Please use this forum is for Virgin Atlantic trip reports. There is a subforum for other airline reports.
#261208 by carter
04 Nov 2009, 17:39
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
This flight back had a different feeling to others, admittedly for a change I was completely refreshed and relaxed. We'd had a wonderful week in NYC, experiencing weather from snow to glorious warm sunshine, seeing the sights to chilling out, excellent burgers to disappointing food in a Michelin star restaurant (a meal for 6, which the manager comped us for including the wine, it was that bad), but we came back with lots of shopping, smiles, more shopping, laughter, even more shopping, stories, yep more shopping (thank goodness the UC weight and baggage limit hadn't changed yet!) and to cap it all engaged [:D]

Our hotel had provided a complimentary limo to take us to JFK, the traffic was abysmal, well it was 15:30 on a Wednesday afternoon. Luckily our driver knew some back streets and all of a sudden we were at an airport. I was startled as hadn't seen or heard a plane till we were driving up the ramp to the terminal. A porter immediately saw I was in desperate need for help and he duly obliged, $10 well spent. UC check in had 3 desks but all occupied, so a short wait, but we get called over to the PE desk as that becomes free first. A quick check to make sure our seats are next to each other after the staggered seats on the outbound. The porter takes the bags to the drop and check-in is quickly over and done.

The lounge was very busy. We couldn't find 2 seats together as it was that packed plus a number of people had spread themselves widely with bags and coats. Wandered around twice, eventually a kind gent moved his coat from the chair opposite him so I could swivel it around and we could have 2 seats together. Ordered the mushroom risotto cake, whilst Ms Carter did some shopping and I caught up with some internet. Service was truly awful, brought the wrong food 3 times, they seemed desperate to give me some meat platter. In fact by the time it did turn up, Ms Carter had returned from her shopping trip, the cake was more like an undercooked mush on the plate. Given the time it took to order, Ms Carter ordered a burger anticipating a long wait, so in the meantime goes off to check her emails. The burger turns up within 5minutes, luckily was so hot by time Ms Carter returns 10minutes later its still warm. By now the lounge was emptying as various flights were departing.

We boarded on time. This time I could explain to her what we mean by 'going left.' Sleep suits were offered for those who wanted, i always pack my own, as dinner and breakfast choices were made. decided it would be an alcohol free flight for me as wanted to sleep since would be heading straight into the office, ok we'd just got engaged, one glass of champagne has to be had. must've dropped off whilst we taxied as didn't seem to take long to get airborne. Had ordered the chicken, which was ok, whilst watching Night at the Museum 2, then turned in for the flight. Was woken with my cereal just before landing which like the outbound was ahead of schedule, once again in hindsight no basket was taken around on the flight. The flight itself was almost a non-event, having slept for most of it, so could say there was nothing negative to report

As we await immigration, I wondered if flying UC allowed us to use fast track re-entry to the UK. Wasn't in any hurry as such so the 10min wait wasn't the end of the world. Our bags, all 4 of them, were pretty much the first ones on the carousel. Off to the revivals lounge, Ms Carter was offered a manicure, would only have to wait 20min, I said I would have my shower whilst she had breakfast then when I was back, she would go and I could make a few calls and have breakfast number 2. Refreshed hopped onto the Heathrow Express and off to work.
#729184 by David
04 Nov 2009, 17:51
quote:Originally posted by carter
and to cap it all engaged [:D]


Congratulations [y]

David
#729186 by HWVlover
04 Nov 2009, 17:54
Once again thank you for the TR. If you can snooze all the way through a flight then I guess it has to be a GOOD one[y]
#729188 by DarkAuror
04 Nov 2009, 17:55
Thanks for the TR and congratulations.[y]
#729190 by pjh
04 Nov 2009, 18:33
Excellent pair of TRs, thanks.

Curiously our turning left experience to NYC was the mirror image of yours; left in LHR but right in EWR.

Glad the engagement plan went to...err...plan.

Paul
#729195 by DMetters-Bone
04 Nov 2009, 19:21
Congratulations on getting engaged! I hope you are looking at J flights for the honeymoon! he he

Great TR,

Thanks Dominic
#729199 by slinky09
04 Nov 2009, 19:33
Oh! Success! Huge congratulations on being accepted by the now to be Mrs Carter!

I've been on those roads to JFK so many times in that traffic and, as you say, it's great to have a driver who knows Jamaica!

Shame about the clubhouse though ... VS have done deals with TAM and SA and at least one other at JFK and the TAM flights in particular can have a lot of people using the clubhouse in the early evening ... money rules I suppose.
#729201 by Jacki
04 Nov 2009, 19:42
Congratulations on a well planned engagement and being brave enough to introduce UC travel before the honeymoon!
#729238 by carter
05 Nov 2009, 09:13
Wedding is lining up as October next then straight on to Honeymoon. Plan is South Africa for 5 day Safari, something we've both wanted to do for sometime, I hear October a good time to go. Then on to Maldives for a weeks chilling.

Any recommendations of Safari and resorts much appreciated. As far as am concerned its a one in a life time trip so top end all the way of course means J flights then....
#729482 by honey lamb
09 Nov 2009, 20:20
quote:Originally posted by carter
Wedding is lining up as October next then straight on to Honeymoon. Plan is South Africa for 5 day Safari, something we've both wanted to do for sometime, I hear October a good time to go. Then on to Maldives for a weeks chilling.

Any recommendations of Safari and resorts much appreciated. As far as am concerned its a one in a life time trip so top end all the way of course means J flights then....

See here and here
#729483 by tontybear
09 Nov 2009, 20:33
Congratulations to you and the future mrs !

xx
#729524 by buns
10 Nov 2009, 15:02
Congratulations[y]

Will the future Mrs C expect UC everytime you travel in the future[:w]

All the best

buns
Virgin Atlantic

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests

Itinerary Calendar