V-Flyer

My first TR on V-Flyer! This is the first leg of our Philadelphia to Africa trip, highlights of which include a weeks safari in Botswana, several days on the South African coast, some Great White Shark cage diving and our wedding in Hermanus, SA, overlooking Walker Bay. But more importantly the flights!

Philadelphia is unfortunately located between JFK/EWR and IAD, so I doubt I will ever have the luxury of being able to jump onto I-95 for the 15 minute commute to PHL in order to catch a VS flight. Nonetheless, I would much prefer to head up to EWR to fly on one of Virgins flights rather than fly with BA or (*shudder*) US Air to London.

Whilst I travel quite a bit, my fianc_ (now husband), Mr. Pookaa, had never flown Virgin, despite hearing me talk about it for the past six years. So when we finally got around to our (last minute) trip scheduling, I used some miles to make sure he had the opportunity to have the full Virgin Upper Class experience, at least for part of the journey.

Our driver picked us up in Philly at 3:30 a.m. to take us to JFK to catch VS026 to LHR. Despite the early hour, it was fine, since the traffic was non-existent and we were too excited to sleep much that night anyway. I realized that although I have returned to JFK from London more often than EWR, I have never flown VS from there.

After a drive of 1 hour, 45 minutes, we were dropped off at Terminal 4 and went to the UC check-in desk. Check-in was a mess one line for UC, which appeared to be stalled, and the economy pax were being checked in while the UC line backed up. Finally a supervisor stepped in to pull people from the UC line, and from then it only took 3-4 minutes to get through the process.

Up to the CH, which is very nice. Its smaller than I expected based on the pictures, but still plenty of room. We ordered some breakfast coffee, mimosa and an asparagus/cheddar omelet for me and OJ, croissant and my home fries for Mr. Pookaa. We had a very friendly and efficient waiter, and the food was quite tasty.

No problems through security, a quick peek at the newsstand and no line at the gate when we arrived at B28. Todays bird is Indian Princess, G-VGOA, Air-born August 2003. We headed for our seats, 9A and 10A.

The Snooze Pack was on the seats, we were immediately offered a drink (champers, thanks!), and help from the CSS to stow my photo backpack. The IFBT was around promptly, and I requested the hand massage. The CSS was around again to make sure drinks were OK and I inquired about sleep suits. He said that they were supposed to be loading them and would check, but either they didnt make it or he forgot as he never mentioned them again.

The FSM came on and announced that they were waiting for 20 passengers, and we would be about 10-20 minutes delayed. The captain then came on and gave us the flight details: 6 hours, 30 minutes, departing on the NE runway, making a right-hand turn to the east, then flying parallel to the US East Coast, cruising at 39,000 feet, 55 degrees max, with landfall in the north of Ireland, approaching Heathrow from the north, anticipating a generally smooth flight.

While we waited, I looked around the cabin there were six seats open in UC. The FSM came back on and advised that the delayed passengers had arrived and we should be departing shortly. She said that the Newark morning flight had been cancelled (VS018, scheduled for 8:20 a.m. departure), so they had transferred some of the passengers up to JFK. Some of the announcements about electronics, flight details, were repeated for the new pax. Now UC was full.

Indian Princess is only four years old, but shes looking a bit dinged up in places. The forward UC lavatory floor was pretty disgusting and that was before take-off.

Didnt noticed the time we took off, but assume it was close to the 20 minute delay we had been advised. The IFBT came around and passed out lotion, pens, mints, and distributed Fast Track passes and landing cards.

I sat with Mr. Pookaa for breakfast had a little fruit and yoghurt. He is not thrilled with the UC Suite, because he cant look out the window and cant talk to me, but liked the fact that we could sit together for meals. I also said that if he wanted to we could go up to the bar for a while and sit.

Just a side note: there was a gentleman in 10K who fell asleep sitting upright almost immediately upon take-off and snored the entire way across the pond. Not just snored, but SNORED. To the point that people kept turning to look at him even after hed been doing it for several hours. Its tough to compete with the sound of jet engines, but he managed.

They served lunch with about 2 _ hours to go. I sat with Mr. Pookaa again, and noticed that two other couples were doing the same. We both had the shrimp salad, and the steak with green beans and mashed potatoes, with cheese for dessert. Quite tasty. After lunch, Mr. Pookaa was fiddling with the salt shaker and accidentally opened it, spilling the salt on the tablecloth. He tried to brush it onto the bread plate, but it was spotted by our FA, who immediately asked if wed like to take the shakers with us. We said yes, and he got us a bag to put them in, pointing out that on the bottom of the feet of each it reads, Pinched from Virgin Atlantic.

