Arrived back at Tonty Towers after spending a late Christmas with my parents to find a very nice e-mail from VS inviting me as a specially selected passenger to use DTCI as part of the trial. [:)]
Slight problem hadnt booked a car yet!
Evening booked car and completed APIS
Tuesday 16th February
AM - Phone UC support and after giving reference etc am booked into a DTCI Slot for 12.00 12.30 [y]
Before we have even finished the conversation a confirmatory e-mail hit my in-box.
PM decide to do OLCI and get the famed SEQ1 [y] [y]
Wednesday 17th February
11.00 Car arrives and as driver is loading case and bag I make note of the details needed. Driver appears happy when I ask him if hes done DTCI before he has!
Phone UC support and as phone is answered (after a few minutes delay) I accidently close my phone! [n]
Try again and, again after what seams an endless delay (getting worried about the 30 minutes notice period) UC answer and I speak to the same lady as yesterday. Confirm all details (except now have two bags to check-in).
Smooth drive to LHR but some slow traffic. We arrive at T3 but the driver takes the wrong turn but to be fare it was a little confusing! A quick reverse and hes in the right lane - am comforted by the fact the car behind also misses the turn by overshooting [:o)]
The APNR failed so its the intercom and after a few seconds of the driver trying to say my name and the staff deciphering the barrier(s) open and we are up the magic ramp!
The driver pulls into the space next to the door (no other cars there) and before I know it the car door is opened and I am greeted by name. Luggage is removed from the back of the car by the driver and the bag man (am sure he has a proper title!). After paying the driver its through the doors into the mystery of the UC Wing where I am dealt with quickly and efficiently before being pointed in the direction of the private security channel.
What are my thoughts on DTCI? Well it is all very pleasant and efficient and makes for a quieter check-in process and at it is obviously not the main terminal but my whelm was a little undered it just didnt look like the adverts / video. Perhaps I had over imagined what it would be like?
Would I use it again if offered of course, but would I pay for it? no.
Anyway I am through security etc and arrive at the CH in less than 15 minutes. Am welcomed and offered a brief tour which I decline.
I make my way to the spa and enquire any chance of and, after my checking flight I am offered a wide range of appointments - basically anytime I want! [y] [y]
I choose 1.30 so I can have some lunch etc. A quick chat with the staff to see how the new system is working and they say they like it as its less grief for them as there are now very, very few no-shows (yes even people who book on the day fail to turn up) and they generally can fit everyone in. It might have helped that it was very quite in the CH (confirmed by a server later).
I find a nice seat in the gallery and in a couple of minutes a server appears and takes my order champers, OJ, coffee and the seared salmon.
The drinks appear quickly and as I fire up the lappy and arrange myself, Tonty and Beary on the sofa the food appears.
The salmon and the potato are beautifully cooked and arranged and soon eaten (spinach left Yuk) and the drinks drunk. The portion was a tad on the small size but it left room for further offerings.
I have a second champers and then nip off to duty free to get $$ and also some bargain Clarins and a couple of magazines.
On returning to the CH I am greeted by the chap at the entrance who admitted me before with Did you bring us anything to which I replied Fraid not but Ill get you some sweets on the way out.
In the short time I had been away my glass has been topped up and so to stop if going off I down it before heading to the Cowshed.[:p]
I take a diversion to have my shoes shined and am offered some black sandal things to wear instead of the usual white towel slippers.
Am welcomed back at the Cowshed like an old friend and am taken to the room by K**** where we have the usual going anywhere nice conversation. She is soon smoothing unguents onto my visage and I start to drift off to sleep as she massages my scalp.
After a relaxing 20 minutes or so the treatment is over. I look for a pair of the white slippers (handy for the plane and the hotel room) only to see there are none! Another cutback? [V]
I return to my seat where Tonty and Beary have been on guard duty (about time they did some work!)
A server appears and this time I have the Akvinta Winter Wonderland just to try something different. Whats it like? OK to try but thats about it.
After the exertions of my facial I need sustenance so its off to the deli for some sushi and salmon which are all very tasty.
There is still a small gap so I have some cheese and ham and have this with a Virgin Redhead.
I nip off to the Gents to brush teeth etc and to pop by the sweet counter to stock up for the plane. I pick up a couple for the door staff too. I return to my seat to sort out my things ready for boarding when there is a call for me to go to the concierge. It was at that moment that I realised that I had left my passport on the sweet counter!
Somewhat red-faced I go and collect it [:I] [:I] [:I]
I decide its time to take a slow walk to gate 18 so leave before the announcement.
I hand over the sweets to the chap on the door I joked with earlier who is of course delighted I had remembered!
There are a few (Y) pax at the gate when I hand over my BP etc and am wished (by name) a good flight before being funnelled by some tensa barriers towards a clip board lady who asks my name. After checking her little list I am waved through without further ado.
Am I waved through because I am in UC? No, just because I wasnt randomly selected to have my pants patted down.
There are a couple of slackers on the jetway (Y pax taking a look at the bar) and then with a quick step I board Tubular Belle and am greeted and then shown my seat.[^]
Drink order taken and on return I ask if it is busy and S**** tells me that there are 19 in UC!
In fact the whole of the cabin between the bar and the A-zone is empty and there are only 8 of us in the A-zone.
I nip to the loo and change in to my flight wear and am complimented on them by pax and crew ! - one comment 'much better than the ninja suit' [8D] [8D]
It was only a short wait before doors were closed and we were taxi-ing and in the air.
Drink and dinner orders are taken and the IFE started.
For Dinner I had
* Seasonal Leaf Salad with warm breads
* Cumberland sausages - v nice apart from the pea puree ([:$])
* Cheese Selection.
The FSM came around with the wines (I had the Du Toitskloof Chenin Blanc) and he had a quick word with each pax. I dont think anyone missed the extras basket.
I settled down and watched an episode of the Simpsons then Fame (not a patch on the original series).
I thought a trip to the bar might be nice but there was no one there so I headed back to my seat (I dont really like drinking on my own honest!) through the deserted cabin (no lights on but all the IFE screens were on!)
Had a doze then went to the loo then chatted to another pax and the crew in the galley and had a couple of cups of tea. One of the pax was the BF of one of the crew but he in no way got any special attention. I suppose we chatted for about an hour about all sorts and it was really good fun probably helped by the very light load but the crew were still professional and looked after the other pax too. [^] [^] [^]
Two of us went down to the bar where two ladies from upstairs were installed and we chatted about things to do in NYC. When we asked if the barman had a pen he disappeared for a minute before handing over a stubby to each of us! [^]
After more relaxed conversation and a mix of wine and water (separate glasses!) it was announced that afternoon tea was available so we all returned to our seats.
Not long after we began our descent into Newark. Unfortunately it was pouring with rain and cloudy so I didnt get a view of Manhattan [n]
The landing was smooth despite the weather and the taxi to the gate was quick. Immigration was deserted and I was seen by a very friendly agent photographed and only 4 fingers printed. As I arrived at the carousel the luggage was starting to appear and my bags were in the first dozen out.
Hence to a taxi and my hotel.
Overall an excellent VS experience and a top notch crew.
Huzzah for International Jet-setting !
