V-Flyer

Well here goes, this is my first travel report having joined V-Flyer only recently but have been following the website for many months now. Hope you enjoy.

The family and I had decided to head off to sunny Barbados (we hoped) for a nice 10 night break at the excellent "The House" at Paynes Bay on the lovely west coast of the island - hotel booked, flights booked and now just to get down to Gatwick from Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

As we were flying on 24th May which just happened to be a Monday, we travelled down on the Sunday and stayed overnight at the Marriott Courtyard hotel. The journey down by East Coast trains and the Gatwick Express was just over 4hrs door to door so a little faster than driving and the hassle that goes with it - though we travelled on a very hot day, so we all arrived hot and bothered and in need of a long cool drink.

The hotel was packed and we managed to get a table for dinner without a too long a wait - just time to try and work out after dinner which aircraft would take us down to Barbados via v-flyer but it proved difficult though I had my money on Tinker Belle.

Up with the lark at 5am and got everything organised and headed across to the South Terminal - having used OLCI I had my seat confirmed as 7K -up to OLCI opening, my seat had been changed no less than 5 times by Virgin as they too seemed unsure which aircraft would be used.

At the bag drop, thankfully a wide-awake member of the team spotted that we had seats reserved in the second half of the bubble, which were now economy seats on Tinker Belle and our seats did not exist anywhere on the aircraft, fearing we would all be moved downstairs she went away and came back, rang upstairs (where ever and who ever that is) and managed to sort it - moving us all back into the first half of the bubble.

Once all sorted, it was through security with no fast-track option working though it did not take long. It was then across to the Clubhouse (my first visit to the Gatwick one) and welcomed warmly. It can not have taken more than 10 minutes and I was enjoying a delicious hot breakfast washed down with Champagne - the ladies in our group went across to the Spa, I had my shoes shinned and enjoyed a couple more glasses of Champagne and just managed to see Tinker Belle been towed onto the stand from the Hanger.

Boarding commenced at 910am and friendly welcome at the door, priority boarding in operation though no names used at all on the flight. We climbed the stairs and welcomed by a wonderful Steward who we found out later on is leaving Virgin to head into a career in Retail - you know who you are and he will be sadly missed.

From the moment we sat down, he was friendly, helpful and attentive throughout - Upper Class is the first five rows (though v-flyer does still show the old format) and I was sat in 5K which I think was the best seat in the house as it was private on one side. I was concerned the economy passengers behind would come forward to use the washrooms but that did not happen once it must be said.

Lots of champagne before take-off and a near on time departure had us on our way to Barbados in 7hrs 57mins. The same steward served us throughout and we did not see the FSM at all (more on her in a bit) - the only other member of the crew we saw in the bubble was the Upper Class Supervisor who served the wine on two occasions and she was lovely.

Drinks and pretzels or crisps were served until we said stop really and with only 8 passengers in the bubble, we felt very special indeed. Lunch was served about 1hr30mins into the flight and was:

Seasonal Leaf salad with Danish Blue, Poached Pear and Bacon
or
Asparagus and Herb Soup

***

Lamb and Rosemary Pie
or
Oven Baked Cod
or
Dischi Volanti Pasta

***
Cheese
Warm Pecan Pie
Panna Cotta

I enjoyed the soup which was hot and delicious served with lots of bread and a spoonful of Crème fraiche if you liked. Having heard lots about the pie I was unsure what to expect, but it was tasty and filling and the pastry top was crispy - delicious.

I ended with the pecan pie which was rich and enjoyable but I would have liked more custard, Cheese was offered and enjoyed too along with the largest baileys I have ever enjoyed.

V-port was in use but didn't watch anything to be honest, the steward spent a lot of time talking to us and was so friendly -he encouraged us to visit the bar downstairs which we did.

We positioned ourselves at the bar and then the FSM came along to ask if we were Upper Class passengers - I had all on from saying if she had bothered to come upstairs and say hello, she would have realised yes we are indeed but didn't and politely said yes - we found out later that she has then asked the Upper Class Supervisor to verify us and I was just thankful she had taken time to come and see us as it could have got quite difficult.

That was our only interaction with the FSM and with 5 passengers in Upper Class from my family out of the 24 that were travelling that flight, it was a sorry state of affairs that she chose not to walk the stairs - perhaps she had a bad leg!

Back to our seats after a couple of drinks and then went to sleep for about 2 hrs - woken up to the smell of freshly warmed Scones and enjoyed that along with a lemon topped muffin with a couple of poor sandwiches - but I was past eating really as still full from lunch so just nibbled at it all

Arrived 30minutes ahead of schedule and had to wait until the economy passengers behind us disembarked and no other priority disembarking in progress, it was a mad scrum when we got downstairs.

A really good flight thanks to a very capable young steward who looked after us so well, shame he is leaving Virgin. Will post my return flight report soon.

Horburyflyer

Welcome to V-Flyer and thanks for a wonderful inagural TR

We positioned ourselves at the bar and then the FSM came along to ask if we were Upper Class passengers - I had all on from saying if she had bothered to come upstairs and say hello, she would have realised yes we are indeed but didn't and politely said yes - we found out later that she has then asked the Upper Class Supervisor to verify us

You are quite right, the sign of good service is staff being aware of their customers and thier needs. Shameful if you ask me. A discrete word with the CSS would have confirmed your status without any need to embarass you.

Good to hear the Gatwick Clubhouse is getting back to its old form

buns

Thanks for the TR, HF.

Thanks for your warm welcome - good to be on board.

Thank you for the great first TR.

Nice trip report, and nice revenue for VAA with 5 of you!. On the subject of the FSM "challenging" you at the bar, I would have told the grumpy old watsit to make her own enquires as the last time I looked at the job description of an FSM it was her job to find out and establish your status not your's

HF,

Thanks for your first TR. Many more to follow I hope.The LGW CH was always one my favourites, always in the shadow of its big sister in LHR though, but the younger sister can always be cuter....
Anyway I digress.

Upstairs in the bubble is quite nice and exclusive even with the Y format in some a/c and the CC that looked after you is all what Virgin is about. As for the FSM, nuff said.

Iain