Virgin Upper Class: EWR-LHR
Jan 3, 2002 | 8:30 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 4,952
Virgin Upper Class: EWR-LHR
December 28, VS2 (CO4402), EWR-LHR
747-200 (G-VZZZ, Morning Glory, delivered to VS in 1999)
Check in:
After dropping the car off at Avistar on McClellan, the shuttle dropped us off at Terminal B. We arrived at the Virgin check-in counters at 5:30p for the 9:25p departure only to learn that the scheduled equipment had a mechanical problem at Heathrow and was swapped with a new departure time of 11:00p. After a quick check-in, our bags were tagged with Upper Class bag tags and we were offered an invitation to The Clubhouse.
The Clubhouse:
The lounge is located on the landside of the terminal and also extends privileges to Continental Presidents Club members traveling to London, and has reciprocal agreements with airlines that include (but are not limited to) Alitalia, CSA, and Ethiopian. The lounge itself is spacious with ample seating, three televisions, a Sony Music Room, bar area, and Diner; which provides a buffet meal with a plethora of different full meal selections ranging from appetizers to desserts.
The dcor of this particular Clubhouse reminded me of a W lobby, but with much better lighting. My sole complaint with respect to the lounge was that it did not have any windows. After a while, I went out for a walk to stretch my legs and get some exercise knowing that I would be sitting for the next several hours.
When I returned, I inquired as to the aircraft replacement and was told that it was G-VZZZ, which is one of their older (age) aircraft that is primarily used on the Caribbean routes and one that is not configured with the new J2000 Sleeper Seats.
Security:
I have only taken a dozen flights since September 11, and the only sense of insecurity I have ever felt about air travel since is when I go through security at Newark. I arrived at the checkpoint and offered my laptop, camera, and whatever else I had that was an electronic device hoping that they would take them and inspect them. One of the agents took my computer and lightly dropped it on the metal table and simply asked me where the battery was. After I told her to turn over the computer, she moved me along. I offered virtually everything else in my bag hoping that they would be thorough enough to search them, but was casually waved through, all the while feeling as though I was making an imposition on their time.
I dont like the fact that they have people who I am supposed to trust with my life that are more concerned about when their next coffee break is going to be rather than the safety of the people moving through. Its an ornamental faade, and frankly I am embarrassed by it when I think of what my fellow foreign travelers must go through at their home airports. I feel no better about security today then I did on September 10th.
Flight:
A few minutes after we arrived at the gate, the boarding process began. First they called passengers that were traveling with children or that required special assistance. After what seemed like most of the 350 or so passengers boarded, we made our way on to the desk. To call the boarding process unorganized would be a gross understatement. After a while, we finally went through our final passport check and headed down the jetway and were directed to our seats 11 A,C in the bulkhead of the second area of the Upper Class cabin. These were not the seats that Continental had assigned when we ticketed, but they were terrific nonetheless. This area of the cabin was situated with the bar and it contained four rows of seats. Pre-departure drinks with a choice of water, orange juice or champagne were offered along with Sleeper Suits to change into. The suits appeared to only come in one size, which was generously large. I will either grow into them or hope that hot water will shrink them over time. The doors were closed promptly at 11:00 and we pushed back five minutes later. Looking out at the tarmac in the quiet evening at Terminal B, I only noticed an Eva Airways (747-400) flight bound to Taipei with a stop in Seattle. After a quick taxi to the active runway, and a long take-off roll, we took off to the south and turned west, then northeast up the northeast corridor out to the north Atlantic.
Attractive taupe and black amenity kits were handed out and meal orders were taken. The Freedom menu was:
lighter bites
Virgin house salad
torn romaine lettuce with croutons. Parmesan cheese and a creamy cilantro
dressing
Sweetcorn and pimento chowder
warm and comforting
Bacon Butty
soft white bap filled with grilled bacon and your choice of tomato ketchup or
brown sauce
Breakfast cereals
cornflakes, Weetabix, sultana bran and Special K
Fresh n Fruity
pink grapefruit and orange segments with vanilla yoghurt
bigger bites
Grilled Alaskan Halibut
scallion mashed potatoes with a pimento and fennel veloute
Roast Portobello mushroom
mixed lentil bean ragout and quinoa pilaf
Virgins all day breakfast
poached egg with bacon on a toasted English muffin, hollandaise sauce, breakfast potatoes and slow roasted plum tomato
to complement
From the bakery
garlic ciabatta, Parker house rolls and pain rustic
From the breakfast basket
butter croissants, sourdough toast and blueberry muffins
Pick your own
a selection of seasonal fruits
say cheese offered with fruit cake, Jacobs cream crackers and Bath Olivers
Maytag blue
this vegetarian, blue cheese has a crumbly texture that reveals a deep and spicy flavour
Saint Andre
this soft, triple cream cheese is made from unpasteurised cows milk and has a thin edible white rind
Oka
this semi-soft pasteurized cows milk cheese from Canada has full flavour and a creamy texture
naughty but nice
Orange pecan nut pudding
with toffee sauce and cream
hot n herbal all served by the cup or in a mug, its your choice!!
Fresh brew, decaffeinated, espresso* and cappuccino* coffees
Hot chocolate
English breakfast and Earl Grey teas
Twinings fruit and herbal teas
*we are delighted to offer these on all but a few of our aircraft
(I can furnish the wine list upon request)
After we reached a comfortable altitude, we were offered chips, nuts, and olives with a choice of beverage. I settled on the Virgin house salad, which was nice if not a bit too creamy for my taste. I followed with the Grilled Alaskan halibut, which was excellent and only overshadowed by the very tasty scallion mashed potatoes.
