V-Flyer

After my fraught journeyto LHR I gave up any hope of trying to sleep at about 6:00am and luxuriated in a shower and the delights of Hiltons Crabtree and Evelyns toiletries before making my way over to T4 and the Heathrow Connect. A train was due to depart imminently and soon I was in T3 and the Upper class check-in area. All three desks were in use but one was quickly vacated and I had as pleasant a check-in experience as anyone could wish for. I was soon on my way to the Upper Class security channel which was nicely deserted. However once through I was made to go through the shoe channel and no amount of waving my stamped boarding card was going to gainsay the security guy. It was more than his jobs worth. Once through it was a quick trot through a delightfully uncluttered departure lounge to the welcoming portals of the Clubhouse.

I was hoping to meet avalon there and just as I arrived she and hubby and daughter were just leaving the brasserie to do some retail therapy while I went to grab breakfast. I was starving! After all I had squandered my 3/5 voucher on a G&T the night before (and still had to pay 2.20) Predictable as ever, I had the magnificent Eggs Benedict and just as I was finishing avalon joined me for a pleasant chat until 8:30 when we parted company; she to gather her things for VS5 to Miami and I to go for my pre-booked facial. This removed the last vestiges of the previous nights drama and much refreshed I returned to the main area of the clubhouse to sample a restoring glass of champagne and to apprise my fellow v-flyers of my fate in the Clubhouse forum.

Boarding was to be announced at 10:10am but when no such call came at the appointed time I decided to take myself off, mainly because we were departing from gate 1 and I was aware the A380 would be at gate 3. I wanted to take a look at it and if possible, take a photo. (It was and I did and I did. Its a big, ugly thing and not half so majestic as the 747, so there!) At this stage VS were just admitting passengers into the gate area and so I and about three others strolled to the head of the queue, whereupon the gate agent turned from the main queue and dealt with us quickly and efficiently. I didnt hear any protests at our blatant queue-jumping but I did hear someone saying that these must be Upper Class passengers. If you were a v-flyer and reading this, thank you. [y] No sooner were we in the gate area than they announced boarding for passengers with children and those needing assistance, followed by the call for Upper class, PE and gold members. So it was straight through and no horrendous queue on the jetbridge. There was a tiny pause while we waited for a wheelchair passenger to be installed in the aisle wheelchair and then it was off to a Good morning, Mrs honey lamb. Welcome aboard and I was directed to my seat 21A. Yay! Priority boarding worked!

Once at my seat the cabin crew assigned to my area arrived with a glass of champagne and, at my request, a sleep suit. I told him of my hope and expectation of sleep after my adventures of the previous night and later on a cabin crew came with a similar horror story of a flight from Aberdeen. She however had made it thanks to a slot becoming available in T5.

We were on V-FAB, an aircraft I honestly cant recall being on or if I was it was so long ago I dont remember. I suspect the former. We pushed back on time nay even a little early and after the usual trundle around LHR were soon in the air. As soon as the cabin crew were released to their duties I was quickly supplied with a Tanqueray 10 and tonic plus ice and lime (stop drooling mdvipond [:D]) and some rather insipid crisps followed by a top-up and some rather nice nut nibbles. For lunch I eschewed the starter of salmon cerviche or sweet gem lettuce and pea salad for the chicken Caesar salad from the Light Bites followed by the beef in red wine followed by the Eton Mess. For the latter I swore to forego any of the other options, sleep with the FSM or any other cabin crew or refuse any further alcoholic drink for the rest of the flight providing it was served to me. Fortunately such sacrifices (or delights) were not necessary and I received exactly what I had requested without a blink of an eyelid or perhaps the crew had decided to give me exactly what I wanted or face a fate worse than death!!

During this time I acquainted myself with my seat mates fore and aft who were totally fascinated by the fact I was going to meet/stay with people I had met on internet sites some of whom I had known for over 7 years and had stayed in maison honey lamb and also that I was going to Las Vegas!!

Following dinner, which was absolutely gorgeous (and with at least 2 refills of wine) I decided it was time to bed down, and converting my suite I managed at least four hours of sleep. When I awoke we were over Saskatchewan and heading towards Alberta and Idaho. Afternoon tea was served shortly after that and the sandwiches were very pleasant although I passed on the apple and cinnamon scones, not being a lover of cooked apple. I re-acquainted myself with my fellow passengers one of whom was using his amenity kit tooth brush to create some paintings using tubes of paint. At one stage, aware of my itinerary, he asked why I was going to LAS. My response? Because its there! Soon we were making our descent into SFO and the passenger in front of me pointed out the haze and smog created by the forest fires.

We landed in SFO early just after 1:30pm. The captain announced that we had to wait till our gate was clear and indeed we had to wait till the Korean Airlines at our gate and the Asiana at an adjacent gate had cleared before we could park. On previous occasions we had been held up by the arrival of the BA flight as well as an AF flight. AF was long ago on stand and there was no sign of BA so my fingers were well and truly crossed. What I hadnt realised was that the BA flight was now leaving much later than heretofore! Anyway, we eventually parked at gate A8 at 2:10pm some 40 minutes after landing and as luck would have it I was the first person leaving from door L1 into a deserted corridor. The luck continued and the Immigration area was empty to the extent that the agents were lounging around. The minute I and my cohorts appeared they spruced up, squared their shoulders and showed themselves ready for the fray. Within minutes I was through and having sussed which carousel I headed for the Ladies. As I left I saw my case plopping through the chute so with a quick gallop, I was re-united with it once more before heading through customs and the welcoming arms of Virgin America

QUOTES AND CLIPS: A MULTI-MEDIA HONEY LAMB EXPERIENCE!

