This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
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I booked onto the VS009 giving myself time to travel down from the Midlands on National Express. The journey to Heathrow was trouble free and I could have even made the earlier VS045 but nevermind. Check-in was heaving, the bag drop line was quite long and I sometimes wonder is the self check-in kiosk line actually quicker than the online check-in bag drop line. Waited in line for over half an hour and I was checked-in. I headed to security which had a moderate queue and through the metal detector machine. The buzzer didn't sound but was still body searched. I had a word with the security man about the buzzer didn't go off (I felt I was discriminated [:(!]).
After a long wait at the departure lounge, gate 13 appeared on screen. On the way to the gate I saw G-VBIG (Tinker Belle) parked at gate 13. It has been 6 years since I last flew on a VS 747. Arrived at the gate, handed over my boarding pass and security staff at the door asked how long I am staying in New York. Almost inside then the obligatory (to me) body and bag search. Finally sat down at the gate watching the minutes ticked away and sensed this flight is going to be delayed. With well less than 30 minutes till departure and still no boarding. But boarding finally called 20 minutes before scheduled departure with priority boarding followed by the rear section. I found by seat right at the back at 62C as I much prefer the 2 seats together rather than the 3 seats on the 747. There are acres of space beside seat 'A'. Announcements were made and apparently there were 20 crew onboard and 368 passengers.
Take off finally happened an hour later than scheduled departure. First drink service were made soon after with dinner served approximately just over 2 hours since take off. The choices for the evening meal were chicken tikka, meatball with pasta and the vegetarian choice. I had the meatball which was quite pleasing. After the meal, the cabin lights were dimmed and I was settled down with my V:Port. I managed to squeeze in Hot Fuzz and Shrek The Third in my journey. One further drink service took place and choc ice was given out. Water and juice were available in the galley. 2 hours from landing Gu brownie or shortbread were dished out by the crew [y].
After 7 hours we touched down at JFK almost on-time and the start of the nightmare. It took us an hour and a half to taxi around JFK. The captain did keep us inform about the situation with JFK switching runways and abit of a chaos [n]. Some passengers were anxious about missed connections etc. We finally reached the gate at 9pm. This didn't give me a very good impression of the airport and I might even try to avoid in the future.
Being sat at the back and using the loo facility I was near the end of the immigration queue. Not long after, a herd of passengers headed towards the queue. I did think thank goodness I got ahead of them. After awhile the guy behind me queuing giving me funny looks and asked which flight I was from. I told him on the Virgin flight and he said not the one departed at 4pm at Heathrow and I replied 'yes'. It turned out the flight just landed was the VS025 departed Heathrow 2 hours later than us and as we took a delay and the very long taxi that they caught us up [:0]. An hour and a half at immigration, I finally left the terminal at 11pm on Supershuttle but only to be stuck in traffic and circling to other JFK terminals for pick ups [:(!]. Reached my hotel (Radisson Lexington) at 12.30am, it was a long journey.