After my meal, I got acquainted with the seat and the Odyssey IFE, which seemed to be on par with Continentals BusinessFirst in-seat video system. It had a selection of about six or eight movies that complimented other sitcom, audio and game channels. All in all, there were maybe 40 different choices to choose from, though, they were played in cycles, not on-demand. The seat itself was no more or less comfortable that Continentals BF seat, and the pop-up screen is similar to those on the first generation BusinessFirst configured aircraft. This aircraft did not have in-seat laptop power. My pop-up screen was a little flimsy, and did not hold form without it being manipulated by the tray table. I was not too concerned because I planned on getting some sleep for the duration of the flight.
After unsuccessfully trying to turn off my overhead light, I called for a flight attendant who was no more successful. After the flight attendant summoned the flight engineer, he too, was unsuccessful at disabling the light. Fortunately their was another pair of seats together in the forward section of the UC cabin (8 H,K) and we picked up and moved there. These seats were located next to the inflight therapy station, and so there was a little bit of foot traffic throughout the remainder of the flight. At this seat, both the overhead light and in-seat video monitor functioned properly.
After dozing on and off for the better part of two hours, I was awakened by the Inflight Beauty Therapist who came by to wake me for the complimentary massage. The therapist offers five services inflight, and the passenger may select one and it lasts anywhere from ten to 15 minutes. The services are:
Stress Busting Face & Scalp Massage
Full Backup Massage
Helping Hands Zone Therapy
Handsome Hands Manicure
Armed Force shoulder & arm massage
I chose the Full Backup Massage and it is described as pure relaxation, pressure point massage eases tension, relieves aches, pains and boosts the circulation. It seemed that the 15 minutes ended just as soon as it began, but it helped ease me back to sleep for about an hour or so when I was wakened for breakfast.
I had Virgins all day breakfast which was just enough to satisfy. After breakfast, we started our initial descent into Heathrow. Hot towels were offered, and coats and jackets were returned. We were instructed to raise the cabin window shades and it was a grey, misty morning over the English countryside, but visibility from up above was breathtaking. After filling out some forms, we were on final descent and landed soon after at 10:45a local time. We docked at gate 23 (I believe) at Terminal 3, and quickly made our way through Fast Track.
We made our way down to the baggage reclaim area just as the first bags were coming off, but unfortunately ours was not among them. There was a mix of tags labeled Upper Class, Premium Economy, and Economy and no rhyme or reason for which bags came out when. After about 20 minutes, we retrieved our bag and made our way to the Air Canada Arrivals Lounge just outside the Arrivals Hall.
Air Canada Arrivals Lounge
The Continental Concierge from The Clubhouse called ahead to let the people at Air Canada know that we would be coming. Continental passengers are not permitted access to the Virgin Revivals Lounge traveling on a Continental ticket, but are extended access with Air Canada.
When we arrived, three extremely pleasant women greeted us, and asked us if we would like to shower, or if they could press our clothing or shine our shoes. Since we did not have a real change of clothes, we just decided to freshen up and shower at the hotel when we got there. There were no fewer than six well-appointed showers with toiletries. I had given my shoes to be shined, and when I surfaced from the room ten minutes later, they were shined and wrapped up in cray paper with an Air Canada sticker; a very nice touch. The lounge is set up into two different areas. There is a quieter area with chairs and telephones to relax, and then there is another area on the other side of the main desk that has a television with a generous assortment of breakfast foods, hot and cold, tea, coffee, an espresso machine, and a self-serve fridge with a wide assortment of juices and drinks, both soft and hard.
The lounge was terrific and the three women there made it a more than pleasant experience going out of there way to see what they could do for us. After departing the lounge, we made our way down to the Underground with a quick stop at the London Transport and Information Center to validate our three-day unlimited tube passes good for travel in all six zones. The pass was purchased through Rail Europe for $29, and I think that we certainly made money on that. After that, we made our way to the Piccadilly Line for our 45 minute journey to the Le Meridien for our quick New Years weekend in central London.
From start to finish, it was a seamless trip, and the people from Air Canada to Continental to Virgin could not have been nicer or more accommodating.
Next: VS1 (CO4001) LHR-EWR with the new J2000 Sleeper Seats.
[This message has been edited by dsimon (edited 01-04-2002).]
747-200 (G-VZZZ, Morning Glory, delivered to VS in 1999)
Check in:
After dropping the car off at Avistar on McClellan, the shuttle dropped us off at Terminal B. We arrived at the Virgin check-in counters at 5:30p for the 9:25p departure only to learn that the scheduled equipment had a mechanical problem at Heathrow and was swapped with a new departure time of 11:00p. After a quick check-in, our bags were tagged with Upper Class bag tags and we were offered an invitation to The Clubhouse.
The Clubhouse:
The lounge is located on the landside of the terminal and also extends privileges to Continental Presidents Club members traveling to London, and has reciprocal agreements with airlines that include (but are not limited to) Alitalia, CSA, and Ethiopian. The lounge itself is spacious with ample seating, three televisions, a Sony Music Room, bar area, and Diner; which provides a buffet meal with a plethora of different full meal selections ranging from appetizers to desserts.
The dcor of this particular Clubhouse reminded me of a W lobby, but with much better lighting. My sole complaint with respect to the lounge was that it did not have any windows. After a while, I went out for a walk to stretch my legs and get some exercise knowing that I would be sitting for the next several hours.
