This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I'd already done online check-in as soon as it was open and was pleased to see my seat 9A was still there. Taxi came soon afterwards to take me to the Hilton where I was joining a friend for what was going to be a girl's only trip.
I was quite impressed with the room this time, had a deluxe room in the new building and it was in excellent condition - bit of a hike to the reception but I'd need the exercise with all the eating and a little drinking planned for the week ahead.
Up early the next morning so we could be at the check-in for 6.30 am where my friend was hoping to use her miles to upgrade from PE to UC. Alas, no such luck. No sooner had we arrived then we were advised the VS027 had been cancelled.
I was given the option of either downgrading to PE (or even economy), or flying out the next day. I fly UC (or at a push, PE) due to having various medical conditions (including DVT), it is a much nicer experience for me to have plenty of room and a smaller cabin. Flying out the next day was not an attractive option as my trip was only booked for 7 nights and I really didn't want to cut my trip short.
To cut a very long story short, a senior member of staff stepped in, saw my special assistance requirements noted on my booking and managed to get the one and only available UC seat (12K) on the VS015 released for me. Hats off to that lady, she salvaged a very difficult position.
My friend also kept her PE seat so we were finally all set.
Security was starting to get a little busy but we made use of the new fast-track (wonderful) and were through in a couple of minutes making our way up to the clubhouse.
The clubhouse was relatively peaceful when we arrived (around 7.45 pm), but within 30 minutes was filling up fast. Suitably fed with porridge and watered with champagne, I went for a head/neck/shoulder massage which was incredibly relaxing and I found myself drifting off to sleep, before being awakened by the therapist - don't you just wish the treatments lasted longer?
Our new flight (VS015) was called on time and we went to the gate (I believe it was 17 or 19) which was heaving with people. A first for me at Gatwick, but UC passengers were whisked through ahead of children/passengers needing extra time to board/etc., and I was soon in the haven of the wonderful UC cabin.
The plane was a little short staffed but we had 2 wonderful crew, the CSS being a crew member on my last flight, she instantly recognised me and was genuinely pleased to see me. This CSS went above and beyond her remit on my last flight with her (I was very unwell and realistically should not have been travelling).
Unfortunately we were advised by the crew that the flight ahead was going to be very bumpy and the meal would be served within the first 1 hour to accommodate this. I'm a nervous flyer so was really not looking forward to this but the crew were fantastic and did everything to put me at my ease. The pilot advised the flight would take 9 hours 20 minutes as we were flying a longer route to try and avoid the worst of the weather.
I can't comment on the menu as I had a special gluten free meal, roast chicken and potatoes which was very good (for a change), finished off by a gorgeous fresh fruit salad. This was the best gluten free meal I've had on Virgin flights.
My fellow passengers were a mixed bag, and I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but there was one particularly very rude family who treated the crew like servants, including the youngest member of the family (probably 6/7 years old) who instructed the CSS to 'make my bed up now'. Needless to say, rightly or wrongly, they were left to their own devices for much of the flight.
We had a good couple of hours of very rough turbulence resulting in crew and passengers being strapped in. Now that I've been through that I think I can handle any turbulence from now on.
Following the turbulence, the wonderful CSS invited my friend upstairs in PE down to join me for a bellini for 20 minutes. However, after seeing the racket being made by other 'passengers' in the cabin and my being tucked away in suite 12K, she invited my friend down again a couple more times for yet more bellini's and afternoon tea.
Despite the hiccup at the start and the turbulence, this was the best Virgin flight I have ever been on. The crew were superb and they made the flight.
A plus with the VS015 is that the immigration is quieter than arriving on the VS027, along with the Manchester flight and BA flight. We were both through immigration in 5 minutes, collected our luggage from the first baggage reclaim and were pleased to see the second reclaim is no longer in use; the downside was we had to lug our cases through the terminal and there were no trolleys.
Quickly picked up the hire car from Avis and were soon on our way to the Grand Floridian for a week of Disney fun and shopping.
