First time on UCS - What to expect

Hi,

I am travelling to NRT in about a week in UCS and was wondering if you regulars could give me some advice about what to expect, and how I can get the most out of the journey.

I dont travel an awful lot, and when I do its usually BA, but wanted to try out the competition! I also want to try and make the flights memorable, so any advice on how to make the most of it would be gratefully received.

Thanks [y]

Hello Flying Low and let me take this opportunity to welcome you to the Forum!! You will find us all a friendly bunch and the expertise on this site will guide you though all things Virgin!!!

Now to yoru question - I havent flown in UCS ( I have been in UC but its all changed now!!! - for the betetr) so the first port of call is to have a look at some Trip Reports - look for thos that say the flight details and then UCS

You can also click on the search facility and put in UCS and you will get a whole load of posts to explore!!!

bear in mind that we all really like VS ( Virgin Atlantic) on thsi site but you will find some great objectivity.

Im also sure that you will get some replies on this topic once those who have been in UCS get in here.

And remember a Trip Report after your experience is most welcome!!! Especially if you are comparing to BA!! ( who we here jokingly call - "The Dark Side"

Welcome flyinglow, and some quick pointers:
- Do you get a car to the airport from VS (depends on your booking class - you get it if you're J or D). If so, ask for the car up to an hour or two early. Why? See below.
- If you're in Upper, then make sure you use the lounge and give yourself plenty of time to do so. Find details of what's available on the VS website. Bring a cossie, some armbands, a rubber duck and a camera.
- Eat in the lounge - better quality of food. Breakfast is really good.
- Don't rush to the gate - wait until you're called from the lounge. It will be crowded there is you're too early.
- Find the priority boarding lane when you go.
- Enjoy the seat - recline it for take off.
- The IFE will be good, but hope for V:Port (AVOD).
- Don't feel constrained by the meal service times - you can eat anything from the menu at any time.
- Plan to sleep, perhaps for longer than you would in BA NCW, and get the seat turned down for you. You should be offered a sleep suit to change into. You can keep that at the end of the flight if you wish.
- Use the bar for a change of scene or to stretch your legs.

Have a great flight.

To make the most of the journey, I'd arrive as early as possible for the CH.

And remember a Trip Report after your experience is most welcome!!! Especially if you are comparing to BA!! ( who we here jokingly call - "The Dark Side"

It's no joke...[}:)];)

Cheers,
VS045

Thanks for the replies. I am in an A340-600, what do you all think is the best seat for privacy and quiet? 2K is free but I hear this has a lot of noise from the loo.

Originally posted by flying low
Thanks for the replies. I am in an A340-600, what do you all think is the best seat for privacy and quiet? 2K is free but I hear this has a lot of noise from the loo.

only the newer planes have a loo in front of seat 2K (older ones have it on the port side).

On my recent flights I had seat 3K, and the loo did not cause any problems for me (in fact I prefered it on the starboard side!).

Hi flyinglow
Have you booked a haircut or a treatment in the clubhouse? If you fancy either, contact them in advance as Bumble and Bumble (haircut) and the Cowshed (treatments) get pretty busy.The hot-tub is worth using(just for the hell of it) as are the sauna and steamroom.BA eat your heart out!!If noise is a worry on the plane clamp on some Bose QC 2s and you won't be troubled by much going on around you!
Regards
Dragonlady

[buns]

Originally posted by DragonLady
Hi flyinglow
Have you booked a haircut or a treatment in the clubhouse? If you fancy either, contact them in advance as Bumble and Bumble (haircut) and the Cowshed (treatments) get pretty busy.The hot-tub is worth using(just for the hell of it) as are the sauna and steamroom.BA eat your heart out!!If noise is a worry on the plane clamp on some Bose QC 2s and you won't be troubled by much going on around you!
Regards
Dragonlady

Hi Flying low and welcome to V-Flyer.

