This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
So we arrived at twilight check in at about 3:15 just as the Virgin ticket desk left for the day. We were met by a huge line probably four or five deep. Previously every year for the past seven years when we have done this flight we have always been able to bypass this, so I ask one of the security ladies where does upper check in and she told me to wait there and was sent to the next free desk. Just as it normally has happened. The guy checking us in was obviously having a bad day as he then proceeded to inform us that twilight check in was for the benefit of economy passenger and shouldn't be used for upper as 'you don't have to wait in line tomorrow' He then muttered something about having to load new boarding passes into the printer and huffed his way through checking us in.
Had a nice stay at the Arora in Crawley and opted for an early night. The excitement of Disney still turns me into a big kid so I was awake 2 hours before the alarm was due to go off. So decided to wake the parents up (surprisingly they too were awake but refused to admit they were excited) Got to Gatwick in about ten minutes on the coach and headed to the ticket desk. Told them I would like to upgrade mum and dad into the two seats that were available (thanks to expertflyer and that Y was overbooked), the guy on the ticket desk told me I would need to pay something then he saw the good old gold card and said no problem. So because of the ever changing situation with bags decided to check our overnight bag in and the parents overnight bag in. Proceeded to the upper check in desk where I was told that me and the boyfriend had already checked in two bags each and couldn't check in anymore [:?]Asked her to check and to the fact that we are both gold and I offered to call the premier team on my mobile for her then she accepted it.
No fast track available at Gatwick - this really is making it a second class airport at the moment although we snuck upstairs and used the blue security channel and was through in about ten minutes.
Straight to the clubhouse and was welcomed and asked 'you know about the delay?' er no - should have been told at check in only about an hour so nothing really. Have to say the menu in the clubhouse at LGW really needs attention, gone is the full English replaced with some towering toasted sandwich with melted cheese!! Also gone with great disgust is the bacon or sausage roll, now a bagel!!! I think it would be nice if they had some consistency between the LGW and LHR menus as I had a massive craving for Eggs Benedict.
Flight got called about 1:30 and was not on the satellite so actually a shorter walk than if we had to walk to them. Straight on board and was welcomed with a glass of bubbly. The CSS said hello and remembered that he'd flown with us before as did one of the seniors who recognised mum - which made her day. Pushed back about 2:20, got to the end of pier 2 before being told we had to return due to baggage being on board that shouldnt have been. 30 minute wait for the bag to be found and more fuel loaded passed with more bubbly.
No introduction from the FSM (We have only ever had this once on any flight with virgin) but was told that there was no divinci code or MI3 available which really was the only thing that was watchable.
I think that this menu rotation is not very good. I had the steak and it was a rough as anything and the dessert was so so. The cheeses were also rubbish. Anyway we spent a few hours at the bar talking to the crew and listening how the charters are catching up with them on the B+S routes - particularly first choice premium cabin. We spent most of the time trying to ignore the ignorant family with their two kids who were allowed to run around and shout and scream all through the flight.
Afternoon tea came around and this I have to say was not the best. Two silly sandwiched and choice of a fairy cake or something else (would have swapped it all for a scone and some cream)
Landed about 2 and a half hours late and arrived to an empty custom hall. All but one of our bags was on the conveyor in about five minutes but one of our bags wasn't there. We waited half and hour and then saw it on the economy belt even with all the upper labels still attached.
All in all a really nice flight and great crew (even though the family with the kids didn't like them and commented on how they were going to complain about them) food in the clubhouse needs improving and bring back the full English, and the food on board was just, we could have been much better - how I wish we had bangers and mash back!
