This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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So I thought OK I'll fly BLR to BOM and pick up Virgin. First hurdle was trying to speak to the premier team from India at midnight - why does the web site not list non-UK dialling codes, since you can't dial a freephone number from overseas! I find this maddening, and it's not limited to VS either, banks, travel firms etc. Do they think we only ever phone from London?
Cain in the premier team was fantastically helpful and suggested both a PE fare (292 one way which I thought was incredible since it was a day before) or the more desirable UC, which I took (again a very good D fare).
Saturday came, and I'd booked Kingfisher from BLR to BOM. Usually I use Jet in India so this was a first, and Jet were also full so I had no choice. Flights to and from, and within India are getting so full nowadays, if VS had more planes I would have thought it a commercial no brainer to head to Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and may be twice daily to Mumbai?
Bangalore airport domestic is pretty much like all major India city airports, that is on first visit ghastly, but you sort of get used to the mess, chaos, unusual procedures and lack of facilities we take for granted at other places. Kingfisher was slightly delayed leaving then hit air traffic delays arriving into Mumbai so arrived a good hour late - not a problem since I had 3 1/2 hours to connect. Kingfisher has great legroom, they hand out amenity packs with headphones for the IFE (yes even short haul, though the programming is lack lustre and self promoting), hot towels and drinks before take off. Also quite good food service, however I made the mistake of going for the non-veg breakfast and I just know that it's the chicken sausage that has given me a good case of Delhi belly that leaves me feeling awful right now (thank fully it didn't kick in while I was quaffing LP on VS, though that no doubt didn't help!).
Domestic and international terminals at BOM are quite a way apart and require a 10-15 min coach journey, so on arrival into BOM you look for the transfer coach signs to the left of the carousels in the baggage hall.
The coach dropped me at 2C part of the international terminal, and not being familiar with this I headed in, had my bags scanned, then searched high and low for the VS check-in. Asking several staff I finally found out I needed to go to 2A which was quite a walk in the 34C heat. Check in quite straightforward, although I was asked if I would downgrade, for a measly 15k miles and the fare difference. That was a no brainer and so a 'no' from me and through to the immigration/emigration and a very frosty lady immigration officer, she should apply for a job at Miami.
Again, not being familiar with BOM it took me a while to find the Clipper Lounge that passes for the UC and Au lounge here. BA have their own terraces lounge upstairs though it can't have any windows I thought ... The Clipper Lounge was OK, basic drinks and OK snacks (pasta, a few Indian dishes, soup). OK it's really poor, but is quiet and restful and that's what was required.
The plane arrived about 1 hr late, then took for ever to be cleaned and turned around so we departed almost two hours late. UC cabin was smart and tidy. So I settled into 3A for the 9 1/2 flight - which helped make up a little time on route.
As I often find, the cabin crew make a difference. Our's was excellent. The cabin was full, they worked hard, nothing was to much trouble, Jo the FSM was a scream, and they made the flight very enjoyable. I talked to a few of the BOM based crew and they were all fab. Scrooge packs haven't changed yet and the only additional amenities was the toothbrush and paste set, no moisturizer or anything. Come on VS, you have to sort this out. Even India has banned liquids now, and restricts you to one carry on.
I don't generally watch many films in flight, so won't comment on the IFE, the selection looked poor. Managed several hours of updating email as well as three hours sleep with the bed down (and almost everyone in UC did this, and we ran out of sleep suits larger than the small size). Then before we knew it we were heading down over the North Sea and into the UK. It being the 4th of November the sky around London was illuminated by fire work displays, quite amusing to see them.
Overall a good flight with an excellent crew.
BOM has massive renewal plans that I looked at while in the airport, if they achieve it, it will become a truly good international airport. Let's hope so soon.
There's a plane at JFK, to fly you back from far away
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