When I returned, I inquired as to the aircraft replacement and was told that it was G-VZZZ, which is one of their older (age) aircraft that is primarily used on the Caribbean routes and one that is not configured with the new J2000 Sleeper Seats.
Security:
I have only taken a dozen flights since September 11, and the only sense of insecurity I have ever felt about air travel since is when I go through security at Newark. I arrived at the checkpoint and offered my laptop, camera, and whatever else I had that was an electronic device hoping that they would take them and inspect them. One of the agents took my computer and lightly dropped it on the metal table and simply asked me where the battery was. After I told her to turn over the computer, she moved me along. I offered virtually everything else in my bag hoping that they would be thorough enough to search them, but was casually waved through, all the while feeling as though I was making an imposition on their time.
I dont like the fact that they have people who I am supposed to trust with my life that are more concerned about when their next coffee break is going to be rather than the safety of the people moving through. Its an ornamental faade, and frankly I am embarrassed by it when I think of what my fellow foreign travelers must go through at their home airports. I feel no better about security today then I did on September 10th.
Flight:
A few minutes after we arrived at the gate, the boarding process began. First they called passengers that were traveling with children or that required special assistance. After what seemed like most of the 350 or so passengers boarded, we made our way on to the desk. To call the boarding process unorganized would be a gross understatement. After a while, we finally went through our final passport check and headed down the jetway and were directed to our seats 11 A,C in the bulkhead of the second area of the Upper Class cabin. These were not the seats that Continental had assigned when we ticketed, but they were terrific nonetheless. This area of the cabin was situated with the bar and it contained four rows of seats. Pre-departure drinks with a choice of water, orange juice or champagne were offered along with Sleeper Suits to change into. The suits appeared to only come in one size, which was generously large. I will either grow into them or hope that hot water will shrink them over time. The doors were closed promptly at 11:00 and we pushed back five minutes later. Looking out at the tarmac in the quiet evening at Terminal B, I only noticed an Eva Airways (747-400) flight bound to Taipei with a stop in Seattle. After a quick taxi to the active runway, and a long take-off roll, we took off to the south and turned west, then northeast up the northeast corridor out to the north Atlantic.
Attractive taupe and black amenity kits were handed out and meal orders were taken. The Freedom menu was:
lighter bites
Virgin house salad
torn romaine lettuce with croutons. Parmesan cheese and a creamy cilantro
dressing
Sweetcorn and pimento chowder
warm and comforting
Bacon Butty
soft white bap filled with grilled bacon and your choice of tomato ketchup or
brown sauce
Breakfast cereals
cornflakes, Weetabix, sultana bran and Special K
Fresh n Fruity
pink grapefruit and orange segments with vanilla yoghurt
bigger bites
Grilled Alaskan Halibut
scallion mashed potatoes with a pimento and fennel veloute
Roast Portobello mushroom
mixed lentil bean ragout and quinoa pilaf
Virgins all day breakfast
poached egg with bacon on a toasted English muffin, hollandaise sauce, breakfast potatoes and slow roasted plum tomato
to complement
From the bakery
garlic ciabatta, Parker house rolls and pain rustic
From the breakfast basket
butter croissants, sourdough toast and blueberry muffins
Pick your own
a selection of seasonal fruits
say cheese offered with fruit cake, Jacobs cream crackers and Bath Olivers
Maytag blue
this vegetarian, blue cheese has a crumbly texture that reveals a deep and spicy flavour
Saint Andre
this soft, triple cream cheese is made from unpasteurised cows milk and has a thin edible white rind
Oka
this semi-soft pasteurized cows milk cheese from Canada has full flavour and a creamy texture
naughty but nice
Orange pecan nut pudding
with toffee sauce and cream
hot n herbal all served by the cup or in a mug, its your choice!!
Fresh brew, decaffeinated, espresso* and cappuccino* coffees
Hot chocolate
English breakfast and Earl Grey teas
Twinings fruit and herbal teas
*we are delighted to offer these on all but a few of our aircraft
(I can furnish the wine list upon request)
After we reached a comfortable altitude, we were offered chips, nuts, and olives with a choice of beverage. I settled on the Virgin house salad, which was nice if not a bit too creamy for my taste. I followed with the Grilled Alaskan halibut, which was excellent and only overshadowed by the very tasty scallion mashed potatoes.
After my meal, I got acquainted with the seat and the Odyssey IFE, which seemed to be on par with Continentals BusinessFirst in-seat video system. It had a selection of about six or eight movies that complimented other sitcom, audio and game channels. All in all, there were maybe 40 different choices to choose from, though, they were played in cycles, not on-demand. The seat itself was no more or less comfortable that Continentals BF seat, and the pop-up screen is similar to those on the first generation BusinessFirst configured aircraft. This aircraft did not have in-seat laptop power. My pop-up screen was a little flimsy, and did not hold form without it being manipulated by the tray table. I was not too concerned because I planned on getting some sleep for the duration of the flight.
After unsuccessfully trying to turn off my overhead light, I called for a flight attendant who was no more successful. After the flight attendant summoned the flight engineer, he too, was unsuccessful at disabling the light. Fortunately their was another pair of seats together in the forward section of the UC cabin (8 H,K) and we picked up and moved there. These seats were located next to the inflight therapy station, and so there was a little bit of foot traffic throughout the remainder of the flight. At this seat, both the overhead light and in-seat video monitor functioned properly.
