V-Flyer

Time to return to Blighty after a few days in NYC – we has snow in the day and weather forecast was for more in the late evening, worrying for us as we had a 21.30 departure !

Had a taxi from the hotel to terminal 4 having checking in online, used the Ipad for boarding pass for the first time and it was hassle free, nice greeting from the bag drop staff and off we go to run the gauntlet of US Security. Through in under 20 minutes so not too bad.

Gate was a bit of a walk so we went to check out facilities in that area and found there was a bar next to the gate  Mr’s FC went off and did some shopping whilst I availed myself of some rather expensive beers ! here begins the problems  Gate time comes and goes with people standing around waiting and the gate closed with VS staff standing around doing nothing. Eventually they come up with an excuse – “the captain wants the plane De-Icing” (More to come later !) which was clearly untrue, for 2 reasons: 1. You don’t de-ice on stand and 2, it wasn’t even freezing ! an hour later (and another expensive beer !) the gates opened and we board. 61 A and C this time. After a bit of messing around with numbers and paperwork we push back about 1Hr 30 mins late, the captain (to note, both Cpt and FO were female – a first for me, just hope they don’t need to reverse park at LHR ! ;-) ) apologises for the delay and says were lucky we don’t need to de-Ice the a/c and advises us that the flight time back to the UK will be 5 Hrs 34 mins – wow. Downside of quick return is that it might be a bit “bumpy” (Note to ground crew, if you’re going to lie, make sure the captain agrees with your lie and doesn’t contradict it !)

Climb out was a bit rough, but nothing too serious. Crew released for bar service, oh oh double Bong’s on the tannoy !! crew sit back down and strap in. Few minutes of some serious turbulence with screaming and sick bags  (neither from me)not great but it happens. Few minutes later, drinks and dinner arrive. I had the Japanese Chicken – ok, but a bit overcooked for my liking. Settled down to watch a film, still a few bumps but pretty good considering at some points we had a 200+ mph tail wind.

Approaching Ireland, breakfast in the form of yoghurt and muffin arrived, with juice and coffee. Few more bumps, and the captain announced we will hold at LHR as it’s not very nice weather and the spacing had increased from 30 Sec’s to 45. Quick spiral in the stack and then approached from Essex along the Thames to a very smooth (I think instrumented) landing. Disembarking seemed very slow, but E Gates to the rescue when I finally got off ! bags come back with us so all in all, a good result 

Incidentally, didn’t mention it in outbound, we were on G-VWOW, Cosmic Girl on both legs.

One thing I don't understand Fatcat, is your hostility towards the ground crew? I may be reading your post incorrectly, but you assume that they are lying when the captain herself seems to have been in debate as to if De-Icing was needed and again from reading between the lines, is that there was some issue which meant that De Icing may need to be undertaken, which caused the delay? The ground crew perhaps making a decision to inform customers that this was happening?

Sounds like an ok Y flight. I think the ground crew have a tough job sometimes as they tend to feed information they are given and the get slaughtered by the pax

Fatcat wrote: After a bit of messing around with numbers and paperwork we push back about 1Hr 30 mins late, the captain (to note, both Cpt and FO were female – a first for me, just hope they don’t need to reverse park at LHR ! ;-) )

How the hell did you get away with this comment....where's DL & HL ?? Oh dear

Thanks for posting

OP didn't ask for clubhouse access so is probably OK! ;-)

Still an unnecessary sexist comment. I know of plenty of men that fail miserably parallel parking ;-)

I think the comment was meant very lighthearted and with the utmost jest!!!

ColOrd wrote:I think the comment was meant very lighthearted and with the utmost jest!!!

I agree totally ColOrd but still surprised the ladies aren't out in force

ColOrd wrote:I think the comment was meant very lighthearted and with the utmost jest!!!

+1
I had a little chuckle to myself I'm allowed to as I'm a woman (and am a terrible driver)

Fatcat wrote:
After a bit of messing around with numbers and paperwork we push back about 1Hr 30 mins late, the captain (to note, both Cpt and FO were female – a first for me, just hope they don’t need to reverse park at LHR ! ;-) )

Never mind the parking you lucky you didn't I and at the blue water shopping

ColOrd wrote:I think the comment was meant very lighthearted and with the utmost jest!!!

I agree - was definitely a light-hearted joke. I've even been on a VS flight where the flight deck crew were a male captain & female FO. The pilot flying was the female FO. On approach to LGW the captain did the pre-landing PA announcing of an early arrival & cold weather (it was January) - he ended his PA with words to the effect of "we will be on the ground early, but it may take my colleague a while to park on stand". There was laughter.

With regard to de-icing, I've been on planes that are de-iced at the gate immediately before push-back. Guess a lot depends on the airport layout, i.e. are there de-icing pads immediately before the runways. I would expect there are at JFK, given the Winters they can get there (& the frequent 1hr taxi queue to takeoff... plenty of time for something to freeze up there).

Petmadness wrote:

Fatcat wrote: After a bit of messing around with numbers and paperwork we push back about 1Hr 30 mins late, the captain (to note, both Cpt and FO were female – a first for me, just hope they don’t need to reverse park at LHR ! ;-) )

How the hell did you get away with this comment....where's DL & HL ?? Oh dear

Thanks for posting

[haughty font on] My dear fellow, I simply rise above such comments [haughty font off]

honey lamb wrote:

Petmadness wrote:

Fatcat wrote: After a bit of messing around with numbers and paperwork we push back about 1Hr 30 mins late, the captain (to note, both Cpt and FO were female – a first for me, just hope they don’t need to reverse park at LHR ! ;-) )

How the hell did you get away with this comment....where's DL & HL ?? Oh dear

Thanks for posting

[haughty font on] My dear fellow, I simply rise above such comments [haughty font off]

^^^ yet another reason why I love this forum ^^^

Mind you, on one occasion I was flying SFO-LHR on a 747 and at the bar we were joined by a tiny woman, barely 5ft tall, in her fifties who had come for a glass of water. As I looked down on her I suddenly realised she was wearing a pilot's uniform and all I could think of was, "She's too tiny to manage such a big machine. Can her feet reach the pedals?"

Slightly off the original topic, but what is the ratio of male to female pilots these days?

In my industry, railways, we have generally very few female train drivers, so a similar skill set if not entirely similar entry path to the role, and there has been a push to improve this over the last decade or so.

Very funny indeed. Taken the way it was meant.....although I would actually be very interested in seeing anyone reverse park at LHR....

G-VROS......

Sealink wrote:OP didn't ask for clubhouse access so is probably OK! ;-)

Only just seen this post - I have no issue with quips about women drivers and parking -loads of women are terrible at both ( as are loads of blokes ).
Fortunately, I'm a whizz at both ...

DL

ColOrd, the hostility comes from the fact that it was BS ! lol The temperature was well above icing conditions and there was no lying snow, most airports (and I have been to a few) De-ice close to the runway in case of a delay from gate to TO. and the captain said lucky we didnt have to De-ice, when the Ground crew satated the reason for the delay was that they WERE de-icing...........