V-Flyer

I'd stayed in the LHR Yotel after coming down from NCL on the Sunday evening (see trip report already posted).

I was very happy to see that it looked like flight operations were going to be uninterrupted by the ash cloud. So, I pottered around the cabin (not hard to do as it is so small..) until I'd got myself ready to step out on the next stage of my journey. Checked out of the Yotel about 7.15 but not before noticing that some of my details were still on the frozen check in screen from the night before . The lady on the desk went to restart the screen when I told her.

Made my way across to T3 very easily on the train. Before I knew it I was at Zone A and heading into the terminal area. Headed straight for the UC check in area. Various Virgin agents standing around near the doors but no on approached me - most of them appeared fairly deep in conversation (or perhaps I looked like I knew where I was going...). Checked in very easily, given US landing cards and my purple boarding card. Check in agent didn't ask whether I knew where I was going. She was pleasant in a kind of forgettable way. Headed up through security - no problem and no shoe checking either.

Swiftly through the public areas to the lounge. The stairs were back in use. Welcomed nicely to the lounge and the lady checked whether I had been there before or not. Dumped my main bag in the cloakroom area, made my appointment for a hair cut and then made my way to the restaurant, strangely reluctant to seat me despite it being quiet, 'you can sit anywhere in the lounge, you know.' Breakfast was eaten and then time for my cut. Delightful hairdresser, we chatted the whole time and a nice cut (and ahem free!). Went for a wander outside, bought the usual notebook and pens and chocolate, registered for Iris, went back in.

Spent the rest of the time remaining on the laptop etc etc. Staff in the Clubhouse were very attentive and helpful (especially in telling me where to find additional Immigration forms.)

I was told that we'd be called for 'priority' boarding at 12.10. Time came and went, no sign but the indicator board logged the flight as 'closing'. Hostess said not to worry they'd be calling the UC passengers in a few minutes. Went down anyway, not too long a walk to the gate. Went down the priority lane, waved through the security check, straight into a huge queue on the skybridge as they'd already started loading Economy.

Got on board, just a sprinkling of UC px. Friendly FA took my jacket and drink order. By then others were coming on board. She introduced herself when she came up with the drink. Slight delay with the fuel and then the pilot came on the PA and said that the delay had worked in our favor as the restrictions all along the flight route had been lifted and he'd done a reroute and saved us 30 minutes!

Smooth flight. Attentive flight crew where nothing was too much trouble. They cleared glasses etc as they went, kept me topped up with water bottles without asking etc. FSM was very visible in that he worked as hard as the rest of them. I thought the food was good, apart from the half melted ice cream. Felt rough during the flight for a while so I asked the FA to turn my chair into a bed and she did so. Felt much better when I'd had a doze! Didn't use the IFE at all apart from skymap but the whole feel of the system was old and failing - 3 or 4 of the seats had to have their systems reset by the FSM and I find the whole loop system to be very restrictive. Nobody used the bar very much either...

Minimal hold at Dulles but unfortunately landed just after the Air France (taxiing into the gate as we came in) and a QATAR plane so spent the best of the next hour in the immigration hall (but nothing new for my experiences with IAD there!). Consequently luggage was all piled into a corner all higgedly piggedly by the time most of us were filtering through. (The crew were also held up - the last couple were still there when I left).

A lovely, relaxing flight, felt that the crew were good (apart from the lack of soap in one of the toilets from halfway through the flight and knowing that seeing crew go in there ...).

looks like you had a good flight and (apart from a few minor points) you got exactly was as advertised on the tin.

Hope you had a good time in DC. It's one of my favourite cities and often overlooked as a destination.

Mandy

Thanks for an excellent TR - full of information and insight

Full credit to you for staying in a Yo Hotel I don't think I would be able to cope even though I am not that tall.

Glad that an excellent flight crew made up for the lack of attention when you arrived at Check In

Thanks once again

buns

Hope you had a good time in DC. It's one of my favourite cities and often overlooked as a destination

Fourth time to the area! I stayed in VA with some friends. Went into DC on Friday and checked out a couple of the museums

Visited the branch of the air and space at Dulles on the Saturday before the flight back.

Mandy Hall wrote:Visited the branch of the air and space at Dulles on the Saturday before the flight back.

That is one place I still have to visit

Let's hope that there is a sale in the not too distant future

buns

Buns,

Thanks for the comments on the TR. The flight that day was lucky to have a good team on board.

M

Mandy Hall wrote:Visited the branch of the air and space at Dulles on the Saturday before the flight back.

Quite impressive, isn't it? I really enjoyed my last visit there.

Glad you had a good crew on the day, and thanks for taking the time to write a trip report.

I really wouldn't worry about leaving the CH for the gate - I always wait until they make "last and final" call, and unless the load is particularly light, almost always still run into a jetway scrum.

It's very unlikely they will go without you, especially if you have checked luggage! You'll usually get a name-call first, even in the CH - in fact, it's even easier, as a UC or Au pax, as they are fairly certain where to find you if you are missing!

Mike

Mike,

Quite impressive, isn't it? I really enjoyed my last visit there.

Glad you had a good crew on the day, and thanks for taking the time to write a trip report.

I really wouldn't worry about leaving the CH for the gate - I always wait until they make "last and final" call, and unless the load is particularly light, almost always still run into a jetway scrum.

Spent some time there on Saturday - much prefer it to the Air and Space on the Mall - and besides it has at least two of the most meaningful (to me at least) aircraft on display! (Enola and the Enterprise.)

And my pleasure about the TR!

The getting on board nice and promptly is one of my travel 'rituals' or anxieties I like everything to run smoothly for everyone!

Great TR and pleased you had an enjoyable flight and trip.

Thanks Jacki, return leg will be posted later today. (hopefully)

M

Thank you for the great TR.

Visiting the Dulles branch of the Air and Space Museum is on my list of things to do when I return to DC.

An excellent report Mandy, thank you.
I am trying to visualise "She was pleasant in a kind of forgettable way" particularly as you obviously didn't, forget that is!!!
I look forward to the return TR.

Enjoyable read, and glad the trip went well. Though my boy absolutely hated DC - close to New Mexico in his "I would never go back there" - I suspect it may have been where they were staying rather than the city per se, and it's still on our list to visit. At the moment we're hopeful that if the Less Favoured One gets the grades to do her semester in Knoxville next year we'll be able to grab a few days in DC en route to visit her.

Thanks everyone for the kind comments

Return trip to come.

PJH,

I suspect it may have been where they were staying rather than the city per se, and it's still on our list to visit. At the moment we're hopeful that if the Less Favoured One gets the grades to do her semester in Knoxville next year we'll be able to grab a few days in DC en route to visit her.

I've only stayed in the city itself once but as my friends live relatively nearby in VA (we drive in to a Metro stop and then train in.) I come in at least once on each trip. The Mall area is awash with museums and places to see. Very nice people in general too. Best time to come is in Cherry Blossom time in the Spring.