This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I dont think we have ever travelled from Edinburgh on a Saturday afternoon, but it was eerily quiet for an airport in a Capital city. I dont know whether it was something to do with the hoardings that are over the windows that look out to the runway (yet another expansion), but the whole departure area had a look of doom and gloom about it.
The Hilton was its usual self, albeit very cheap due to all the current sales and it was there on Sunday morning that my phone rung around 7.45am, just as I was getting out the shower with an unknown number displayed on the screen.
Good morning David, its Virgin Atlantic here, calling about your flight today to Orlando [:0] Just to let you know there is a one hour delay on todays flight [:)] to which my reply was, ah, more time in the Clubhouse, to which her reply was good choice, we will see you shortly[y]. The start of a good day ?
Check-in was a breeze, although the economy line was chocka, but the lady on the desk could have been slightly more switched on. No white/green forms and no mention of ESTA other than have you done it.
Onwards to security which was again very quiet and through into departures. It didnt look much different from usual, although there has been a huge development of guess what more shops, at the top of the escalators leading to the corridor for the Clubhouse. This being worked on as well, which I guess is going have something to do with the work happening in the Clubhouse itself.
A warm welcome, again by name at the reception continued the feeling that this was going to be a good day and into to a pretty busy Clubhouse which eventually started to thin out once the Caribbean flights had departed leaving only a couple of dozen of us from the delayed Vegas flight and our delayed Orlando flight.
The weather started to look a little worrying and changed from clear blue skys to flakes of snow to thick clouds as quick as a glass of champagne was disappearing, until eventually our flight, the last of the day, was called.
The announcement did mention about priority boarding and just to walk to the front of queue at gate 20 something where you would be attended to straight away. The large, clear purple sign was very much in evidence [y] and it was onwards to the front cabin, in what was a very full flight.
Two FSMs were very obvious from the start and champagne was offered before I had touched the seat.
It was clear that their great attitude to their job had infused the rest of the staff from the start and that this indeed was going to be not only a good flight, but a great flight. No welcome was given to AUs but it looked as there was a few of us the cabin, going by the bag tags, but apart from that the service was A+ [y][y]
Had the soup and chicken tikka, then the cheese which was all very good. The champagne flowed like no other, (in fact there was 3 bottles on the bar at one time) so maybe some customer feedback is working and indeed, it was positively encouraged to use the bar for what it was, a bar [y]. There was no paper work spread about and one of the staff apologised for leaving a passenger during a conversation as she was required further back in the plane.
The IFE was a little dodgy in that being the first of the month, the new films had been loaded, but the books were still January, so after a quick call to base, the films were read out to the plane.
I had a little work to do, so asked for an empower lead, which was brought by one of the FSMs who mentioned that he was a didnt know where it went as this was the first time he had been on one of these planes for 3 years.
The penny dropped [i] was he a LHR FSM (not that I am making any complaints about LGW FSMs) but both the FSMs seemed to be on another level.[y]
To prove my theory, within seconds of me cleaning my laptop screen with a napkin and a little water, he appeared with some anti static cleaner and a little soft cloth ! [y]
This crew really earned their money today and indeed enhanced Virgins reputation no end. They all seemed to buzz along and enjoyed the flight as much as we did.
The sandwiches for afternoon tea were a little dry, nothing a nice hot cup of tea didnt sort, but the millionaires shortbread was first class.
All in all, a flight ranked in my top 3, which I feel merits a letter to those in charge. It just shows, even in times of hardship, with the right people you really can create the right product.
Arrived to a busy immigration, which I am sure ESTA had helped cause although we were on our way in about 25 mins to a chilly Disney.
Thanks for reading
David [:D]
