V-Flyer

Another trip to Orlando and the sunshine beckoned, when we arrive at a very quiet Edinburgh airport to travel to Gatwick for an overnight stay in the Hilton.

I dont think we have ever travelled from Edinburgh on a Saturday afternoon, but it was eerily quiet for an airport in a Capital city. I dont know whether it was something to do with the hoardings that are over the windows that look out to the runway (yet another expansion), but the whole departure area had a look of doom and gloom about it.

The Hilton was its usual self, albeit very cheap due to all the current sales and it was there on Sunday morning that my phone rung around 7.45am, just as I was getting out the shower with an unknown number displayed on the screen.

Good morning David, its Virgin Atlantic here, calling about your flight today to Orlando [:0] Just to let you know there is a one hour delay on todays flight [:)] to which my reply was, ah, more time in the Clubhouse, to which her reply was good choice, we will see you shortly[y]. The start of a good day ?

Check-in was a breeze, although the economy line was chocka, but the lady on the desk could have been slightly more switched on. No white/green forms and no mention of ESTA other than have you done it.

Onwards to security which was again very quiet and through into departures. It didnt look much different from usual, although there has been a huge development of guess what more shops, at the top of the escalators leading to the corridor for the Clubhouse. This being worked on as well, which I guess is going have something to do with the work happening in the Clubhouse itself.

A warm welcome, again by name at the reception continued the feeling that this was going to be a good day and into to a pretty busy Clubhouse which eventually started to thin out once the Caribbean flights had departed leaving only a couple of dozen of us from the delayed Vegas flight and our delayed Orlando flight.

The weather started to look a little worrying and changed from clear blue skys to flakes of snow to thick clouds as quick as a glass of champagne was disappearing, until eventually our flight, the last of the day, was called.

The announcement did mention about priority boarding and just to walk to the front of queue at gate 20 something where you would be attended to straight away. The large, clear purple sign was very much in evidence [y] and it was onwards to the front cabin, in what was a very full flight.

Two FSMs were very obvious from the start and champagne was offered before I had touched the seat.

It was clear that their great attitude to their job had infused the rest of the staff from the start and that this indeed was going to be not only a good flight, but a great flight. No welcome was given to AUs but it looked as there was a few of us the cabin, going by the bag tags, but apart from that the service was A+ [y][y]

Had the soup and chicken tikka, then the cheese which was all very good. The champagne flowed like no other, (in fact there was 3 bottles on the bar at one time) so maybe some customer feedback is working and indeed, it was positively encouraged to use the bar for what it was, a bar [y]. There was no paper work spread about and one of the staff apologised for leaving a passenger during a conversation as she was required further back in the plane.

The IFE was a little dodgy in that being the first of the month, the new films had been loaded, but the books were still January, so after a quick call to base, the films were read out to the plane.

I had a little work to do, so asked for an empower lead, which was brought by one of the FSMs who mentioned that he was a didnt know where it went as this was the first time he had been on one of these planes for 3 years.

The penny dropped [i] was he a LHR FSM (not that I am making any complaints about LGW FSMs) but both the FSMs seemed to be on another level.[y]

To prove my theory, within seconds of me cleaning my laptop screen with a napkin and a little water, he appeared with some anti static cleaner and a little soft cloth ! [y]

This crew really earned their money today and indeed enhanced Virgins reputation no end. They all seemed to buzz along and enjoyed the flight as much as we did.

The sandwiches for afternoon tea were a little dry, nothing a nice hot cup of tea didnt sort, but the millionaires shortbread was first class.

All in all, a flight ranked in my top 3, which I feel merits a letter to those in charge. It just shows, even in times of hardship, with the right people you really can create the right product.

Arrived to a busy immigration, which I am sure ESTA had helped cause although we were on our way in about 25 mins to a chilly Disney.

Thanks for reading

David [:D]

Sounds like a great flight!

Just to advise that all FSM's like the rest of the crew fly from either LHR or LGW, they are not based just from one airport.

I am also very curious where the anti static cleaner came from, because i don't know of its existence on board!! lol

quote:Originally posted by xws23
Just to advise that all FSM's like the rest of the crew fly from either LHR or LGW, they are not based just from one airport.


