V-Flyer

{Apologies, rather than writing a huge opus, I'm going to write this up in bits...)

In the words of Craig Revel Horwood, "A-maze-ing"!

A very good flight, fantastic crew, great service. Has to go down as one of my best VS flights in recent memory. In terms of the inflight experience, this looked a lot like VS getting some of it's sparkle back.

It being a Bank Holiday, I didn't have traffic to worry about too much and got to Heathrow at around 8am, check-in was quick, no waiting to be seen, four UC check-in desks open. Generally very good and very smooth here.

Sad to see that Au card holders still get their status "rubbed out" when on a reward upgrade. Apparently, the check-in staff are "Told to do it", even if there is a valid FC number in the booking. Just feels like a bizarre thing to do a loyal pax.

Straight upstairs to the UC Wing access door, VS now seem to keep a staff member "guard" up here to help people out, also so that if the main UC check-in gets backed up, pax can be sent to the UC Wing to check-in, if no cars are expected.

Had to have been one of the longest passes through UC Security I've experienced, caught behind one of those American old couples of "golf-playing old chap in cap" and "wrinkly sunbed woman", who seemed to be full of "hidden metal", not understand the request "empty everything from your pockets", and needing several goes through the metal detector, all the while telling the outwardly patient and smiling security staff (inwardly, thinking "get a b***dy move on") in a DYKWIA style about where they were coming back from.

I found myself channelling George Clooney from "Up In The Air".

Normally you zoom through that channel, but wow. It must have taken what, all of 5 minutes as opposed to the 1 minute it normally does!

Off to the CH, managed to get a hair trim booked in and seen almost straight away, so somewhat proof that, just some time for a coffee beforehand. Nice shower after the hair trim which done by the same stylist who cut my hair 6 weeks previously. Good chillout music in the showers, different to the repetitive "Uh. Uh. Ugh." R&B music (Shazam says the grunting R&B is "From a Seaside Town" by AIM) out in the main CH - would have preferred the chillout music in the whole CH personally!

Slightly rough service in the CH, caused by the waiter looking after that section being on a break. This seems to be a recurring theme of the service going slack during breaks, especially in that bit tucked away behind the bar. They have also removed the self-service drinks areas (they said it was due to "wastage" - people taking drinks and then not consuming them), which means you depend even more on the waitstaff for things.

Finally cracked and got a mojito about 10am, to help wash the bacon sandwich down.

Right, that's all I have time for, I'll get around to the gate boarding experience, and the rest of the flight shortly.

I waited for the "last and final" call down to gate 18 to join G-VWOW. There was no queue at the entry to the gate area, and these gate areas have had their lobby refitted to give a tensabarrier "corral" for Y pax, and a "shortcut" to a set of desks for J/W/Au pax. This seems, to some extent, to have sorted out some of the priority boarding issues, sadly not all of them, as despite waiting until the end, and being the 7th-to-last pax to go through the gate, the gate room was very full, and only the back cabin of Y was just boarding.

Of course, to irk further, this was being done through a single jetway, despite gate 18 having double jetways which seem to work perfectly well with other airlines 747-400s! What has happened to dual jetways being used where possible?

We went through a phase of boarding J through the L1 door at suitably equipped LHR gates for some time last year, and it was very much appreciated. Has it been forgotten about? Or just ground staff being overworked to the point that they don't have time to put a second jetway up?

The flight had obviously been called from the CH just too damned early again. This has to be co-ordinated better.

So, rather than push through the melee, I just hung back, grabbed a seat and waited for the jetway scrum to go down, before boarding to a very efficient greeting from the crew.

A pre-departure drink a glass of sparkling water, was served without a problem almost straight away - unlike my outbound to SFO in March, where I was unceremoniously directed to the water bottle - and we were getting set for the off.

I mentioned to the crew member about the rough flight back in March, and she assured me that I would have a better flight today!

No serious hanging around in a queue for 09R (is it me, or does Heathrow seem to have less departure delays these days?), and we were underway on the sweeping right-hand climbing turn of the Compton departure to take us toward the Bristol Channel - yes our routing was keeping us somewhat clear of Iceland, but we still made it up to Greenland in the end.

During climbout, I noticed what good nick the cabin was in. Nothing bashed up, clean paintwork, the leather trim around the seats had been replaced too. I'd say that the cabin on G-VWOW had recieved some attention lately. Good to see. Now they need to go back and deal with that woefully bad G-VSSH that I was on in March.

Before long, the crew were up taking cocktail orders, and "R", the chap looking after my aisle was very efficient, with great attention to detail, while being friendly and personable too. He had all the airs of a top-notch BA crew member who was used to looking after F pax, but without the snootyness that BA were often slighted for.

It turns out, from a later bar discussion that "R" had done a spell at BA, and worked on executive jets for some years, as well as doing his stint on charters in the early days of his career, so he was very experienced, and it showed in the great service. "May I clear this away now?", "Can I bring you anything else?", "Not a problem."

Fortunately, that whole attitude exemplified the crew on that flight. It was how I remember the Virgin of 10-or-so years ago.

IFE was started up quickly, even if we did get that annoying broadcast video, and everything there seemed to work, except my set of headphones had a duff lead. Given we had a light load, with only a handful of other pax in the B-zone, I just got up and collected a set from an adjacent empty seat.

