VS010 JFK-LHR 17 DEC 10 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

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As promised the return flight from New York after Mum and I had exhausted ourselves Xmas shopping, eating, drinking going to a show and having all out fun in the Big Apple . As I said in my previous report the return journey was not as smooth as the one out.
Mum and I had managed to bag a stretch limo on our way back to JFK and a very nice driver. Arrived JFK UC checkin was empty so straight thru, very nice checkin girl, handed our cases our to a young guy to handle and away we went to do a quick run thru duty free and buy some magazines and books. We then headed to the the Virgin lounge and very nice it was too. Mum settled herself into a very comfy chair and perused the menu and once food was selected settled herself down with a nice vodka and lemonade (there she goes again the woman who doesn't really drink) she very cheekily also tried my cosmopolitan (not a drinker eh!) We ate and read and Mum had a wander around then they announced our flight would be delayed and they would let us know the time so as they had the info. So we settled in for more drinks. Finally after a two hour delay we were on our way Finally on the plane and we had a pleasant stewardess but not a patch on the one out. Mum got settled she was well into the UC style changed into her sleep suit, got her duvet and tried to sleep, she got some but was soon on the hot weak (as I said before she is very specific in what she likes)tea. All was well until we were approaching Heathrow when captain announced we were circling due to heavy traffic then it came we were being diverted to STANSTEAD due to the snow having closed Heathrow. So we landed and captain tried to tell us we would possibly refuel then try Heathrow again but I could see 2 other Virgin jets and 2 BA so this to me did not bode well. Eventually comes the call we will be getting off at Stanstead as Heathrow won't be opening by this time snow is like a blizzard at Stanstead. Then captain asks passengers to switch on mobiles as we have a message from Virgin - it roughly said 'sorry you've been diverted to Stanstead we don't have any ground staff there so make your own arrangement to get home' Not impressed with that, thankfully for me my husband was colleting us only problem he was stuck in traffic on way to Heathrow so contacted him to say come to Stanstead, he already knew we were there as he had checked it out on his iphone. We sat and sat waiting to get off plane and all we were offered was a cold drink - water or juice During this point we noticed we had a star in our cabin no other than the 'Material Girl' herself with a couple of kids and entourage. It took them about 2 hours to get stairs to us to get off and they had to be de-iced.
Finally UC is told to get ready we are getting off but NO wait a minute coming thru was a stewardess assisting the material girl and her crowd off the plane first we thought we'd follow her down but NO we had to wait for the bus to return so we could spend 8 hours on a plane with her but not share the bus So we waited till the bus came back by this time there was a mutinous feel in UC and no doubt in PE and Econ. Mum was not looking forward to walking down the stairs to the bus as she has double vision and by time we got to bottom was crying, shaking and very distressed. Got her on bus and calmed her down I was upset and angry at all of this but we finally got into the arrivals and it was clear Virgin had left us on our own . Anyways we spend the next 3-4 hours sitting waiting for our luggage and BAA reps were of no help talk went around of the material girl being on our flight not many people were impressed and funny most were blaming her for the delays on landing During this time kept in touch with hubby and he was having fun in the snow trying to get to Stanstead but was on his way - thank god we have a Range Rover
Once again the passengers were getting mutinous at no one wanting to help or advise us on the situation with our luggage. Staff at Stanstead very nicely let us go out to get food and drinks and come back in. Mum by this time was tired hungry and just wanted to get home. All the passengers crowded together and kept each other company espcecially helpful when I had to go get food and left Mum with a few people to watch out for her. Finally after 4 hours we got our cases I was helped by two nice lads who had to get to Heathrow to get their car for an onward journey to Cardiff and I really do thank them for their help. Just as we got cases on trolley hubby rang to say he was outside so we were off and on our way home roughly 7-8 hours after landing. I wrote to Virgin to complain got an email eventually after forwarding my notes to head man himself and got a very nice response from one of his executives and got a very nice explanation and the one other thing I really wanted an apology to my Mum. Didn't seem a lot to ask for but it took 7 weeks for the response.
The experience won't stop me flying with the best airline as have travelled with them for over 20 years and this is the only bad experience. Looking to go again with a girlfirend later this year

Thanks for the TR. Sounds like you had a real ordeal at the end; I hope it didn't spoil your mum's trip too much. Good to hear that people bonded when faced with the twin adversities of Madge and Stansted.

Thanks for the TR. Sounds like you had a real ordeal at the end; I hope it didn't spoil your mum's trip too much. Good to hear that people bonded when faced with the twin adversities of Madge and Stansted.

No it didn't spoil my Mums trip. I'm glad to tell that she said it was the best trip to NY out of all the ones we've done. I don't think Madge had any friends in UC and most of the Americans had no idea where Stanstead was

[honey lamb]

No it didn't spoil my Mums trip. I'm glad to tell that she said it was the best trip to NY out of all the ones we've done. I don't think Madge had any friends in UC and most of the Americans had no idea where Stanstead was

Judging from what I've heard about her behaviour on other flights I'd say Madge never has any friends on UC and as for Stansted, I'd say it's more than the Americans who have no idea where it is!

Thanks for taking the trouble to post your return flight and all the trials and tribulations of the snow fiasco

I recall that 'Madge' got some stick in the papers after this.

Glad yo and Mum had a good time in NYC. Just got back from there myself (and yes a TR is in preparation!)

Excellent TR, well worth the wait, thank you for posting!

Sounds like a bit of a nightmare!

Luke

[buns]

Thanks for sharing your experience - many of us will recall that snow but to hear from someone who was actually impacted brings it all to life

The preferential treatment dished out does not impress me - why do airlines insist on doing it

buns

Thanks for the TR, it was very interesting but such an unfortunate ending to your lovely shopping trip with your Mother. It staggers me that given the obvious difficulties caused by the snow VS felt it appropriate to inconvenience you further by giving one passenger priority over the rest. Sadly Virgin would have gained from the publicity about this linking Madge to the airline regardless of how badly they treated the other pax.

[honey lamb]

The crew were probably so fed up with her and her petty demands that they would have done anything to get rid of her

Sadly Virgin would have gained from the publicity about this linking Madge to the airline regardless of how badly they treated the other pax.

Am not sure about that Jackie (unless any publicity = good publicity)

We were chatting about it at work when it was in the papers and a couple of the ladies thought it was appalling that VS gave her and her entourage such special treatment and it made them think less of VS and not more.

BTW if VS are flying Madge so often then where are the publicity shots of her on a VS plane? But maybe she is only after the discounts they offer?

Hi Everyone, thanks for all your comments I so agree that celebs should not be given special treatment. You know the funny thing was it was the Americans on our flight who had the most vicious things to say about Madge i think the most disappointing thing was the time it took VS to respond to my email and funny at the same time when it seemed my response only came after writing to the boss and asking him what his response would have been had his elderly parents experienced the situation my Mum did at Stanstead

What an ordeal, it really does get up my nose that clearly madge is better than any one of us!!!!
Oh well atleast it wasnt the titanic you were on otherwise...........

cheers

alex

Great TR, thanks for posting it.

I would of gotten a massive headache by the end!

great TR, thanks for posting. sounds like it was a nightmare though, would have totally done my head in, I so don't like waiting lol

What a nightmare! Thank you for taking the time to post the TR.