V-Flyer

After only a few days in the US, it was time to fly home again! We had arrived in SFO from LAS in VX, so collected our bags from the baggage belt downstairs and then headed up to the VS check-in area. Pretty empty when we got there, although it was around 1pm, so still a while before the flight. We had already checked in on line - we had seats 17A/K, although we had wanted to sit upstairs on the return journey. There was nothing available on line, so we asked at check-in and got 3A and 6K - not together but at least upstairs.

Then it was off to the lounge (for free this time!!). It is confusing these days as it is used by EI (departs earlier) and then VX throughout the day, so no idea how busy it is going to be. However, at least it means that the area is getting used a lot and promoting VS well. Lunch was good, although slightly difficult to eat sitting on the red chairs near the windows (I love those ones and didn't want to give them up!).

Boarding this time was called when pretty much all of the flight had been called, and they had separate UC and PE/Econ airbridges, which was nice and doesn't happen all that often. Champagne very soon after getting on board and then it was time to settle in for the flight home.

The menu is pretty much the supper trays from the East Coast flights with the addition of soup and roast chicken as a main course. I had both of these and they were very good. Wine service much better this time, although they don't use the wine carriers upstairs. Desert of the day was pecan cheesecake, and the cheese plate was huge!! Tried watching In Bruges - not a great film and gave up on it. Quick drink downstairs at the bar, and then it was time for some well earned sleep. The bed this time was much more comfortable than on the outbound flight.

The odd thing was that there was no bowl of additional goodies bought around. Thought it might just have been upstairs, so asked for the some face cream at the bar and they had to go and open the goodie pack up; obviously no-one had had any of these extras on this flight - not a good impression for a non-regular traveller in UC!

Woke and was offered breakfast - declined several times as we were heading to Revivals for breakfast. Did manage some diet coke, orange juice (concentrated stuff) and water though.

Arrived about 20 minutes early, and straight onto the gate next to the Singapore A380. Immigration quick with IRIS and then baggage not too bad (they use the UC / PE tags in SFO and so it was clear that only priority bags came off first).

Headed off to the Revivals lounge, lovely shower and breakfast before the trip home. Unfortunately I left my phone in the lounge by mistake and the other half got a call about halfway back to Paddington on the HEX to let me know. They were very good and offered to keep it there until 1.30 or leave it at lost property. I opted for the first, and headed back out to LHR on the HEX again!

All in all, a very nice flight and the crew were very good and worked really hard on this flight.

Thanks for the report, was out of SFO myself the previous day, and spent a good long time in the lounge, working and having lunch. The two bridges are standard at SFO both embarking and disembarking, unless you happen to be parked at the 'wrong' gate. VS is usually at gate 8. When you disembark from upstairs they usually have the main airbridge open, but the front one opens before, and allows the front UC cabin to get off before anyone else [;)]

I'm biased, of course, since I fly out of there most of the time, but I do think SFO is the best US destination for Virgin services, and the flight just long enough to truly enjoy the UC experience ...