After dozing on and off for the better part of two hours, I was awakened by the Inflight Beauty Therapist who came by to wake me for the complimentary massage. The therapist offers five services inflight, and the passenger may select one and it lasts anywhere from ten to 15 minutes. The services are:
Stress Busting Face & Scalp Massage
Full Backup Massage
Helping Hands Zone Therapy
Handsome Hands Manicure
Armed Force shoulder & arm massage
I chose the Full Backup Massage and it is described as pure relaxation, pressure point massage eases tension, relieves aches, pains and boosts the circulation. It seemed that the 15 minutes ended just as soon as it began, but it helped ease me back to sleep for about an hour or so when I was wakened for breakfast.
I had Virgins all day breakfast which was just enough to satisfy. After breakfast, we started our initial descent into Heathrow. Hot towels were offered, and coats and jackets were returned. We were instructed to raise the cabin window shades and it was a grey, misty morning over the English countryside, but visibility from up above was breathtaking. After filling out some forms, we were on final descent and landed soon after at 10:45a local time. We docked at gate 23 (I believe) at Terminal 3, and quickly made our way through Fast Track.
We made our way down to the baggage reclaim area just as the first bags were coming off, but unfortunately ours was not among them. There was a mix of tags labeled Upper Class, Premium Economy, and Economy and no rhyme or reason for which bags came out when. After about 20 minutes, we retrieved our bag and made our way to the Air Canada Arrivals Lounge just outside the Arrivals Hall.
Air Canada Arrivals Lounge
The Continental Concierge from The Clubhouse called ahead to let the people at Air Canada know that we would be coming. Continental passengers are not permitted access to the Virgin Revivals Lounge traveling on a Continental ticket, but are extended access with Air Canada.
When we arrived, three extremely pleasant women greeted us, and asked us if we would like to shower, or if they could press our clothing or shine our shoes. Since we did not have a real change of clothes, we just decided to freshen up and shower at the hotel when we got there. There were no fewer than six well-appointed showers with toiletries. I had given my shoes to be shined, and when I surfaced from the room ten minutes later, they were shined and wrapped up in cray paper with an Air Canada sticker; a very nice touch. The lounge is set up into two different areas. There is a quieter area with chairs and telephones to relax, and then there is another area on the other side of the main desk that has a television with a generous assortment of breakfast foods, hot and cold, tea, coffee, an espresso machine, and a self-serve fridge with a wide assortment of juices and drinks, both soft and hard.
The lounge was terrific and the three women there made it a more than pleasant experience going out of there way to see what they could do for us. After departing the lounge, we made our way down to the Underground with a quick stop at the London Transport and Information Center to validate our three-day unlimited tube passes good for travel in all six zones. The pass was purchased through Rail Europe for $29, and I think that we certainly made money on that. After that, we made our way to the Piccadilly Line for our 45 minute journey to the Le Meridien for our quick New Years weekend in central London.
From start to finish, it was a seamless trip, and the people from Air Canada to Continental to Virgin could not have been nicer or more accommodating.
Next: VS1 (CO4001) LHR-EWR with the new J2000 Sleeper Seats.
[This message has been edited by dsimon (edited 01-04-2002).]
Jan 3, 2002 | 12:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,268
I did not know that passengers on VS but on a CO ticket in UC could not use the Revivals Lounge (arrival Facility, right?)
Any more tips on the cabin layout will be appreciated. Thanks.
Great Report! I am looking forward to the next one.
Any more tips on the cabin layout will be appreciated. Thanks.
Great Report! I am looking forward to the next one.
Jan 3, 2002 | 1:23 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 4,952
January 1, 2002, VS1 (CO4401), LHR-EWR
747-200 (G-VPUF, High as a Kite, delivered to VS in 2000)
Check-in:
We had heard of reduced Underground service on the Piccadilly Line for the New Years Day for the parade, so we (read: I) decided to head to Heathrow a ridiculous, um, six hours before departure. My wife thinks that it is quite unnecessary to spend more time than we need to at an airport, but I managed to coerce her nonetheless. We took the Underground and arrived at Heathrow at 10:45a, for our 4:00p departure. After the short walk from the station up to the Virgin check-in counters conveniently located in Zone A, we made our way to the UC check-in counter. Check-in was quick, and again we were assigned different seats than the ones that Continental had assigned. We were told that we could switch them if we went over to the Continental desk just adjacent to the VS ticketing area. I was not quite certain why we were sent over there since it was a VS flight, but who am I to argue? When we got over there, the very nice agent asked us why we were sent over, when VS had control of the seats. I told him that I did not know. We had been assigned seats 12 A,C, but the Continental Concierge got us seats in 8 A,C in the forward section of UC. He offered to make my wife and I BusinessFirst business card luggage tags and told us not to wait for them and that he would deliver them to The Clubhouse. We tried to tell him we would wait because we were so early, but he insisted that we head to the lounge and enjoy our time there.
The Clubhouse:
The Clubhouse is located on the airside of Terminal 3, and is located near gate 12. After checking in at the lounge, we perused the morning menu for an early lunch, but we did not fancy anything so we wandered around. My wife settled up in the conservatory on the second level where things were nice and quiet. It was a clear day in London so there was a terrific view of the happenings out on the ramp. I decided to walk around and get acquainted with the lounge, and finally joined her upstairs to rest and take some pictures of various aircraft around the terminal. After about an hour, the afternoon menu was presented, and it presented some more attractive offerings. My wife decided to have sushi and I had the smoked salmon sandwich on rye bread with mustard and dill. Both were excellent, as were the staff that was serving.