To give you an idea of how efficient and observant "R" was, he was there almost immediately, asking if there was anything he could help with, and with my duff headset in hand, he was off again checking if anyone needed a top-up of their drink.

Meal service was started without any delay about an hour or so after takeoff, so it shows that it can be done, and the slowness of some meal service on VS is down to how well organised the crew were.

The FSM was visible during the meal service too, helping with water, wine and bread, while the J CSS was an FSM "working down" but really pulled her weight and seemingly more.

Having flown with this menu cycle before, I had the pasta which was okay, but disappointing, in the sense that it was basically overcooked pasta in a gloopy sauce, it just felt like a mediocre supermarket ready meal.

The pannacotta was okay, nothing spectacular, could have been served with a bit of biscuit or something, I feel.

I'm glad this menu will be gone by my next flight in June!

The rest of the flight passed without incident, I recall seatbelts being required just once during the flight, meaning there was plenty of time for bar chat, and it seemed that the bar got good, steady use during the flight. I did remember that I switched off the "wine tap" (the Chardonnay, which was French, unoaked and rather pleasant) at an appropriate stage and switched to water, as the wine was flowing rather freely during the meal service and afterward!

The FSM visited with an Xplane survey, which seems to have recieved a recent makeover - it is asking more pointed questions, especially about onboard service aspects such as food and drink quality, choice, and whether it suited your taste. There have been some tweaks to the cabin crew section, and a more pointed question about the smoothness of the boarding process. Maybe VS are actually coming round to the fact they have allowed problems to develop in these areas?

Before long it was afternoon tea time, and this time tables were laid properly (compared to the March trip), for selections of sandwiches (quite tasty, not stale or curly) and scones (warm and fresh tasting) to arrive. I noticed a move to pre-packed Rodda's clotted cream, which I'm sure saves the crew time, as it used to be supplied in bulk and had to be spooned out to each serving.

The J CSS came and spoke to me again before landing, mentioned about the food and drink review which is happening, which will herald the return of the Upper cakestand, the 2nd meal in PE being upgraded to a half-tray with better quality food, improvements to breakfasts, and improvements to J main meals, which I was really quite chuffed to hear about. I did have to wonder if she was pulling my leg for a moment!

I wonder if that was as a result of their being a new manager responsible for the relationship with the caterers? Remember this was position was advertised several months ago and mentioned on here? Maybe the new person is now getting a handle on things?

Wasn't long before we were heading down San Francisco Bay, and turning right to set ourselves up for a smooth landing on 28R at SFO. A little bit late, but not massively so, and we taxied in to gate A9. Another gate down at the bottom, so VS didn't get to move back to their more usual A8 after switching back to the 747, but at least we were set up with double jetways by the SFO ground crew.

Not the fastest of escapes from SFO thanks to some immigration queues, but it did mean that the bag unloading was well underway.

A rather good flight, it reminded me of why VS are great when they get it right.

Ground Staff/Airport - All very smooth apart from Boarding.

Food & Drink - Below average, I think. The main meals, having tried them all, are very disappointing and poor quality.

Entertainment - Good, but not great. I'll knock a mark off for that broken headset too. I'd guess if I was on a full flight, I'd have been out of luck, or have been given a Y headset. Not that much I wanted to watch (though there was a surprisingly interesting Horizon episode on dogs!), and with it being a holiday weekend, we were still on the April film cycle. I felt like I'd seen a lot of the content already. Like mdvipond, I didn't find many takers for the inflight trivia either. That's a real shame, as it's great fun when you get a few people playing it. However, v:port worked, behaved itself, didn't need a reset.

Seat - Not bad, you know. It had recently got a clean up and refresh and was in good condition, but there's still that "lump" in your back at times.

Cabin Crew - First class. Like flying the VS of old. Best in a long time, though it does seem to be bucking what is otherwise a worrying trend.

Mike

Good to hear that Mike, you flew a day after me and while I can't say mine was fantastic it was OK and I enjoyed my food? What let down my experience was the handling on the ground again. We had a mechanical issue with engine 4 but gate chaos, bad communication between gate and lounge (twice sent to the gate to find no boarding and 350 people packed in a hot and airless room.

Was your flight full? On Sunday Y and PE were, but upper had only 11 on the main deck!

PS typing this on an iPad is great!

Just giving this a "bump", because I've got around to updating/finishing it.

Mike

Your TR seems to mirror the "infamous" Partybus on May 12th - an attentive crew, a genuine desire to meet the needs of passengers and a full immigration hall on arrival

I would agree that this is the Virgin Atlantic that attracted us to the brand in the first place and there needs to be the 25th Birthday Advert chip installed in every member of staff so that the same enthusiasm could be re-ignited

To me, if VS can get the service right, then I will happily resign myself to the reduced food and beverage offerings that we now get - see beancounters, that does not cost anything!!!

Thanks once again

buns

(the one who is waiting for an I Pad from the UK allocation )

Thank you a great read and I love it when VS get it right.

Lovely read and good to hear that it isn't all doom and gloom....on the strength of this, roll on August 3rd...

An excellent report, Mike, thank you. It all sounded pretty good, most things are forgiveable if you get first class cabin crew.

And good to see Shazam getting a mention too, one of the great apps and the provider of answers to many a "yes it is/no it isn't" dispute chez HWV.