V-Flyer

Flying to Hong Kong in Upper Class - a trip I have done fairly frequently. Could not check in on line (I always like to as soon as I can) probably because my young daughter was travelling on separate code although linked to us and even her seat request had needed to be done by phone as her seat booking never worked on line). However, helpful phone call to Virgin UC Customer Services meant that I was reassured before we left home that all would be okay at the airport, which it was and we got the requested seats. DTCI was quick and easy as always, and lounge not quite as busy as on my last visit, thankfully. I know that everyone really rates this lounge at LHR - and it is impressive when you first see it - but as I nearly always use it in the evening I have always found it to be very busy and service has never been that good. I have been in better First Class lounges elsewhere. For me the chauffeur and DTCI are the best things about flying UC from LHR.

Boarding was straightforward - in my favourite seat 2A with family in 1D and 2D. Much prefer the privacy and quiet of these seats. Crew all very polite and pleasant and the service was very much as you would expect. Food was good and IFE all worked. I find the units a bit dated now, but the choice of films was good. Downside of the whole flight was a nightmare family seated around 6 and 7 K who shouted constantly before take off and whose baby then screamed (loudly) every hour throughout the night. I know that children in UC is a topic regularly debated on this website, but I can tell you that my views were not very charitable that night. Some children cry - others scream and shout - and this one did the latter. Constantly. It easily penetrated the ear plugs and the headphones when I put them on in despair and everyone in the cabin who had paid a great deal for their seats so that they could sleep, found their money wasted. I never slept for more than an hour at a time. Should young children be allowed to fly and scream in UC? Who knows. Should some people's parenting skills be a lot better? Definitely. Getting a child to sleep is not rocket science - my daughter flew from the time she was 2 weeks old and NEVER disturbed anyone because I made a real effort to manage the situation (dummies, bottles, toys she had never seen before etc). We landed in HK a little earlier than scheduled and it was a relief to get off the plane. £9000 not well spent!

First off the plane through front doors though Immigration slow but luggage was waiting for us when we finally got through and we were quickly with our driver and off to the
hotel.

Interesting postscript to the baby saga - flew home this morning and also had a baby in the cabin - did not hear a sound all night and we all slept brilliantly. Conclusion - all babies are not the same and I hope nobody else has to suffer the child or the family we flew with on the 5th.

Thanks for the TR - Sounds awful with the baby screaming, it is wrong when you've spent so much money! As you say, I think it comes down to the parenting and preparation.

Apart from that, glad it was a good flight.

Luke

Thank you for the TR.

I guess someone would probably sue if VS refused to allow babies in J, but it must be so frustrating when you've paid all that money and just want to sleep

Thanks for the interesting TR.

I'll be very upset if I've got screaming children ruining my UC experience later this year. Glad you had a more relaxed return journey!

Adam

Thanks for the TR :-)

I'm not a fan of kids in UC / Business, but if they are well behaved / quiet then I don't mind. A screaming / noisy kid would really get my back up and disturb the enjoyment. If a kid is unruly, then i would expect the parents to be able to control / quieten their kids. Either that or move them to Y! lol. Joking aside, if kids are behaved, then I have no problem.