VS3010 EDI-LHR 21 SEP 14 (Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin

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This is the return trip report of our really nice weekend away in Edinburgh thanks to a couple of free Little Red flights, we took in a trip to the Zoo even though the pandas still weren’t playing ball but we spent almost 4 hours at the zoo having stopped off on the bus on the way to the city centre.

Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny through the windows of our city centre hotel so after a quick breakfast from the local Starbucks we headed off to Edinburgh castle for the day. We had a really great time at the castle and followed one of the costume guides around for a while before heading off for lunch in the café at the top. For the rest of the afternoon we toured the castle under our own steam, weather was still perfect and the jackets we had packed, stayed in our bags for the entire weekend.

About 3:30 we started the walk back down towards the railway station to get the bus to the airport, which takes about 30 minutes. The bus took us straight to the terminal entrance and we were inside and I again printed myself off a copy of the boarding pass even though I had used mobile check in and already had a boarding pass on the phone.

Security at Heathrow was a total breeze unfortunately Edinburgh wasn’t the same, it took about 5 minutes to reach the boarding pass readers and then the queue to get through security took about another 20 minutes.

Once through and into the departure lounge we equipped ourselves with a drink and a snack just as the earlier Little Red flight was leaving. I thought this may mean our flight may have been delayed but shortly after that flight departed our aircraft arrived. “Tartan Lassie” the same plane that had brought us up here the previous day was back to take us home.

Boarding was called about 18:15, unlike on the way out the gate staff instructed me to hold my own phone under the scanner to scan my boarding pass rather than taking it off me and doing it themselves.

Our flight back was totally full, so whilst it’s nice to see the LR loads doing better than some have reported it made a mess of my plans on keeping the middle seat free as this time it was taken but my other half did the gentlemanly thing and offered to sit in the middle leaving the lady who originally had the middle seat an aisle seat instead which she was happy with.

Boarding was completed quickly and our totally full flight pushed back 5 minutes ahead of scheduled with the same guy in charge of the cabin crew who was also on our flight up here the previous day.

A short taxi out and we had a departure from an intersection point on the runway and a very sporty departure from what was left of the runway that we were using.

The weather was still really nice and we climbed out just as the sun was setting. Again great service by the cabin crew as we headed down towards Heathrow. Typical arrival into Heathrow with about 10 – 15 minutes of holding before made our approach to 09L.

The Captain on this flight was probably paying for the amount of runway we used because he didn’t like to use much of it, a short amount on take off and an even shorter amount on landing before we turned off and taxied back between T5 & T3 to get round to T2 were we parked on stand 226 again.

Total airbourne time was 1 hour and 9 minutes plus just a few minutes taxi time at each end meant that despite holding we were still on stand 14 minutes ahead of schedule.

A friendly good-bye by the cabin crew we were off and on our way out, within 15 minutes of getting off the plane we were back in the car park getting into the car for a short drive back home and that included a quick shopping run inside the M&S food store just as you come out of the terminal so that we could have something to eat when we got back home.

These were our first flights on Little Red and can definitely say we were very pleased, OK there was a delay going out but these things happen and couldn’t see the point in getting wound up about it. Especially as we hadn’t paid for the flights in the first place thanks to the Upper Class promotion last year.

The Virgin brand worked really well and I hope they continue, would we use them again even paying for our own tickets – definitely yes.

Next trip on Virgin will be the day after Boxing Day when we head off state side – looking forward to visiting the Clubhouse again at LHR & SFO.

Another solid flight and good to hear of the healthy loads ,enjoy Xmas in the states

Excellent TR and sounds like a great LR experience, despite the delay on the outbound. We have seen and heard lots about LR over the last year. As a regular, most of it is just plain rubbish and usually from people and the media who have never stepped on board a LR flight

Busy flights too and like wise when I returned last Friday evening to MAN, a totally full flight. I love Edinburgh too and you certainy made the most of your time. Pleased you enjoyed and thanks for sharing with us all.

Jon

Thanks for your comments, this was the 2nd time I had been to Edinburgh. First time was many years ago and I really like it there. I certainly wont be leaving it as long next time, I think Edinburgh is a great city.

As for the states, that's our annual jaunt to the West Coast and then on to Hawaii - for many years we did it with United but now our allegiances have changed to Virgin & Hawaiian it's a whole new experience and the holiday now starts from the minute we check in and not when we heave a sigh of relief after getting off the plane.

Regards,

Steve.

Your experience at EDI security was unfortunate. Sorry. And rare nowadays.

They've worked very hard to improve the pax flow at EDI, reasonably motivated by the fact that if you get a passenger through security really quickly, they have more time to spend shopping in the departure lounge... and indeed are usually in a cheerier mood for shopping!

I go through at various times of day every week, and whilst my gold card permits me the excellent fast track, I can observe the General queue, and it is seldom busier than 2 lengths of the tensa barriers.

You hit a bad spot. Ugh. But as an EDI regular, they are getting very good on security speed.

McCoy

Thanks for your post - please don't feel the need to apologise regarding the security queues at EDI. Once we got to the screening point that was very quick with most lanes open. I think my timing was just unfortunate I don't get wound up by things like that and I'm always happy to wait if it's about making life for everyone safer. My 30 years in the Emergency services had me standing around waiting for others plenty of the time so it just doesn't bother me especially at airports because I always factor that into my timing.

I loved Edinburgh and a short hold up at the airport certainly isn't going to stop me going back.

Steve.

the holiday now starts from the minute we check in and not when we heave a sigh of relief after getting off the plane.

Glad you enjoyed Edinburgh. I lived there during the week for a few years when on a project and that experience, coupled with a few very enjoyable summers at the Fringe, have put it close to my heart.