Ahh - there you go - as I said, no disrespect to any other FSM's (never had the pleasure of flying from LHR yet) - they were both very good at their job.

quote:Originally posted by xws23

I am also very curious where the anti static cleaner came from, because i don't know of its existence on board!! lol

I assumed it was anti static spray as it was in one of the little squirty bottles that our spray is in. Maybe it was just a cleaner [?]

thanks

David

I think it may have just been a cleaner, but if it worked thats the main thing, will keep that in mind for future flights.

Another good TR, really positive to hear that the last few TR's in UC have been really good!

Thanks Dominic

Nice TR, thanks. Glad everything was as such should be, was there any reason your flight has 2 FSM's on it?

Hope things are as good for our flight on Friday.

Neil

quote:Originally posted by Neil
Nice TR, thanks. Glad everything was as such should be, was there any reason your flight has 2 FSM's on it?

Hope things are as good for our flight on Friday.

Neil


Was wondering that myself [?] - wonder if it was because that was one of the flights that was merged (27 and 15)

Thanks for the great TR![y]

Thanks for the TR. Looks like it was a very enjoyable one as well with a top notch service. Nice[y]

Iain

A good read, David, thanks. So no mention of waiver/customs forms at check-in? From that do I assume that you didn't need to complete any once on board either?

Great TR - hope the return flight is as good!

Thanks for the TR David nice to hear a good report for a job well done. Thumbs up to the crew.

Jurgen and Sue

David

Thanks for such an engaging read and continuing the recent tradition of positive TRs[y][y]

A nice touch by the Clubhouse who also did that for Mrs Buns & myself when we travelled out in November and were delayed by nearly two hours. If they have resolved the priority boarding issue at LGW that is a really big bonus.
quote:It just shows, even in times of hardship, with the right people you really can create the right product.

Exactly, did that cost VS a penny? No of course it didn't and in the process has retained your custom (and dare I suggest many who have read your TR)

Thanks once again

buns

Anoher positive experience [:)].Please keep this up VS. Travel is becoming exciting for me again [:)].
DL.

quote:The penny dropped Ð was he a LHR FSM (not that I am making any complaints about LGW FSM's) but both the FSM's seemed to be on another level.

All crew operate from both LHR and LGW so think of everyone as London based. The exception is Manchester which has it's own crew base.

quote:To prove my theory, within seconds of me cleaning my laptop screen with a napkin and a little water, he appeared with some anti static cleaner and a little soft cloth

The only cleaner I can think that it is the cleaning spray for the galley/toilet surfaces unless it was their own laptop cleaning spray.

quote:Nice TR, thanks. Glad everything was as such should be, was there any reason your flight has 2 FSM's on it?

The reason is probably as simple as another crew member was needed for the flight and the only crew member that was available on standby was an FSM. It happens quite a bit - I've been on a flight with four FSM's once.

quote:A good read, David, thanks. So no mention of waiver/customs forms at check-in? From that do I assume that you didn't need to complete any once on board either?

For the next few months, you will still need to fill out the green I94-W and white I94 forms unless you want to be sent to the back of a long US immigration queue!

[:X]

quote:Originally posted by Tinkerbelle

All crew operate from both LHR and LGW so think of everyone as London based. The exception is Manchester which has it's own crew base.

Thanks for the info - the crew were absolutely buzzing and seemed to enjoy the flight as much as us, so wherever they had come from - a huge [y] - thank you

quote:
The only cleaner I can think that it is the cleaning spray for the galley/toilet surfaces unless it was their own laptop cleaning spray.

I actually wondered if it was maybe his own. Whatever, the thing that really impressed me was that the crew were trying to help with a small issue that wasn't there problem, so again, another huge [y] - thank you



quote:For the next few months, you will still need to fill out the green I94-W and white I94 forms unless you want to be sent to the back of a long US immigration queue!

Forgot to mention about that - got the forms in the clubhouse.



Thanks for all your replys [:)] At the risk of repeating myself, it just shows, even in the current climate, what is achievable with good people, and yes Buns, your right, its certainly retained my custom after having a good long think about going to the 'other side' (mainly because of connection issues up to Scotland), but if most of my flights continue to be as good as the last ones, I will put up with the little inconveniences. [y][y]

thank you all again [:)]

David