This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Made my way to T3. No queues for J check-in. I was checked in in no time at all. Noticed my bag wasn't tagged with J tags (but as it turned out later, priority baggage sort of worked when I arrived at IAD, more on that later)
Collected my money from Travelex and went through fasttrack (Y boarding cards get a fast track sticker put on for Au's). It was pretty quick for a change.
Popped in to the Iris sign-up office on my way up to the Clubhouse. It was very quick and easy to set up with no problems at all.
Headed to the Clubhouse which was quite busy but not heaving. Servive was as good as ever. I had a Rhinstone Cowboy treatment booked for 10:00 so had some breakfast first. Had a wander round the Clubhouse. Before long it was time for my treatment which was as good as ever. Had a dip in the spa after this as well as my usual steam shower. I love those showers in the Clubhouse [:)]
Boarding wa called at 11:20 so I made my way down to gate 34. Priority boarding was 'sort of' working as there was a lady calling for Upper+Premium pax only for a seperate boarding line. Being Au I took advantage of this. I wasn't pulled for secondary screening at the gate but did have to give up my saftey matches which I had in my bag.
Loads where pretty light on this A346 flight (G-VOGE) so no new seats in PE or Y yet. I was sat in 38D.
I've never noticed before but the row numbers in Y are very confusing, as the A and C seats have different numbers to the D,E,F and G middle seats on the same rows ie I was in seat 38D (aisle seat in the middle section) but the A and C seats across the aisle from me where actually 37A and C [:?] Very odd and it did catch a few pax out.
We pulled back on time at 12:00 and rotated at 12:15. Once in the air and the seat belt sign was switched off, the service started (V:Port had been left on so worked straight away). The drinks cart came round as usual.
Now came the surprize that simply blew me away....a glass of champagne and a couple of chocs where delivered to me by a member of the cabin crew 'compliments of Flying Club' - wow the first time ever my Au status has been reconised on-board a VS flight [y] [:)][oo] It was only a little thing but well done VS. I later thanked the crew member who delivered this surprize and of course the FSM.
The service on board this flight was spot on the entire flight by all the crew. As been mentioned before, it really is the crew that make or break a good flight. VS - can I please reserve this set of crew for all my future VS flights please [:w]
Dinner was soon served, I opted for the risotto which was very good and tasty. Other choices were chicken or beef. Later on in the flight, I got a bit hungry so went hunting for more food. Now one thing that has disappeared are the trays of snacks that used to be left out in the Y galley (there used to be shortbread, biscuits or bread rolls left out) but as shortbread or musali bars (sp?) are now served as the second snack service, there's nothing to snack on other than the pretzels you get with the first drinks round.
I watched a few films on V:Port (Ice Ace 2 and Over the Fence). 90 mins before landing the second snack service dished out. I did see a couple of juice and water rounds during the flight as well.
We landed on time at IAD, where it was raining. Managed to work the mobile lounges quite well as I was nearly first off into the immigration hall where there where no queues at all.
This is where things got strange....I handed over my passport but the immigration officer took a long time reading his PC as he kept looking at my passport and then his screen. He gave me my passport back along with my entire I94 green form and told me I would need to go to the secondary check-point which is after luggage collection???
Collected my bag which didn't take too long to come off, although the Upper Class bags certainly didn't come off first.
Went through the secondary immigration check point where I was told to take a seat whilst the officer processed my passport and paperwork. He called me back within a few minutes and asked me the usual things like where I was staying and what job I did in the UK. He attached the green form bit into my passport, took out the customs form then let me though. I didnt have my finger prints taken nor a picture taken either [:?] Very strange indeed. It will be interesting to see what happens when I leave the US tomorrow.
Hopped on the Washington Flyer bus and headed to the subway to get me into Washington where I'm currently staying at the Embassy Suites which is nice.
Overall a fantastic VS flight, in fact the best VS Y flight I've ever been on [y] [y]
Regards
Regards
James Mitchell
James Mitchell
