V-Flyer

After an amazing 12 days in San Francisco, Palm Springs and Vegas it was sadly time to fly home

Having flown in from LAS yesterday, my original plan was to just stay in one of the Holiday Inn hotels near the airport but after arranging dinner plans with a friend who lives in the city, it was far easier for me to change my hotel booking to one of the hotels in the city; so I went back to the InterContinental, where I got some real top-notch service there. I was welcomed back as I checked-in (I’d stayed there for 3 nights the previous week plus it’s where I stayed the previous year). I was given a double room upgrade to either a corner room at the 23rd floor or a king room on the 33rd floor. I opted for the corner room. After settling into my room, the usual complimentary fruit and water soon arrived courtesy of my Ambassador status and a short time after that, a phone call from guest relations at the hotel again welcoming be back and asking if I needed anything and to contact them if I did need anything at all. Dinner was great and it was good to catch up with my friend and it really did top off an already fantastic trip.

The following day I left the hotel around 13:30 and headed to SFO using the BART again. From the Powell Street station it takes around 30mins and the BART drops you right at the international terminal. VS check-in was already open by the time I arrived at around 14:30 so straight to the Upper Class check-in desk and my bag was checked all the way to DUB. This was my plan anyway, as I’m flying EI from DUB back to MAN which is just as easy for me, plus I get an extra night in an IHG property whilst in DUB

The check-in agent was very pleasant and I was soon heading up to the Clubhouse. I noticed the TSA line was much smaller than when I’d been there the previous week. I flew Alaska Airlines to/from PSP and they now use the international terminal at SFO. When I was here last week the TSA line was right up to where the VS check-in desks are in zone 10!! It took about an hour to get though as well that time (though I was only flying economy with AS so used the standard TSA lane) :(

I was warmly welcomed on my arrival into the Clubhouse. Asked if I’d been here before, which I had several times now. Went and sat down in my usual place towards the far left end of the Clubhouse. Noticed that area now has new chairs and tables dotted around rather than the seating in lines that was there previously. It gives it a much more relaxed feeling now. My drink order was soon taken whilst i was deciding what to eat, apparently it was a new menu from today



I opted for the Prawn Summer roll for starters followed by the Clubhouse burger and finishing off with the Sorbet (which was actually raspberry today). It was all delicious and service was as good as ever here today

Before


After


I watched G-VFAB arrive from London and pull onto stand 3



After a few pit-stops outside, it was soon time for the flight to be called at around 16:55. The priority TSA line wasn’t too bad and took around 15 minutes to get though. By the time I reached the gate (which was only a short walk away), the VS20 had started boarding. It was chaos around the gate area with everyone stood waiting to board even though they had only called Upper Class, Au’s, Delta Medallion and Economy on the upper deck. I soon managed to fight my way through and was soon boarding through door 1.

I was welcomed on board and directed to my seat, that been my usual 16A or 16K on a LHR 747. The K side this time. Champagne, water or Orange was soon offered, with several refills if required. I just went for the one glass of bubbly.

There where 3 flight deck crew, 15 cabin crew and 336 pax on this evenings flight. The door was closed and we pushed back a couple of minutes early. Quite a long taxi to runway 28L. We were airborne at just after 18:20.

Lady Penelope is certainly showing her age now, being the oldest VS lady now flying which showed as we climbed out of SFO, as a small part of the cabin ceiling dropped down at the back of the A zone. What ever it was didn’t come down completely and was just hanging there, it looked like something electrical? Once the seat-belt sign went off, the FSM and one of the flight deck crew came to investigate. It was put back up and taped up for the rest of the flight.



Got some nice views of the city again as we left the Bay area. Menus where soon handed out and drinks orders taken. I wont bore you with the menu as it’s the same as the one in Bretty’s TR here. I didn't fancy the main so just went the the soup to start followed by the Red Velvet cake washed down with a mug of hot chocolate. I filled in my breakfast card and also passed my duty free pre-order form to the crew.

Once the dinner service was cleared and after a very quick trip to the bar (no spare seats at that point), I changed into my own shorts and t-shirt (I don't like the VS sleep suits as they are just too clingy) and bedded down for the night. I still love it when you start to convert your seat to the bed, the crew coming a running asking if you require any help

This evenings crew where always on hand on this flight and once again nothing was ever too much trouble. Bless, I asked for a chocolate bar just before bed, saying there was no rush or panic and a few minutes later the member of crew came back with it, profusely apologising for making me wait….it was less than 5 minutes!

None of the films really appealed to me so I really only used the map on the IFE this evening.

I had a very comfortable sleep, not really sure for how long but it was several hours at least and I woke up just as the breakfast service was been served. Got changed and freshened up. Never been a fan of the washrooms on the 747’s . Had a nice bacon butty, some fruit salad and a much needed cup of tea for breakfast. One of the crew came and handed over my duty free order. We where now approaching the UK flying over the IOM towards Liverpool for our approach into London. The breakfast service was cleared and the cabin was started to be secured for our final approach.

We landed around 10 minutes early with no merry-go-rounds at this time of day, we where also straight onto stand 3. The forward door 1 wasn’t used for deplaning today, but it didn’t take long to get off anyway. Thanked and said goodbye to the crew and made my way to the e-gates at immigration. No waiting there and straight though hand down to baggage reclaim where I had a bit of a ‘doh moment as I initially started to wait for my bag, which was of course, checked straight through to DUB!! Anyway after a few minutes it dawned on me so I headed for the exit and towards Revivals (with a quick pit-stop outside on the way).

By this time it was around 12:30 and Revivals was not busy and was winding down for the day (it closes at 13:30). Had a wonderful shower and then another quick breakfast. Said my goodbyes the the staff there and headed to the HEX to get me to T5 for my BA flight where I’m currently sat in the T5 North BA lounge.

All in all another fantastic VS flight with a great crew making my 100th flight with VS since I started flying with them back in 1998, another memorable one for all the right reasons

Thanks for the (as always) detailed TR.

You would have thought that if they are using 2 doors to board the Aircraft, that the crowds would have kept back

Thanks for the pics

Glad you are back safe and hopefully have now been reunited with your bags

buns

Glad you had a good trip and flight James and thanks for the detailed TR.

Thank you for the report, always nice to hear positive comments. Have to agree that some of the planes are showing their age, see if that is covered in the "documentary " on Tuesday?
I think that they refurbished the bathrooms with 'Humbrol battleship grey' paint from an old Airfix kit, some of the glue would have fixed the ceiling problem.
Impressed your few hours sleep got you across the Atlantic, even in my own comfortable shorts and t-shirt (not a pretty sight) I have never even made it to the East Coast!

Thanks for the great TR and happy 100th flight!

Excellent TR James, here's to the next 100 flights.