This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
VS039 Saturday 26th May 2007
Aircraft Jetstreamer
We stayed the night before at the Sheraton Skyline, which was adequate but nothing special, as usual. A trip on the free service bus to the Heathrow Central Bus station and we were soon at a very busy Virgin Check in area. There were only about 3 parties in front of us at the UC check in. The Security Man managed to sticker all of our passports without asking us a single question. Looking round all of the other areas seemed to be very well staffed and the queues were all moving quickly.
Check in was done very quickly, then there was a slight hiccup when the jobsworth on fast track security wasnt going to let us through, but he was told be another staff member that we could go through with gold cards, just as he was about to ring his supervisor. (VS / BAA really do need to get this sorted - or start issuing stickers again).
We made our way to the Clubhouse and were sat down for breakfast before 8.30am. Christopher and I both had the full English, Sue had Servern and Wye Smoked Salmon and scrambled eggs served on soda bread and crispy pancetta. Very nice they were too. Christopher and I had a game of pool, then I saw the V-Flyer award that we presented at the London Eye last week proudly on display at the rear of the concierge desk. The two lovely ladies on the desk Paula and Candice, took it out of the cabinet and posed for a photograph with it. (Names used with permission)
Sue and Christopher had their treatments and our flight was called on time. We made our way to Gate 3, one of the new gates. As we left the CH, I saw that the Virgin Galactic motor cycle was on display outside the entrance.[?]
By the time we got to the gate boarding had already started. We were all soon settled on Jetstreamer an Airbus A-343 that has new W and Y seating, but still has Odyssey for in flight entertainment. The Captain announced that the flight time would be 8 hours 41 minutes and that the First Officer would be flying the sector.
For a change, our routing was east out of LHR, over the city of London, then turning north up the middle of the country over Birmingham and Manchester then heading west . We were a few minutes late pushing back at 11.20am and didnt get wheels up until 11.40am, after we had a ride round the airport past the new T5 and then took off on runway S11 (?) past T4 and the BA cargo sheds.
The flight is full, certainly in PE and Economy. We got a good view of Twickenham and London as we climbed, but soon hit the clouds. We had a drink as soon as we levelled out and then the meal was served I had pasta with Goats cheese then chicken with green beans and really nice cheese and onion mashed potato.
The meal was once again served the new PE way, with hot roll, real cutlery and proper napkins and was very nice. The flight passed quickly despite no V-Port. Odyssey has a reasonable selection of games and films, but once you have got used to V-Port, nothing else will do. We had a snack of shortbread or brownie before we landed in a very rainy Chicago at 2.30pm local time.
The formalities were cleared in record time. It is a single queue system at OHare Immigration, but they are obviously well used to turning over large numbers and there were lots of gates open. The Immigration Oficer was even personable and chatty for once. We got through quick enough that we had to wait a couple of minutes for the bags.
Once we were reunited with the bags we got the air train from Terminal E, which is the International Terminal, to Terminal C - where there is a link to the 'L' or 'CTA' subway system. The signs are for Trains to downtown. A very helpful attendant explained the workings of the ticket machine and we got $6 credit on a ticket, which is enough for all three of us to get downtown.
We were on the train heading through the soaking suburbs of Chicago in less than an hour from landing, which is quite remarkable!
All in all another excellent VS experience.
Nick
