This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
We reached JFK terminal 4 around 70 mins after leaving the hotel; a lot longer than I had expected, but we had plenty of time. Looking at the board I saw the VS logo and 'delayed until 11.59p' next to it, but luckily for us that was VS9 later that evening. There was literally no queue at 3.30pm for VS check-in, and we quickly got our bags over to the x-ray, and down the stairs to the shops before security, passing the Clubhouse on the way. Oh well, maybe one day [:#]. I was surprised to notice the duty free was landside, unlike my only other US departure airport, LAX. We ate in Sam Adams grill at the end near security which stank of cooking oil but the food was great, especially as I was eating at 5 for the first time since breakfast at 8.30. All of the security points were working, and so it only took 5 minutes to get through, maybe less.
We walked the long walk to a gate right at the end, where G-VATL was waiting - so unfortunately no new PE seats let alone new Y seats. A HUGE group of about 50 american kids aged around 13 or 14 were waiting at the gate, and went forward as soon as the flight was called for boarding - they were in the back rows. But where they had been sitting, a sole bag remained unattended. I pointed it out to the guy checking boarding cards in the priority line, and sure enough, someone quickly claimed the bag from that group of teenagers. My dad and I were then invited to board through the priority queue, which, as small as it may be, did feel nice. It was my first time on a A346, having already flown on 747s both LHR & LGW config and an A343. The cool chrome finish of the seatbelt sign/air-con thing was a good touch, and the toilets were the best I've seen on a plane before! The storage space to the side of my window seat was really handy, although, like on the way out, I had a huge black box under my seat - v. annoying [:(].
We waited for about 30 mins before leaving the gate, during which time I watched 'The Class' on my iPod - a really great and really funny new sitcom on CBS written by David Crane (of 'Friends' fame) and starring some fab actors. It's coming to Channel 4 later this year. Anyway, we were told that we would be taking off around an hour after pushing-back, and this indeed seemed to be the case. On take off we were given a great view of New York, hopefully not my last. Dinner was brought round (now about 8.30pm ET) with drinks at the same time. Trays were collected unusually swiftly; better than before when It's been on my lap for hours and hours. But maybe that was just because the cabin crew just wanted to stay in the galley all night talking, which is what happened with most of them, though there was this one girl that kept walking up the aisle attending to any requests with no problems - fantastic. But overall the whole crew were average. Nothing could be put below average, as in my opinion, Virgin Atlantic's basic product is always going to be that good, and would just become 'good' or 'excellent' if the cabin crew just do those small things that are so appreciated. I was dissapointed that friends had been taken off v:port, as that's what I love to watch on a flight, not a thriller like 'The Departed' which I have watched since and thought was great. So I just watched 'The class' and the second season of 'Joey' and on my iPod - thanks to this Belkin back-up battery pack which meant that my battery didn't dip below full charge the whole flight! Baggage reclaim was a breeze as our bags were out pretty quickly (though the walk from the gate was LONG), and we were soon heading back down to Hampton Court. My flight out was certainly my best ever VS economy flight, leading on to a great holiday. The flight back was an average VS flight - but that's good, as average VS is still a good product, but when it's a good VS flight then it's a fantastic flight when comparing. If you understood that then well done 'cause I barely did! Next up Miami in August in PE yay!
