VS040 ORD-LHR 24 Jan 08 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

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It's been a few years since I flew transatlantic from Chicago - for this trip I had two days of meetings with a customer in Eagan, Minneapolis, and decided to try a routing via ORD and then a United flight to MSP. Disaster on the way out as a three hour gap between flights turned into seven hours, and even in United domestic First there's no lounge, no drinks no, nuffin ... but that's another story and just adds to my disaster strewn experiences of US domestic airlines.

The return was somewhat smoother, a less than charming taxi ride from the customer's office to MSP (guns, god ... you get the drift), a charming check in agent (United will interline bags to Virgin even if you're not on the same PNR, useful to know if anyone has such hops) then a reasonable burger and beer at Rock Bottom North in the airport (Rock Bottom stout, quite nice [:)] ). A saunter to the gate and lo and behold the plane was actually there (757-200, don't they go up quick!) and we pushed back early ... after all my trials with US airlines recently this was a pleasure. United First is reasonably comfortable, a couple of vodka and tonics and the obligatory cheapo snacks but served pleasantly, and on time into ORD. I did think I would never look forward to a transatlantic in a 757 after a peer through economy on disembarking ...

So from United terminal 1 at ORD to the international terminal on the very efficient transit and a look to find the Virgin check in desks - over on the right hand side for those who need to know! Checked in very efficiently (how do these young women (here and JFK the same) manage all that keyboarding with those very long and shiny fingernails???). I was asked if I would like an escort to the lounge (pointed out that this was the JAL lounge) which I declined since I wanted some (ahem) fresh air before going through security [;)].

ORD international terminal is, as I think Nick pointed out on a prior TR for the VS040, perfectly neat and tidy but heck there's nowt to do airside ... even the duty free is like a cart wheeled on to the floor. That said there's not much to do landside either ... I toyed with the idea of using Priority Pass to use the Swiss lounge (it had views) but headed instead to JAL. Well, it's perfectly comfortable and a bit basic compared to the Club Houses ... decent drinks selection, no food to speak of just crisps and snacks, nice seating areas and work areas, a couple of TVs, not to alarmingly decorated. Sort of snug but sadly no view of the airport or runways - being the amateur spotter that I am nothing beats idling time watching planes take off!

I needed to catch up on work so borrowed a RJ45 cable from reception (they have a stock and will loan one for the deposit of your boarding card) and then had to pay for Web access - apparently VS is trying to get this free but it's not working yet. Boarding was called at 6 pm for the 6.50 departure, so work temporarily suspended, and a short walk to gate M8 where I was nearly last on and so straight on to seat 14A in the second Upper cabin.

UC was full bar three seats, PE about half full and I could see plenty of seats in economy. This contrasted with the outbound on Tuesday when there were 24 people in economy, 10 in PE and 12 in Upper - the day before VS had cancelled the VS039/40 due to light loads and being currently an aircrat down at LHR for maintenance!

Couple of champagnes, sleep suit in hand (no Hello since someone got to it before me, but lovely CC retrieved it later in the flight for me to read on descent) I settled in. Where possible I take 747 flight numbers knowing the the UCS is wider and more comfortable for my middle age spread, however the 343 felt even narrower than the 346 - and I found the bed just too hard on this seat - so I've marked the seat down. The IFE was of course Odyssey and I didn't watch it, also the movie selection could have been better, a bit too art house / second string / violent films - what's wrong with good old fashioned romantic comedies?

The crew were fab however, friendly, efficient, just the right mix of informality and everything provided when desired. I opted to delay dinner and do another 1 1/2 hrs of work, no problem, then as soon as I fold up the laptop it arrived. One particularly nice member of the crew was admiring by bag (not eyes, or other [:0], but limited edition Louis Vuitton if you must know [y]), the same one was after my coat on leaving as well - good taste young man obviously!

I had the tomato soup (v. tasty) and then chicken with sauce which I forget ... very good too! A couple of glasses of the Tantalus red - OK but maybe 6/7 out of 10 and then with 4 1/2 hours of the flight to go the bed was down, Bose QC3s on ears, dance music pumping out, ninja suit on and down to sleep for the best part of four hours - bed noticeably hard though as mentioned.

If ATC had let us, we would have been down a good hour early, but lots of stacking north of London prevented that, nevertheless, after a fastish 7 1/2 hrs we touched down and around to gate 11 to disembark. Bags of quickly (about 12th today so very good [y]) and off to the car.

After reading a couple of the ORD TRs I do want to say that all aspects of the VS staff interaction were good to very good, check in and boarding, the lounge lady (can I say that) and especially the crew on board, made it a very good flight. I wish I'd snucked down earlier and got more sleep, but there we go ...

[Decker]

Nice report! Tho' if you snuggle down to sleep listening to dance music remind me never to go clubbing with you. [;)]. Pleased to hear that the staff were top notch. In fact we don't seem to have had any staff negative reports recently which is good news!

[HighFlyer]

Sounds like a great flight, but i agree with Decker on not personally being able to sleep listen to dance music [:)]

The fingernails jibe was brilliant. Pam Ann makes a wonderful observation on this in her latest DVD. A comment along the lines of them being long enough to have the Magna Carta on each fingernail, or something like that. [:D]

Thanks,
Sarah

It's bizarre, but the faster the beat ... the better able to sleep!

*Perk* Which bag do you have? I bought a very very nice LV in NYC recently and lived in poverty for the rest of the month! Hehe. [:I]

Good TR too. I'm glad the Crew standard has been more positive lately.

Thanks for the TR. I, too, was surprised by dance music = sleep, but as one who doesn't sleep well on planes, I say whatever works for you!

Originally posted by slinky09
This contrasted with the outbound on Tuesday when there were 24 people in economy, 10 in PE and 12 in Upper

Wow - that is pretty light. I imagine the level of service was pretty high on that flight, given the low number of passengers?

A number of years ago I was on a flight from JFK - DEN that had about 15 passengers total, of which my traveling party comprised 4. The carts never came out - everyone's drinks and meals were delivered by hand, even though most of us were sitting in Y.

I often fall asleep with my ipod on, especially when Decker is away.

Don't think I could sleep with dance music on though[:D]

I'm usually listening to things like 'Sorry I Haven't a Clue' or 'Just a minute'. I like the background noise.

Mrs D