VS021 LHR-IAD 23 MAR 12 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

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Ok here goes, my first trip report and my first time in Upper Class. Luckily on the ten or so flights I have been on with Virgin Atlantic I have never flown economy, but never flown upper class and therefore as it had always been a dream of mine, I decided to use my miles to upgrade on the outbound flight to IAD. All I can say is it was worth it and more.

We flew down from Manchester the night before with BMI and staying at the Ramada which was good. The next morning the car came for us around 6:45, at this point I had to ring through with the car details, slightly frantic as I didn't realise that they closed at around 8pm the night before and I was worrying that I would miss them in the morning. We arrived at the DTCI about ten minutes later. The check in agents greeted us and sorted our bags, it took around 3-4 minutes for them to be tagged and the passports checked and then we proceed through the security channel. We then headed straight to the clubhouse at around 7:15. We all booked in for a message and my dads friend paid for a haircut as well.

Being my second time in the clubhouse with my dad we felt we could really enjoy it this time (all we wanted to do was explore everything in it last time!) We had breakfast and a couple of glasses of champagne. Then we went and bought some duty free, I needed some stuff for my ipad and camera. When you go downstairs, only do you realise the true benefit of being away from it all. The whole area was completely packed. We then returned to the lounge, had a few drinks and went up to the roof terrace for a photo opportunity.

I have to give credit to the flying club representative who was present in the lounge. I don't think I have met a nicer person in the lounge. He was talking to my dads friend for ages. I decided to sign up for the VA credit card whilst I was there as they were offering 11000 bonus miles, the guy helped me out however I haven't heard anything yet, does anyone recommend what to do? Should I email them?

We then headed for the gate, at this time all the economy passengers had boarded and we were therefore straight on and to our seats. It kept pinching myself. Finally i was in Upper class. Glass of champagne came, along with some crisps. Take off was on time. Once in the air, drinks were topped up and menus handed out, I went for the soup and the chicken. The soup was good and the chicken great, Wagamama style, and quite hot. My dad had the beef and it tasted great.

We had a few drinks at the bar, got talking to a man from scotland who was nice. I was fairly tired so I had a sleep for a couple of hours. My IFE was broken again, even after resetting it still didn't work. It never does. The flight attendant offered to move back to the smaller UC cabin, before premium economy but I said it didn't matter as I didn't want to be away from my family. I was informed that it was the last LHR aircraft to still be on the old loop system.

The crew onboard were excellent, really friendly and helpful. They talked to us at the bar, however I have to say the FSM was miserable and he never smiled. He looked as if he was ready to retire!

Landing was smooth and we were soon on the bus to the terminal. Luckily we were on the first bus and therefore immigration was quicker. It took around 15/20 minutes. We got a taxi to the hotel in Washington. It is good to see they are building a rapid transit system from the airport to the city which should be finished in 2013.

Overall it was a fantastic flight, everything I had hoped for and more. Only now I have to save up again for the next flight, hopefully it will be sooner though and more frequent. How else can you travel other than Upper Class after you have experienced it.

Great TR, glad your first flight in UC ticked most of the boxes!

How else can you travel other than Upper Class after you have experienced it.

Thanks for the TR and great you had a good upper experiance It is tough to travel any other way as I and my wife have found out to our cost

Thank you for the TR.

If only the rapid transit was finished in 2013! I believe the latest estimate of completion is 2016! It still baffles me to this day why this was not built when the rest of the Metro was!

im guessing the samsung tablet trial has finished and they weren't able to offer you one?

If only the rapid transit was finished in 2013! I believe the latest estimate of completion is 2016! It still baffles me to this day why this was not built when the rest of the Metro was!

because! thats why.

When the DC metro was planned no one expected pax numbers to be what they are now. So it wasn't ever seen as a priority. Even JFK didn't have its own subway station - you had to get a bus to the Howard Beach stop on the A line before the airtrain opened.

The 2013 date is the opening of the first section to Reston. The further link to Dulles isn't scheduled to open until 2016. And that has been put in doubt as the Commonwealth of Virginia hasn't allocated it's share of the costs in its most recent budget.