I had pre-booked some services for my wife and I at the Virgin Touch Salon for before the flight. I had a haircut and I arranged for my wife to have a relaxing 30-minute facial. While I was sitting for my haircut I perused the catalog of services that they provide, which was quite extensive. After my haircut, I washed out the cut hair follicles in one of the two showers at the salon. The showers provide just very basic amenities of shampoo, soap, and hand cream. My suggestion for those that plan on using The Clubhouse to shower is to bring a small kit of your own toiletries. After that, I had my shoes shined and spent a few minutes on one of their two computers with cable internet access. By now, there was still some time before the flight so I decided to take a walk around the concourse. It was a pretty quiet time in the afternoon, but I was able to see many Virgin and British Airways aircraft, an Air India 744, three American 777 and an A300 (EWR-bound), two United 777, four Air Canada (two A330, one A340, and one 767), a Malaysia 744, an Iran Air 742, two Singapore 744, an Emirates 777, Saudi 777, JAL 744 and many others too numerous to mention.
After walking off lunch I returned to The Clubhouse for some more food and return to my wife who was suddenly glad that we arrived at the airport five hours before our flight. After sitting around for a little while longer until 3:30, they finally announced boarding for flight at Gate 8. We said our thank you(s) to the ladies at the lounge and made the trek to the gate where we found a considerable line for boarding. After about ten or so minutes, we made it to the jetway and I was pulled aside for a (random) search. I felt somewhat better about it here than I did at EWR, and felt as though they took it much more serious. I was given the full wand treatment, and was also asked to take off my shoes, which I have been asked to do at every check since September 11. We were equally satisfied that I posed no security risk, and we were sent off to the doorway where the Continental Concierge was waiting with our business card luggage tags. It was a different agent but she was equally nice, and thanked us for our business and wished us a nice journey.
Flight:
This aircraft was configured with the new J2000 Sleeper Seats and it was a nice change from the outbound with the older (while still comfortable) seats. Aside from the seat itself, this setup has a better IFE system, as well as in-seat laptop power. The seat has many different positions from fully upright with extended leg rest to virtually flat with 68 of room. The flat position takes a little time to get used to, and I think is best when lying in a cradle position, as opposed to lying flat on ones back. I really like the fact that the seat is fixed so there is no one reclining their seat back toward you.
Again, pre-departure drinks were given with a choice of water, orange juice or champagne. Jackets were taken and menus were distributed during a brief ground delay that resulted in us not pushing off of the gate until 4:15. After push back, it was a slow procession to the active runway before we actually became airborne. After take off, amenity kits were distributed and meal orders were taken. The Freedom menu which gives you the choice of eating what you want, when you want was as follows:
lighter bites
Virgins house salad
mixed leaf salad with poached pears, walnuts and creamy Roquefort dressing
Cauliflower soup
with chive cream
Terrine of ham, parsley and gherkin
crispy crostini and fig chutney
Mile high club sandwich
roast chicken breast, bacon, egg, mayonnaise and lettuce
bigger bites
Lightly spiced curry crusted cod
cous cous with spinach, roasted red pepper coulis and herb oil
A blast from the past, Virgins steak Diane
rib eye steak with woodland mushrooms in a mustard and brandy cream sauce, fondant potato, savoy cabbage and carrots
Pasta triangles filled with artichoke
sun blushed tomato sauce, Parmesan shavings and rocket leaves
to complement
From the bakery
garlic baguette, rustic wholemeal bread and rosemary focaccia
Pick your own
a selection of seasonal fruits
say cheese offered with sun-dried tomato bread, wheat wafers and Italian crackers
Dunsyre Blue
a semi soft blue veined cheese made from pasteurized cows milk
Mull of Kintyre
a black waxed mature cheddar, made in Ayshire with pasteurized cows milk
Capricorn
made with pasteurized goats milk, a Camembert style goats cheese with a mild but distinctly goaty, fresh creamy character
naughty but nice
Warm chocolate brownie
with chocolate sauce
Ice-cream sundae
blueberry ripple ice-cream, blueberry compote and meringue pieces
Afternoon tea sweet treats
cashew and almond squares, mince pies and croquant crme bon bon
hot n herbal all served by the cup or in a mug, its your choice!!
Fresh brew, decaffeinated, espresso* and cappuccino* coffees
Hot chocolate
English breakfast and Earl Grey teas
Twining fruit and herbal teas
* we are delighted to offer these on all but a few of our aircraft.
(I will furnish the wine list upon request)
After reaching a safe cruising altitude, drink orders were taken and we were offered a choice of chips or pistachio nuts. I settled on the Virgin house salad, which was excellent, and the steak Diane which was good, but perhaps cooked a little too long. My wife had the Pasta triangles and told me that it as fantastic, which I can only confirm by the scent. I usually steer away from pasta on flights because I am not very confident of how the texture will turn out, but she was quite pleased. After a small respite, I had the cheese course which was very good, and very filling and consequently I passed on dessert, though my wife managed to find room for the warm chocolate brownie. Later on I had cappuccino that was excellent compared to instances that I have had it aboard CO 777s.
After the meal, I continued to try to find an optimum position for the seat, and while all were very comfortable, I never actually found one that I stuck with for any great duration of time.
After watching the same cycle of football highlights, I was summoned for my inflight treatment, and this time chose the Armed Force Shoulder & Arm Massage, which is described as a soothing treatment designed to help those suffering from heavy aching arms after carrying their suitcases and laptops. All the major muscle groups in the arm and shoulder are manipulated and pressure points used will help to fight insomnia. Again, it was a superb 15 minutes of treatment that I almost felt embarrassed to receive at 35,000 feet. For the duration of the flight, I watched a movie on my laptop, followed the SkyMap and tried to fall asleep, which I did so unsuccessfully.
