This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
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My flight was actually delayed, I had checked Heathrow's site the morning of departure and it had been delayed to 1900 from 1615.
Once I arrived at Terminal 3 I made my way over to the transfer desks to ensure everything was okay etc
Some of you may had seen my troubles with the Clubhouse, apparently not able to go in. Anyway instead I first met up with my uncle as he was flying out to New York the same day but on an American Airlines flight. After spending some time with him getting a coffee etc it was time for him to leave (this was only at around 2:30pm) so being all alone now I made my way over to the No.1 Lounge. I was very impressed with the lounge, it was very nice looking. Was also a great place to charge everything! My iPhone had got to around 12% battery at this point so I was rather desperate! Had a lovely little bacon roll which was probably the size of an average can of coke (circumference that is!). Nice but too small in my opinion.
Also managed to get a cool view from the lounge of the Emirates A380.
I was constantly watching the departure list board, it was saying 1745 gate opens - delayed to 1900. 1745 came around and still nothing. At this point I was about an hour over my stay (No.1 Lounge only allows 3hours stay) but luckily nobody had said anything to me so I stayed quiet. I was actually sat next to an American in the lounge who was also flying on VS1. Had a nice chat with him and we were both complaining about the boarding time. 1815 came around and finally we were given a gate number! Me and the american gent I was sat with both made our way to the gate, all the way at Gate 35. There was Mustang Sally! She had just come from LAX having been delayed leaving there too.
Finally onboard (got on a tad quicker by having a seat upstairs in Economy (76A). This being my first Virgin and first long haul flight I didn't know what to expect in terms of the seat, leg room etc. And I have to say I was impressed!
Finally took off at 1946 - 3hours 31minutes late. As soon as the seatbelt sign was disengaged the women in front of me slammed her seat back and it didn't move for the entire flight. Even when food was brought out she didn't have the manners to put it back up so I ended up asking a member of the CC. Food disappeared and the seat went straight back down, brilliant. After eating and watching half a movie I kindly asked the lady behind me if it would be okay to recline my seat and she said yes. It never hurts to have some manners.
This was about 2hours into the flight and I was straight off to sleep, I was up at 7am that day so was pretty tired. Woke up with supper or something being served with around 2hours of the flight left, not a bad 3 hours kip. After having a little snack I got back off to sleep for about another 45minutes and soon enough it was time to start out decent. I think the CC turning the lights off in the cabin definitely helped! Anyway, next minute we're on the ground! The captain did well to get us down at the time he did. I thought the flight was 7hr50m yet we managed it in 6hr58m.
The only advantage of the flight being late was that immigration/customs was real quiet and I was through in no time!
Overall I would rate my first Virgin Atlantic flight as 5stars!
Bring on the return flight and any future ones!
