VS046 JFK-STN 10 Jan 07 (PE)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Wasn't going to post a trip reprt but turned into interesting flight so here goes .....

Was booked in Y on VS010 from JFK to LHR so did the obligatory online check-in in the morning and confirmed our economy seats (#61516;) & then checked out of the hotel (intercontinental The Barclay, is a very good (cheap) hotel in New York and would recommend). We then spent the day trawling the streets with our carry-on bags (didnt want to leave the valuables with the bellman).

Upon return to the hotel we asked the concierge to check the flight status . Flight was showing as cancelled !!, sharp call to virgin told us that the VS046 had been delayed and all passengers were being rebooked from the 10 to the 46; which I didnt mind but this meant that we lost our seat reservations requested in the morning, grrr.

We rushed off to JFK to try and get some decent seats as the call centre could not pre book seats on day of travel, upon arrival it was very quiet (guess this is the reason VS010 was cancelled) we checked in and ended up with two in the middle of a 4 not best pleased so asked for the price for an upgrade (250 gbp not too bad) but this couldnt be done until the check in closed and all passengers had been moved from VS010.

Went to gate and boarding had already started so asked again if we could be upgraded which was available so duly paid 250gbp each for the upgrade and sat downstairs in PE. Was very impressed with the new PE service, nice menus and blankets certainly the little touches make a difference (shame it was a 744 so didnt get the new seats). Upon boarding the captain advised it would be a quick crossing (5h30mins) thought great (50gbp / hour for the upgrade!) not the best deal after all.

Uneventful flight until we got to Heathrow air traffic where we were duly lined up in the queue (forecast landing time if straight in was 8:10), initial delay was 45 min. After 45 min it was announced we were further delayed by 30 mins into Heathrow which would push us past fuel allowance and we would divert to Stansted. Ride into Stansted was at best bumpy, probably something to do with the 140 mph tailwind wind that had pushed us across the Atlantic!

Also diversion took about 45 mins (with the 30 min delay at Heathrow pushing us past fuel allowance was concerned this was taking so much time?)

When we landed at STN stairs were pushed up to door and ground crew boarded, door was just a row in front so got a good view and ear to all the action. Ground crew were excited to see a 744 and they all went upstairs to see the flight deck! Refueling took about 2hrs in total from taxi to taxi. Lost of people asking if they could get off but immigration would not allow this as it was not our final destination.

Take off number 2 was at about 11:30 with an estimated flight time of 28mins dependent on queues at LHR; queues never materialised an we went straight into LHR in total it seemed a lot less than the 28 mins, however it must have been the worst 28 mins flying I have ever been on; not due to the crew but the wind, there was lots of whining from the engines and you could hear and feel the wind pushing the aircraft around (not great due to the number of GU brownies handed out on the ground at STN!) Landed eventually at just past 12 noon at LHR.

All in all an interesting flight, now struggling to claim the FC miles for PE as they havent changed my class when I paid for the upgrade grrr!

J

[Nottingham Nick]

Congratulations on the first V-Flyer VS trip report into STN. [8D][:D]

The problem claiming the right mileage after a paid upgrade is a well known pain - others may tell you if there is a secret to it, but don't give up - I am sure they will sort it in the end.

Nick

I was also on this VS10, having been moved from VS46. An interesting flight to say the least! The short hop to Heathrow was certainly an experience, and not one I wish to repeat soon; probably not the twenty-eight minutes predicted, but it seemed to last for ever!

I'm intriuged as to the reasons for refusing to allow passengers to disembark; the Captain did blame immigration authorities, but I struggle to see why they would care. I do wonder if it was more to do with the logistics of offloading bags etc.

I wish VS did fly from STN, I only live 25 minutes away from there.

I can only dream [:D]

Originally posted by adjonline
I'm intriuged as to the reasons for refusing to allow passengers to disembark; the Captain did blame immigration authorities, but I struggle to see why they would care. I do wonder if it was more to do with the logistics of offloading bags etc.

I don't really understand it either - the dispatch agent had also told this to the cabin crew abot 10 mins before, as there was quite a few people from UC who were willing to leave their bags; - think that would give them other security issues of flying bags without the passenger though?

Nice to hear someone else 'experienced' the flight too - was a good feeling to land at LHR!

The 'you can't get off' has happened to me too, and here's what I was told by Customs in the US:

Some fueling stops are set up for transfer pax to exit the plane and stay airside, but this was another problem entirely - a fuel diversion, not a planned in-flight refueling stop. Scheduled fuel stops let you off the plane, but not stops like your flight made.

You can't leave your bags on the plane and dash groundside because then they a) will be onboard upon departure for LHR and you will not, and b) any incoming baggage/cargo must be inspected at its entry port. If there were no available ramp crews for baggage duties, it could not be offloaded.

When a flight lands from a foreign destination with the intent on letting all or some pax stay groundside, everyone and all cargo has to get off for inspection or nobody and nothing gets off to stay groundside. Period.

That means if only a few pax get off your flight and others stayed onboard for LHR, it violates that. Since the flight was booked to LHR, it's certain some of the cargo might have been going elsewhere. That meant the bills of lading were set up for LHR, not LGW. Customs in any country hates it when bills don't add up. VS would also be responsible for getting the cargo to LHR, a cost avoided by continuing on the the original destination.

The wind/fuel situation is hammering everyone, not just VS. Hopefully you won't experience this again, but if you do, just remember to grin and bear it. At least you were in PE and not the sardine can down back!

Save all your paperwork and give FC a(nother) call - eventually you will get the omitted upgrade sorted out.

Interesting, thanks for that.

Originally posted by vs_itsallgood
At least you were in PE and not the sardine can down back!

I was, alas, in the 'sardine can', and this was one flight I very much regretted not upgrading to PE!