We started our initial descent at about 5:45p local time to a crystal clear New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. Jackets were returned, and we approached from the south landing at 6:25p, some 20 minutes ahead of schedule after leaving the gate 15 minutes late. We held at the end of the runway for a few minutes waiting for some other traffic to clear before we continued to a quiet Terminal B where an El Al 777 was sitting idle at the central satellite of Terminal B. After waiting about five minutes for the jetway operator to meet with the aircraft, we were quickly out the door and made our way to a completely empty customs and immigration hall with several agents waiting to assist. I knew I was back in New Jersey when I was greeted with a scowl from the surly customs agent after wishing him a happy new year. All security and customs staff at EWR could learn a lesson from the people of the BAA and personnel at Heathrow that actually acknowledge your presence and look you in the eye when they speak to you.
This time our bags were among the first out even though they had not been tagged with the Upper Class bag tags, and we promptly made our way upstairs to meet the punctual Avistar shuttle to go retrieve our car. All in all, it was a memorable New Years in London, and the people of Virgin and Continental made this the most pleasant travel experience in recent memory.
Some editorial thoughts
Continental and Virgins code-share alliance appears to be a healthy one but there is great disparity between the relationship that they share between their respective ground staff and phone staff. The ground staff work seamlessly together and always seem to have the right answers to questions. The phone staff(s), however, seem like the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing at any time. Flight information is unreliable and Continentals computer system is obviously not up-to-date with respect to Virgins information. Continental never knew the exact aircraft type, and assigned seats that they did not have. We did not know our exact seat assignments until Continental sent the tape over to Virgin 48 hours before the flight(s) and only then were we able to switch seats. Both airlines say that the partner airline will not receive record of the itinerary until 24 hours of the flight, but in fact, Virgin knew 48 hours out. I dont understand why the two systems have to wait until essentially the day of to share that type of information. I have flown on other code-share flights where the partner airline knew of the itinerary as soon as the ticket was ticketed. Other than those very minor issues, it was an easy process. This relationship is not one of those instances where you can call back and get another agent with the hopes of getting the desired response. They simply do not have accurate information.
If you plan to use the Virgin Touch Salon at Heathrow, be certain to make an appointment well ahead of time. I noticed many people walking in the day of their flight trying to get various services only to find out that the salon was completely booked. Virgin Touch treatments can be booked by calling LHR Departures 020 8897 5055 or by email: [email protected]
If anyone has any comments or questions with respect to this report, I would be more than happy to answer them. Thanks for taking the time to read.
[This message has been edited by dsimon (edited 01-04-2002).]
747-200 (G-VPUF, High as a Kite, delivered to VS in 2000)
Check-in:
We had heard of reduced Underground service on the Piccadilly Line for the New Years Day for the parade, so we (read: I) decided to head to Heathrow a ridiculous, um, six hours before departure. My wife thinks that it is quite unnecessary to spend more time than we need to at an airport, but I managed to coerce her nonetheless. We took the Underground and arrived at Heathrow at 10:45a, for our 4:00p departure. After the short walk from the station up to the Virgin check-in counters conveniently located in Zone A, we made our way to the UC check-in counter. Check-in was quick, and again we were assigned different seats than the ones that Continental had assigned. We were told that we could switch them if we went over to the Continental desk just adjacent to the VS ticketing area. I was not quite certain why we were sent over there since it was a VS flight, but who am I to argue? When we got over there, the very nice agent asked us why we were sent over, when VS had control of the seats. I told him that I did not know. We had been assigned seats 12 A,C, but the Continental Concierge got us seats in 8 A,C in the forward section of UC. He offered to make my wife and I BusinessFirst business card luggage tags and told us not to wait for them and that he would deliver them to The Clubhouse. We tried to tell him we would wait because we were so early, but he insisted that we head to the lounge and enjoy our time there.
The Clubhouse:
The Clubhouse is located on the airside of Terminal 3, and is located near gate 12. After checking in at the lounge, we perused the morning menu for an early lunch, but we did not fancy anything so we wandered around. My wife settled up in the conservatory on the second level where things were nice and quiet. It was a clear day in London so there was a terrific view of the happenings out on the ramp. I decided to walk around and get acquainted with the lounge, and finally joined her upstairs to rest and take some pictures of various aircraft around the terminal. After about an hour, the afternoon menu was presented, and it presented some more attractive offerings. My wife decided to have sushi and I had the smoked salmon sandwich on rye bread with mustard and dill. Both were excellent, as were the staff that was serving.
I had pre-booked some services for my wife and I at the Virgin Touch Salon for before the flight. I had a haircut and I arranged for my wife to have a relaxing 30-minute facial. While I was sitting for my haircut I perused the catalog of services that they provide, which was quite extensive. After my haircut, I washed out the cut hair follicles in one of the two showers at the salon. The showers provide just very basic amenities of shampoo, soap, and hand cream. My suggestion for those that plan on using The Clubhouse to shower is to bring a small kit of your own toiletries. After that, I had my shoes shined and spent a few minutes on one of their two computers with cable internet access. By now, there was still some time before the flight so I decided to take a walk around the concourse. It was a pretty quiet time in the afternoon, but I was able to see many Virgin and British Airways aircraft, an Air India 744, three American 777 and an A300 (EWR-bound), two United 777, four Air Canada (two A330, one A340, and one 767), a Malaysia 744, an Iran Air 742, two Singapore 744, an Emirates 777, Saudi 777, JAL 744 and many others too numerous to mention.
