V-Flyer

Found myself having to book a very last minute flight. Booked at current low Y fare bonanza, thinking would upgrade at airport--and then very stupidly, didn't.

Took train in--all running at least an hour late, and ran to catch HEX--also slow, and dumped us quite far down the track (and I DID sit in the correct carriage--all of us were marathoning it back to T3). Squeezed in through construction to VS counters where red and white balloons abounded, retrieved ticket (and queried cost of buying an upgradeable ticket and decided not).

UC check in was thin and was seen immediately, given a seat (in a row of empty seats) and thought I would just stretch out and sleep as much of the flight as I could. Good thinking, but not to be.
Y ticket marked with AU sticker for fast track security and clubhouse but got trapped behind worst nightmare family with two push chairs, two car seats, and two children who (understatement of the year) took their time. No request to de-shoe, and laptop allowed through in skin bag.

Did pop into clubhouse hoping to get a bite of food but plane called almost as soon as I was handed a glass of fizz at bar, so back down grand staircase and off to gate 5 where took advantage of pre-boarding to mark out seat row territory. One passenger arrived and sat at the far end of the middle row so it looked plain sailing.

Not sure which plane she was--a 747--but cringe at the thought that she may have been one of my old friends like Mustang Sally, really down on her days. Didn't get a look at UC but PE and Y seats were ancient, tatty, dirty and scarily reminiscent of what Continental and USAir offer. I was at this point very glad I had not exchanged cash nor miles for an upgrade and determined to just put on no expectations mode, which was exactly right.

FSA was excellent in announcements, or what I could hear of them, but sound quality was very bad in rear cabin. He advised Y pax to change seats if they chose to after take-off but to notify crew of their new seat. Everyone started eyeballing the cabin to see what would be available but I was happy where I was--or thought so at the time. Have rarely sat in center seats (far prefer window)as who would shoose to on purpose, crammed in five abreast, no window.

Take off uneventful, but as soon as we were airborne the gent at far end of my bank of seats--lay down and went soundly to sleep across the four I thought I had snagged, his feet pushed up towards my lap. Foiled! I stood up to see what else might be on offer and in that split moment he comfortably stretched out and commandeered my seat as well.

I gave up as eyed a couple abandoning both seats in window row 61 and legged it back there, dumped jacket and newspaper to hold it, went back and got computer bag from overhead, thought about accidentally dropping bag on passenger's feet now occupying my assigned seat, but am certainly more mature than that, and settled into what may have been twenty year old sharp metal bar seat for duration. Passenger in front reclined entire journey. Tray table, double fold, no cup indentations and sticky with remnants of previous pax meals and drink. Net bag in front of seat torn away and sagging, window smeary as well, but drink offered (quite a full plastic glass of a ery indifferent white wine and pretzels) and V port on. Dutifully notified crew member of seat change but she not interested.

I do wish we didn't all have to sit through how to work your vport video but no mandatory sky news. Vport choices need a change all around. The same comedy episodes and most of the movies have been on there as far as I know since before Christmas, so I had seen all that appealed to me--some twice, on previous flights.

I think the FSA did announce menu choices but no one could hear them in our cabin. The flight attendant in charge of special meals was really good, I saw hom taking his time with each passenger to check their meal choice, kneeling down, smiling, personifying Virgin crew at their best--but those in charge of the rest of us did not share that regard.
Amenity bags, smae old same old--no tissues, no paper but a pen. I do not recall a retail therapy pass through but may have slept through it.

Chicken, beef, mushroom risotto, I had the chicken, which while not bad, was not good either and seemed a thoughtless presentation as it was chicken in pasta served with a side of cold pasta, along with rolls--one small spoonful of broccoli and the rest likely to make anyone's stomach uncomfortably full of starchy carbs when one is just sitting still for 7 hours. Still, I elected to join that company and ate it as hadn't had anything since free cup of tea at platform offered by Virgin Trains as lateness placatory offering that morning. Had a glass of wine offered--but curious that the Y teeny tumbler was VS emblem free--just a plain glass. Wonder if that is an effort to reduce pax nicking them or just an anomaly?

Service was efficient but cold, as in unfriendly and hurried despite the low flight load, two passes through with tea and coffee and done.

I squinched up in my two seats and slept fitfully for two or three hours, trying to muffle the sharp end arm rail by using paper head pillows behind my back. No checks that I could see of any pax with seat belts over blankets--something UC crew are quite determined about, and this was a squally flight (literally in terms of audio as well with two very small infants in bassinet row).

Afternoon snack was a mug of cardboard tea (thank heavens no styofoam) and more starch (shortbread or brownie) if desired.

I really, really just wanted us to land and was appreciative that we made good time. Our approach into Newark was very gusty and rocky and I am fairly sure that we hit an edge of wind sheer as we landed as there was moment where it seemed we teetered until righted with a thump. Turned out many domestic flights had been seriously delayed due to storm and wind so am grateful we were allowed to come in.

It is a long, long way from the very back of the plane to the very front, amidst the slow shuffle of overhead bag grabbers, coat buttoners, baby nappy changers, invading back packs etc etc.

Very professional looking UC cabin crew bid us goodby at front as we exited, and clearly their cabin had a very different experience.

