct - VS0111 - LHR (12.30) - JFK (15.25)
27th Oct - VS0046 - JFK (21.00) - LHR (07.50)

The plan so far is to get to LHR for around 8ish, check in, have a nose around duty free, head to the lounge for breakfast, have a treatment and a good look around and then to grab a quick lunch before boarding. How long before take off will we called for the flight? Also I'm guessing I've given plenty of time to experience it?

For the return flight I'm presuming people bed down in comfy clothes or do I need to find some decent pj's

If anyone can give me any pearls of wisdom or point out "things not to miss" either in the lounge or on-board that would be fab.

Hi

Firstly there is no dress code just what you fill comfortable to travel in.you will be called approx 45 mins before flight and just stroll on no queues.regarding time in clubhouse you can never have to much just depends on what you do while in there regarding treatment make sure you book any when you arrive at clubhouse .
Regarding home bound flight they hand out pjs if you want them.
Have a great trip

Exciting!

There's a thread here that answers many of your questions.

Other tips I would add;

1. How are you getting to the airport? It's not too late to arrange DTCI if you haven't already done so

2. Ignore Duty Free. Go straight to CH and arrange a treatment in the spa as the first thing you do. Once that is booked then, maybe, think about having breakfast and venturing out into hurly burly of the airport for Duty Free.

3. On the return... don't forget to enjoy the JFK CH as well. They do treatments there also.

4. On the return.. why bed down? If you must, then you will get PJs offered

5. On the return...leave enough time to use Revivals and opt to take breakfast there. Eggs have no place on an aeroplane. Oh, and you can get treatments there too.

6. Enjoy to the max and write a pair of Trip Reports!

Its amazing, did it for the first time in August, I'd say maybe aim for an hour earlier in case of any delays - but if you are staying in a hotel the night before that's fine.

You'll love it. Wear what you want, its very casual.

No dress code, but personally I'm in favour of smart casual. It is perfectly possible to look smart and feel comfortable.
Dick D

Have a great time and I hope you have a smooth flight.

Thanks all

We were thinking smart / casual for the dress code anyway so I think we'll be fine.

Good advice re the heading to the clubhouse to book treatments first. We're travelling down to LHR tomorrow night so can get to the clubhouse earlier as well if fancy or can't sleep! Unfortunately we can't do DTCI as we've got purple parking meet & greet and when I called virgin they advised we need to drop off in the short stay car park as they cannot use the DTCI?

In terms of the treatments have any of you / partners etc. tried the hair conditioning and signature drying as I think this is what I fancy (so any comments on this would be great). Also for my hubby is there any treatments you'd recomend?

We're planning on making the most of the JFK lounge and revivals as well so we'll plan in time for these also.

Finnally, we were planning on doing a trip report (with plenty of pics) so you'll all be able to know what we throught as first timers. Just need to start getting excited now and not so worried about leaving our children for the first time.

Good advice re the heading to the clubhouse to book treatments first. We're travelling down to LHR tomorrow night so can get to the clubhouse earlier as well if fancy or can't sleep! Unfortunately we can't do DTCI as we've got purple parking meet & greet and when I called virgin they advised we need to drop off in the short stay car park as they cannot use the DTCI?

If you're using PP on the day (rather than the night before) it used to be the case that you could have PP meet you in the car park, and drive you through DTCI. VS have, however, made an agreement with PP for an "enhanced value" (read: higher cost) option where PP will collect your car at the DTCI so perhaps they are nudging in that direction and maybe (just speculation) as part of the agreement PP will now not meet and greet elsewhere and then drive you through.

In terms of the treatments have any of you / partners etc. tried the hair conditioning and signature drying as I think this is what I fancy (so any comments on this would be great). Also for my hubby is there any treatments you'd recomend?

MrsPJH swears by having her nails done. For me it's a haircut. I did once have a shave but that resulted in the temporary loss of my close cropped beard so I dare not go back...

Just need to start getting excited now and not so worried about leaving our children for the first time.

The only worry is that when they get old enough they will never forgive you for not having taken them in UC. I know ours never have....

I'd not fret about dress code. I fly in t-shirts and sweatpants all the time because it's comfortable, plus the fact I don't give a hoot what anyone else thinks since the chances of me ever seeing them again are about nil!

I suppose the fact the sweatpants cost £300 is another matter.

why bother with duty free? chances are you will find almost anything in duty free cheaper the other side of the pond.

In terms of the treatments have any of you / partners etc. tried the hair conditioning and signature drying as I think this is what I fancy (so any comments on this would be great). Also for my hubby is there any treatments you'd recomend?

I had this back in April - as I have very brittle hair - and I thought it was brilliant. There is no blow dry included in the treatment so that cost a little but my hair stayed super soft during our stay in the states. In terms of the blow dry then my hair stayed coiffed all through our flight to LAX - even surviving a little post dinner snooze.

I think mrsw also had the treatment more recently and also enjoyed it.

Have a super flight & trip!

