VX165 EWR-LAX 6 APR 13 (Main Cabin)

This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin

Ground Staff

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Cabin Crew

Virgin America launched transcontinental services from Newark at the beginning of April, and purely by chance I found myself booked on one of their flights just a few days after the route began. Having flown VX once before, I wondered if my high expectations would be fulfilled...

Check in was easy, and then it was into security, which is actually in the long thin section of the pier. The TSA staff were friendly and jokey, and the wait was very short. Terminal A at Newark is pretty basic, and it is a pity VX do not share with VS in terminal B, which would perhaps open up CH access.

At the gate, the contrast between the dull AA gates and the new VX one was pretty telling. Whilst the AA agents intoned their monotonous and robotic calls over the PA system, which was much too loud, the VX agent simply said he would use his voice with no amplification - and he did. Everything was done with humour and individuality -- and that really could be the motto of all the VX employees I encountered on this flight.

We were on 'runway angel', and she was tidy and clean. The Y seat is comfortable, and we pushed back on time and were soon in the air. One full drinks run was done, and if you had ordered food they dispensed it at this point, and from then on you were simply served at your seat if you wanted anything. Food was excellent - a Thai vegetable wrap which was fresh and tasty. Cookies, Pringles, a nice glass of wine, served decently chilled (VS take note) - all were good. Wifi worked well and enabled me to get some work done. The IFE is great - a much more appealing selection of films for my tastes (e.g. some interesting foreign films as well as the usual Hollywood dross), and a much better selection of classical music than on VS.

The flight was uneventful. We touched down early, and after a slight delay the bags appeared and it was off into the LA sunshine.

What can I say? This was an excellent flight. The crew seem happy; they are pleased to help you. The pilot came out and spoke over the PA system - and was polite and courteous to passengers when he encountered them. The hard and soft products are great. The tickets were cheap. The whole experience is light years ahead of the legacy carriers, and I really hope that VX can turn around its difficult financial position and mature into a long-term competitor for the established US airlines.

TSA agents with a sense of humour shocking!!

Cheers for the TR at240, hopefully an indicator of things to come with VS Little Red here in Europe

[buns]

Thanks for this TR

All being well I hope that Mrs Buns and I will be able to sample VX in two months time on a transcontinental flight - hopefully having as good an experience as you


buns

Thank you for the positive TR. How nice to read good things of VX. Long may it last .

Sounds like a great service. Hopefully one day I'll get to use them again.

Having experianced VX last year in first and main cabin select I can't recommend them enough and loved flying with them and using the drinks ordering on the tv magic

Thanks for the TR at240,one can only hope little red has taken a leaf or two out of virgin Americas book

All sounds great! Glad it worked out so well for you!

VX is a great airline, I agree.

I do think it's very odd that they aren't sharing with VS in terminal B at Newark. Another missed opportunity to make connecting flights within the Virgin group easier for passengers.

Let's hope they can stem their very worrying financial losses.

VX is a great airline, I agree.

I do think it's very odd that they aren't sharing with VS in terminal B at Newark. Another missed opportunity to make connecting flights within the Virgin group easier for passengers.

I agree, firmly a VX fan but also scratching my head why VX and VS don't try to make things easier for people to connect. Then why not recognize VS Au's with the same benefits as VX Au's ... it can't be that difficult, surely, and has got to help encourage people onto VX and increase their revenue.

I agree with both the comments above - I am not very enthusiastic about the JV with DL for several reasons, one of which is that I think it will lead to less cooperation with VX than would otherwise be the case. If I'm right, that will be a great shame.

Another fine TR AT240, thanks for sharing I would love to see VS and VX working together to standardise all aspects of service as it seems VX are brilliantly consistent