V-Flyer

So, posting in quick succession on the return from New York I felt a lot better, despite a hectic two days (some very good meetings and lots of opportunities to follow-up on), and the fact that I was heading straight into a day long workshop on arrival back in the UK. Clearly looking forward to going home.

Id spent the afternoon in meetings in Stamford, CT, and decided to book a car straight to JFK rather than the train back to New York and a taxi to the airport. I figured that it would be much more comfortable (right) and roughly the same cost (as it turned out, $130 so a little bit more compared to the Amtrak, a lot more compared to the commuter train from Grand Central just as an aside, Id been staying the Royalton, three blocks from Grand Central and decided to take the New Haven line commuter train, it cost $9.25 which I thought was amazingly low compared to what it might have cost here at home!). The car pick-up was fine, the journey I was told averages 1 1/4 hours but in the event took 55 minutes. Painless!

Checked-in as most people were checking in for the VS026 (or is it VS010), I was that early, lovely check-in agent, really nice, confirmed an upgrade, even nicer, me even happier! To the club house, lovely staff, champagne, enchiladas, (smoking break watching the planes take-off to the SW), back to club house, burger, champagne, banana bread pudding, (smoking break), off to security again the one bag thing worked fine with laptop and toiletries out and no questions asked. No queue at gate 28 to board (I was about 25 mins before departure time and most people were on) and settled into 15A. I quite like this seat, theres no one in front, and I dont find the adjacent loo disturbing. Here is where things got better the FA allocated to the B zone on my side was more than amazing, she was fantastic. This really happened:

- Slinky sitting in seat thinking Id like a glass of champagne, FA (who I will call S) arrive with champagne, only thank yous exchanged

- Slinky thinking, must ask for sleep suit, S arrives with medium sleep suit

- post take-off Slinky thinks, maybe one more champagne before bed, S arrives unasked with said champagne and a smile

- Slinky preparing bed wondering can I get a second pillow, S arrives with second pillow

- Slinky sleeps for five hours and wakes up, stretches, and muses, mmm, bacon butty and coffee nice, S arrives offering just the same!

By now Slinky is in love, just a shame S is of the female type!!!

How she did it I do not know, but a huge thank you and a comment being sent to VS, nay a veritable heroine!

The flight itself was a little long, we pushed back 2 mins earlier (amazing, no paperwork story) and joined the long, long line of planes awaiting take-off at JFK. So with a departure time of 1950, we left the gate early but took off close to 2100. With the high pressure over Europe there was a head wind for a long time, so the flying time was announced as 6 hrs 50 mins, and then of course the obligatory stacking before Heathrow never mind!

On arrival the one bag thing worked a treat, straight into Iris, straight through the luggage hall, straight out into T3 did it in 15mins and that would have been heaps shorter but for the hateful long walk from gate 40.

And finally, into the revivals lounge, lovely hot shower and freshen-up, change into suit, coffee and out into the world of work in London.

All in all, a wonderful Virgin experience.

Another great read, thanks Slinky [y]

It has really whetted my appetite for our trip in a couple of weeks, looking forward to the JFK Clubhouse experience again and we are also coing back on the VS046. [8D]

Was your upgrade with miles or an op-up? If it was with miles, which class of ticket did you have and when did you sort it - at the check in or before you got to the airport?

I am working on my ESP as we speak.[:D][:D]

Nick

Nick - thank you. I was lucky, travelling in PE on a W ticket - and PE was full. I wish you well with your ESP (or as the Pope might say 'I am praying for you').

A great return TR, thank you. [:D] [y]

Slinky

Thanks for taking the time out to post the return TR so promptly[y][y]

The return is of course in marked contrast to your outbound[;)] and the icing on the cake appears to be the superb crew member.

As they, when it goes well, it goes really well, when it goes wrong.....

BTW if only I could travel as light as you and speed through the airport[:w]

buns