Hello from the Atlanta SkyClub (now with a trip via LHR)

[mitchja]

Heading back home this evening back to MAN after an amazing week in Fort Lauderdale. Had a very pleasant surprise yesterday when the VS110 A/C changed from an A333 to an A339

Being in 8A, VS’s IT actually seemed to work and kept me in 8A! Glad it’s done that as I prefer the even numbered window seats on the A339’s which has the seat closer to the window compared to the odd numbered seats. Whilst I’m not paying for it, for reference; the Retreat Suite upgrade cost is £253.

Managed to once again get my bag checked all the way through from FLL to MAN despite these been separate bookings, however, there was some initial pushback but after I politely persisted and after they confirmed with their colleague, the agent was able to do it. Once again the DL shows full bag tracking.

[mitchja]

Due to weather/airport closures at MAN, we are now also diverting into LHR.

What a pain the the buttocks, James . Suppose it'll be a bus trip after that?

[mitchja]

Yep, on a coach now heading upto Manchester airport. First we thought we may just refuel and fly to MAN as the A/C is supposed to be op’ing the VS73 to MCO today, however, the flight deck crew ran out of hours so we ended up getting off and headed to arrivals.

We parked on a remote stand so busses were required to get us to T3 arrivals.

Waited nearly an hour to get bags. Getting on the right coach was a bit chaotic with little visible VS ground support. Compared to the CX flight which also diverted to LHR which had uniformed staff waiting and assisting pax.

The only plus was that the arrival passport e-gates worked for me in the first time in years (apparently they received a software update a few months ago and many people like myself who always get the ‘seek assistance’ message should now be cleared automatically).

The only plus was that the arrival passport e-gates worked for me in the first time in years (apparently they received a software update a few months ago and many people like myself who always get the ‘seek assistance’ message should now be cleared automatically).

Ahhh. Wonder if that’s why mine worked in July when it never has in the past. Good to know, thanks James.

David

[mitchja]

Glad to say I’m safely home, albeit some 8hrs later than planned. The drive from MAN to East Lancashire was not too bad either. In some ways the delay probably helped my car journey home as the rain was washing a lot of the snow away by that point.

Thankfully I had a 6hr grace period on the car park at MAN and had set my scheduled exit time as 12:00 midday as well. I always add a few hours on to my exit time for such eventualities.

Email sent to Shai's office though as the way VS handled this today was very poor. Which is bad considering we diverted to VS's home airport!! A few pax got disruption letters. I didn't. After waiting 1 hr for bags and once your exited the T3 luggage carousel area you were essentially on your own. No VS staff in the coach park or anything or anyone waiting for us a MAN either. Apparently not everyone got their bags either. I did thankfully.

G-VRIF (the A/C op'ing my flight) positioned up to MAN later in the day as well!


My booking even updated to show a extra flight leg to to MAN which never happened:

Screenshot 2025-01-05 at 19.09.28.jpg (337.58 KiB) Viewed 1723 times

G-VRIF now op-ing the VS127 MAN>JFK flight which departed over 5 hours late!