This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Due to the fact that even on new cruise ships wheelchair accessible cabins are as rare as “Rocking Horse Poo” to put it politely (hope that gets past the mods!) we had to book this trip well over a year ahead. I tend to like to do things a bit nearer to the time based around special offers etc. and the regular VA sales. This time we took my 25 year old daughter with us whom I had foolishly promised a long while ago that I would treat her to the UC experience next time we went, a promise she held me too with a vengeance!. Having booked the ship even before it had been floated in the water at the builders yard it meant that we had some time to look for offers etc. prior to the trip. As it happen Disney World did a perfectly timed half price villa offer and free food for our duration of the stay and then bless them VA did an UC sale which just let us scrape in on dates but only UC one way. PE coming home but as I will explain not a bad thing when talking service and taught me a lesson!
An early start at the household, the taxi arrived on time, booked to arrive outside at 6.00 am and though we are only just over an hours drive from Gatwick I wanted the family to get a good use of the lounge faculties which undeniably are not as good as Heathrow’s but somehow it still manages to retain that unique homely feel. As subscribers' to V-Flyer I guess we are all guilty of reading the relevant trip reports ahead of our trips, all the latest LGW to MCO trip reports were perused just prior to our trip and because of this my expectation were a wee bit dampened due to the constant reports of a tired fleet currently plying the route.
The taxi I had ordered was a huge people mover which swallowed all our cases and my sports wheelchair with ease and that was plenty of space for us all to travel in comfort. The trip over to Gatwick was brills and we were at the drop off point within the hour, no traffic jams or hold ups anywhere. I cant remember now when Gatwick was not a massive building site, when will it all end? The “Hunt for a trolley” game was brief this time and then before we knew it we were soon struggling up the ramps up to the departure hall, having my young daughter with us meant that she could do the trolley pushing on this occasion..so pay back big time I used the guilt card.
Check in was a breeze, the desk staff that we ended up dealing with extremely polite and helpful, though the staff member at the check-in desk next door who had totally blanked us all and though it was pointed out to her that her conveyer belt safety door was still across the loading portal she could not have given a hoot. I feel that we would all nominate her for being the lemon sucking champion of the year was such her negative demeanour. We were not asked any security questions this time, the usual did you pack your own bags etc etc. is this now the norm?
The queue for security was horrendous but we had the advantage of using either the wheelchair route or Fast Track channel.. so we just picked the less of two evils and was quickly processed from one side to the other. It was not that long until we were in the comfort of the lounge and sat with our breakfasts in front of us, the food was good and we were presented with an actually a reasonable sized portion too maybe things are slowly improving. My wife and I have flown UC from Heathrow and Gatwick before but shame on us we have never made full use of the club house and what it has to offer. This time was to be the exception, treatments for us all were duly booked and then we set off to do some shopping. Is it just me... but I really don’t think these days that there are any real bargains to be had at the duty free at any airports now, a quick price check on the IPhone and I can usually get the item from John Lewis of the likes for the same if not cheaper price.
I returned to the CH for a shave and what ever went with it, very relaxing treatment it was too, my wife and daughter had their own treatments nails and things and equally enjoyed the experience. ( so guess it was worth arriving a wee bit earlier to make full use of the CH and if you have not tried a treatment then give it a go..what's to lose?) Due to a very attentive CH crew I will confess to trying a few of the for mentioned drinks that we read about on the forum and nice they were to. I then had an early lunch, which was very nice, before I was called to the gate for early assisted boarding. After a long push in my wheelchair along endless corridors we arrived at the back of a very long queue but it was nice to see priority boarding in place though only visible once you are right at the final holding pen entrance. There are always those that tut and moan when one pushes to the front whether you are UC or in a wheelchair but guess one learns to ignore this over time. The on-board wheelchair was waiting and following a quick transfer from my faith chariot I was soon effortlessly moving forward to my seat 8A in the cone.
