V-Flyer

Hi all. Am flying on VS for the first time in over 15 years in March, LGW-MCO. Several questions I hope the knowledgeable folk here can answer:

1. Twilight checkin - I understand this is open daily 1700-2100 at LGW - does anyone have any experience of being able to do it sooner than that? We've got a ~2.5 hour drive to LGW and might arrive early depending on traffic, and it would be good to know if they will accept baggage even earlier than the official opening. Also:

- is there a dedicated desk for this checkin service?
- I'm Flying Club silver, will that let me jump any lines?

2. Boarding. We have row 76 (upper deck) reserved, and are travelling with several children, some of them small. Any advice on when we should head for the gate lounge - I know boarding a 744 will take some time, are we better getting on first or last, and is more than one jetway used?

3. Inflight: food (some picky children who will get hungry randomly..)

- what are the kids meals like?
- what are the adult meals like?

(any sample menus or pix - the VS website is a bit short on info!)

- what meals can we expect to be served on the service departing at 1305 from LGW?
- are any snack items for kids or adults available on request between meals?

4. Inflight: drinks - if I want a drink, is heading for the galley the best way to get it? (rather than using the call bell, which IME can be ignored, or take a long time to answer, on longhaul - and I'm not having a dig at VS!)

5. At-seat power: according to the VS Website http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/the-virgin-experience/in-flight-connectivity/laptop-power.html, some of the 744s have USB connectors at seat - any way of knowing in advance which aircraft will be operating my flight, and are they adding USB power to the others? (and is there enough juice in it to charge an iPad?)

6. IFE: is the new Vera system any good, and is there a good range of content especially for kids?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I've not flown out of LGW so can't help with your questions, sorry.

If you go to Trip Reports and look for those on LGW/MCO flights, I'm sure you'll find a great deal of useful information which should answer some at least of your queries.

http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=6&rb_v=viewforum

OxfordBlue wrote:Hi all. Am flying on VS for the first time in over 15 years in March, LGW-MCO. Several questions I hope the knowledgeable folk here can answer:

1. Twilight checkin - I understand this is open daily 1700-2100 at LGW - does anyone have any experience of being able to do it sooner than that? We've got a ~2.5 hour drive to LGW and might arrive early depending on traffic, and it would be good to know if they will accept baggage even earlier than the official opening. Also:

- is there a dedicated desk for this checkin service?
- I'm Flying Club silver, will that let me jump any lines?

2. Boarding. We have row 76 (upper deck) reserved, and are travelling with several children, some of them small. Any advice on when we should head for the gate lounge - I know boarding a 744 will take some time, are we better getting on first or last, and is more than one jetway used?

3. Inflight: food (some picky children who will get hungry randomly..)

- what are the kids meals like?
- what are the adult meals like?

(any sample menus or pix - the VS website is a bit short on info!)

- what meals can we expect to be served on the service departing at 1305 from LGW?
- are any snack items for kids or adults available on request between meals?

4. Inflight: drinks - if I want a drink, is heading for the galley the best way to get it? (rather than using the call bell, which IME can be ignored, or take a long time to answer, on longhaul - and I'm not having a dig at VS!)

5. At-seat power: according to the VS Website http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/the-virgin-experience/in-flight-connectivity/laptop-power.html, some of the 744s have USB connectors at seat - any way of knowing in advance which aircraft will be operating my flight, and are they adding USB power to the others? (and is there enough juice in it to charge an iPad?)

6. IFE: is the new Vera system any good, and is there a good range of content especially for kids?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I will help with the bits I can.
1. Not in my opinion, we come up from Cornwall and do it the day before to make it easy. Twilight staff are usually agency staff, bang on the dot and very jobs worth. Flying UC they don't let you jump the queue and it is a bundle for the desk.

2. Haven't travelled with tiddlers for some years but I would either go very early or very late, depending on your and their moods.

3. There are some excellent trip reports, a few dedicated purely to those travelling with kids. I will try and seek some out.

4. I have never pushed the bell and would always go up for a drink if service wasn't 'live'.

5. The power is purely for charging whilst using, rather than charging in the normal sense.

6. Don't know what kids stuff there is, sorry.

This is what I was thinking of, and the TR within.

http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=6& ... ic#p854541

I'll try and answer some of your questions:

1) No, Twilight check-in is only open from 1700-2100. There'll be no one there before 1700. As an Ag you can use Premium Economy check in although I can't remember if there's a dedicated PE desk at Twilight - IIRC there are only two or three desks, one of which is UC only. It's really pot luck as to the length of the queue - when I used it last Saturday at about 8pm it was empty but other V-Flyers have reported long lines.

