V-Flyer

This trip was apparently to celebrate my brother in laws 40th birthday but in reality that was just a great excuse to have another trip to NYC where he hasn't been for a good few years .
The original booking for both of us was economy out PE back but not long after the booking was made I managed to turn my o into an m and then on to a G and assumed I would be able to do the same with Robs at some point but despite searching 2/3 times a day along with phone calls to the flying club that dam G just wouldn't appear.
It got to the point where the M fare was a ridiculous price anyway so I accepted defeat ( ungraciously ) and booked an exit row seat for rob with VS putting a note on the booking to try and get him one up in the bubble.
All I had to do now was break the news to rob that our flying arrangements differed somewhat but this was made a lot easier due to being able to upgrade the inbound to UC with the massive amount of help and generosity of a certain V-Flyer so I was able to give rob the old "I've got some good news and some bad news" line .
To be fair he was more than happy with economy anyway as he is only little and saw the exit row as a bonus and didn't see any bad news whatsoever and was obviously made up to be flying UC onthe return .
I'd booked the sofitel on last minute .com for a good price as a secret hotel so we travelled down on the thurs afternoon looking forward to the next few days ahead.
Checked in and dropped off the bags and straight up to T5 for a look around as I've never been there , we then jumped on the HEX round to T3 as I wanted to check the journey out incase I changed my mind about using the previously booked slot at the DTCI .
Showed rob the VS checkin area there but his love of aviation isn't quite the same as mine so we were quickly round to the cab rank near the arrivals exit and on our way round to the pheasant pub where a nice bit of food was had washed down with a couple of pints .
Made the most of the evening with a pit stop at the renaissance which appears to be having a most needed refurb in the lobby area at least before jumping in to a cab and going back round to the sofitel where the champagne and sphere bars were enjoyed , I've got to say it really is a nice hotel and would def stay there again no question .
So woke up with a bit of a headache as did rob but was too excited to be that bothered about it and got the previously booked car round to the DTCI at a cost of £35 which I'm glad I did now as it's a lot easier than the HEX .
Got out of the car to a warm greeting and asked if robs case could go on as hand luggage instead of in the hold ,to be fair it was a bit on the big side and the lady wasn't sure and sought advice from colleagues who said it should be ok but just pop it on the scales to make sure it's not over the weight limit ,ok no probs so we followed the lady a few steps and she stopped , rob still had hold of his case at this point so said lady asked him to put it on the scales .
Well he looked at me for help as to the location of the scales but I was none the wiser so the lady kindly pointed out where to put the bag in order for it to be weighed .
Anyway all sorted and quickly through security and up to the CH where I noticed a big grin appear on robs face .dropped bags off and gave rob a quick tour before booking treatments , I went for a comp haircut and a paid for shave and rob just the haircut ,we then settled in the brasserie for breakfast and popped a couple of headache tablets each !
The flight was delayed until 14.30 but we weren't bothered in the slightest as a food and drink fest ensued only interrupted by the visit to the spa .
During this time I had enquired about an upgrade for rob and had left his boarding card with the nice lady on the concierge desk but to be honest didn't really hold out much hope of a result so I was very surprised when going back a couple of hrs later to be told he was now in PE ! What a result and rob was very happy as we made our way down to gate 21 .
I went through the gate first in the UC/PE lane and rob followed only for the light on the desk to turn red ,the chap then asked rob if he was travelling with me and I straight away thought he had got an additional upgrade to UC ,alas it was not to be and they had just changed his seat again to the first row in PE but thinking about it afterwards it was still a nice thing to do so top marks to VS on that .
I boarded straight away while rob had to wait in the queue for the other door and was greeted warmly at the door and my seat so thought it worth mentioning that I had a companion travelling in PE and was immediately given a glass of champers to take down to him but he was still waiting to board so I waited with it by the bar and thrust it in his direction when he stepped on to mustang Sally .
I flew on her in July with a certain joeyc with myself in 19k and joey in 19a and this time I was in 19a which for me is by far the best seat on the plane ,very spacious and secluded .
A quick flight tine of 6hrs57 mins was promised by the captain who was apologetic for the late departure of the aircraft .
The level of service and care that followed in the next few hrs was simply fantastic and I can't praise the crew enough .i know I've said this before once or twice in previous TR's but this flight has surpassed all others .we had a male Japanese FSM who you could tell really enjoyed his job along with a crew that followed his lead.
Several of the crew members came up to me early in the flight and said rob could come upto the bar for a couple of drinks after dinner but unfortunately this was hampered by 4/5 people who went straight up to the bar after dinner and were still there 3hrs later despite me standing behind them with rob and ordering a drink ,you think after being up there so long they would have the common courtesy to let someone else sit down for a drink but unfortunately it seemed they had left their manners in heathrow so I asked one of the crew if it was ok if rob came and sat in my seat which it was .
Afternoon tea was served whilst rob was still in my seat and they served enough for us both which was also very kind of them as they didn't have to do it .
Rob scoffed down a few cakes and went back behind the curtain and soon after we were making our descent in to JFK .
I said goodbye to the great crew and waited for rob who seemed to take an age to get off and all the time I'm thinking about how big the queue is getting so I couldn't quite believe it when we walked down to find a near enough empty hall on the international arrivals side whilst the domestic was really busy .
Another strange thing occurred next by way of a friendly boarder guard who smiled ,could this really be the VS 45 !!!
So about 1 1/4 hrs after landing we were in manhattan at the westin grand central only to be told our room wasn't ready so off to the bar we went for a few beers like we needed anymore !

Sounds like you both had a good flight and very nice of the crew to accommodate your bro-in-law.
Funny enough, when we were driving down the m4 after returning from Abu Dhabi on the 29th mustang Sally was landing from JFK! Wonderful sight! I got quite excited as it was the only 4 engined plane I saw landing when driving, then I see a hump and then see the virgin livery. Simon at this point called me sad an told me to get a life as I was able to tell him the name of the plane after checking my app!
Great TR, thanks

Well Blacky that sounds like a good trip, and the beginning of a great break for you and Rob. Nice to read of how the VS service excelled yet again, in all areas. Enjoy NYC and look forward to the return TR.

Cheers

Superb TR as always Great to hear stories of VS customer service successes both in the air and on the ground Great stuff, Blacky

Thanks for the great TR

Again, your on board experience demonstrates that VS can muster loyalty by doing their best - as was the case on our recent return.

If i send you details of my next memorable birthday, is there any chance of your looking after me?

Thanks once again

buns

I love TR's but especially those I have been on. Glad you had a great flight and enjoy NYC and the flight back.

Great TR and sounds like a great flight. Shame about the f....olks at the bar spoiling that aspect, but I hope you got to use it on the return (sleep is for the weak) and it sounds like the crew did more than enough to make up for it.

Great TR Blacky and such good news about the way the crew treated Rob.
But a friendly border guard who smiled? Really? Are you sure it wasn't rose-tinted glasses (or maybe champagne-tinted glasses)?

Great TR Blacky thanks for posting!

Great TR blacky, sound like VS provided great costumer service once again

Great to keep seeing these positive TRs coming through.....must get around to posting my return Dubai one which was superb on many levels....

Super read Blacky. Shame about the bar issue....some people eh!

Jon

Awesome TR Blacky and good to read about such a positive experience.

Another empty immigration hall and a friendly border guard off the VS45? Wow, I guess the stigma that was once arriving into JFK at that time of the day is abating.. or US customs is becoming more efficient

Cheers for posting this up Blacky, now where is part 2?

Thanks for all the comments guys ,Will try to do the return this week at some point