'After my fraught journey to LHR, I gave up any hope of trying to sleep at about 6:00amand luxuriated in a shower and the delights of Hilton's Crabtree and Evelyn's toiletries before making my way over to T4 and the Heathrow Connect.'

'However once through I was made to go through the shoe channeland no amount of waving my stamped boarding card was going to gainsay the security guy. It was more than his job's worth.'

'I was hoping to meet avalonthere.'

'I returned to the main area of the clubhouse to sample a restoring glass of Champagne'

'It's a big, ugly thingand not half so majestic as the 747, so there!)'

'I didn't hear any protests at our blatant queue-jumping but I did hear someone saying that these must be Upper Class passengers.'

'So it was straight through and no horrendous queue on the jetbridge.'

'And later on a cabin crew came with a similar horror story of a flight from Aberdeen.'

'We were on V-FAB, an aircraft I honestly can't recall being on Ð or if I was it was so long ago I don't remember.'

'For lunch I eschewed the starter of salmon cerviche or sweet gem lettuce and pea salad for the chicken Caesar salad from the Light Bites followed by the beef in red wine followed by the Eton Mess.'

'...a fate worse than death!!'

'During this time I acquainted myself with my seat mates for and aft who were totally fascinated by the fact I was going to meet/stay withpeople I had met on internet sites'

'...and also that I was going to Las Vegas!!'

'Following dinner, which was absolutely gorgeous (and with at least 2 refills of wine)'

'...one of whom was using his amenity kit tooth brush to create some paintings using tubes of paint.'

AMENITY KIT!!! AMENITY KIT!!! MY KINGDOM FOR AN AMENITY KIT!!! [^][^][^][^][^]

'...he asked why I was going to LAS. My response? Because it's there!'

'Soon we were making our descent into SFO and the passenger in front of me pointed out the haze and smogcreated by the forest fires.'

'As I left I saw my case plopping through the chute'

Welcome home, HL -- come back and visit us anytime you like!

GJ

After the horrors at the begining of your travels, i'm very pleased that you had such a brilliant flight and landed safe and sound.

Brilliant TR, thank-you [:)]

Great TR HL, thanks for posting. Sounds like you had an excellent flight to make up for you terrible journey over to LHR, and I LOVE your reason for going to LAS.

Neil

Originally posted by honey lamb
As soon as the cabin crew were released to their duties I was quickly supplied with a Tanqueray 10 and tonic plus ice and lime (stop drooling mdvipond [:D])

As the sun already appears to be over the yard-arm (we set our yard-arms surprisingly low here in Yorkshire) I'm sorely tempted to indulge in a ten-and-tonic myself. Good to hear they got the Tanqueray/ice/lime combo just right.

A TR that was, as ever, a pleasure to read.

Your usual superb report, HL. Have been on V-FAB twice and actually have one of the model airplanes with its livery.

Chuck-

The Tanqueray 10 seems to be getting popular. It's on the list along with a mojito and of course champers.

Thanks, glad your trip got better.

Great reading and well up to your usual standards HL. Enjoy the rest of your trip [:D]

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
The Tanqueray 10 seems to be getting popular. It's on the list along with a mojito and of course champers.

Bit of a ritual-
Mojito in the Clubhouse (well several usually[}:)]).
Fizzy stuff as a welcome on board drink.
T10 with lime and tonic once airborne.[:D]
Glad the flight shaped up well after the troubles of your journey to LHR HL.

Originally posted by DragonLady

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
The Tanqueray 10 seems to be getting popular. It's on the list along with a mojito and of course champers.

Bit of a ritual-
Mojito in the Clubhouse (well several usually[}:)]).
Fizzy stuff as a welcome on board drink.
T10 with lime and tonic once airborne.[:D]
Glad the flight shaped up well after the troubles of your journey to LHR HL.

DL - you are clearly a lady of great taste and style. I follow exactly the same intoxicating ritual when I fly! Hope you go for an after-dinner port with the cheese as well...?

Originally posted by mdvipond

Originally posted by DragonLady

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
The Tanqueray 10 seems to be getting popular. It's on the list along with a mojito and of course champers.

Bit of a ritual-
Mojito in the Clubhouse (well several usually[}:)]).
Fizzy stuff as a welcome on board drink.
T10 with lime and tonic once airborne.[:D]
Glad the flight shaped up well after the troubles of your journey to LHR HL.

DL - you are clearly a lady of great taste and style. I follow exactly the same intoxicating ritual when I fly! Hope you go for an after-dinner port with the cheese as well...?

Rumbled..[y]

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
The Tanqueray 10 seems to be getting popular. It's on the list along with a mojito and of course champers.

Yeah, a stiff Ten and Tonic after blast off has to be among the reasons for flying Upper Class.

Of course, it being a differentiating factor, it will now be taken away, leaving us with 'Bombay Sandpaper'... well, that's the effect that stuff has on my stomach.

Nice report H-L. Aaah. G-VFAB. Follows me around, does that plane. Must have flown on it 20 or more times now. G-VBIG is my elusive plane, only flown on it three times.

Mike

Have you flown on every VS bird then Mike?! Crumbs.

Originally posted by mike-smashing


Nice report H-L. Aaah. G-VFAB. Follows me around, does that plane. Must have flown on it 20 or more times now. G-VBIG is my elusive plane, only flown on it three times.

Mike

Yes, I did think when I saw it at the gate 'Oh yes, that's mike-smashing's plane' [:D]