VS010 JFK-LHR 23 JUN 12 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

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Cabin Crew

Checked in online with the news the flight was departing on time, 30 minutes later it was delayed 2 hours. Due to a mess up with the coach company, I got to the airport at 5.30 p.m. instead of 7.30 p.m., but could not transfer to another flight since they were all booked. At this point we added a further hour's delay just to really annoy me.

Had dinner in the club house which was good, and a few drinks, but not many since I was driving a hire car out of Heathrow. At 11.00 p.m., the staff in the club house announced the flight was over-sold and there were too many passengers in Upper and would some people downgrade? Guess nobody did because at 11.30 p.m., they announced free economy seats to anywhere on Virgin's route - that did it, more than enough people transfered.

Boarded the aircraft at 12.20 a.m. and tried to sleep. 1.20 a.m., still at the gate... 1.50 a.m.... yup, still at the gate, finally left four hours late at 2.20 a.m.

Now common sense would sort of tell you that since it is 2.20 in the morning, people might want to sleep, so the crew made as many announcements as they could once we took off, and I had the PA speaker right over my seat. I took a sleeping pill, and conked out until 30 minutes out London, quick cup of coffee and that was it.

I know it was not the crews' fault, so no problems there, but I could have stayed at home for another four hours if Virgin had announced the delay when they knew about it - which they did, the day before apparently. Anyway, not Virgin's finest hour, but as I always say, I arrived safely, intact and in the right place - as that is good enough for me.

A shame that you were delayed but you had the right attitude that you arrived safely & put everything into perspective.

Happy flying.

Roxy-popsy

BA are getting better with delays in my book when you are overseas - for two delayed flights I have been on, I received text and e-mail alerts advising me of the delay, that check-in would be open later and that it wasn't necessary to go to the airport until later!

I agree. Given the delay to my flight was actually known the day before (some computer breakdown apparently) I would have thought they could have alerted people.

As always delays are frustrating, even more so when you could have been notified! The free flight offer for downgrades is better than some have reported on here - involuntary downgrades

Glad you did get some rest, though!

I agree. Given the delay to my flight was actually known the day before (some computer breakdown apparently) I would have thought they could have alerted people.

I do get texts if a flight is delayed, are you sure that your contact details were in your booking, usually they are not and you need to manually enter them?

Yes all my details were entered. Virgin told us it was all due to a computer malfunction and perhaps the malfunction also affected texts and emails going out? Not sure, but nobody I spoke to got an alert.