V-Flyer

I last flew Virgin UC back in 2009 when I took the wife to NY for our christmas holidays and must say I was quite impressed with the club house at Heathrow. Only gripe was the food served up on the plane (VS045/046 747-400, it just didnt live up to the UC experience. We are now returning back to NY in May using the exact flight plan as before and was wondering if any of you fellow travellers can report of any changes to UC, for better or worse, Im just curious of what to expect thats all. Thanks in advance.

In terms of hard product nothing has changed or is expected to before your flight. The food has got better recently and there are due to be fairly substantial changes to the UC food service sometime next year although no details or dates have been confirmed yet.

Hi Frankie and welcome to V-Flyer

A quick perusal of the Trip Reports here (not only the flight you are intending to take) will show that when VS gets it right, they cannot be beaten against other Business Class offerings.

However, one of the main gripes continues to be consistency.

The clubhouse in LHR is still stunning although now you do have to get there early if you want to book a treatment

buns

The Orville and Wilbur salt'n'petter pots have flown off to pastures new.

As Neil said there have been hints that there will be changes to the food and the service in UC but nothing concrete yet.

Hi Frankie and welcome to V-Flyer

You should experience a very similar service to the one you had in 2009. The clubhouse is still fabulous and the service there is generally impeccable.

Onboard it will be the same suites, some are now looking a little tired, but still functional. The amenity kits have diminished over the last few years. You now get a snooze pack with eyeshades, earplugs, shoe bag, toothbrush with a small tube of Colgate and a pair of socks. You can have a sleep suit if you want - they are on-demand on the way out and automatically offered on the way back on night flights.

I'm not sure when the baskets of goodies disappeared, but if you remembered a crew member going round with a little basket with pens, polos, lip salve etc. then that has gone now. (Buy them yourself before you board).

If you get a good attentive crew then the service will be very good. Sometimes they miss the mark, even in UC, but we all hope this is rare.

The food seems to polarise people on this forum in a Marmite like way. Love it or hate it. I recently had the excellent risotto with prawns starter and salmon main which were both lovely. Even the fillet steak on my return was good (you just have to accept that it is done a bit too much if you like it rare). Its never going to be restaurant quality catering, because the facilities are more campervan than Claridges.

My advice is have another glass of champagne/wine and enjoy.

Have a great flight and tell us all about it in a Trip Report when you return.

Cheers

Martin

The crockery has changed now for a more modern shape, and it looks nicer to eat and drink from than before the change, the salt and pepper puts were still being used on monday but they are scheduled to disappear.

Alex

Thank You for your response, all very helpfull and reassuring. I will write a full flight report on my return.