After walking off lunch I returned to The Clubhouse for some more food and return to my wife who was suddenly glad that we arrived at the airport five hours before our flight. After sitting around for a little while longer until 3:30, they finally announced boarding for flight at Gate 8. We said our thank you(s) to the ladies at the lounge and made the trek to the gate where we found a considerable line for boarding. After about ten or so minutes, we made it to the jetway and I was pulled aside for a (random) search. I felt somewhat better about it here than I did at EWR, and felt as though they took it much more serious. I was given the full wand treatment, and was also asked to take off my shoes, which I have been asked to do at every check since September 11. We were equally satisfied that I posed no security risk, and we were sent off to the doorway where the Continental Concierge was waiting with our business card luggage tags. It was a different agent but she was equally nice, and thanked us for our business and wished us a nice journey.
Flight:
This aircraft was configured with the new J2000 Sleeper Seats and it was a nice change from the outbound with the older (while still comfortable) seats. Aside from the seat itself, this setup has a better IFE system, as well as in-seat laptop power. The seat has many different positions from fully upright with extended leg rest to virtually flat with 68 of room. The flat position takes a little time to get used to, and I think is best when lying in a cradle position, as opposed to lying flat on ones back. I really like the fact that the seat is fixed so there is no one reclining their seat back toward you.
Again, pre-departure drinks were given with a choice of water, orange juice or champagne. Jackets were taken and menus were distributed during a brief ground delay that resulted in us not pushing off of the gate until 4:15. After push back, it was a slow procession to the active runway before we actually became airborne. After take off, amenity kits were distributed and meal orders were taken. The Freedom menu which gives you the choice of eating what you want, when you want was as follows:
lighter bites
Virgins house salad
mixed leaf salad with poached pears, walnuts and creamy Roquefort dressing
Cauliflower soup
with chive cream
Terrine of ham, parsley and gherkin
crispy crostini and fig chutney
Mile high club sandwich
roast chicken breast, bacon, egg, mayonnaise and lettuce
bigger bites
Lightly spiced curry crusted cod
cous cous with spinach, roasted red pepper coulis and herb oil
A blast from the past, Virgins steak Diane
rib eye steak with woodland mushrooms in a mustard and brandy cream sauce, fondant potato, savoy cabbage and carrots
Pasta triangles filled with artichoke
sun blushed tomato sauce, Parmesan shavings and rocket leaves
to complement
From the bakery
garlic baguette, rustic wholemeal bread and rosemary focaccia
Pick your own
a selection of seasonal fruits
say cheese offered with sun-dried tomato bread, wheat wafers and Italian crackers
Dunsyre Blue
a semi soft blue veined cheese made from pasteurized cows milk
Mull of Kintyre
a black waxed mature cheddar, made in Ayshire with pasteurized cows milk
Capricorn
made with pasteurized goats milk, a Camembert style goats cheese with a mild but distinctly goaty, fresh creamy character
naughty but nice
Warm chocolate brownie
with chocolate sauce
Ice-cream sundae
blueberry ripple ice-cream, blueberry compote and meringue pieces
Afternoon tea sweet treats
cashew and almond squares, mince pies and croquant crme bon bon
hot n herbal all served by the cup or in a mug, its your choice!!
Fresh brew, decaffeinated, espresso* and cappuccino* coffees
Hot chocolate
English breakfast and Earl Grey teas
Twining fruit and herbal teas
* we are delighted to offer these on all but a few of our aircraft.
(I will furnish the wine list upon request)
After reaching a safe cruising altitude, drink orders were taken and we were offered a choice of chips or pistachio nuts. I settled on the Virgin house salad, which was excellent, and the steak Diane which was good, but perhaps cooked a little too long. My wife had the Pasta triangles and told me that it as fantastic, which I can only confirm by the scent. I usually steer away from pasta on flights because I am not very confident of how the texture will turn out, but she was quite pleased. After a small respite, I had the cheese course which was very good, and very filling and consequently I passed on dessert, though my wife managed to find room for the warm chocolate brownie. Later on I had cappuccino that was excellent compared to instances that I have had it aboard CO 777s.
After the meal, I continued to try to find an optimum position for the seat, and while all were very comfortable, I never actually found one that I stuck with for any great duration of time.
After watching the same cycle of football highlights, I was summoned for my inflight treatment, and this time chose the Armed Force Shoulder & Arm Massage, which is described as a soothing treatment designed to help those suffering from heavy aching arms after carrying their suitcases and laptops. All the major muscle groups in the arm and shoulder are manipulated and pressure points used will help to fight insomnia. Again, it was a superb 15 minutes of treatment that I almost felt embarrassed to receive at 35,000 feet. For the duration of the flight, I watched a movie on my laptop, followed the SkyMap and tried to fall asleep, which I did so unsuccessfully.
We started our initial descent at about 5:45p local time to a crystal clear New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. Jackets were returned, and we approached from the south landing at 6:25p, some 20 minutes ahead of schedule after leaving the gate 15 minutes late. We held at the end of the runway for a few minutes waiting for some other traffic to clear before we continued to a quiet Terminal B where an El Al 777 was sitting idle at the central satellite of Terminal B. After waiting about five minutes for the jetway operator to meet with the aircraft, we were quickly out the door and made our way to a completely empty customs and immigration hall with several agents waiting to assist. I knew I was back in New Jersey when I was greeted with a scowl from the surly customs agent after wishing him a happy new year. All security and customs staff at EWR could learn a lesson from the people of the BAA and personnel at Heathrow that actually acknowledge your presence and look you in the eye when they speak to you.
