This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
. Having previously used VS009 knew the flight times would suit our plans. Actually booked tickets through expedia as got a price that was a few pounds cheaper than the VS website and there is no credit card fee with expedia.Nearer the time looked at options for parking at Heathrow, hotel parking, BAA car parks or Purple Parking. In the end found the best deal to be with skyparksecure.com – you drive your car to the Radisson Hotel at Heathrow, meet their representative who collects you keys, you get tickets for the Hoppa Bus to your Terminal and on arrival back at Heathrow you phone them after clearing Customs and they return your car to you outside Terminal. All worked really well and I would use them again (if the price is still competitive). We dropped car at Radisson around midday and got the next Hoppa Bus to T3. Having done OLCI the previous evening just had to drop bags and collect boarding passes. No queue at PE check in desk; usual friendly check in staff asked the usual security questions, advised us of the boarding time and wished us a pleasant flight. Then headed up to security and straight through here in only a few minutes. We had plenty of time to do some duty free shopping to get some gifts to take to New York. We had booked the No.1 Lounge as on our previous visit we found it very good. Same again this time, not too busy and a very relaxing place to spend a couple of hours. Free drinks and snacks are available – you can also pay for hot food and champagne/cocktails at the bar. They also they do various treatments and Mrs N had back massage, again you pay for these (think it was £15 for 15 mins). Free Wi-Fi, various different places to sit and you can watch films in small cinema or watch sky news on other TV screens.
Flight was called just after 1615 so we collected our belongings and headed to the Gate. Arrived at the Gate very quickly dealt with and settled down and waited for boarding. Boarding of aircraft commenced about 1645 with UC through front door and PE/Y through the other door. Greeted by name, welcomed aboard and directed to our seats by very friendly CC. Not long after taking seats we were offered usual choice of sparkling wine or orange juice – both opted for the sparkling wine. Once everyone boarded Captain announced that there were Air traffic delays as it was a busy Friday afternoon at Heathrow and estimated about 30 mins late from the Gate, but due to favourable weather conditions we would have a flight time of only 6hr45 so should arrive on time. During the delay more sparkling wine offered and accepted. Departed from the Gate at about 1745 and took off from north runway at about 1805. Not long after takeoff and hot towels were handed out, shortly followed by the amenity kits, headphones for use with V-Port and the all important “new menu”. Drinks service followed shortly while we studied the new menu with great interest. V-Port turned on but Mrs N could not get her one to work. CC re-booted it twice and still would not work so she was given a DVD player and some DVDs for the flight. First time we’ve ever had a problem with V-Port but 10 out of 10 for the CC in trying to fix it and in the end providing an alternative.
The new menu consisted of smoked salmon with rocket & crème fraiche for starter, main course a choice of Lasagne or chicken in cream sauce with vegetables Or mushroom stroganoff. Served with a choice of bread roll and red or white wine and a Belgian chocolate cake to finish. All served on proper china with proper knives and forks – no plastic! Salt & pepper was in the “Wilbur & Orville” shakers. Meal was followed by a choice of tea or coffee, although these served in cardboard cups, which surprised me as they have improved the plates & cutlery thought they could come up with something better for the hot drinks. Finally a choice of Baileys or Brandy to finish off the meal service. Very impressed with the new menu – my only complaint no cheese and biscuits, I would gladly swap the Belgian chocolate pudding for cheese & biscuits (even better if accompanied by a glass of port!
).Spent the rest of flight relaxing and watching films. The was the usual service of ice cream and a choice of tea and coffee with either cheese and onion sandwich or a cupcake. Juice and water offered throughout the flight or other drinks available by request. Flying over Boston had a look at the Flight map to check on our progress and noted the aircraft seemed to be heading in the wrong direction! A quick look out of the window confirmed that we were in fact flying round in circles. Captain then announced that due to storms in the NYC area we were in a hold and to expect about 20-30 min delay. We then started heading for JFK and landed at about 2010; we taxied to the Gate fairly quickly (by JFK standards) and parked up in between a VS 747 (presume delayed VS046) and Polish aircraft that had arrived just in front of us. Got off the aircraft reasonably quickly and as we walked to Immigration confirmed that a plane load of Polish we just in front of us. Despite the lengthy queues took about 60 mins to clear Immigration and collect bags and head for the exit (previous flight on VS009 only took 30 mins). By this time it was about 2130 and we headed for the bus to Grand Central. Had booked up bus tickets on NYCAirporter.com who now seems to have taken over from NYAS for running busses between JFK & Grand Central. Their website says all buses are air conditioned with free Wi-Fi. We had to exchange our tickets we had printed off the internet for some bus tickets issued by the Agent and told that bus would be in about 5 mins. Bus eventually turned up about 2200 and they then same Agent collected the tickets that you were issued only minutes earlier. Bus Driver apologised but air conditioning was not working, also found the Wi-Fi did to work either!
Not much traffic so only took just over 30 mins to get to Grand Central. Overall not as quick as the Airtrain/subway route when you consider the wait for the bus, but if you have heavy bags/cases it saves the change of trains at Jamaica (Airtrain to E Train) and 51st Street (E Train to 6 Train).Overall yet another impressive PE flight with Virgin Atlantic. PE now becoming our normal choice for flying to USA. The excellent CC also makes a very big difference to the experience – in this case doing all that they could when V-Port failed.
