V-Flyer

I'm making my first UC flight in a couple of weeks, flying JFK to LHR.

Some questions and advice required...how does one make the best of this rare occasion?

Flight departs at 18.30. When should I roll up at the Clubhouse, what should I order and enjoy?

On board, do you prefer to get some sleep asap, or enjoy the UC offering?

How does the whole bed / pyjamas palaver work?

Would like to avoid looking like total noob / hick but still have some fun...many thanks!

It’s been a while since I was in the JFK clubhouse but I think the norm, if you want to enjoy it, is to give yourself a good 2 hours in the lounge and then add in time for Check-in, security, getting to the gate, and any shopping you want to do.

Once in the lounge, go for it - eat / drink. If still available the clubhouse burger is highly regarded. Do you want to eat in the lounge and skip the onboard meal? Then eat as much as you feel comfortable doing.

Champagne or a redhead or three will all go down well. Or your favourite cocktail - most things available.

It is a red eye, so CC will serve drinks, food, makeup beds, and then set cabin to night mode. It doesn’t mean you have to sleep, you can enjoy a few more drinks onboard and may find the bar in use (it does vary by flight).

PJs will be given out on boarding, before take off, and if you wish you can take your own. Change in the loo before take off if you can, or as soon after take off before the loo floors get wet! The crew will happily make up your bed whenever you want, just ask, but try to avoid meal service when they will be busy.

Stay relaxed, say yes when they offer you a drink, and you’ll look like a seasoned pro!
Have a great flight.

Don't worry about looking like a noob...would be my advice!

You will likely see all kinds of different people / attires / attitudes / backgrounds. Such is the following that Virgin has.

Just enjoy it and don't hold back from asking the cabin crew for help and advice. Looking like a 'noob' won't change their attitude toward you, they will likely be even more keen to assist and make sure you're having a good experience.

There will be loads of great advice on this forum. But just remember that every flight is different and so much depends on the crew. Turn LEFT with confidence and a big smile on your face...and don't look back!

If it were me...i'd rock up in time to spend an hour or two in the clubhouse (its awesome...but its still an airport lounge), rip through as much of the cocktail menu as your tolerance allows whilst still walking in a straight line (redhead is a must). On board, enjoy dinner and drinks and then bed-down...maybe a final drink or two at the bar depending on what plane you're on.

As for bed, just ask a crew-member to fix it up when you're ready to sleep. This will NOT make you look like a noob! As for pyjamas...at 6ft 6 i'm yet to find any that fit so don't bother...others can advise, but It does seem to be hit and miss which flights have them and which dont.

Oh and again...don't worry about looking like a hick or noob! You could trip over your shoelaces and do a forward-roll into the upper-class cabin wearing a jesters hat and you'd still be 100% welcome! Just enjoy, enjoy, enjoy and then start working out how to fund your next UC trip!

I disagree with Christo, the clubhouse doesn’t feel like an airport lounge, it’s a much nicer experience and I have been in some nice lounges! I can kill 5/6 hours in a clubhouse visit very easily and have done on many occasions!

Onboard NYLON flights can be quite short and if there’s a lot of business traffic people want to get to sleep for meetings the next morning so the FSM will run the service around the needs of their pax! saying that I have been on a NYLON where it was clearly all leasiure pax and they kept the lights on much later than normal and the bar serviceable for a good way into the cruise!

Make sure you use revivals when you get to LHR too

Welcome OTCE

All the advice given so far is spot on. To give yourself something to to look forward to, pick your food from the JFK lounge menu here: https://www.virginatlantic.com/content/ ... _Q3_V4.pdf

Bretty suggests the burger (and so do I) but the Chicken Tikka Masala is also worth a look (why not have both?)

You might struggle to get an appointment but book yourself in for a treatment in the spa in between burger and curry.
https://content.virginatlantic.com/cont ... a-menu.pdf

On board the PJs are a little skin-tight for my liking. Mrs _f suggests this is due to my ample body shape rather than any failing of the PJs but I prefer to take my own that I know I'll be comfy in (there may be a correlation between the burger and curry combo and body shape but I'm not convinced...). Do not attempt to make the bed yourself. There's no point and you will get stuck at some point - I guarantee it. Just ask the cabin crew to make it and pop to the loo to change into our PJs, you will return to a lovely bed rather than the mess you'd have made yourself.

Whether you actually choose to sleep or not is a function of what you want to do the next day. You'll land around 0630 and be landside by 0730 a the latest. Do you have somewhere to go urgently or do you have time to shower and eat a proper breakfast? Aircraft ovens can render breakfast inedible so perhaps plan to head to the Revivals Lounge for a wash and a British Fry-up (healthy options are available).
https://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/vi ... ounge.html

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you enjoy your flight.

Lots of good advice already.
I don't change into the sleep suit in the Loo. It's not always the cleanest place.
Have a great trip.
Dick D

I assume, that if you wanted to not change in the loo, that the crew would let you pull the curtain around door L/R2 that they normally use for people who need to pray or occasionally as a crew rest area particularly on the 330!

The JFK Clubhouse (and the staff) are amazing. Don’t forget there is a spa, so you can get a haircut, massage or such.
You’re on an early flight so there might not be so many business travellers. But it all depends on the day of the week. For example, no-one on a red eye on a Friday is going to work immediately!
I always change into a sleep suit as soon as an get onboard. You can find the suits at the very front of the cabin in front of seat 1D/G (depending on the aircraft). At this point the loos are fine.
Onboard I would certainly go to the bar for a few drinks, maybe even have dinner at the bar. Then have some sleep.
Personally I don’t have breakfast onboard, but head straight to the Revivals lounge, have a shower and then some food.
The key point, let the crew know you are ‘a virgin’ and they will make a bit of a fuss of you. Enjoy!

Noob here too. Does the UC onboard bar serve Redheads?

I've only ever seen Redheads served in Clubhouses. Whilst VS do serve cocktails on-board, the selection is usually fairy limited.

Re: cocktails. They have the Funkin mixers on board in some form of rotation. I’ve had the same food menu before but with a different cocktail menu so unsure how often it changes.

Whilst I appreciated it at the time(s), the spirits were poured to about quadruple measure (I part own a bar so talk from experience), and after the previous beers and about 3 of the cocktails, I’m sure I’ve ended up in Jupiter rather than JFK.

If they have the white peach puree onboard, there's always a bellini. Yum.

I might be one of the few here that actually prefer the NYC club lounge more than Heathrow, I like that it has a bit of a funky look to it, although LHR is very nice too....I could easily spend 3hrs in the lounge.
Eat some light bites in the lounge but do save room for the food on board as I have never been disappointed. I would also skip the breakfast on board and eat in the revivals lounge if you have the time.

Enjoy