VS056 IAD-LHR 4 Jul 09 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

After an excellent week's diving with our colleagues in North Carolina, it's time to return to the UK. Seven hours drive from Morehead City to IAD, roads pretty well empty due to some American Holiday or something....

Got within 1/2 mile of IAD via the back routes without seeing a single airport sign. Dumped car at Hertz, who didn't seem to mind about the scrape on the bumper (which was when we left the car parked) and got the shuttle to the terminal

One Family in front of us at the UC check in, who took forever for some reason. My frustration must have been obvious, and the PE check in assistant called us over when they'd finished with their customer

Through to the lounge, only to find a 90 minute delay. Had champagne, prawn cocktails, and caught up with that day's UK newspapers (presumably brought in on the earlier flight)

Flight was called, priority lane for UC, and boarding was easy. I declined food, but selected the 'Single Malt and cheese straws' option - definitely a good one. The single malt was about a 1/4 pint, but after that I was asked whether I wanted another one. I said I don't complain often on Virgin, but PLEASE could I have a smaller malt next time!

Keeled over after that, got 5 hours sleep, and was woken by CC who offered coffee and orange juice before landing (I'd said no to the breakfast option before take off)

Got into Heathrow 90 minutes late, had confusion as we were meeting our (non VS) driver at the Revivals lounge - which was now closed - why can't they keep it open later for their own late arriving flights?

Overall an excellent flight - pity about the delay but I'm not sure it was VS fault

quote:Originally posted by PeterStansfield

Had champagne, prawn cocktails, and caught up with that day's UK newspapers (presumably brought in on the earlier flight)



Correct. [8D]

[Bazz]

quote:Originally posted by PeterStansfield...Got into Heathrow 90 minutes late, had confusion as we were meeting our (non VS) driver at the Revivals lounge - which was now closed - why can't they keep it open later for their own late arriving flights?

Many have asked the same question, has to be the costs particularly given the current situation.

Glad to read the PE Check-in Agent noticed your plight and called you over.

Thanks for the TR, sounds like a good flight (no food eaten!) [}:)]


Dominic

Thanks for taking the time to write a TR, very frustrating to find revivals closed.

cheers

alex

Thanks for the summary - I took the VS56 two days earlier, check in was actually excellent and really helpful agents apart from no mention of fast track security. I did find the lounge reception staff to be very cold and completely unaccommodating of a request to charge up my iPhone from their PCs ('well, it's buried under here and I can't ...' aka be bothered) nor did they move from their desks - 'in lounge' staff were great however especially the one with the deep voice (how very Washington!).

Interested to know the loads? On 2 July UC had about six pax but then Y was very oversold resulting in domino op ups, so that in the end UC had about twenty people in it. Especially amusing were the two people who complained onboarding about being moved to different rows when wanting to sit together, then they noticed adjacent suites [:o)].

We also left late, 70 minutes in our case and a late arrival caused me no end of problems later in the day (snoozing during Grange Park opera [:w]).

Thanks for the TR.[y]