Overall--not horrible, just a bit sad. When I started flying VS when it first came ot Boston, the Y experience was fun and far outclassed BA and anyone else. Having flown Y only once in the past few years, I suppose I thought it would still be better than anyone else. the price was certainly right, but so was everyone else's and overall, I have to give it a sad rating of blah. I was however, very grateful to have had four engines and an expert pilot, which is, fundamentally what is important, as my next connection (delayed three hours) was in a tiny continental express bucketing around in the remnants of the storm in a very dark night--an experience that made me wonder, as I rarely do, if we would not make it.


RR

Yes a similar experience when I flew Y from ANU to LGW at the start of last month. However our flight was full and we hit horrible turbulence for a two to three hour period. My main gripe is the usual one of seat pitch, you are sat there for hours with the back of someones head in your face.

However when you have to travel last minute these things happen. The only 'bad' thing (as in unexpectedly bad) was that when I went to brush my teeth before landing I noticed that the brush in the amenity kit had already been used...luckily I had my own which I had to fish out of my stowed carry on. Once in a blue moon on long haul is fine but I couldn't fly like that routinely.

Thank you for a fine detailed TR RR - shame you had to rush things and not get the full benefit of the Clubhouse etc!!

I woudl have kicked the bloke who laid across MY seat!!

RR

Thanks for the TR[y][y]

Take off uneventful, but as soon as we were airborne the gent at far end of my bank of seats--lay down and went soundly to sleep across the four I thought I had snagged, his feet pushed up towards my lap. Foiled! I stood up to see what else might be on offer and in that split moment he comfortably stretched out and commandeered my seat as well.

Ah the delieghts of travelling with our fellow man[n] I don't know about the laptop accidentaly falling his way, coffee might have been better[}:)]

buns

We were on the same flight! I was upstairs in a full PE compartment, but my experience was thankfully much better! The FA was a nice chap and very attentive, dinner was a decent beef stew and all in all not a bad flight. The PE seats were the old type and although I did enjoy the top deck experience on the 747, it did look a bit tired. It's interesting that you were given Au Fast track stickers - the check in staff on the UC desk insisted they were no longer in use!

Looking forward to the trip home on Friday....no UC seats available yet but I'm aiming to upgrade if some do become open.

Cheers

Tony

Excellent TR thanks.

I couldnt agree more about your sumary and have been saying so for a while. Y on VS has gone from being fun and innovative to something that would be more akin to the worse Y carriers in the sky. Its interesting to see things offered in W (such as menu, baileys run etc) that were standard in Y eight years ago.....I think the bean counters are killing Y off [:I].

Now my question to you is- would you pay £655 for the same expereince as VS have just quoted me for a flight to MCO next month on a plane that I know is pretty much empty (thanks expertflyer!).

Overall, doesn't sound great. I have friends who are devoted to the dark side (lovely people otherwise) and normally fly WT+ and CW. They will be flying one flight on VS in E later this year. Hope they don't have the same experience you did!

Thanks for the report.

Real shame that VS haven't got a good enough handle on their aircraft presentation and cleaning problems, it's almost like, 'Oh, we'll be refitting soonish, so we'll just neglect this cabin and let it go to hell'.

I share your pain about VS generally replacing the food across the board with carb-loaded stodge.

Mike

Hi Will,

Re your question--probably not, especially as I have to pay that in dollars and (gulp) that doubles the price for me.
At that price I'd look at what an upgradeable fare was. Another possibility would be to get one of the really, really cheap N fares VS are offering into IAD or NY and take a cheap flight to MCO (USAIR, JetBlue, TransAir). Jet Blue are very good--comfortable seats, on time.

Actually--I have already cancelled my return Y flight--and rebooked as UCS with miles I had been hoping to save for a SYD trip next year.

If I were headed for holiday I could certainly grin (well maybe not grin) and bear it as it is only 6 or 7 hours but I have to look reasonably intelligent at work the day I arrive back and that might be rather suspect after a redeye as uncomfortable as the day flight. This is certainly what Virgin are hoping I would decide--leaving the back of the plane as a dire alternative to more expensive seats. Shame really.


RR

I was on the flight too- but in UCS (upgraded from PE with miles a couple of weeks beforehand). Interesting to have reports from all three classes!

The plane was Cosmic Girl, I had a look while waiting at Gate 5, she's been with the fleet since 2001. As you guessed, the UC experience was better. My suite wasn't too grubby and no problems with v:port. FSM introduced himself and as you said was pretty efficient. I agree that the announcements were pretty inaudible though-even from the flight deck. Maybe a check needed here. Food was just OK (I had the smoked salmon and Chicken Tikka),and it doesn't really hold up as even a business class meal-the quality is acceptable but far from special. The flight seemed to pass quickly, but even in Upper, there was a definite feeling of a rush to get it all served, than disappear for a while.

I'm writing this from the Newark clubhouse, waiting for VS2 tonight (Thursday). Will post on how this compared in due course.

Seems the Y refit is badly needed on Cosmic Girl. I flew out to Dubai on Tuesday on a fairly empty 346 with the new Y seats and went back from UC to try them, and was pretty impressed with the comfort and style.