Much as we would all like VS to provide those nice Bose Headphones (as some US counterparts do;)) VS, on their LHR flights, provide their own "noise cancelling" headphones. My experience of LGW flights has been you receive the basic headphone (albeit in a nice plastic bag)

You can find seat ratings herehere:D

Cheers,
VS045

Ah buns4vs
There's "noise cancelling" and "noise cancelling...."
That's why I bit the bullet,parted with a large ammount of cash and have enjoyed peace (from the snorers)and decent acoustics ever since. I have to say that even though they make you look like a bit of a geek they're also a darn sight more comfortable than wearing those horrible little earphones that Apple provide with their Ipods.
Julie

[buns]

Originally posted by DragonLady
Ah buns4vs
There's "noise cancelling" and "noise cancelling...."
That's why I bit the bullet,parted with a large ammount of cash and have enjoyed peace (from the snorers)and decent acoustics ever since. I have to say that even though they make you look like a bit of a geek they're also a darn sight more comfortable than wearing those horrible little earphones that Apple provide with their Ipods.
Julie

Julie

If you excuse the pun, this is music to my ears[y][y]

I contine to try and persuade Mrs buns of the benefits of such an investment. Bearing in mind it took me 5 years to convince her about bose speakers before she relented, I might now be close to acquiring my dream Bose headphone;)

Please pass on the following to Mrs b


DearMrs buns
Please buy Mr buns a pair of Bose QC 2 for birthday/christmas/special occasion present.He will be very grateful- and accordingly will treat you like a princess (or a queen if he treats you like a princess already).If finances won't allow suggest(with deep sigh) he buys himself a set-this will earn brownie points but will not cost you anything in financial terms.Win- win situation!!
A pair of headphones will cost nowhere near what a pair of speakers cost(him) and must be considered "preventative medicine" (have you seen the chaffing to the ear those little earphones cause??? Imagine the ammount of guilt you will be purged with should his orifices suffer lasting damage).Might I also suggest the docking station which is also rather nifty and doesn't take up much room.........
Regards
Julie

[buns]

Originally posted by DragonLady
Please pass on the following to Mrs b


DearMrs buns
Please buy Mr buns a pair of Bose QC 2 for birthday/christmas/special occasion present.He will be very grateful- and accordingly will treat you like a princess (or a queen if he treats you like a princess already).If finances won't allow suggest(with deep sigh) he buys himself a set-this will earn brownie points but will not cost you anything in financial terms.Win- win situation!!
A pair of headphones will cost nowhere near what a pair of speakers cost(him) and must be considered "preventative medicine" (have you seen the chaffing to the ear those little earphones cause??? Imagine the ammount of guilt you will be purged with should his orifices suffer lasting damage).Might I also suggest the docking station which is also rather nifty and doesn't take up much room.........
Regards
Julie

ROTFLMAO:D:D:D:D


Mrs Buns was touched to receieve your plea. She was tight lipped to my "So?", so i guess the jury is still out.

Many thanks all the same[oo][oo]

Originally posted by VS045
To make the most of the journey, I'd arrive as early as possible for the CH.

And remember a Trip Report after your experience is most welcome!!! Especially if you are comparing to BA!! ( who we here jokingly call - "The Dark Side"

It's no joke...[}:)];)

Cheers,
VS045

Agreed - though the only time I've flown UC out of London, we planned to do just that and then got snarled up in the worst M25 traffic we've known. It was a real rush to even get a bacon sarnie down... we were really hacked off! [:I]

Originally posted by DragonLady
Ah buns4vs
There's "noise cancelling" and "noise cancelling...."

Agree 100% [y]

The Bose QC2's are simply a league above the standard 'noise cancelling' headphones' supplied in Upper. I demonstrated them to my neighbour on reecnt flight to Cape Town and he was astounded at the difference they made. Also, the quality of them means that V:Port audio sounds immeasurably better, akin to an iPod rather than old vinyl.

That said, the A340-600 is an incredibly quiet aircraft. Also the problem with the QC2's is, because of their size, sleeping with them on can be problem.

Thanks,

David.

Buns glad to hear Mrs buns has acknowledged your plight although I feel she is not entirely convinced either!!(I have the same reaction when I come home with another pair of shoes/boots/handbag) -Bose were doing an offer giving away a cd player as a gift with the QC2s last year-don't know if they still are.
Sleep is no problem for me with them on David and I have been known to wear them as "ear defenders" when a cabin has been noisy (or husband is snoring loudly).
Julie