This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The flight I was due to fly home to London on was overbooked so I was offered a Red Select voucher as compensation for being bumped.
So sad to be leaving my lounger on South Beach after arriving at Heathrow, I marched from Terminal 3 arrivals to the departures hall, clutching my voucher, and asked to be put on the next plane back to the South Florida sunshine!
Hence forty-eight hours later I was back at Heathrow, enjoying a glass of champagne in the sunshine on the Clubhouse deck, waiting to board G-VWOW.
(Between you and me, if you ever feel guilty about drinking in the Virgin lounge at 9am on a Sunday morning, don't be. The two Spanish men at the table adjacent polished off a bottle of Pinot Grigio each.)
Anyway, for the first time I managed to get into the 747's bubble, taking seat 75K - quite easily the best economy spot on the plane.
That the interior of Cosmic Girl appears to be in need of an upgrade (and the screen at the seat is rather scratched) it didn't matter - the legroom is expansive, there's extra space to the right for storage but above all, it's quiet and you can wander around as you please.
Oh, and you also get to board and leave the plane with Upper Class passengers - in fact, it's so good as an economy class passenger in the bubble, one wonders why Virgin configured the plane in such a way?!
We took off on time, heading towards Ireland and then across the Atlantic.
Lunch was served promptly and cleared just as quickly. I suppose it helps when you only have around 30 people to serve, some of whome had nodded off.
The flight was smooth and bright along the way and being able to stroll to the galley without disturbing anyone meant a Bombay Sapphire and tonic was never too far away. Literally.
In fact, conditions were so clear, the captain was able to point out New York City as we flew past, dozens of miles away.
About an hour before landing it was time for what Virgin affectionately calls "high tea" - a small sandwich in a cardboard box paired with a frosted caramel and banana cupcake and purple plastic knife. Nothing says airline food more than cold, hard cake.
That said, the experience was a pleasure not least because of where I was sat. 75K is the mother lode.
Flying in to Miami I was able to see South Beach (also on the right side of the plane) and the lounger I left just days previously. OK, not literally but...
Authorities are doing renovations at Miami International Airport so we were parked in what felt like Cuba.
It was a 20-minute walk to immigration and I don't mean 20-minutes as in, the distance from the Heathrow Clubhouse to the T3 gates which usually only takes about six minutes.
To give you some idea, the airport has set up a lounge half way for those needing a rest!
Despite the walk and the legendary Miami immigration queues, the flight was exemplary and even though it was an economy seat in an aircraft that needs a refresh, complete with frozen cupcake. It's all down to that seat.
Fair enough it cost me nothing either but that said, did I mention how bloody marvellous the seat is? If you need to beg, plead or sell your granny to get it, I certainly won't think badly of you.
Any hastle at immigration ?
)
