Trip Reports - Abz-lhr-nrt-bkk-chg-bkk-nrt-hnd-itm-hnd-nrt-lhr-abz (bd/vs/nh/pg)

First, let me appologise in advance for all my spelling and grammar mistakes. I'm going travelling around Asia this summer for 6 weeks and have been used my dad's AMEX points to get some flights on Virgin and ANA. I'm travelling on a variety of classes so it should proove an interesting read.

ABZ-LHR
BMI flight BD673 08:55-10:30
Having been out drinking far too much the night before, I awoke at 7am having slept for about three and a half hours. Not the best of starts. Still I didnt have too bad of a hangover. My folks ran me to the airport and I arrived at 08:15. No queue at BMI check in. Got the flight miles added to my DC card (my first transaction). Following the advice of fellow FTers, I requested a seat as far forward as possible. I was assigned 7D on what I think was an A319. I really didn't feel like eating, so I just watched my folks eat their cooked breakfasts. Said our goodbyes, realised I had left about 4 non-important things behind. Bought a magazine and went through security which took about 15 mins (it always does at ABZ). Departure area was packed. There was a BA, BMI and Easyjet flight waiting to take off. 10 minutes later they called the flight and started baording from the front. I was one of the first peopl on. I couldn't see any seat numbers so I was wondering what was going on. Anyway someone pointed out that they were under the overheard luggage bit (below my line of sight - i'm 6ft 6). Pretty uneventful flight. We did get this lovely hangover cure, a bacon panin and cup of tea. I noticed that they only offered tea, coffe or juice. The landing was a bit dodgy. I noticed the pilot used the rudder a lot and the A319 was very noisy when landing. Arrived 15 minutes ahead of schedule (meaning more time in the VS clubhouse for me. I checked in a large backpack at ABZ and because of the loose straps or something, it went to the special oversized baggage bit. It came off first which I was pleased with. Walked towards the tube station and onwards to T3. One thing I did note, was the sticky sweaty feel as you walk past the tube station.

Overall, a pretty "as expected" start to my trip. One thing I would note is that the middle seats (E) of the first few rows in economy are much wider than D and F so I'm going to request one of those on my way back.

Gutted - Just lost my whole report for the VS flight to NRT. ARGH!

Will rewrite it when I get to BKK. I spent about an hour writing that bit! :mad:

Gutted - Just lost my whole report for the VS flight to NRT. ARGH!

I know how that goes, I lost parts of my trip report and had to re-type them. Keep going, sounds like its going to be interesting!

If you guys are writing the report directly in the browser, let me suggest a safer method. By writing it in a normal text editor (MS Word or notepad) you can save it to file whenever you want to. Then when the report is done you just copy it and paste it into the browser.

This obviously assumes that you are writing it on you personal computer or laptop, and not on a public computer in a lounge where it may be difficult to save files.

You can still do it on most public computers, in your web-accessible email account save a draft email with attachment of the doc (just dont send anywhere or if you feel you must then send it to yourself). Can then pick up where you left off later on.

Another tip if it doesnt post is to try to recover from the back button on your browser. I have successfully recovered "lost posts" this way.

I agree with Kiwi... I like to write mine using MS office on my MAC at home and then when I cant write anymore (but not quite done), I go to yahoo and save it as a draft in my online yahoo email.. That way, when I am in the office, using my PC and I have downtime, I access my Yahoo online email... I do it again when I'm using the public computer..

I always keep my last version on my yahoo account for access from anywhere when I feel like writing ^

Ok - Part2. Im writing this in BKK after loosing a good hours writing about my VS flight at the Yahoo! BB cafe at NRT. Anyway here goes.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
I enter T3 and the first thing I see is the VS ticket desk - good news for me as I have to pick up my ticket for the HND-ITM flight (another Amex/VS miles booking - thanks dad). I had to wait about 10 minutes to get served. Apparently, nobody had paid the tax for this flight so I had to cough up the whopping 2.60GBP tax fee and got my ticket issued no problem. Anyway, I see before me a massive queue for economy - thank god im flying Upper Class. I stroll up to the UC check-in area where I get the security questions and the sticker on my passport. The delightful American couple in-front of me kindly point out that I should be "back there" as this was for UC passengers only! Now I don't know what they teach at schools in the USA but over here they do teach us to read. I pointed this out to them, much to the amusemet of the 2 guys behind me. Had to wait about 2 minutes and got to a desk. Its worth pointing out at this point that I had reserved seak 4k on a J2000 layout. I later checked www.itn.net and apparently it was going to be suites! The check-in assistant asked if I wanted a window seat. I suddenly felt that horrible feeling not unlike when you realise you didn't get that upgrade to business class. Anyway, I asked if it was suites and she said yes! I asked if I could have seak 4K and she said thats the one she was going to give me - interesteing how my seat reservation carried over. Got given a Clubhouse invite with a map on it and headed off to fastrack security.

