This is my first trip report so any questions or comments would be appriciated.
Pre-flight
I arrive in SEA with BP in hand. I pass by VX check in which stands out from all the others with their TV and redness. Decide against getting a reprint and go in through security. Security was maybe 10 minutes at the Central Terminal and the TSA hand checks my black and white film camera after little prodding. Walk towards the gate and in the distance I see “Jefferson Airplane” and rush towards A6. Throughout the terminal are signs that announce VX arriving in SEA and there are 2 wall ads. After arriving in the gate area there are many VX staff and their CEO David Cush talking with passengers. I grab some food from their buffet and look at the aircraft, better in person then I could have imagined online. As a NW 753 pushes back I take a picture with my camera. I don’t know how any of my negatives will turn out. I then leave back to the food court around A5 and get a picture with a YX MD-80 and the back of my VX plane. I missed the ribbon cutting ceremony but after I get back I start to talk to Mr. Cush who immediately asks me to call him David. After that boarding starts and I embark into seat 2A. My first impression of the plane was WOW. The mood lighting is great and the whole plane looks cool and modern. The barrier between First Class and other areas (Y/Front) is a purple opaque plastic, pleasant and modern. After everyone has boarded David Cush sits in seat 3A, good for shareholders that he is in Y. I heard a FA say that the flight had about 110 passengers including non-revs. Most were non-revs though. Then we were underway for an on time departure.
SEA-SFO in 2A
During a slow taxi there was a shaking sound, weird. We then take off to the south. I sign onto Red’s chatroom as prismwiz and Aviators99 turns around and says hi to me. We had a nice conversation. The FA who was excellent and hard working throughout the flight took our mid-afternoon snack orders (the flight was 1400-1605) which was a choice of vegetable ravioli and duck rangoon. I decided on the ravioli. She took our orders and served us in the following order: 1AC, 1DF, 2AC, 2DF. Before my ravioli she gave us 3 shots of Asian inspired food and a warm choice of bread, both of which were excellent. Then the ravioli came out. 4 or 5 pieces of ravioli in a green pesto sauce which was the best food I have had on a plane (not that I fly much INTL or in First). We are now in Southern Oregon/Northern California and I turn on my camera and took some shots of snow capped mountains. I decide to see if David would tell me anything about future VX plans after Aviators99 was done quizzing him. I asked him about some airports and routes that I would like to see. Routes like SEA-IAD/SAN and the airports of HPN and MIA/BOS/ORD based on rumors on FT and my own wanting of HPN. He didn’t divulge anything that is not common knowledge, such as that it would be hard to get into HPN because of slots. After talking to him for a while I head back to my seat and turn on RED. WOW! I am studying Chinese and I was very pleased to see a few Mandarin TV shows and some Mandarin pop music; very impressive. During final descent I capture a few negatives of San Francisco and remember a trip report that had a visit to FL’s headquarter in MCO. The seatbelt sign is already on so I ask the FA to ask David if he would allow me to have a tour of headquarters. He says yes and the person in 1C offers to split a cab with me. He posts on FT occasionally although I forgot to get his name. VX 737 touched down on the runway and arrived into gate 1A.
Time in SFO
I get a taxi with Mr. 1C and head to 555 Airport Way, Burlingame, CA. The fare was $32 round trip which I split with him. We head up to the 4th floor and are escorted through the building by the secretary. Just one annoyance, the secretary has a US plane on her desk, not a VX one. VX controls ½ of floors 4 and 1 and all of floor 2. We see the training facility then go down to level 2 where all the planning is. Amazingly some employees recognized us from the flight and asked how much we enjoyed it. As we were walking between the two sides of floor 2 with a view of floor 1 David walked in. We didn’t get a chance to discuss with him more because he had to go to a finance meeting. I wouldn’t mind listening in or giving my 2 pence but I’m sure VX would have minded and force me to never comment on FT again. After seeing David we continue our tour into the OCC. Very exciting seeing the dispatch office and how weather affects VX flights. Then the tour was over and I went back to the airport with Mr. 1C. At the airport we part ways as he goes into the clubhouse and I wander through the airport.
SFO-SEA in 5F
Before boarding there was a game of ring toss to look like the Space Needle. If we got all 3 rings on we would get a free upgrade to a premium seat. I tried but failed. Note that VX flights are on Eastern time so any live TV would be 3 hours ahead of time. I tried the Fruit and Cheese plate for dinner which was an overpriced $12 box but I didn’t expect any different. This flight flew by and the seats were comfy on this flight that had nearly 30 people on it.
Review (out of 10)
Price—10
Boarding—10
Service—10+
Food/Drink—9 (F food was savior behind expensive fruit and cheese plate)
Other factors—10
Being able to talk to David, fly on the inaugural, and tour VX headquarters—priceless
Would I fly VX in First? Yes I would up to a certain extent. I can’t justify First for much more than Economy because I always travel with at least one other person and I would rather spend my $ at the destination. However I will try to fly on VX as much as possible. Maybe I’ll fly F one way and Y the other way or I would fly F more if I was saving up for eleVAte tickets.
Would I fly VX SEA-SFO/LAX-XXX? Yes, even without a logical connection RED makes up the time easily and I would rather listen to Chinese music with 32 pitch than be on a nonstop 31 pitch flight with no IFE.
Will I fly SEA-LAX inaugural? Maybe, If I can get a good airfare and timing then I will probably fly it. The $250 question is whether to fly back LAX-SEA with a 45 minute connection or have a 4 hour 40 minute connection and fly back through SFO.