This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The check in hadnt been open long, but there was no queue and we even had a Security Man who smiled. Good news when I checked in I had an op-up to upper class. I was given a nice shiny purple boarding pass for seat 17A. Chatting to the girl checking us in, apparently economy and UC are wide open, but PE is oversold- hence my good fortune. No such luck for Dave, he remained down the back, though he should be able to spread out in the sparse Y cabin.
Once through security and quick detour to duty free, we made our way through the very busy terminal. At the far end of the terminal is the lift down to the Aer Lingus lounge which Virgin share. They are currently building a Clubhouse, but dont know when it will be open. We were welcomed into the lounge and set up camp close to the TV and power points. There were lots of Irish newspapers to read and a fridge full of booze lots of Guinness and Harp Lager also some sandwiches and fruit kebabs. There were also lots of bottles of Sam Adams, which pleased Dave.
After the Aer Lingus flight was called, the UK papers from the inbound were put out, and about 6-15pm the food was laid out a very nice spread it was too:
Light bites.
Fresh Corn Chowder
Salad of chopped romaine hearts topped with sour dough croutons, shaved fontinella cheese and Caesar dressing.
Indian grilled shrimp with curry dipping sauce.
Main
Coconut chicken with ginger chutney
Asiago grilled risotto cakes with fresh pomodoro sauce
Japanese Bento box with mandarin beef, edemem and sesame noodles
Sweets
Key lime pie
Seasonal fresh berry bowl.
With some irony, there were obviously a fair few more Bento boxes than there were on a Tokyo flight that a few V-Flyers took some time ago.
When the flight was called, we went to board and got settled in. Me in 17a and Dave somewhere down the back. Everything seemed to be going swimmingly, meal orders, drink orders, sleep suits and In-flight beauty therapist all sorted and then they announced that there has been a security alert in the terminal because someone has picked up the wrong bag after the X-ray machines and no one is being allowed to enter or leave the terminal. We are only 12 passengers light, but have to sit tight and wait for the alert to be sorted.
Police, TSA and airport staff came on the plane and made a very cursory search, we were all asked to make sure that we had the correct bags. The captain announced that would be a 5 hour 52 minute flight when we get up there. I asked not to be woken for breakfast. The IFBT came round and I said I wasnt bothered about a treatment, as I wanted to get my head down. She handed out amenity kits and had an extra basket of goodies with lotions, potions and pens that we could help ourselves to.
While we were waiting I had a wander down the back of the plane, Lady Penelope. As I have said Y was very sparsely populated, but interestingly there were only about half a dozen pax in the first section of Y rows 38-48, and everyone was crammed into the back sections for take off at least.
We eventually pushed back at 8.28pm and were wheels up at around 8.40pm. As soon as we levelled out drinks were served and then, those who had ordered the Express cold supper tray of Alaskan crab with melba toast and arugula, were served their meal. A few minutes later, I got my hot tray of saut_ed pork tenderloin served with savoyarde potatoes, green beans and apple Calvados cream sauce.
The meal was excellent and was rounded off nicely by a huge bowl of Dulce de Leche ice cream covered in chocolate sauce and crushed Crunchie pieces. I watched a bit of Blackadder and Life on Mars, then converted my suite into a bed and got my head down. I slept quite well, I remember an announcement about turbulence as I nodded, but the was the only disturbance. We had begun our descent before I came to properly, so there was just time for a drink of water and a game of Tetris before the IFE was switched off and we came into a fairly smooth landing at a wet Heathrow just after 8am.
Very quick through Immigration, as there were only a couple of people in front, then I arrived in baggage reclaim just as the belt was starting and my bags were among the first off.
Revivals wasnt very busy either. I just freshened up, grabbed a bit of breakfast and had a read of the UK papers before going to meet Dave and heading for Purple parking.
All in all another excellent trip. When VS get it right, like they did both ways on this trip. There is no better airline to fly on IMHO.
Nick