Securit took a good 10 minutes, although they did close off one of the regular security lanes and give it to the fasttrack people, must to the dismay of one Australian lady. Then I proceeded into the chaos that is LHR T3. It was really busy (11.45am) and there were queues for all the fast food places. I followed the signs for airline lounges. Saw every lounge but the VS clubhouse. Had a look at the map but it was really useless. A few minutes later I found it. I gave my BP to the guy standing outside who also took all the BPs for the Korean and AA lounges. Entered the Clubhouse and there was a desk with some people waiting. I assumed that you had to sort of check-in to the lounge, in the same way you do wiht the BA lounges. I stood behind one lady and moments later a fellow Scot tried pushed past me and stood behind someone else, forming a second sort of queue. I told him there was a queue but he ignored me. I said it again and he just turned and gave me an evil looking stare. I was reading that post about young travellers on the CO board could not belive many of the stories until now. The gentleman infront of this guy finished what he was doing and this guy moved forward. The assistant told him to wait and called me over. I couldn't resist giving him an evil stare back! Anyway I popped my BP on the desk and asked if there were showers - I was expecting her to look at my BP and do something. She just told me they were out of order due to hot water probs in all of T3. Not a big deal, althought I did still wreak of alcahol.

I had a brief look around and both the PCs were in use. Sat down on a big comfy seat facing the tarmac and looked at the menu. Ordered a Sasuage baguette/sandwich and a virgin coke. There was a note on the menu saying you could view the in flight freedom menu if you wanted and I asked to see this and was brought it at the same time as my food. This took about 2minutes and I was impressed with it. Being a fussy eater and not seeing anything that took my fancy on the menu (excluding the Breakfast stuff), I thought I'd better fill up in here. 2 minutes later it was 12 noon and the lunch menus were brought round. Again not much I liked here - althought for most people im sure they would find it excellent. I went back to the T3 shops and bought some pizza. Went back into the lounge and nobody checked my BP - anyone could have gotten in. Was a little hot so I went and sat upstairs in the conservatory. Very nice and cool up here with excellent views. I wanted to order a drink and some ice cream but there were no assistants up here. I went down to the bar and the said they would bring it up with my drink. If I didn't go out the previous night I would have probably had some cocktails at this point but I stuck to coke. Anyway an announcement was made that the flight was delayed 1 hour. Good news for me as I had a 9 hour wait at NRT anyway so more time in the clubhouse! I couldn't help but notice the sound of the F1 game from the PS2 downstairs but I was listning to my mp3 player for most of the time so didnt bother me. I did ask for an ipod at one point but apparently people were stealing them and they are fixed at rediculous positions now. Also I asked for the sony eye-toy and she said jsut go into the music room, but someone was there watching a film so I didn't bother checking it out but I couldn't see anything.

Boarding was the called and I went immediatly to the gate, following two Japaneese guys who looked like they knew where they were going (I had no idea). We were to be bussed out and there was a small lounge with a lot of people sitting in it. Obviously some had already started boaring as there was a queue down the stairs to the bus leading into this lounge area. If i recal it was gate 55 but I cant be certain. They made a few announcemets saying for rows x-y to board but they wre all in Y class. I assumed that UC had already boarded. The last announcement came in Japaneese only and I can only assume it was all remaining pax plz board. I just stayed sitting down till the queue died down and I was on the last bus - the last person to board infact. I wasnt particularly bothered by this, but it did seem odd that the lounge only announced boarding after the UC pax had boarded. Anyway the penultimate pax to board was a FC Gold member in PE begging for an upgrade to UC. I couldn't resist saying excuse me and taking that all important left turn. Despite having looked at many pics of the UCS both official and on v-flyer, my first impressions of the cabin was one of complete surpirise................. To be continued.

Overall a great experience at LHR. One thing I would point out is that there is an UC ticket dest located right next to the UC check-in area. I'm sure this has evaded many people as its not clearly visible upon entering the terminal from the tube station, the regular ticket desk is. Also, in the VS clubhouse ask for the menu for your flight and plan your eating accordingly. I think it would be a great idea for VS to make a sort of clubhouse guide that explains all the stuff in a bit more detail. There is something like this but its not very comprehensive.

Before I write the next part, here are 3 photos I took. Since I was last onboard, didn't have the futs to stand up and start taking photos onboard - Ill deffinatly get them on the way back.

