This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Firstly, none of the computer systems were working (for any airline). None of the conveyor belts were working. Check in was reduced to the agents manually writing out boarding passes and then checking in customers via an agent over the phone (presumably the agent on the phone had access to the booking system). Not a good start but cant blame VA for that.
Now, one big peeve that I have always had with VA in Lagos is the fact that the ground staff are always looking for tips. I know that this happens with most airlines in Lagos but the VA agents are particularly forward. They ask for tips for doing their jobs.e.g. checking my passport prior to check in. They always make sure to do so without any of the other agents knowing which to me stinks of unprofessionalism. I expect it from the customs officers who cant spell professionalism but not from VA staff.
Anyway, rant over. I proceeded through Passport Control where the conversation went thus:
Passport Control Official: How much foreign currency have you got?
Me: $4,000
PCO: You are not allowed to take more than $2,500. You will need to leave the excess with me.
Me: Actually the limit is either 2,500 or $5,000.
PCO: No, its not
Me: Yes it is, read the embarkation form that is given to all travellers. You see there, where it says no amounts over 2,500 or $5,000?
PCO: Oh, they must have changed it.
Me: Er.right!!!!!
Once through passport control I went in the direction of the where the Virgin Lounge used to be until I was stopped by a lady wearing VA uniform informing me that the Lounge was now in a different location. The Lounge is now set on 2 floors which does increase the space though the location just after passport control makes it feel somehow less exclusive compared to the previous lounge.
Anyway the flight was called on time and once onboard the crew set about making us feel comfortable. Very helpful they were too. The flight took off about 30 minutes late but that didnt seem to bother anyone. The entertainment was good throughout the flight. One complaint I had was the food. On my flight into Lagos I had chosen the Jollof Rice. On this flight I again chose Jollof Rice. I was therefore in a very good position to judge that the portion given on this flight was literally half of what we got on the first flight. I am not joking when I say there were maybe 4 spoonfuls of rice at the max, really very stingey. The desert of baked cheesecake was good. We were later offered some mini fishcakes as a light bite which could have tasted better.
We landed at LHR at 7:00pm on the dot after which we had a 10 minute walk to immigration. It was here that I experienced another problem. Some of my fellow passengers had the pink cards which allow them through fast track; the rest of us didnt so we had to use our boarding passes to prove that we had travelled business class and were therefore eligible to go through fast track. Apparently those with the pink passes had asked the crew for them onboard. One would think that the crew would hand these out to all Upper Class passengers without having to be asked, afterall they do it with immigration landing cards.
Anyway passport control took all of 3 minutes and by the time I got to the baggage reclaim my bags were waiting for me. I was out the door within 25 mins of landing. Not bad at all.
