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VS019 LHR-SFO 2 Dec 06 (PE)

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2006, 16:13
by ukcobra
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Aircraft - Mustang Sally

Arrived at 8am for the 11am flight, the UC checkin was the longest I had ever seen it. PE line had about 8 people in front of me.

Took around 15 mins to get to the counter, was able to switch to an Exit row upstairs, so took 70A. The departure gate was No 7, which I had not seen before, it's a much more upmarket gate than the usual 33,34,35 ones I am used to.

Push back was delayed 15 mins due to Air Traffic, and we took off around 11:45.

The IFE had some problems, the crew kept resetting it, in the end I worked out that Miami Vice and Snakes on a Plane were not working, so the FAs were able to give a good problem statement to the Engineers.

The quality of the food and service were easily the best I have ever experienced on Virgin, the FAs were busy for the whole flight, and it was truely differentiated from Economy.

I forgot to tag my bag with a PE label, but it still came out fairly quickly.

Headed over to the Rental Car Facility to find Avis had allocated me a Mustang Convertible (Upgraded FOC), I am a Mustang fan, so the whole day of travel could be classed as perfect.

Looking forward to the return flight !

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2006, 16:14
by ukcobra
Forgot to mention, now qualified for Gold, so an extra reason to celebrate.

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2006, 16:29
by DMetters-Bone
Glad you enjoyed the flight, were you on the new PE seats/service???

Congrats on getting gold status! [y][y]

Dominic

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2006, 18:42
by VS045
I hope your luggage tags served you well[;)]

Personally, I don't actually like the new gates and much prefer gates 30+. I can see their merits, but I'm not a fan of what strikes me as being a bit too sterile. Am I being too picky[ii]

VS.

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2006, 18:52
by mitchja
Excellent TR thanks [y]

Congratulations on your new Au status as well [:)]

Regards

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2006, 19:48
by AndyK
Good choice of seat :)

PostPosted: 04 Dec 2006, 03:02
by ukcobra
The seats were not the new type, they are what I call the uncomfortable newish ones. With the head flaps. I'm 5'9 and I just cannot get comfortable as the ones on the Airbus. I am looking forward to trying the new seats, I am heading to Washington on the 14th, so I am crossing my fingers.

PostPosted: 04 Dec 2006, 23:43
by virgin crazy
yea i like turning left from the departure lounge. the gates that way are very upmarket.i travelled to SFO in october and we departed from gate 1. it seemed to have more class than the other gates.

PostPosted: 06 Dec 2006, 09:42
by Decker
Nice report! In theory the barcodes on the luggage tell the handling equipment that your bag is priority and this normally seems to work with PE - frequently better than UC!

PostPosted: 06 Dec 2006, 17:58
by ukcobra
Thanks for that, however, when I used to Travel Economy I tested the system by using PE tags, and more often than not it would come out earlier with the PE tag than without it.
Mark