VS003 LHR-JFK 25 MAY 10 (Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin

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Myself and by better half (henceforth to be known as Mrs Yamesh) booked ourselves a 5 night holiday to New York a couple of months ago. I looked at various options for doing this, trying to take advantage of my FC miles for a companion ticket. Unfortunately, having to purchase a full-economy fare, 20k points and taxes on the second ticket was actually more than 2 tickets were being sold for at the time, so in the end the booking was done through Expedia. Although an avid BA fan, Mrs Y was convinced by me to travel with VS for the first time.

We did OLCI the day before and with no side seats available opted for 41D and 41E so avoid having anyone behind us. Arriving at T3 we were greeted by the Virgin Zone A, a fantastic area when compared to my last visit in 2007 when it was something of a building site.

Bag drop was quick and we made an enquiry about side seats but were told there were none available as the flight was very full - no doubt a side effect of Willie Walsh's lot being out on strike (and enjoying a few good cocktails if the photos in the Daily Fail are anything to go by).

We headed up and through security which took minimal time and through to departures where we waited for VS3's boarding to be announced. So far, my experience of LHR was one of the best I've had in the last few years of trekking across Europe for work.

Shortly after 09.20 the gate number was displayed and off we toddled. There was a 10 min line as we waited for the gate check, during which time boarding was announced. We were informed that as the flight was busy they'd be boarding by row numbers - but with hardly anyone in the gate area announcements for the boarding of all passengers were made about two minutes later.

We boarded G-VYOU (Emmeline Heaney) and took our seats. The crew were in good spirits with one announcement made regarding a lost blonde toupé and encouraging passengers who were missing hair themselves or sitting near anyone who looked like they may have to come forward. There also followed an announcement regarding false teeth found in a wash room. I'd be surprised if either of these were genuine, but they bought a smile to the face of many of the passengers.

We pushed back on time, and take-off for the 10.35 flight was at 11.01 with an expected duration to JFK of 6h46. The seats were the 'new' economy seats with the lumbar support, and proved rather comfortable.

As soon as the seatbelt sign was off the crew began the drinks service where I took advantage of a Bloody Mary, and since VS don't use the individual serving bottles it was nice and strong! V:Port was switched straight on soon after and we began to settle in for a movie as lunch came around. We both opted for the chicken which was rather good, and my only complaint would be that I'd like 2 Gu puds please!

A couple of hours into the flight the crew announced V:Port needed a reset and left just enough time for us to note where we were in a film before the reboot was done. It was back for a few minutes when it was announced another reset was needed, and that apparently the Captain was involved in sorting it. Must have worked, because as well as flying the plane he's rather good at fixing the telly too!

The rest of the flight was pretty non-eventful, although when it came to the snack time we were also given some fruit bags as we'd listened ahead and didn't have to get the menu read to us. Talking of which, I seem to recall VS used to carry printed menus in Economy which I did miss a bit, and felt a little sorry for the crew having to repeat themselves every few seconds to passengers!

We landed in JFK early and had a fairly quick trip through Immigration, although not being married we were told we couldn't go through a check-point together. I then watched as the agent proceeded to be very friendly and borderline flirty with Mrs Yamesh before being somewhat abrupt with me. Cheek!

All in all, a very pleasant flight, in no small part down to the excellent crew. Which reminds me, that we were all asked (and duly gave) a round of applause to the Flight Manager, ***** who was on his last flight before retiring from the skies before he went off to become 'North Kent's finest Lollipop Man' - also meaning everyone left the plane with a smile.

Edited to remove crew name - honey lamb

Yes, as you have found using miles can be an expensive option.

Glad you had a good flight and we all need to know - was it your toupee?

I did have a quick feel of my head, but was pretty sure despite going through LHR I had kept all my hair

I can see some of the logic behind some of the miles rules, but it's just daft when on the few occasions I've tried to use them it's been cheaper not to bother

When I was working in Eastern Europe I managed 54 flights in a year, admittedly with varying airlines, but because of ye olde 'discounted economy' trick I think I amassed the sum total of diddly squat.

[buns]

Yamesh

Thanks for an excellent TR

Your account describes how flying with VS ought to be - professional, but with a tint of fun

I do hope that Mrs Y was converted

buns

Yamesh,

Thanks for the TR, glad you had a great flight

[honey lamb]

I have been on a flight where the FSM has made the same announcement with regard to a toupee and false and, although I have to remove his name as permission hasn't been given to use it, it was the same guy

Nice TR, though. Thanks

Great TR - I wonder what they would have done if someone had claimed the false teeth and toupee?!

Yamesh,

Excellent TR and great to read that the crew were bang in form.

Iain

I have been on a flight where the FSM has made the same announcement with regard to a toupee and false and, although I have to remove his name as permission hasn't been given to use it, it was the same guy

Nice TR, though. Thanks

Cheers Apologies, wasn't aware of the issue over not using names, but duly noted for next time.

Thanks for the Great TR

Mike

An excellent TR Yamesh, thank you.

Nothing wrong with a touch of humour - the captain on one of our recent flights opened with "Virgin employ some really great cabin crew, unfortunately they are all on other flights today".

[honey lamb]

An excellent TR Yamesh, thank you.

Nothing wrong with a touch of humour - the captain on one of our recent flights opened with "Virgin employ some really great cabin crew, unfortunately they are all on other flights today".

Yeah, I've had that one too, but unfortunately on that occasion he was right!

[Decker]

Thanks for the TR. Interesting that the plane is called Emmeline Heaney as that was only meant to be for a year. It has been substantially longer.

Thank you for the great TR.