Even as recently as 2011 there was a push (by the VA Attorney General and probable GOP candidate for Governor) to stop the extension from Reston to Dulles.

And even when it is built the station will still be a longish walk to the terminal as to save money the airport the station will be at ground level rather than the planned underground and closer to the terminal.

Remember that LHR T123 wasn't on the tube until 1977 and T4 until 1984!

Oh and a Q for the OP (missed this TR) when you said 'bus to the terminal' did you mean the mobile lounge? I rather like them - a link to a bygone age.

Remember that LHR T123 wasn't on the tube until 1977 and T4 until 1984![/quote/

And that's now 30+ years ago, the US has never really got on with public transport except in a few places, it's much more of a driving place.

Oh and a Q for the OP (missed this TR) when you said 'bus to the terminal' did you mean the mobile lounge? I rather like them - a link to a bygone age.

Mr tb I really despair sometimes, they're an anachronism, they belch pollution, they're not customer friendly, they add unnecessary time ... actually I loathe Dulles airport for many reasons and the buses on stilts are one of them, long immigration another, transferring from domestic to international is hellish, and it's just too far from DC itself. I wish VS would fly to BWI.

thanks for the TR looks like you were looked after well

Glad you had a great trip!

And only 15/20 mins at Immigration - that's brilliant for IAD - been through the airport three times now and always waited upwards of an hour or so...

If you're coming back UC, the lounge at IAD is very close by the usual gate for VS.

I wish VS would fly to BWI.

Slinky09- I agree! I always fly out of BWI when flying domestically. I know BA fly out of there to LHR but at one flight a day ,and often more expensive IAD wins. Also after taking the United day flight IAD-LHR at Christmas I think that may be my new favorite! United is certainly no VS (Esp when it comes to the cabin crew), but arriving in UK at 10:00pm with very little Jet-lag was very refreshing! Also even though the 767 they fly is old it was fine, and the refurbished 777 on the way back actually had better AVOD than VS (Bigger touchscreen and plenty to choose from).

it's just too far from DC itself. I wish VS would fly to BWI.

BWI is further from DC than IAD.

I am not a particular fan of Dulles -- the mobile lounge things are terrible and I once waited 3 hours in the immigration queue -- but one thing I do like is the architecture of the main terminal, which I think is very evocative of a time when flying was seen as exciting and modern.

it's just too far from DC itself. I wish VS would fly to BWI.

BWI is further from DC than IAD.

I am not a particular fan of Dulles -- the mobile lounge things are terrible and I once waited 3 hours in the immigration queue -- but one thing I do like is the architecture of the main terminal, which I think is very evocative of a time when flying was seen as exciting and modern.

Oh yes in terms of distance, but the airport is so nice and unstressful ...

However I do agree, where airport architecture is concerned, Dulles is a belle among a see of monsters!

Thanks for the TR bluesky, great to hear you had an excellent first time UC experience.

I decided to sign up for the VA credit card whilst I was there as they were offering 11000 bonus miles, the guy helped me out however I haven't heard anything yet, does anyone recommend what to do? Should I email them?

I signed up for the black card in the lounge 3 weeks ago and as I was in a bit of a rush to board, I quickly filled in the name, address and signed then had to dash. The lady obviously completed the rest and submitted it, but somehow got my address wrong, so I got a letter from MBNA/VS saying words to the effect "Experian have rejected you". Now I already have a VA White card and I know my credit is good, so I had to call them up and they got it sorted. My new black cards arrived today. Total elapsed time: 3 weeks and 3 days (including cock-up).
BTW I think you get 12,000 miles because the code used is "onboard" - I wonder if others could use that code to get the bonus

Overall it was a fantastic flight, everything I had hoped for and more. Only now I have to save up again for the next flight, hopefully it will be sooner though and more frequent. How else can you travel other than Upper Class after you have experienced it.

I think I'm in a minority here, but I travel in all three classes quite regularly, so by seeing how all three halves live it continues to make my trips "up front" that bit more special. Of course I wouldn't complain if I was always in Upper, but the contrast is no bad thing and allows me to appreciate the UCS experience more because I have recent memories of economy.

Am I mad?