Arrived at T3 to check in for my flight to Boston in plenty of time, to make sure I got a good use of the clubhouse.
UC check in was busy and a member of staff came over to ask where I was flying too. When I told her Boston, she replied with an 'Ahh....'
So to cut a long story short, the flight to Boston went tech this morning. They had a new departure time of 5pm, but she couldn't guarantee it would go so she offered me the chance to switch to the BA flight at 4pm. Her words were "If you need to get to Boston today, then I would take the BA flight if I were you."
As I was traveling for work and start at 8.30am on Monday morning, I decided I would switch to the dark side and take the BA flight.
First off, there was some time spent with the Virgin ticket desk whilst they re-booked me onto the BA flight. I enquired if I would still get my miles, and was told that I'd need to ring the FC to claim them and they would honour them. I forgot to ask about tier points - will report back when I've made that call!
Once I was issued with my new ticket, it was back to the HEX to transfer to T5. A bit of a wait for a train, but I was soon there and up in the lift to the departures hall. There was no obvious signage for Club World check in so I asked a nearby member of staff - she pointed me to zone H. I'd come up from the HEX into zone A, so it was a walk the entire length of the check in zones - that place is huge! Once at zone H I was seen straight away, explained the situation and I was soon checked in. I had to go through the APIS again (as that was all on my Virgin booking). The check in agent was fine. Not particularly friendly or rude, just fine.
Off to a deserted fast track security, and once through began the tortuous route to the lounge, down an escalator, make a choice North or South lounge (I went for South), walk half the length of the building again, then back up two escalators.
There are what appears to be a number of lounges here - a Concorde lounge for invited people only, a 1st class lounge then the Galleries lounge. At the entrance to the Galleries lounge were 4 BA staff to check me in. I was the only person in the lobby, and not one of them looked up, or said hello. So I went over to one person, who without saying a word scanned my boarding card and waved me through. As I passed her I turned to look at the computer monitors they were all staring at, and all of them were looking at various internet pages! Certainly nothing like the welcome you always get at the clubhouse!
I had a good wander about the lounge, and I do quite like the layout. It is big, but is broken down into smaller areas well, with lots of comfy sofas or chairs. I got there as the lunch buffet was being put out, and there was a good selection of hot food (pasta, rice, aribiata sauce, 2 curries, hot tuna rolls) and a good salad bar. Dotted around are help yourself drinks bars and coffee machines. I got settled and logged on to the wifi - which was was fast and always on. I tried some of the beef madras (fine) washed down with a few beers - as I didn't notice a bar where cocktails could be made.... boo!
There are no boarding calls in the lounge (I guess as there are so many flights the announcements would be non stop) so keeping an eye on the screens, I took off once I could see the gate for my flight was open.
It was a boarding a bus and then being taken out to the plane - which I always find surprising at T5 - so much for this great new terminal!
On board I was in seat 10K - which is the first seat of the CW section on the right hand side by the window - and facing backwards. The seat was clean, and in it's normal position quite comfortable with good arm rests. I liked the little drawer to stow laptop and book, but missed anywhere obvious to put a bottle of water. I knew that there would be no sleep suit on this flight, but was surprised that there were no little socks to put on - I asked a passing CC, who replied with a curt "we hand those out later in the amenity pack". That was me told then.....
Someone then took their seat in the 'partner' with mine - and as I put in the other thread, they are sitting facing you, and are really in your eyeline. For the time being I left the screen where it was (more on that later!)
I was asked if I'd like a champagne/bucks fizz/water, so opted for the bucks fizz. At this point we were allowed to have our amenity pack, so I could get my shoes off, socks on, and finally get settled.
We pushed back roughly on time and took to the skies about 20 minutes late. Once in the air and the seatbelt sign off, the drinks trolley came round. The CC served me the beer I asked for and then the dividing screen suddenly shot up - I didn't see the CC do it, it was that quick. So there we were then. Screen up it was to be! Being by the window did make it feel very secluded - I'm not claustrophobic but if you were, I could imagine that it might make you feel a little uncomfortable.