I never heard from the IFBT about my treatment, although I had said not to wake me, so I assume I was dozing when she came by.

We landed around 8:00 p.m., about 40 minutes late, which made us glad that we had decided to spend the night at Heathrow, rather than try to make the connection to VS601 that night, especially after a good 15 minute walk to immigration. Mr. Pookaa hadnt been given a pink Fast Track pass, so I gave him mine, nipped through IRIS and walked down to Fast Track, where he was just finishing.

Down to baggage claim where Mr. Pookaa went to get the bags while I exchanged some money. I had just finished, turned around, and there he was. One of our bags was the first off, while the other three were in the first 20.

HEX to T4 where we were staying at the Heathrow Hilton. Back to T3 tomorrow for VS601!

A very nice first TR, thank you for taking the time to post it.

Originally posted by Pookaa


Just a side note: there was a gentleman in 10K who fell asleep sitting upright almost immediately upon take-off and snored the entire way across the pond. Not just snored, but SNORED. To the point that people kept turning to look at him even after he'd been doing it for several hours. It's tough to compete with the sound of jet engines, but he managed.

I cannot be blamed this time.

Thank you for a very informative TR! Glad you had a good flight, even though the FA/IFBT didn't seem to be that pro-active. [:?]

Dominic

A great first TR Pookaa [:D]

I'm on the VS26 in August, can't wait! Hope Mr Pookaa enjoyed his first VS flight?

Pookaa

Thanks for an entertaining TR[y][y]

Just a side note: there was a gentleman in 10K who fell asleep sitting upright almost immediately upon take-off and snored the entire way across the pond. Not just snored, but SNORED. To the point that people kept turning to look at him even after he'd been doing it for several hours. It's tough to compete with the sound of jet engines, but he managed.

so much for the noise cancelling headphones provided[}:)][:D]

buns

Originally posted by Pookaa
Just a side note: there was a gentleman in 10K who fell asleep sitting upright almost immediately upon take-off and snored the entire way across the pond. Not just snored, but SNORED. To the point that people kept turning to look at him even after he'd been doing it for several hours. It's tough to compete with the sound of jet engines, but he managed.

My Dear Woman,

If you are ever burdened by such horrors in the future, may I suggest an approach that has worked well for me? It involves pound coins -- basically, one throws one, at a high rate of velocity, at the face of the snorer. They awaken, startled, and the snoring stops. If they awaken, angry, the site of several pound coins in their lap tends to replace the anger with delight. Repeat as needed, substituting 2 pound coins in extreme cases.

Thanks for the TR.

GJ

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

Originally posted by Pookaa
Just a side note: there was a gentleman in 10K who fell asleep sitting upright almost immediately upon take-off and snored the entire way across the pond. Not just snored, but SNORED. To the point that people kept turning to look at him even after he'd been doing it for several hours. It's tough to compete with the sound of jet engines, but he managed.

My Dear Woman,

If you are ever burdened by such horrors in the future, may I suggest an approach that has worked well for me? It involves pound coins -- basically, one throws one, at a high rate of velocity, at the face of the snorer. They awaken, startled, and the snoring stops. If they awaken, angry, the site of several pound coins in their lap tends to replace the anger with delight. Repeat as needed, substituting 2 pound coins in extreme cases.

Thanks for the TR.

GJ

Yeah - but what do you use in the US? A pile of quarters is no fun!!

Good TR Pookaa!

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
If you are ever burdened by such horrors in the future, may I suggest an approach that has worked well for me? It involves pound coins -- basically, one throws one, at a high rate of velocity, at the face of the snorer. They awaken, startled, and the snoring stops. If they awaken, angry, the site of several pound coins in their lap tends to replace the anger with delight. Repeat as needed, substituting 2 pound coins in extreme cases.

Thank you for the suggestion. Sadly, this was our outbound leg so I had no pound coins, and as Mark pointed out, US Quarters simply don't make the grade. Also, given both the Dollar/Pound exchange rate and the tenacity of the snorer in question, I think that it would have resulted in a very expensive flight . . . one pound every five minutes, flight time of 6 hours, 30 minutes . . . ouch![:D]