VS019 LHR-SFO 12 JUN 10 (Upper Class)
Posted: 21 Jun 2011, 18:58This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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This is my first ever trip report so please bare with me!
The last time I flew was around six years ago, and since then, I have grown an increasing fear of flying! This has recently proved a problem when I was required to go to San Francisco. So, in preparation for the trip, I took the Virgin Atlantic fear of flying course the previous weekend (which I must say was fantastic!).
Luckily, I was given a Premium Economy ticket and as I had some VA miles, I managed to upgrade to Upper for the outward journey. I’ve only flew Upper once, and that was out of MCO so I’ve never experienced Upper on an outward journey.
Anyway, I arrived at check-in and after some initial problems with the additional tax charge (which I paid the night before on the phone which they couldn’t find), I was checked in. I was told to mention my fear of flying at the VA course, so I did. The guy at check-in was great, reassured me and got one of his colleagues to direct me to security. Again, she was great, and showed me up the lift and the way to security whilst easing my concerns about flying.
Once through security, I got a bit lost trying to find the lounge! I assumed the lounge would begin with V (for Virgin!), but it wasn’t! Anyway, finally found the lounge and I was given a tour.
I thought the lounge was great, the staff were really friendly and within a few minutes of sitting down, I ordered some breakfast and a soft drink.
The VA staff member serving me noticed that I was looking very anxious and when asked why, I explained my fears and she said she would get someone to come and speak to me. I really didn’t want to cause a fuss so said it was fine but she wouldn’t take no for an answer and within 5mins, someone arrived.
Again, another fantastic member of VA staff, spent 10mins talking to me and then said she would walk me to the gate when the flight starts boarding. Again, I said I really didn’t want to cause a fuss and that I would be fine but she said its fine and in-fact, would give her an excuse to stretch her legs!
After some food and a few drinks, the boarding announcement came. As promised, the VA staff member walked me to the plane gate. Before I got on, she told a member of cabin crew about me and I was shown to my seat.
To summarise the first pre-plane part of my journey, I can’t thank Virgin enough, everyone was not only so helpful but so very nice as well.
So, when in the plane a member of the cabin crew came over, ‘so are you the nervous one!’ she said warmly, ‘yes!’ I replied sheepishly. She sat down and had a good chat with me to calm the nerves and said that the crew will look out for me. It did feel a bit embarrassing but it was nice all the same!
Once we were in the air, my nerves calmed down an awful lot, I just remembered what I was taught at the virgin course and listened to the virgin app on iPad a couple of times.
After a wee while I sat at the bar and had a drink, whilst having a good chat with the cabin crew. The guy took my mind off the flight, talking about walk amongst other things! It turned out that he married another virgin cabin crew member and she was actually on the same flight as he was today!
Food orders come around and I didn’t really fancy a starter but picked something anyway. About 10mins later, I was asked if I didn’t mind changing my order as another person wanted what I asked for and that I didn’t seem too fussed about a starter. As this was completely true, I said it was fine! I noticed the Burger on the menu and had that for a starter! It was lovely!
For the main I had the guinea fowl. I’m a very fussy eater and I was shocked that I actually enjoyed it (I really didn’t think I would!). Sorry, I can’t remember what I had for desert but do remember the rather lovely Hagen Daz ice cream
.Shortly after dinner something odd happened. A guy who looked like the captain (which it was) was walking through Upper, he then came and sat down in my bay and introduced himself. One of the cabin crew told him that I was a bit nervous and he said he was delighted to have a chat with me during his break. He bought with him a few flight/weather plans which he took me through. He then proceeded to answer a few questions which I had, and even asked if I wanted to go into the flight deck once we landed in SFO to have a look around! I really didn’t want to be a pain so said thanks anyway to which he said that if you tell your return flight you spoke to me, they may let you have a look before take-off on the return leg. About 20/25 minutes later he went back into upstairs.
Wow, that was truly awesome of him and of virgin.
I then had my bed made up and tried to get some sleep. The one thing I didn’t like was the pillows which I don’t think are very good at all. I couldn’t sleep being so flat, I think I would have been able to if I would have had a bigger pillow, its was almost like a cushion?!?
One other minor complaint is V-Port, I’ve used the old IFE and it really is a class apart however, on the usability side of things its a pain! Having done a lot of usability work on various projects before, I found the button and menu layout very confusing and often found myself on wrong menus by accident!
After a couple of hours I had another drink, watched a film and we were nearly in SFO.
Overall, virgin were fantastic from start to finish and I can’t thank them enough for how well they looked after me.
(sorry if this doesn’t make much sense, I’m a little jet lagged!)
Good to read that everyone connected to VS made your flight an enjoyable one.