This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
After a superb week in NYC it was time to return home. Collected the Bags from the Hotel and walked to Grand Central to get the bus to JFK. As with the outward bus was operated by NYCAirporter.com. Bus arrived on time and was full with every seat taken. Luckily both the air conditioning and Wi-Fi were working ok (unlike the outward trip). The bus goes to T7 & T8, then T1 to T3 before it drops you off at T4 for Virgin Atlantic, with the Manhattan afternoon traffic it took about 70 mins from Grand Central to Terminal. The Terminal building appears to have had some refurbishment work and in some places they are still working away so things seemed different from our last trip from JFK. No queue at PE check in desk, we had more luggage than our outward trip (too much shopping on 5th Avenue?) and confirmed that all was OK and we checked in 3 bags, which you still then have to take to the baggage security area yourselves. We had time to visit Duty free shop and grab a snack before we headed to Security. Flight was departing from A Gates – I’m sure that we used to depart through the B Gates. 2 security lines one for UC/PE and one for Y still not much of an improvement on previous visit and took about 30 mins to get through Security. Headed down towards the Gate and could see “Tubular Belle” waiting to take us back to Heathrow. Boarding was delayed by about 15 mins, but once it started we were fairly quickly on the aircraft stopping briefly to pick up Duty free goods just after the Gate. Welcomed on board – again by name and not long before we were offered usual choice of sparkling wine or orange juice – both opted for the sparkling wine. Departed from the Gate a few minutes late at 1935 the usual long taxi to runway at JFK and took off just before 2015. Captain advised of a short flight time of 6hr15 subject to Air Traffic at Heathrow. After takeoff no drinks service or hot towels and straight into meal service. I think this is the norm for overnight flights. As with the outward flight the meal was well presented with proper china and cutlery. The starter was similar to outbound flight of smoked salmon but served with cucumber, lemon & crème fraiche salad, main course was a choice of Braised beef stew with leek & dumplings, stir fried chicken with chilli pepper sauce or Penne pasta. As with outward flight, served with a choice of bread roll and red or white wine. Unfortunately no sign of “Wilbur & Orville” for salt & pepper! Dessert was a strawberry & rhubarb crumble tart. Dinner followed by tea or coffee again served in cardboard cup and finally Baileys or Brandy. Fell asleep shortly after and woke up as breakfast being served. Menu said scrambled eggs and bacon but was actually a full English with sausage, bacon, tomato and mushroom which was very good, again choice of tea, coffee or juice. Circled over south London before landing at Heathrow just after 0735. Took about 10 mins to get to Gate and not very long before we were off the aircraft. Headed towards passport control to be greeted by masses of people all heading the same way. Had read about the problems in newspapers, but now able to witness the total shambles that is at our airports. The sheer size of queue at “non EU” passengers was effectively blocking everyone getting to passport control. Eventually they directed EU passengers to one side to enable us to get past the queue. Not a great advert for this Country and not sure how they’ll cope with all the extra passengers for the Olympics? Only queued for a few minutes before heading to collect bags. Baggage was just arriving so able to get out fairly quickly. Phoned skyparksecure.com and they told us where to meet and said they would deliver the car within 15 mins which they did, overall impressed with them and I would use them again (if the price is still competitive).
Again another good flight with Virgin Atlantic, we’re very impressed with the PE product and the good service from CC
and can’t wait for the next trip.
