VS040 ORD-LHR 15 Jan 08 Upper

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Arrived at O'Hare on a very dull, snowy and cold afternoon to head back to LHR after some fantastic skiing in Breckenridge.

The International Terminal was dead to say the least, hardly a soul around or so we thought!

Check in was a disappointment to say the least, especially compared to LHR T3. The american check in team managed a grunt, forgot to hand me the JAL lounge pass, and didn't muster an apology... not a great a start. In fact none of the check in team seemed to be able to smile in PE or E either. Shame as first impressions do count. [:(!] [n]

The you arrive at the security check funnel... not so great. As they join the queues of the food area as well... all very odd. Unlike other airports there is no Business Class Line, so its a scrabble through and off with your shoes, belt etc. Once through the departures area was quiet and sparse. Not much to do, so my advice is you stay landside until you need to get through - especially if there is a delay.

Virgin uses the JAL lounge which is quiet and limited, not much to the pass the time with so don't get here too early. Flight was called on time and we went straight through priority boarding and onto the plane.

Hurrah! Again met with fantastic cabin crew, IFBT and a wonderful FSM. I wish I could remember her name, but clearly had a lot of flights under her belt and it showed. All the crew were on top form, chirpy and really engaging - food back was superb (again - must have struck lucky) although the mood lighting doesn't help the food. [:?]

Time for a kip and woke up 5 hours later and the IFBT standing in front of me asking if I would like my treatment - bliss! [8D]

Breakfast was good, nice hot latte, good bacon roll and some nice fruit. Off the plane with some fond farewells (little did I know it was the last time I would ever see an IFBT) and I blame the FSM completely for planting the seed in my head for my forthcoming Sydney trip [:p]

First time I encountered landing at LHR and then being held for 15 minutes near to T3 as there weren't any free gates (been told that this is quite the norm - so watch out). Once off the plane, and with the fast lane pass through immigration soon at baggage hall - and a 15 min wait for bags.

Took advantage of the Revivals - which is fantastic - great showers, and managed another shave treatment (same person as when I was in the clubhouse), and a cracking cup of English tea.

All in all whilst on the ground was disappointed, up in the air the Virgin team excelled - even impressed my dad which is saying something he's ex BA flying crew, but seems to be a convert to VA!

[Nottingham Nick]

Thanks for the TR. [y]

Your experiences of the ground staff at ORD were the same as mine, and judging by other TRs out of Chicago, appear to be the norm. [n] You are right - first impressions do count. Glad the rest of the trip was good.

Nick

[HighFlyer]

Nice set of first trip reports, baloobear [:)]

Some useful information there for those of us still to do the ORD route. I've heard similar themes from other V-Flyers on how dissapointing the facilities are for VS flyers at ORD, I'd be inclined to come home VIA IAD i think.

Good to hear the flight lived up to all expectations though [y]

Thanks,
Sarah

Great trippie Baloobear,

We also thought the JAL lounge was not up to much, very quiet and dull.

Can i ask, re the fast lane at immigration, we saw some people out of our cabin using this, they were given a slip we think.

Is it random, or just used for FC Gold members.

Hi all and thanks for your positive comments - just wish I flew a bit more with VA than I do currently, as I would certainly keep you all up to date.

The pluses for O'Hare is that you do get through Immigration fast there, according to one of the VA ground crew its common to be through Immigration within about 20-30 mins irrespective of whether you are in Upper, PE or E

I wrote to RB after the trip home, and got a personal response back from him - saying that he had also been thru ORD and had heard similar reports.

On the trip out, a lot of Americans on board and they fear that this will be a route up for the chop - due to the lowish passenger numbers - which would be a great shame. Must say that is only rumours, but I think its to do with all the American carriers stopping en route...

Baloobear aka Rob.... look for those bear necessities

Originally posted by Catherine
Great trippie Baloobear,

We also thought the JAL lounge was not up to much, very quiet and dull.

Can i ask, re the fast lane at immigration, we saw some people out of our cabin using this, they were given a slip we think.

Is it random, or just used for FC Gold members.

Hi Catherine, when you fly back to LHR the cabin crew all gave us green fast track passes courtesy of BA which you hand to the BAA security person when you arrive back at LHR.

Interestingly the cabin crew did tell me that sometimes these are 'forgotten' to be handed out, but if you ask nicely, you will get one.
[:(]


Surely, this should just be something that happens, perhaps as final cabin checks are being done for landing [ii]

Be interesting to hear if this is the norm or not....

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
Thanks for the TR. [y]

Your experiences of the ground staff at ORD were the same as mine, and judging by other TRs out of Chicago, appear to be the norm. [n] You are right - first impressions do count. Glad the rest of the trip was good.

Nick

Hey Nick

Its such a shame that the ground crew were so bad - but the rest of the trip made up for it... though did put pen to paper on my return...

Saying that Miami isn't that much better... see the TR about to go on...

Originally posted by baloobear

Originally posted by Catherine
Great trippie Baloobear,

We also thought the JAL lounge was not up to much, very quiet and dull.

Can i ask, re the fast lane at immigration, we saw some people out of our cabin using this, they were given a slip we think.

Is it random, or just used for FC Gold members.

Hi Catherine, when you fly back to LHR the cabin crew all gave us green fast track passes courtesy of BA which you hand to the BAA security person when you arrive back at LHR.

Interestingly the cabin crew did tell me that sometimes these are 'forgotten' to be handed out, but if you ask nicely, you will get one.
[:(]


Surely, this should just be something that happens, perhaps as final cabin checks are being done for landing [ii]

Be interesting to hear if this is the norm or not....

THanks,

They did give them to some of the cabin, however the people they gave them too, all seemed to have an american accent. We had to wait around 40 mins to get through immigration.

Will remind them next time.

Can anyone clarify if UC pax are all entitled to a fast track.

[honey lamb]

I think the fast track vouchers are meant for non-EU Upper Class passengers but the crew will give them to you if you ask. The first (and only) time that I used them we were held up in the Immigration line while economy passengers from our flight sailed past in the EU line.[:(!] On our last trip my son took the fast track voucher while I didn't. He sailed past me, nose in the air, as I waited in line. I however had the last laugh as I was through and in the baggage hall with the first of the bags before him. Generally the EU lines are relatively short especially if you are in UC and ahead of the posse.