VS020 SFO-LHR 02 Oct (Upper)

Limo picked me up on time, which left a very comfortable two hours to get to SFO. Journey took just over an hour. There were already pretty long lines for check in at Virgin and horrendous lines at Air France. The UC line was an utter discgrace with 1 person in front of me [:D].
Formalities quickly over I headed to the lounge. Had an excellent tomato soup with a chevre flan and parsley oil. A very tasty dish. Washed this down with a couple of glasses of bubbly and waited for the flight to be called.

Security was a breeze, I didn't have any liquids, but the zip loc bag system appeared to be working well. Another UC pasenger was bitching and moaning - not usually a good plan in US airports these days! For the plane spotters out there it was G-VWOW. There were 2 jetways and priority boarding seemed to work. On board quickly and headed to 3k.

Lucky on this flight not to get the Meditteranean menu that everyone has been complaining about.

I had the oriental vegetable spring rolls with sweet chili sauce, excellent. Then instead of a main dish I had the Roast Beef sandwich with portabello mushrooms and caramelized onions. Terrific onboard option IMO.[y]

Wines - Laurent Perrier NV
A Slovenian Sauvignon Blanc that was delicious and a passable Bardolino. I was a little disappointed that I could not have a Bellini, they didn't have any mix.[n]

Watched the Da Vinci Code, before the system had to be rebooted, which pushed me into sleep. After about 4.5 hours I woke and watched the rest.

Toothpaste and toothbrushes were available.

Held over London for about twenty minutes the had great views approaching from central London.

The only fly in the ointment was a long wait for luggage. Headed off for a shower in revivals (lots of hot water [:)] then my car was ready to take me to Theale.

A very good trip.

Originally posted by napamatt
Security was a breeze, I didn't have any liquids, but the zip loc bag system appeared to be working well. Another UC pasenger was bitching and moaning - not usually a good plan in US airports these days!

Yep, I noticed this when I flew VS20 a couple of weeks ago... there were some people kicking off about the lack of a business/premium security line at SFO in a most impolite way. The TSA people kept their cool and just said, 'Afraid not, we just have this line'.

The irony of it was the line was relatively short and it took less then 5 minutes to get through.

The only fly in the ointment was a long wait for luggage.

This happened to me coming back from SFO a few weeks ago. Once again, my bag didn't recieve priority handling and came out about 15 minutes after the first bag, amid all the Y baggage.

The food out of SFO has been above average of late, I think.

Mike

Originally posted by napamatt
Security was a breeze, I didn't have any liquids, but the zip loc bag system appeared to be working well. Another UC pasenger was bitching and moaning - not usually a good plan in US airports these days!

Originally posted by mike-smashing
Yep, I noticed this when I flew VS20 a couple of weeks ago... there were some people kicking off about the lack of a business/premium security line at SFO in a most impolite way. The TSA people kept their cool and just said, 'Afraid not, we just have this line'.

Slightly o/t but I do wonder about those who I've seen pitch up at US immigration and complain about the fingerprinting / photography routine saying it infringes their liberties. I guess it does, but then again were I the immigration officer after a day explaining that 'yes, you do need to fill in the green visa waiver form' I think I might be tempted to suggest that the passenger ask about availability on the next flight out...

Paul

Originally posted by napamatt
The only fly in the ointment was a long wait for luggage.

I trust that was 3oz or less of ointment in which your fly was ensconced or you would have been in direct contravention of United States federal law! [:#]

Nonetheless...YOU SAT IN 3K!!! That's my home from home, old boy, my favorite seat in the air. I have sat there for, I believe, six R/T legs on good old G-VWOW. Thanks so much for keeping her company for me until my next journey.

I do wonder, though, if with the recent declines in service, she doesn't now resemble a faded mansion in a once-fine neighborhood, now gone to seed? Please tell me it isn't so...

Thanks for the TR and happy flying going forward.

GJ