The IFE was turned on (it wasn't VOD) and after the BBC news programme I chose my film on channel 4. (Can't remember what it was called - but I chose it as it was a bank hiest type film set in Boston). Anyway it started and I was half watching it and noticed that none of the actors I was watching were credited in the magazine... I saw the same CC go past me (well just the top of his head over the screen) and told him that the film didn't match what was listed. He replied that he thought that had happened, as the media crew hadn't shown up to switch the tapes over to the new January films but the people who changed the magazine had.... He then disappeared to make this announcement to the whole plane, so the first cycle of films had started but no-one knew what there was! So I got my book out.
I'd also noticed that another member of the CC was taking dinner orders. She'd started in the other aisle, and was now making her way up our aisle, so I was the last she got too. There was a choice of two starters (a beetroot salad or a peppers and cheese thing) , three mains (beef, fish cakes, vegetarian chilli), chocolate tort and cheese and biscuits. I went for the Peppers starter.... oh no I didn't - the conversation went like this:
Me: Can I have the peppers starter please?
CC: No, we've run out. Do you want the beetroot?
Me: No thanks, I really can't eat beetroot. It makes me ill very quickly. Is there anything else?
CC: No. We were only loaded with 5 pepper starters and there are 37 of you in here and you're the last to order.
Me: Well, none of that seems to be my fault. Why were you only loaded with 5 starters?
CC: I don't know. That's nothing to do with me. And I've got to start somewhere with the orders.
Me: Of course, I understand that, but it seems very unfair to go round a cabin of 37 with only a choice for 5 people. Do you have the fishcakes main course?
CC: Yes. So do you want the beetroot or not?
Me: No, as I said, it maked me ill.
And off she went.....
Two minutes later the male CC came back and said that there were some starters not being used from the 1st cabin, and I could have one of those. By this point I was slightly seething with the other CC attitude, but as he was trying to fix it, I took him up on the offer and had a stilton starter.
The rest of the meal was fine - in fact the fishcakes were excellent.
After dinner I was feeling pretty tired so decided to make the bed - had a bit of a wrestle with the foot stool - not the easiest thing to operate! No duvet, just a blanket, but it was comfortable enough and I slept for the next three hours of the flight.
I was woken by the cabin lights being turned back on, and the afternoon tea service. A couple of sandwiches, scone with jam and cream and a cup of tea. All fine.
We landed slightly early, and were soon at the gate and off the plane. Immigration was very quiet and I was quickly through and waiting for my bags. there didn't seem to be any priority, but I didn't have too long a wait and I was out into the surprisingly mild Boston air and in a cab off to my hotel.
So - a bit of a quick comparison from BA CW to Virgin UC:
Check in - fine. Not as usually as friendly as VS.
Fast track security. Not as swish as the VS wing, but it was quick.
Lounge: I liked the layout and the food. The check in staff were not a patch on the Clubhouse welcome. After that, as it's all serve yourself, I didn't speak to anyone else. The seats were comfy, the wifi excellent.
The plane Seat: Comfy, but the layout isn't a patch on UC. The foot stool was a pain to operate, I missed the sleep suit and duvet. IFE - I didn't really use. Each time the CC wanted to pass me something the dividing screen would zoom up and down - I felt a bit sorry for the bloke in the seat next to me. Not a brilliant design at all.
The Food: What I got was good. To only load 5 of one starter for 37 people is poor.
The service: Overall it was efficient, but not friendly. the male CC was ok, but the others I dealt with seemed 'cold'.
Overall - I was thankful that Virgin got me to Boston on time, even though it wasn't on their plane. If it was my money buying a ticket and I could afford CW/UC then based on this experience it would be Virgin every time. As it is, I'm glad the company are happy to use Virgin!
