V-Flyer

Full version with pics from both New York and the flight can be found here: http://www.my-tripreport.com/2012/09/vi ... k-lhr.html

Once at JFK it was off to check in to collect my boarding pass. This time I was invited to use the upper class check in - a nice upgrade over my check in experience at LHR. I asked the check in agent if the flight was full and she replied not at all. Then I followed up by asking if the seat next to me was free to which she said it was for the moment. She also seemed surprised that I'd spent 4 nights in New York and yet wasn't checking any bags in... Little did she know my rucksack was full to the brim and probably way over the 5lbs limit! It got accepted anyway though so no big deal.

Then it was off to explore T4. It reminded me a bit of LHR T5...

...Except with more building works!

After grabbing an expensive and very spicy bite to eat, I headed through security. Interestingly this flight would also depart from the A gates. Maybe VS have moved? Although it appears the new clubhouse is here.

Security was hardly any problem apart from the guy in front that seemed more interested in finishing his lunch than actually paying attention.

After that I headed down to gate A5.


VS004
JFK-LHR
19 September 2012
A330-313 - G-VRAY Miss Sunshine
Off Stand: 18:10
On Stand: 06:11

Boarding was announced pretty promptly at 17:20 local and the aircraft name, Miss Sunshine was given. At this point, as usual everybody seemed to have some need for pre boarding.

Once on board the cabin crew came over the PA and announced a flying time of 6 hours 11 minutes. A few moments later they came over the PA again and said that as there's plenty of room, feel free to move around - with the exception of the exit row seats and the extra legroom seats. If anybody did wish to sit in these seats, they would be charged £50 and £30 respectively. I had more than enough room as it was though as I had no seatmate.

The captain was on shortly after saying pretty much the same as the cabin crew had already said, however he mentioned that we couldn't land before 6:00am so that might cause a few problems due to the short flight time. He also said that we would be taking off to the North East and taking quite a Northerly track to take advantage of a good jet stream.

Push back was a pretty long 8 minutes. Take off was at 18:30 into some quite nice looking skies.

Take off video from JFK

Around 10 minutes after departure the crew started their service. I was happy to sit and admire the view for now though.

Literally a few minutes later we hit some moderate turbulence and the seatbelt sign was switched on again just moments after it was switched off.

Once the seatbelt sign had gone off the crew resumed their service and I settled down to watch a movie. American Pie. I'd seen the original on board VS back in 1999 so seemed only appropriate that I see the latest on a VS night flight too. Much better than I thought it would be actually.

Then it was time for the dinner service. Once again the choices were chicken, beef or pasta. I went for the pasta this time, although I didn’t enjoy it as much as the meal I had on the outbound journey.

And shortly after the hot chocolate was dished out. Not had hot chocolate offered on a plane before and it was quite good. Better than their tea anyway!

There was a bit of turbulence over the Atlantic. The seatbelt sign stayed on for about an hour or so, although I think it was on for about half an hour too long in my opinion.

Just after the cabin lights came back on, breakfast was served. Thankfully VS seem to have got rid of those awful cheese muffins!

Descent started at 05:15 local. As expected we were a bit early and did a couple of laps of the Biggin Hill hold. Then it was onto finals and some very good views of London. The pictures don't really do it justice.

Bit of a dark landing into LHR

Touchdown was a just after 06:00 and we made a pretty quick taxi on to stand, alongside G-VATL that had just arrived from Sydney.

On my way out I asked for a flight deck visit, which was granted. On my way through I grabbed a quick pic of the new Upper Class dream suite.

Unfortunately I was only able to visit the flight deck for a couple of minutes, as the ground crew wanted all passengers off ASAP due to the short turn around. This one would be heading back to JFK in a couple of hours.

Then it was off for a long walk to passport control.

Luckily, I was towards the back of a reasonable queue but one of the officers saw it was getting busy, and shifted a few barriers which put me right at the front!

Shortly after it was through the tunnel to the central bus station

There was a coach waiting, however the driver said this was the 06:45 coach and I was booked on the 07:15... But he'll let me on just this once - which made sense as I was the only person on the coach. If it was full I could understand but a completely empty one?? Why the fuss? Either way I made it home about an hour after pulling onto stand.

So that brings an end to another trip.

Virgin are starting to look promising again after slightly losing there way over the last few years. Their latest product is very good, however I'm not sure it's going to be rolled out across the whole fleet. One of the biggest complaints I've read across forums and Facebook is about the inconsistent fleet. They are making progress with standardizing the fleet, which should be complete by the end of 2012, however I'm led to believe no aircraft will have the new Upper Class retrofitted? Either way I was satisfied with the product. The crew was generally good - they more proactive on the return flight however by doing extra drink runs, where as on the outward sector they just let people help themselves from the galley. No big deal though. It was a bit annoying that they had run out of the welcome cocktail on the outbound flight but I guess that’s the downside of sitting at the back. The plus side however is that I was treated to a bit of extra legroom – so ill definitely be choosing these seats if I fly on a VS A330 again.

Thanks for the very informative and detailed TR

My missives usually tend to focus on the people and crew as opposed to the plane, unless of course my seat is broken or the bar is running dry It is very refreshing to read such a technical one. Hope you enjoyed the flight deck.

Back to a question you asked at the beginning - yes VS moved onto the A gates back at the start of the year when their new CH opened. Will be heading through JFK next week, and will no doubt post on their building progress - it appears to be going a little slower than is usual for NYC construction, clearly a lot of security and H&S specs to meet

Cheers for posting

Great TR, and loved the detail!!! Again some brilliant footage

joeyc wrote:Back to a question you asked at the beginning - yes VS moved onto the A gates back at the start of the year when their new CH opened. Will be heading through JFK next week, and will no doubt post on their building progress - it appears to be going a little slower than is usual for NYC construction, clearly a lot of security and H&S specs to meet

Cheers for posting

I had wondered about that, as i was sure i'd seen pictures of all the VS flights parked up at the B gates, yet saw signs to the Clubhouse in the A pier. When the flight arrived into the A pier i figured it was probably just because the plane had a long layover and just parked up there to let passengers/baggage off before being towed off to a remote stand.

Shame really as i'd looked at maps of terminal 4 and seems like the B pier has more in it where as the A pier had a duty free shop, a coffee stand and a small bar.