V-Flyer

Arrived at JFK about 15:30 via the subway/air train which again was very easy and took under an hour.

It hadn't occurred to me until I reached the VS check-in area in T4 that my return flight just happened to be on the day VS celebrated their 25th birthday [:I] The whole check-in area was decorated for the event.

Some the the ground staff where in fancy dress and joining in the birthday fun, others clearly weren't.

Had to start by negotiating the security sticker agents. There where 2 available, 1 for Y and the other for J. I headed to the J one. After informing her I was traveling in Y but using the PE desk she gave me a very dirty look, sighed, hesitated and obviously decided to allow me to continue. I'd go as far as to say she was actually very rude. Not a good start JFK.

Next the check-in agent. Whilst they checked me in efficiently, that's all I can say. Certainly no sparkle or anything else but this is what I've come to expect from VS check-in agents based in the US.

Once check-in had been completed, the agent gave me a VS 25th birthday quiz to fill in and hand in at the gate before the departure informing me there where prizes available for the winners.

Bags had to be taken to the TSA drop-off stations, which is always the same at JFK.

Headed down to the pre-security area. Never liked this area as there's very few seats and often no-where to sit. Had a quick look round the shops. Found a spot to sit on the floor and started Googling the VS quiz answers. Didn't want to go though security just yet.

After a few trips outside I decided to head though security at about 17:30. No queues at all. Not flown from JFK for a few years but that's the quickest I've ever got though. Total time was under 5 mins [y]

The 46 was departing from gate B26 tonight and G-VYOU was just arriving on stand as I reach the gate area. Parked next to G-VWEB. At about 18:00 the VS ground staff (again some in fancy dress) appeared asking for pax to fill in their quizzes if they hadn't already done so. There was even an iPod dock playing 80's music at the desk (not load enough to disturb anyone though). The quiz answers where revealed just before boarding started, along with the prizes. First prize was an upgrade to Upper and runners up prize was 30.00 in VS duty free vouchers.

The winner was announced along with the runners up. It turned out I was one of those runners ups which I was chuffed about [y]

Boarding soon started and seemed to be done quite efficiently and didn't take too long considering it was another full flight. I was in seat 34H this time. As the A/C was G-VYOU, again it was the newest economy seats with the V:Port controller under the screen. Most of the crew where also wearing 80's style hats and other accessories.

Once everyone was on-board, there was an announcement asking if anyone had left their lap-top at the gate area. This announcement was made a couple more times, making a lot of pax quite paranoid as I and several other pax checked their own lap-tops more than once!! No idea if anyone actually claimed it in the end or not?

Door was closed and my pushed back at about 19:45. We where queued up for take-off for about 30 mins which didn't seem too bad for JFK. Tonight's flight time would be about 6 hrs 40 mins.

It was mentioned after take-off that there would not be a bar service on tonight's flight and drinks would only be served with dinner (as per the cutbacks thread on here), although it was noted that you could request drinks at any time. Dinner was served after about a hour with only 2 choices. Yep, you guessed it - chicken or beef. I had the chicken which wasn't too bad actually apart from the green broccoli it came with [:$]

Our CSS who was working in the Y and W cabin was excellent and a credit to VS [y]. This was the first time I've ever heard a CSS (or a FSM) actually introduce every single member of the crew by name to the whole cabin. I did panic a bit when he put an announcement out asking for me to make myself known to a member of the crew. It only turned out to be my duty free pre-order!

Once dinner was cleared, the cabin lights where switched off and I think I managed a couple of hours sleep. I didn't really use V:Port much, really only during dinner.

About 90 mins before landing, breakfast was served. Yippee, no egg products on todays flight. It was either a cereal bar or a muffin along with hot/cold drinks.

Before long we where starting our decent into LHR with the usual merry-go-rounds that come with LHR morning arrivals. We landed more or less on time.

My bags had been checked though from JFK to MAN and I'd been issued both boarding cards at JFK. I didn't want to use the FCC and had already planned to get land-side by using the normal immigration/ arrivals route.

Didn't take too long to get off the A/C but it was a long walk to arrivals. One IRIS lane open at immigration which seems a regular thing now but no-one waiting and I was outside a few minutes later.