Once in my seat I was greeted by name and it was explained that this was going to be an all bums on seat flight and that the boss might not make it round to see us again during the trip. Welcome drink in hand and the usual UC pictures taken on the phones to mms to our work colleges duly dispatched. Just time for another refill and we were being pushed back for our allotted take off slot and we depart on time.
I start to feel these days that I am so often caught in a familiar washing machine type cycle when I fly, with lunch served first, I had the chicken covered in herby crusty stuff which was actually very nice and for desert Bread and Butter pudding (true comfort food). Wine list was disappointing this time especially after seeing what BA have just introduced on the same route, I believe in quality if not quantity! Coffee was served and then the familiar cycle of operation stopped abruptly. There was not the option of a second cup given and to be honest I very rarely saw any of the staff just making a quick visit into the UC area for the rest of the flight. Once again being wheelchair bound I cant just go to the loo when I choose without the on-board wheelchair being delivered to the side of my seat. I used the call button and then waited a remarkable 50 minutes repeating the call and no one came, with just 14 of us in the cone. Eventually the other passengers whom we were sharing the cone with and were a truly great bunch of people decided this really was truly unacceptable situation and went and found the stewardess which was embarrassing for all. The usual attentive and caring staff even became more scarce as the flight progressed and I started to think was paying the extra dosh really worth it. Afternoon tea seemed to be more of an inconvenience to the cabin crew than an accepted normal part of the job. Second coffee offered ...again it would appear not so on this flight and I had so wanted my daughter to experience the best of VA UC service that we have enjoyed over the past years. Old seats, tired equipment..... well that is almost part of Virgin uniqueness and familiarity..like an old granddad loudly letting off wind in the corner of the room on Christmas day. kinda excepted and kindly tolerated. I couldn’t afford to drink any more during the flight just in case the wait to use the on board loo was going to be another 50 minutes and it is just not the done thing on a day flight to drag one’s self along the floor to use the facilities.
I did see the flight crew the next day at their hotel as they were waiting to be picked up for the return leg home and I asked them had there been a death, heart attack or any other major incident that might have involved the whole crews and distracted them from going about their normal duties but thankfully I was informed that there was no such incident
We arrived on the deck bang on time and after a very short tour of the airport found ourselves quickly at the gate. Once everyone else had left the aircraft I was transferred to the on-board wheelchair and called to the door to meet up with my own faithful chariot (wheelchair) where I was once again in full control and thankfully dependent on no one. My first port of call on USA soil was the first accessible loo I came too....I’m too old for this lark.
Immigration was a breeze and we came across the most likeable immigration officer I have ever met with in my travels to the USA, don't think I have engaged with or laughed with boarder control office as we did with this chap. Bags arrived on the conveyer just as we entered the baggage reclaim and ours were the first off all four of them. Then we handed our bags over again for the hop over to the main buildings whilst we used the train. The heavens suddenly opened with extreme lightening strikes, torrential rain and the airport grounded to a halt. For totally justified safety reasons all ground staff were kept indoors due to the risk of lightening strikes and I have no doubts of the risks when i saw what was unfolding in front of us. So the train trip was a mere four minutes but it took over an hour and a half to be re united with our cases at the main terminal building baggage reclaim.
I had booked two nights at the Hyatt at the airport so it really was just minutes from leaving the hustle and bustle of the airport to being in our room, getting the coffee maker going and drinking bottles and bottles of water to make up for what I didn’t consume on-board the aircraft. We had admittedly arrived safely and on time but I felt that as much as VA are my favourite airline of choice, loyalty is a two way street and this airline has to do much more to keep us loyal and on board for the future.
Last edited by honey lamb on 04 Oct 2011, 21:45, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Edited to remove the name of the crew hotel
Once again the shred of inconsistency comes through in service received 
. Hope the rest of the trip lived up to expectation.
Half the time, given the pre-flight champagne, I can't wait for the seat belt sign to go off before heading for the loo!