I'd not fret about dress code. I fly in t-shirts and sweatpants all the time because it's comfortable, plus the fact I don't give a hoot what anyone else thinks since the chances of me ever seeing them again are about nil!

I suppose the fact the sweatpants cost £300 is another matter.

Yes!! Im the same, albeit I lug my suit around and sometimes get weird looks getting changed in the middle of the cabin Although I have accidentally left my sweats on the plane after getting changed, realised about 2 hours afterwards though!

In reply to tinkerbelluk as everyone has said its a great experience, especially coupled with the UC private wing. The flight you are on as well should be an A330 with the newer dream suite, which personally I enjoy although there is talk of scraping it

The flight you are on as well should be an A330 with the newer dream suite, which personally I enjoy although there is talk of scraping it

A minority view, I think and one that may lead to an HM Bateman cartoon response amongst the V-Flyer community.

As others have said you'll have a whale of a time. We did our first UC trip about a year ago and haven't looked back - thanks to the virgin credit card we've packed in another four since then! It's a really amazing experience.

For our outbound flight from LHR earlier this year we had around 3:45 in the clubhouse. This was nowhere near enough, I'm planning more like 5-5:30 next time to fully enjoy it. We had a long layover in the jfk clubhouse on our most recent trip, and, although it's not quite as spectacular as the LHR one, seven hours flew by.

The only treatment I've had was a head massage in jfk. Have to say it was one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life! It was like she was deliberately trying to inflict as much pain as possible! (Maybe she was...). My other half spoke highly of the neck and back massage mind so hopefully mine was a one off.

As others have said, don't give a second thought to what you wear. It's very, very informal. Everyone who is there is in that cabin because (one way or another) they can afford it, so there's no requirement to dress a certain way or make a certain impression. Just wear clothes you are comfy in and you'll be great.

Have a brilliant time!

Yes!! Im the same, albeit I lug my suit around and sometimes get weird looks getting changed in the middle of the cabin Although I have accidentally left my sweats on the plane after getting changed, realised about 2 hours afterwards though!

Please tell me you didn't strip to your undies in the cabin..? I'm all for changing into comfy clothes but not in the middle of the cabin, OMG!

Only two points to add...

1) Don't set your expectations too high. When you are really, really excited as you rightly should be Its very easy to be let down when it doesn't live up to your extravagant imagination. Thats not to say that it won't be amazing but found yourself before you experience it.

2) Start saving for your next trip now because you won't want to fly anything other than Upper.

Enjoy yourself.

Look how excited we all get to have UC virgins posting asking what to wear etc...

I can't add much more to what everyone has said...all good advice!

Other than...

Don't think it's not acceptable to drink champagne at 8am, it is!!! In fact it's frowned upon if you refuse!!! It is the CH after all!

Don't forget the TR's darlings! ;)

Please tell me you didn't strip to your undies in the cabin..? I'm all for changing into comfy clothes but not in the middle of the cabin, OMG!

Aaargh. Brought unbidden to my mind the hairy nethers experience from 2014...

So long as they are not grey sweatpants/trackpants then you are fine.

I have an important v-flyer question.... do you leave the clubhouse on the first call or the second and final call?

I leave on second and final (mainly because i'm busy saying my goodbyes to the CH staff!)

Don't think it's not acceptable to drink champagne at 8am, it is!!! In fact it's frowned upon if you refuse!!! It is the CH after all!

The LGW clubhouse opens at 6.15am and, from recent experience, champagne at that time seems strangely compulsory!!

I have an important v-flyer question.... do you leave the clubhouse on the first call or the second and final call?

I leave on second and final (mainly because i'm busy saying my goodbyes to the CH staff!)

Personally I leave before any call and like to get on board as soon as.
I'm flying out of Gatwick in seats 6A & 6K and like to try and stow my bags as there are no lockers overhead. Not essential as CC will find somewhere for them. But secondly I enjoy a glass of bubbly on the plane and usually a second one. I feel that I'm on my way.

Dick D

Don't think it's not acceptable to drink champagne at 8am, it is!!! In fact it's frowned upon if you refuse!!! It is the CH after all!

The LGW clubhouse opens at 6.15am and, from recent experience, champagne at that time seems strangely compulsory!!

surely its one of the first things you should do to help the switch to a different time zone, thats why everyone drinks at airports isnt it?

Thanks again all for all of the advice and I agree it would be rude for me to refuse a champagne or a red head as soon as we get to the clubhouse - after all I don't want people to think it's my first time ;)

Well I've just checked in so just a few hours left in work before some last minute packing and setting off for LHR ready to be there bright and early tomorrow morning.

I'll post you all a cheeky wave and of couse pic of redhead etc. from the clubhouse tomorrow morning.

Please tell me you didn't strip to your undies in the cabin..? I'm all for changing into comfy clothes but not in the middle of the cabin, OMG!

Aaargh. Brought unbidden to my mind the hairy nethers experience from 2014...

Mmm... Don't remember you sharing that experience. Please do and if you did point me to the post; I could do with a good laugh