I had about 2.5 hours until my BMI flights.

Once again though out the entire flight, all the VS crew where excellent and again I didn't notice them being one down.

So out of two flights this weekend, both offered fantastic on-board service with a huge noticeable improvement since my last Y flight back in January (even with the recent VS cut-backs) but both only offered only so-so ground service. CH concierge let it down flying out and JFK check-in let it down flying home.

Regards

nice to read a good Y trip report, many thanks James

Stuart

Nice thorough report - cheers James

Once again, the measure of the experience comes down to the people involved. Take note service industries!
The competition sounds fun, and what a nice idea for a prize.

Loved the TR -I suppose some people (even Virgin staff) don't do dressing up whatever the occasion!

Thanks for the TR, James![y]

And great result with the quiz!

quote:Originally posted by Jacki
Loved the TR -I suppose some people (even Virgin staff) don't do dressing up whatever the occasion!


I like fun, but don't like, no... hate fancy dress. I'm glad they seemed to have the choice.

James

Thanks for the enjoyable and informative read.

Like Sealink I'm not a big fan of the whole fancy dress thing (probably scared by someone dressed as Bill or Ben when I was burra lad) but it was quite striking flying back one year from JFK at Halloween to be checked in by Frankenstein's monster.

Paul

Thanks for the TR, glad to hear the crew again were great, seems to that even though cut backs the crew are positive and providing a great service. Well done VS!

DMB

Nice report there James. [y]

Did they run out of the veggie option? Or did they not have it onboard? I hope this doesnt indicate a further cut.

Thanks,
Sarah

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer

Did they run out of the veggie option? Or did they not have it onboard? I hope this doesnt indicate a further cut.


They had probably run out as there is definitely still a veggie option onboard in economy.

Not sure, they dished out a couple of pre-booked veggie meals before the main dinner service but been near the front on the Y cabin (row 34), I guess I would have been served nearly first, but there was only 2 meal options offered.


BTW - forgot to mention. If your flying Y on a 346 and you want a window seat, avoid row 32 as this row doesn't have a window. I heard a couple of pax having a moan about this on the way back.

Also the IFE boxes are located under the K seats (and I guess A as well on the other side, which are the seats nearest the windows). Can't remember where they are in the middle section of seats though.

Regards

quote:Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
They had probably run out as there is definitely still a veggie option onboard in economy.


Or could have not been loaded? ISTR the Y hot meals are delivered from a central supplier as boxes of individual frozen meals?

Maybe the flight kitchen had run out of veggie meals due to an inventory control error or some frozen meals spoiling, and had nothing suitable that they could assemble at short notice in time for the flight either, so just made up for the shortfall with beef/chix?

Remember that the catering for a flight will usually be assembled several hours ahead of the flight, so occasionally, there may not be time to fix the problem without risking delay.

As an example, for VS flights out of LHR, which are catered from the LSG kitchen in Feltham, the carts and galley inserts usually have a 'dock time' - when the entire catering load has to be brought together for loading onto the trucks for transport to the aircraft - of between 3 and 4 hours before departure time.

Shortfalls such as adjustments for changes in pax numbers (usually additional pax in the premium cabins) are generally dispatched seperately in a small van, sometimes from a holding area on the airport, especially if the kitchen itself is >15-20 minutes away.

Mike

Welcome home, James. Thanks for the TR. It's certainly positive to see that Y service is improved.

Hope you enjoyed your visit to the US as much as I did mine to the UK!

Chuck-

As is often the case, a good crew makes all the difference.

I am always more forgiving of problems when the crew are obviously working hard and doing their best.

Interesting prog on tonight about a boss who works (incognito) with the workers for a while. Perhaps SRB may have too high a profile for this, but it wouldn;t be a bad idea for those who make decisions to try working with them.

Gosh, I'm sounding like Citizen Smith![:D]

James

As always, good to read one of your informative TRs[y][y]

Well done on being a runner up - given the importance of the day, it is highly surprising that the staff at JFK had failed to turn on their charm beacons [V]

On my recent return from Boston, I had put down the absence of the drinks run down to it being such a short flight as no announcement was made

Thanks for posting about row 32

Thanks once again

buns