This first one is the upstairs bit of the VS clubhouse at LHR:
Clubhouse (http://server6.uploadit.org/files/CryptKeeper-clubhouse_conservatory.jpg)

Like I said very quiet and secluded with great views (unfortunatly, no VS aircraft to be seen):
View from the Clubhouse (http://server6.uploadit.org/files/CryptKeeper-clubhouseview.jpg)

Finally, the photo I took of the VS A340-600 at Tokyo Narita airport just after we landed:
A340-600 (http://server6.uploadit.org/files/CryptKeeper-a346_NRT.jpg)

London-Tokyo
Virgin Atlantic flight VS900
13:00-09:00*
Upper Class (suites)

So, I've jsut boarded the A346 bound for Tokyo and I make that fabulous left turn and I'm totally shocked at the amount of space in the cabin. From the photos of the A346's fitted with the suites it looked cramped, especially with that horrid looking wall that many of the seats faced. However, the wall was quite low and the lack of a middle overhead luggage compartment and the fact that the cabin is very long gave a great illusion of space. There was plenty of room for my carry on bag that I stowed in the OH compartment. I had to move the masses of freebies that VS gives you in order to sit down. There was a small pillow and a kit that contained evertyhing you could ever want (except a shaving kit - probably a security thing). There was even some polos in there! Not only was there a regular eye cover but there was a special one that you dip in water and then wear it and its mean to revitalise you eyes or something. There was also a box full of weird and wonderful cremes. I'm quite surprised by the seatbelts as the have an airbag in them that is facing forward, so it kind of feels funny wearing it. I took my shoes off but they were not small enough to fit properly in the area under the footstool. You are allowed to recline your seat for takeoff which I quite liked. Note that to convert it to a flat bed the seat folds forwards and you in effect sleep on the back of the seat which is covered in a matress like material. There was also a bottle of water strapped to the side of the seat which was quite handy.

A stewardess came round and offered me a pre-flight drink but I declined. She showed me how to use the suties but its pretty common sense really. We started moving and 5 minutes later were ready for takeoff. Quite liked the VS animated safety demo. Its a weird feeing sitting at an angle during takeoff but you feel really secure in your suite. To look out the window you have to really stretch your neck. My seat (4k) was not idea for window viewing. the seat infront (3k) had a window in a much better position. Couldn't help notice how quiet the A346 was taking off.

Anyway, we take off and the captain introduces himself etc and get the usual brief. The IFS then talked for about 5 minutes about the food and drink service and IFE to the whole aircraft, including some cheeky virgin jokes which I found quite funny. Landing cards were distributed at this time. I took one but didn't think I would need it. The IFS then came round and personally introduced herself and said a few things about the suite. I told her I was connecting internationally and if I needed to fill in a landing form. She didnt appear to know. She also said would see about letting me into the VS lounge there since I had an 8hr wait (1hr less because of the delay). I wasn't bothered about this since I could use the ANA lounges but I didnt said this at the time and would see later if she did anything about it. Its worth pointing out that all announcements were in English & Japaneese. I would say the passenger mix was about 30:70 english to japaneese. Everyone was asked if they wanted waking up 1hr before landing and if they wanted to pre-order breakfast.

Lunch was then served. I didn't bother eating now as I really wasn't hungry and didnt fancy anything off the lunch menu. Would have had the sushi sampler plate but really wasn't hungry jsut yet and forgot about it later. I did have some apple juice which I was pleased to see was the green cloudy stuff (like copella) not the horrid clear brown stuff. I had a play about with V:port (the IFE AVOD, which is available in ALL cabins). You can select your favourites so you can view them quicker later on. There is also a great help function that shows you hwo to use it. I watched the Office Xmas special parts 1&2 - classic! Then watched the Jump London Program which was pretty cool and a classic simpsons episode - sadly they only had one. I then got the FA to convert my seat into a bed. They seem insistant on doing this themselves. They put a shaped sheet over the matress and gave me an extra comfy pillow and a cosy duvet. It felt great to be lying in a comfy bed on a plane. By this time most people had shut their shutters so the cabin was quite dark. Slept for about 5 hours which was great. I woke up and most people were still asleep. Went to the toilet which had the funky purple lights inside and some "special" upper class hand lotion that felt no different from normal soap. I converted the bed back into a seat myself and stuffed the sheet and pillows behind the seat. Watched a couple of films and ordered breakfast. Was quite hungry now so had some cereal first, then had 2 bacon rolls which are lovely.

They seemed to turn off the IFE quite a bit before landing. It was a clear day so got some great views of Japan. Smooth and very quiet landing at Tokyo Narita airport. Quick taxi to the gate and we left through the front door. Immediatly felt really hot and sticky until I got to the air con of the terminal. Walked a few gates over to get a great photo of the plane. The IFS never did coem back to me about the Vs lounge - not that I cared too much. Also, I didnt find time to visit the bar on this flight, something I intend to do on the way back. There was no IFBT on this flight either for some reason. I head over the the intl flight connectiosn sign and follow sings for Terminal 2......

Overall, an excellent flight that would be hard to top. Im looking forward to my dayime return flight thats 13hrs! Gonna visit the bar for quite a while then methinks! 10/10 for the new seats and service. It will be difficult to improve on.

Great report - now if only I could afford to fly VS upper class. It sounds great. Can I borrow your father? :D