This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
A brief report on the DUB – LHR trek is perhaps in order. The Aer Lingus flight departed DUB late, but nary a word from them as to what was going on, when we would get off the ground, etc. I will say the agent at checkin was quite friendly and did not charge for the second heavy bag I needed to check. I insisted she ensure my bags were checked only to LHR, not through to EWR. You can guess the rest: no bags on the carousel at LHR. The Aer Lingus ground staff were not very helpful at all; they simply referred me to Virgin Atlantic. Followed two hours of wandering about LHR until I located the VS UC checkin desk at T3. The people there were fantastic. They provided directions to a hidden rear entrance, marked authorized personnel only, with instructions to pick up the phone outside that door to speak with someone who could assist. Upon doing so I was told it may take some time as they would have to locate the bags which were would have been in a secure area for baggage in transit. Within a half hour I was called on my mobile and told my bags were ready to reclaim. In through the secret porters entrance, through security and, lo and behold’ my bags were awaiting me. I tried to compensate the young lady who helped me but she would have none of it. To emphasize – this was not a problem with Virgin, but I am less than overwhelmed with Aer Lingus!
Thence the trek from T3 to the Hilton adjacent to T4. After taking the free train from T3 to T5, realizing I went the wrong way and back to T4, I thought I was at the portal to the Hilton. Wrong! It is a L O N G walk from the T4 terminal to the Hilton. Perhaps not a problem most of the time but I had injured my back the prior week and was in agony the whole way. Having learned that lesson, I visited the lounge at the hotel and while there contacted VS for a car to pick me up the next day at noon for transport to T3. They were a tad confused that I wanted to be collected at Heathrow and delivered to Heathrow for VS001, but I insisted and it worked out well.
The day of the flight we were delivered to the drive through check in facility (nice!) and on to the Clubhouse. Ahhh, the Clubhouse. What can I say? As I first time visitor I was totally overwhelmed! Simply marvelous; so much so that it alone makes me need to find a reason to return to LHR as soon as possible. Co-workers were traveling PE on the same flight and were cheerfully admitted with me. We all enjoyed the customary champagne starters followed by an excellent lunch. I chose the duck pancakes as I had read about them on the forum and had no clue what they were. Being adventurous in nature, I didn’t ask, simply ordered! Enjoyed them very much while my more conservative friends opted for the salt beef sandwiches. Everybody reported the food was excellent.
I waited for the last call for boarding (another V-Flyer trick I learned), zipped through the private security lane and was onboard in no time. The pod was not too clean, similar to that on my eastbound journey. Something seems amiss there. Other than that the flight was excellent and the service supreme. We were slightly delayed arriving at EWR. The cockpit crew did not state why but I learned upon landing that a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) was in place in the NY area as President Obama was there. That always messes things up for travel in and around.
I have U.S. quick-pass Customs entry approval so I was went straight through when everyone else queued. I did get some strange looks! My bags were the second on the carousel, the VS-provided car was ready and I was home within an hour. All went wonderfully on this leg of my journey!
Thanks to all on V-Flyer for the excellent advise which made my trip so much more enjoyable. I look forward to my next VS trip not too far in the future. Only if VS flew JFK – NRT. I may need to find an excuse to travel via LHR!
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