V-Flyer

Greetings all...

I'm planning a trip to the US in September. I'll be spending a weekend in Las Vegas and a week in San Fran, so I'd like to use the option Virgin has of flying into one location and out another.

My question therefore is:

Should I fly into Las Vegas and out of San Francisco, or the other way around?

I've heard that the LAS flights can get quite noisy with bachelor parties on board, but is that on the flights to LAS (which leave a little early to begin drinking in my book, but I have just turned 30 and therefore officially an old man in gay years) or the flight from LAS which leaves late afternoon?

Also, the LAS flight is from Gatwick (which I heave never done with Virgin) whereas the SFO flight is from Heathrow. Is there any advantage of the one over the other?

Many thanks in advance...

What class are you travelling ?

If Economy then Gatwick's only real advantage over Heathrow is its slightly less manic and parking is closer to the airport.

If PE then Gatwick - LAS may be a good bet as you can take advantage of "the bubble" on the 747.

If UC then I'd look to fly ex Heathrow to take advantage of the Clubhouses. Others on the forum who have experience of these things have before suggested fly LHR-LAX-LAS and then SFO-LHR.

Hope this helps.

Paul

Some of this will depend on which class you are flying. If you're going Upper Class, then LGW-LAS-SFO-LHR would be my choice, because you get the full benefit of a Clubhouse both ways, and the Upper Class cabin is bigger on your return (more chance of being undisturbed by the bar if you want to sleep).

In Premium Economy, you've got the benefit of the whole top-deck on the LGW flights, and the LAS flight home isn't that bad. The only thing that really lets LAS down is the lack of facilities at the terminal, but the Virgin team at the airport really are one of the best crews Virgin have.

If it's Economy, I'm not sure which I'd prefer. Possibly return via SFO, but only because I live closer to LHR so would want to get home quickly at the end of the trip.

Don't let the hour of the day fool you, on those LAS flights, they'll be drinking from the moment they step on the aircraft. The last time I did the direct route, they closed the bar halfway through the flight, but there were still a couple of 'colourful' characters at the back of the aircraft swigging directly from a bottle of Virgin Vodka. Such joy...

Pete

I would go the other way LHR - SFO out, LAS - LGW back just because chances are you would have V-Port out on the day flight and one of the older systems on the flight back, where fingers crossed you will be getting some sleep.

Note: In talking to pax on the LAS flights it seems that VS is closing the bar on all flights into LAS now.

I Ama making this exact trip, LHR-SFO-LAS-LGW.

UC on way out PE on return, I wanted the UC for the longer section, and to get the benefit of the LHR clubhouse. I can sleep well enough in PE.

Originally posted by jimbob247
I can sleep well enough in PE.

I'm jealous! I find it hard enough to sleep in Upper, never mind PE or Y.

UC: LHR-SFO-LAS-LGW mainly because you can use the LHR CH and as Dave said can make the best use of v:port during daylight.

PE/Y: as above due to having v:port on the daylight leg and many (I'm not one) find the LGW PE seats more comfortable and therefore sleeping would be a lot easier.

VS.

As has been said already, the decision for most would be determined by the class that you are traveling in.

For personal reasons I would go out LGW-LAS and return SFO-LHR irrespective of the class of travel. I also love the SFO Clubhouse so that would be a bonus.

Originally posted by pixuk
...more chance of being undisturbed by the bar if you want to sleep
Pete

When did that bother you? [:w]

The next time we go to LAS, we are going to come back on the later LAX flight, as we find leaving late afternoon means we get no/little sleep, even in UCS or PE. Landing back in the UK with the bodyclock set to 2:00am or so is a killer!

But given that, I guess the previous replies have nicely summed up your options... LHR terminal & plane, or LGW terminal and plane...

Rather than worry about possible behaviour, you would probably be bettter coming back from SFO, but probably not too much in it either way, to be honest.

Originally posted by jimbob247
I Ama making this exact trip, LHR-SFO-LAS-LGW.

UC on way out PE on return, I wanted the UC for the longer section, and to get the benefit of the LHR clubhouse. I can sleep well enough in PE.

Good comment - I find the same too, however the no. 1 demands UC in all directions [ii]