V-Flyer

It was time once again for my annual jaunt to San Francisco to celebrate the New Year. This time I’d also planned to loose my Virgin America virginity too by having a quick day trip up to Seattle and back.

I’d flown down from MAN the day before, this time with BA again. BMI are just not cutting it anymore for me, what with their reduced schedules and higher fares on the MAN>LHR route. Nothing much to report on for the BA flight, just a few observations at MAN though.

Firstly, MAN now has full body scanners in general use at security in T3. This has come into effect since I was last their in October. You drop your bags and belongings in the usual x-ray machines. You then pass though the usual metal detector but then you face 2 options with automatic doors with door A leading though to the body scanner and door B exiting the scanner to freedom. I’m not sure if this is a random affair or if the result of the first archway comes into it? Apart from the full body scanner itself, the whole process is fully automatic. I got door B so freedom is was for me. You then collect your bags etc at the end of the x-ray machine as normal.

The section of the departure lounge BA use for domestic flights is now very short on seating as where seating areas used to be are now retail outlets. The whole area is too small, too crowded and not a particularly nice place to wait for a flight any more . The other area BMI use is much more spacious and has lots more seating.

As I was flying BA, I’d decided to try the Sofitel at T5 this time. Highly recommended and considering it didn’t cost me much more than the usual Bath Road hotels, a hotel I’d not hesitate to use again. Nice, modern, quiet rooms, even if it is a bit of a maze!! The hotel is also linked to the terminal. It’s a lot shorter and a much more pleasant walk than down that nasty cold tunnel which takes you to the Hilton at T4.

I left the Sofitel at around 06:40, the walk to the terminal takes a few minutes. I headed down to the HEX which takes you to LHR central if you require terminals 1,3 or 4. Trains are every 15 minutes and the journey only takes a few minutes.

Reached VS check-in at T3 just after 7am. Only a very short wait at Upper Class check-in and then I was checked in very efficiently, even having my request to move forward to row 18 granted. Sometimes check-in will does this, sometimes they wont.

Boarding pass in hand , it was up to the Upper Class wing, with no waiting and the usual security. Security now drops you slap-bang in the middle of the duty free shop, with the bypass walkway now blocked off!

Arrived at the Clubhouse, headed straight to the Cowshed desk as I desperately needed a haircut. I was given an 08:00 appointment without any fuss, although I nearly ended up booking a buzz cut, rather than just a tidy up!!!! Just time for breakfast before my appointment. Bacon sandwich for a change, which went down very well

Hair cut was done really well (as it always is in the Clubhouse). I made myself comfortable in one of the seats behind the bar. Service was good the whole time I was there.

On checking V-Flyer, a fellow user had asked if I minded him using my guest pass for his wife as there where three of them travelling on one AU card, which I didn’t mind at all so I went and asked at the arrival podium. They where travelling on the VS11 to BOS and so wouldn’t be in the lunge until after I had departed. I was told point blank, that guest can now only use the Clubhouse during the time the card holder is present. This is clearly a new rule, so new it’s not even on the VS website yet as it still says there that as long as your guest is flying VS the same day, a guest can use the CH. There’s no mention of them having to be in the lounge at the same time as you

The VS19 flight was called at about 10:15, so after a quick washroom stop, I headed down to gate 22. My timing was spot on as there was no queue for priority boarding and I was straight onto the A/C without any queuing down the jetway either.

A/C was G-VGAS, which also flew me to SFO exactly 12 months earlier!! In fact I was even sat in the same row as last year, albeit on the opposite side of the cabin. Sorry Varga Girl, I've still not sat on you as many times as Tubular Belle yet though. For those that don't know, yes I have a spreadsheet detailing all my VS flights with reg, dates, miles flown, seat numbers, cabin etc etc etc.

The flight looked full in all cabins and todays flight time would be 10hrs 20mins. Even though everyone was soon on board, it was clear we where going no-where fast. The captain came on and informed us they where waiting for one more member of cabin crew, who I’m guessing had been called in from standby to cover. 11:00 came and went, 12:00 came and went. We finally pushed back at about 12:40 and rotated some 2 hours late at 13:00. Extra drinks where offered whilst we where waiting. The crew member work our side of the cabin had to get rid of the remaining glasses of sparkling wine so my seat partner and I where chosen for this important task.

The Premium Economy service seemed quite rushed to start with as there was no bar service offered before dinner and this was served about 30 minutes after take-off.

There where no ice-creams either on this flight. Service was good throughout the flight with great crew in Premium. Several drinks runs and all the usual Premium services where offered during the flight. My only minor niggle was the loud noisy crew in the galley, sorry but at times it was a bit over the top.

I watched a couple of films. V:Port worked perfectly apart from the non-functioning iMap. I did have to ask the FSM to switch on the ePower as my MacBook was low on battery but this was soon done for me. I’m surprised no-one else in Premium or Upper had noticed empower was off. Saying that I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone use this in Premium. I suppose it’s because the sockets are not that noticeable.

A hot wrap snack thing was offered during the flight. Sandwiches where also offered about 2 hours before landing. I did a few trips to the water fountains back in economy to re-fill my water bottle.

The flight did pass quite quickly as normally on West coast flights, I tend to start getting bored and restless after the 8hr point

The cabin was secured before landing and we touched down at just after 15:00. There was a obviously a medial issue with someone, as during taxing we where informing to remain seated until the seat-belt sign was turned off as paramedics would be boarding and taking a pax off first. Not sure what the problem was but I hope they are OK.

Upper Class had departed using the forward door and the crew then instructed the Premium pax to exit using this same door. Once we got to the front, however, this door had been closed so we all had to go back though Upper to door 2. All the Premium pax got a full tour of the J cabin, down one side and back up the other, a secret ploy by VS to promote their J cabin I wonder!!!

Immigration was completely empty and I was through in under 2 minutes. Bags where already coming off and I was outside in under 15minutes of leaving the A/C. The walk to immigration took the longest. Much much better than the 3hours it took in IAD for my last VS flight.

Headed to the BART and into the city in no time at all.

Overall another good VS flight.

Great report thanks James. Re: lounge guesting. I have to say that I'm with VS on this one. If you're not there they can't be your guest. It's not a free entrance pass, it's a guest pass.

Thanks for the report, James.

Result on the hop forward one row to row 18 - that makes a massive difference.

I agree with Decker - if someone is your guest, then almost by definition, you should spend at least some time in the CH together.

Nick

Excellent report James, thank you

Regarding the guest issue, I had to correct H on Facebook who seemed to have initially missed the point about your guests being on VS flights!

I agree with Decker and Nick that the presence of an host is required for there to be a guest. But, out of curiosity, does that also mean that once the host, if on an earlier flight, departs the clubhouse then his/her guest must also depart OR is it only being there for signing-in that is essential?

enjoy San Francisco James and a great TR

HWVlover wrote:
But, out of curiosity, does that also mean that once the host, if on an earlier flight, departs the clubhouse then his/her guest must also depart OR is it only being there for signing-in that is essential?

There have been reports of the later departing pax being asked to leave when the host has departed for their flight.

Something for VS to look at and clarify their policy on?