VS004 JFK-LHR 25 MAR 11 (Upper Class)
Posted: 28 Mar 2011, 11:21This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Just to contextualise things, I'm very much a utilitarian sort of business traveller. Not the sort to hang around getting cowshed treatments and the like, more the annoying guy that is the last to board the airplane because I was rushing to get away from a meeting. And as my employer picks up the tab, I probably don't pay as much attention to the little details as someone who has forked out their hard earned cash to go traveling.
So with that in mind... my observations of this trip:
1) CDC to JFK
The usual Lincoln Town Car (I'm told they do have a few Mercs in the NY fleet, but then they tell me the same about the CDCs from LHR, and I always seem to end up with Volvos...). Car arrived on time, but traffic was dire - pretty standard for a Friday afternoon so can't complain too much. Pretty uneventful overall.
2) JFK Clubhouse
Not too busy (for a change) when I arrived. Got changed into civvies, settled into a fairly comfy sofa, and an even more comfortable glass of white wine... Although I'd had a pretty decent lunch only a few hours ago, I've seen people rave about the CH burger, so thought I'd give it a try - well, I had half an hour to kill...
It was, well, not bad. Quite edible but not something that will live in my memory. Bit of a soggy base to it in fact, but otherwise reasonably tasty. Perhaps I was being over critical because I wasn't too hungry... although if anyone can enlighten me as to what that pink-ish sauce was that it came with, I'd be most grateful! Phlistine that I am, I gave up and asked for ketchup. Very efficient and friendly service throughout.
The one thing that gets me about US lounges (goes for the one at EWR as well) is that they are sited before security. Which means that it's more of a guess as to how long you need to leave to get from the CH to the plane. I'm guessing that's not Virgin's choice though...
3) Flight
On my trip out the previous week, the FSM came up to my seat and welcomed me as an AU. Bit cheesy I thought (at the time), but at least shows that they are paying attention to who they have on board. Well, that was a one-off - no such treatment this time round. The CC were friendly, efficient, and I got my champagne the moment I sat down, but perhaps I am a sucker for those little personal touches after all...
It had been a long week, so even though it wasn't that late, I just wanted to get some sleep. Unfortunately all the seats in the snooze zone were taken, so while I went to get changed into my sleep suit, everyone around me was placing dinner orders. Ah well... and BTW, I do think there is a case for an XL size of sleep suit please Virgin. I may be a few pounds (ok, quite a few pounds) over average weight, but I'm hardly a lardy sumo wrestler, and the L size is a bit snug!
So, having taken off, I converted my bed, and settled down complete with eye patch...
The other thing to know about me, is that I'm a very bad sleeper. I'm normally lucky if I can get a couple of hours on a flight, but this time, it wasn't aided by a rather noisy dinner service. I'm also starting to wonder how the bed comfort compares with other airlines - Virgin make a point of telling you that because the seat flips over, the 'bed' side is made of different material. Hmm, ok, but frankly it's not the best. So if anyone has any views on this, they would be welcomed!
Anyway, after much tossing and turning, I did manage to doze a bit, but not what I would really call sleep. So was not too bothered when I was 'woken up' by the CC for breakfast. Went off to get changed again and when I got back, my seat had been converted again and everything was waiting for me. Decent bit of cereal/bacon roll, and that rarest of on-board commodities - a drinkable cup of tea. Ahh...
No delays, landed about 30 mins later. Unfortunately we'd obviously arrived just after what looked like a couple of jumbos full of people coming back from Oz... meant a longer than usual wait through border control, but nothing too terrible. I've never availed myself of the revivals lounge - as I only live about 40 mins away from LHR, it seems a bit pointless. I'd rather get back and shower there!
4) CDC back home
Bit more eventful, this one. No queue at the T3 limo desk for a change (not sure what the norm is, but I've ended up in a queue 30 people deep before!). But when my driver arrived, and we went up to the car park, the fun started. He goes to pay, and his card gets rejected. Tries again. And again. And again... (why he thought it would work on the 4th try is beyond me...). Anyway, after much muttering that "it makes no sense, I even have an overdraft sorted out and everything", he said he was going to have another go at the machine on the ground floor. So we drove off and parked up just before the exit barriers. He walks off... and back again 5 minutes later. Guess what, card still being rejected.
So he tells me we'll go to the barrier and sort it out there. By which I assume he'll call for assistance or something. Silly me for thinking that. What he actually does is steam up behind another car going through, and tailgate them before the barrier comes down. What fun that was!
And that's about the fastest he went all the way home. I do understand that the drivers get a bonus for hitting fuel economy targets, but 55 on the motorway is really a bit excessive. Oh well, not as though I was in a rush anyway, but not the greatest experience to round off my trip.
All in all, a decent trip, nothing stunning, but I'm sure it will beat my flight to UVF in Y in a couple of weeks time! And that's with my money as well so I'll be even more critical...
More plus points for the cc - excellent. 
