V-Flyer

Flight VS007
05/07/07

Scheduled Departure time 11.30
Actual rotate 12.20 (50 minutes late)

Scheduled Arrival time 14.50
Actual wheels down 14.45 (5 minutes early)

Aircraft Airbus 340-600
G-VATL Miss Kitty

As there was to be no priority boarding for this flight we went to the gate, gate 1, earlier than we would normally have done. It is quite a long walk to gate 1, which is the furthest gate to the easterly side of the concourse.

There was the usual scrummage at the gate, I took a picture and promptly got told off by a Group 4 Security guy who gruffly said No pictures. We took our place in line with the hoi polloi. One couple ducked under the ropes and made their way to the desk claiming priority boarding only to be sent back to queue with the rest of us.

We missed the exit row (it turned out to be occupied by a boy friend of one of the stewardesses and he had both seats to himself!), so were seated in row 19 A and C one row back. I didnt mind as even with my height and build there was plenty of room. The new PE seats are a big improvement. The only gripe I had was that it was really difficult to pull my tray table out of the armrest, Birkins was okay so it was probably just mine and not a general problem.

The crew did everything that was expected of them, meal and drinks service went smoothly, we had our first choices without any problem. Water/OJ rounds completed. The FSM ran a pretty tight ship and they all seemed to know what was required of them and got on and did it. I introduced myself to the FSM and appraised him of V-Flyer and plied him with a bunch of our cards for distribution amongst the crew.

I have marked the crew down slightly due to one particular female member who was a PITA. She held our aisle, the port aisle, back to allow the UC pax to de-plane, fine, no problem with that whatsoever. However no one was holding back the starboard aisle so they were walking around the galley, where she was unsighted and exiting as if they had come from the front cabin. She continued to hold us back whilst they all trouped past as she thanked them for flying with Virgin and bid them farewell. When I tried to point this out to her she just snapped back that we should be patient and wait for the UC pax to leave I was in no mood to have a ruck so I just shut up and ignored her continued snipes.

I watched three movies, listened to some music and did a bit of work on the laptop, no issues with operating it with battery power, I didnt get to use the in-seat power simply because I had a full battery and had finished what I wanted to do with an hours worth of juice in hand.

The food was fine and wines equally acceptable, the crew came around the cabin with the usual choice of cognac or Baileys afterwards.

All in all a fairly uneventful flight that just went smoothly, nothing exceptional either way.

Lunch Menu:

Wines:

White: Marq_us de Caza Airen 2006
Red: Marqu_s de Caza Tempranillo 2006

Salad:

Greek pasta salad with cucumber, tomato, black olives and feta cheese

Mains:

Roast Pork served with roasted potatoes, sage and onion stuffing, baby carrots, broccoli, apple sauce and gravy

Mediterranean chicken served with orzo pasta, summer bean salad and marinara sauce

Mushroom Stroganoff served with Mississippi rice and red peppers

Warm Bread:

Wholemeal mini loaf and soft plaited roll

Dessert:

Fr_ flirty lemon shots

Cheese and Biscuits:

Butlers Secret mature cheddar served with crackers

Bazz,
Thank you for the report and very glad to hear that you made it safely to LA. Enjoy your visit!

Chuck-

Thanks for the TR, Barry. [y]

When we were in the Clubhouse a couple of weeks ago, the boarding announcements were accompanied with an instruction for premium class passengers to walk straight to the front of the queue for priority boarding.

I take it this is no longer the case, given that people were sent to the back. [?]

As I have said before - the allocation of exit row and extra leg room seats by VS is one of life's great mysteries. People who are readily identifiable as staffers and their guests never seem to have any problem snaring them. [}:)]

Nick

Thanks, Bazz[y]

When we were in the Clubhouse a couple of weeks ago, the boarding announcements were accompanied with an instruction for premium class passengers to walk straight to the front of the queue for priority boarding.

I got the same message on Monday but by the time I reached the gate, there was no queue.(TR to follow[;)])

45

When several of the earlier flights were called they did give that announcement, however not when ours was called! I enquired and was told that priority boarding was (sadly) not available for this flight.

Cheers Bazz,

Your PE trip sounds very much like our recent MAN-MCO trip - in fact I almost used the word CONSISTENT!!

Regards

John

I didn't mind as even with my height and build there was plenty of room.

Thanks for the TR Bazz. I don`t want to be too personal, but what is you height and build? I am 6`3' and 100 Kg. Is the new PE ok for my svelt-like build?

Interesting that there was no priority boarding operated for your flight. Last time I flew the VS19 out of gate 1, there was priority boarding in the form of 'shove to the front', and indeed, there was a VS sign suggesting that J, W, and Aus do exactly that. Still something VS need to fix, especially at LHR.

The US stations seem to be able to work this out, but I wonder if that is because other US airlines seem to have systems in place (I noticed a new set of tensabarrier contraptions for UA domestic flights on my last US trip), and they just copy the others?

Console yourself with the fact that you're far more numerate than Miss Stroppy, who obviously can't count to forty-something before deciding all the UC pax are off.

Mike

Bazz

Thanks for the TR[y][y]

Great to hear that the new PE gets the thumbs up from seasoned travellers like Birkin and yourself.

I can only assume the Priority boarding thing is around you leaving from Gate 1 and not at the complete other end of the Terminal (Gates 40 etc).

the FSM ran a pretty tight ship and they all seemed to know what was required of them and got on and did it.

I have reached the conclusion that crews adopt the persona of the FSM and this why the critisism of consistency (or lack of....) comes up time and time again.

The fact that VS does not dictate - like some others , is one of its strengths in my opinion.

Enjoy your break in LA

buns

Thanks for the TR Bazz [y]

I just wonder when VS are going to actually re-name 'exit row seats' to 'staff only seats' [:?]

Regards

Originally posted by Paul H
I didn't mind as even with my height and build there was plenty of room.

Thanks for the TR Bazz. I don`t want to be too personal, but what is you height and build? I am 6`3' and 100 Kg. Is the new PE ok for my svelt-like build?

Paul, I am a similar height to yourself, although I can make 6'4' on a good day [:)] and weighing in at a tad under 280 lbs.