3) You'll get lunch an hour or two after take-off. In economy it's typical airline fare - probably a salad followed by a choice of 3 mains (incl one veggie) and a Gu dessert. You'll also get an afternoon tea snack about 90 minutes before landing. Mid flight they also sell snacks (crisps, chocolate, sweets, Pringles etc). If you have fussy eaters I'd strongly recommend stocking up before you board.

5) All the LGW 747s are relatively newly refurbished and have at seat USB ports. They'll power an iPad but won't charge it - indeed you're not allowed to use at seat power to charge devices, only to power them while you're using them.

6) The LGW 747s have Vera Touch touch-screen IFE with a wide choice of films & TV as well as games. There's a dedicated 'kids only' section, never used it though.

Twilight does not open early. There will be no one there before 5p.m.
Boarding is up to you. You have to wait somewhere so it's either at the gate or on the plane while others board. With children I wouldn't try to get on first as they will be severely restricted during boarding.
They usually call by seats rows .... to ... Just one jetway.
I am currently FC silver and have never been called on that basis. Only Gold get an early call.
If you want priority security clearance I think a No.1 lounge pass gives you that and its much more comfortable waiting there. But it is about £15 per person pre booked.
Can't speak for the meals as I have only done PE and Upper on this route. Those meals were fine.
I don't drink in between drinks so can't answer that and I have rarely looked at a film. I do know there are a lot of games on there which can be operated tapping the screen.
The kids can have fun annoying the hell out of row 75.

Have a great trip.

Dick D

PS what I meant by, 'I don't drink between drinks' was I only have what they bring round pre meal and with the meal. Not, I've always got a drink in my hand.

dickydotcom wrote:
Not, I've always got a drink in my hand.

marshy11 wrote:This is what I was thinking of, and the TR within.

http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=6& ... ic#p854541

That's a helpful TR, thanks for linking - wasn't aware there was a TR section on here, have been having a read...

Have a search, there are some great ones with kiddie tips.

Thank you all for the helpful posts! One last question I forgot to ask - will a pushchair checked at the aircraft door be delivered back at the door in MCO, or will I not see it until baggage claim?

I have a question for you...

How did you get to be silver if this is your first flight with Virgin in 15 years? Is there a trick we've missed?
D

marshy11 wrote:

dickydotcom wrote:
Not, I've always got a drink in my hand.

No crafty cases of Prosecco tucked away Dicky?

ultreen1 wrote:I have a question for you...

How did you get to be silver if this is your first flight with Virgin in 15 years? Is there a trick we've missed?
D

Ooh yeah, that totally passed me by.

Very comprehensive entertainment for kids

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/tr ... nment.html

ultreen1 wrote:I have a question for you...

How did you get to be silver if this is your first flight with Virgin in 15 years? Is there a trick we've missed?
D

I wondered about that but thought I must have missed something blindingly obvious.

Do tell. Can you get Au too?

ultreen1 wrote:How did you get to be silver if this is your first flight with Virgin in 15 years? Is there a trick we've missed?

Without wishing to second guess the OP, VS has a corporate scheme whereby staff at participating companies can get instant silver (and fast track to gold) as a perk.

gumshoe wrote:

ultreen1 wrote:How did you get to be silver if this is your first flight with Virgin in 15 years? Is there a trick we've missed?

Without wishing to second guess the OP, VS has a corporate scheme whereby staff at participating companies can get instant silver (and fast track to gold) as a perk.

Close. A friend has Gold and got an offer to nominate someone for silver - he kindly offered it to me...

OxfordBlue wrote:

gumshoe wrote:

ultreen1 wrote:How did you get to be silver if this is your first flight with Virgin in 15 years? Is there a trick we've missed?

Without wishing to second guess the OP, VS has a corporate scheme whereby staff at participating companies can get instant silver (and fast track to gold) as a perk.

Close. A friend has Gold and got an offer to nominate someone for silver - he kindly offered it to me...

Of course! should have thought harder!!!