This time our bags were among the first out even though they had not been tagged with the Upper Class bag tags, and we promptly made our way upstairs to meet the punctual Avistar shuttle to go retrieve our car. All in all, it was a memorable New Years in London, and the people of Virgin and Continental made this the most pleasant travel experience in recent memory.
Some editorial thoughts
Continental and Virgins code-share alliance appears to be a healthy one but there is great disparity between the relationship that they share between their respective ground staff and phone staff. The ground staff work seamlessly together and always seem to have the right answers to questions. The phone staff(s), however, seem like the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing at any time. Flight information is unreliable and Continentals computer system is obviously not up-to-date with respect to Virgins information. Continental never knew the exact aircraft type, and assigned seats that they did not have. We did not know our exact seat assignments until Continental sent the tape over to Virgin 48 hours before the flight(s) and only then were we able to switch seats. Both airlines say that the partner airline will not receive record of the itinerary until 24 hours of the flight, but in fact, Virgin knew 48 hours out. I dont understand why the two systems have to wait until essentially the day of to share that type of information. I have flown on other code-share flights where the partner airline knew of the itinerary as soon as the ticket was ticketed. Other than those very minor issues, it was an easy process. This relationship is not one of those instances where you can call back and get another agent with the hopes of getting the desired response. They simply do not have accurate information.
If you plan to use the Virgin Touch Salon at Heathrow, be certain to make an appointment well ahead of time. I noticed many people walking in the day of their flight trying to get various services only to find out that the salon was completely booked. Virgin Touch treatments can be booked by calling LHR Departures 020 8897 5055 or by email: [email protected]
If anyone has any comments or questions with respect to this report, I would be more than happy to answer them. Thanks for taking the time to read.
[This message has been edited by dsimon (edited 01-04-2002).]
Jan 3, 2002 | 2:29 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 4,952
Thanks for the replies.
STAM4NICK, If you are traveling in UC, but on a CO ticket (stock) you are granted access to the Air Canada Arrivals Lounge. Make certain though, that you have the CO Concierge call ahead of time so that they are expecting you. They keep a manifest of people expected for that day.
I have not been to the Revivals Lounge, but the AC lounge far exceeded my expectations. From food selection, to showers, to clothes pressing, they offered everything that I could have needed. The staff, though, is what made it a great lounge. It was almost as if they had not seen another passenger for days, they were so welcoming to us.
As far as the cabin layout(s), both of my flights were on 742s, which appeared to be configured similarly. In the front UC cabin there are four rows with a total of 16 seats. Also, the Inflight Therapist Station is situated in the front UC cabin. I spent the return flight and about half of the EWR-LHR flight in the front (cone) UC cabin.
The second UC cabin is also configured with four rows of 16 seats. The bar is located in this area as are the two UC lavatories. My suspicion is that there is more foot traffic in the second cabin because of the bar (depending on the time of day during your flight) and the lavatories. This section also seemed a bit more cramped than the front. I cannot speculate as two the two rows of UC up top.
If you can plan it, I would choose the front section is row six through nine, the second section begins at row 11 and ends at row 15. If ticketing through Continental, It will not be an exact science and I dont see anyway to guarantee your seat selection. My advice would be to call Virgin 48 hours out to see if they can switch your seats to the desired location, or, arrive at the airport early enough to see if they can facilitate a change.
I hope this answers your questions, and if you have others, please feel free to ask.
STAM4NICK, If you are traveling in UC, but on a CO ticket (stock) you are granted access to the Air Canada Arrivals Lounge. Make certain though, that you have the CO Concierge call ahead of time so that they are expecting you. They keep a manifest of people expected for that day.
I have not been to the Revivals Lounge, but the AC lounge far exceeded my expectations. From food selection, to showers, to clothes pressing, they offered everything that I could have needed. The staff, though, is what made it a great lounge. It was almost as if they had not seen another passenger for days, they were so welcoming to us.
As far as the cabin layout(s), both of my flights were on 742s, which appeared to be configured similarly. In the front UC cabin there are four rows with a total of 16 seats. Also, the Inflight Therapist Station is situated in the front UC cabin. I spent the return flight and about half of the EWR-LHR flight in the front (cone) UC cabin.
The second UC cabin is also configured with four rows of 16 seats. The bar is located in this area as are the two UC lavatories. My suspicion is that there is more foot traffic in the second cabin because of the bar (depending on the time of day during your flight) and the lavatories. This section also seemed a bit more cramped than the front. I cannot speculate as two the two rows of UC up top.
If you can plan it, I would choose the front section is row six through nine, the second section begins at row 11 and ends at row 15. If ticketing through Continental, It will not be an exact science and I dont see anyway to guarantee your seat selection. My advice would be to call Virgin 48 hours out to see if they can switch your seats to the desired location, or, arrive at the airport early enough to see if they can facilitate a change.
I hope this answers your questions, and if you have others, please feel free to ask.
Jan 3, 2002 | 4:02 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,268
That did answer my questions, but a few more.
:-)
To clarify
So the front section rows 3-9
so back section rows 11-15
(on the LHR-EWR J2000 flight)
What was in between the front and back sections (the beauty place only)? and then the back section just the bar and lavs. so basically what I am getting at is there are no seats in the middle section of the UC cabin at all? and what are the A's/B's etc...
2 (Aisle) cabin stuff (Aisle) 2??
I am surprised that you did not have more treatments at the VS Touch Salon becuase you got there extra early. But as you said a lot of people were turned away becuase they were booked.
I looks like there were not a lot of desserts on your outbound flight?
I understand whatever/whenever, Did they ask you when would you like this so they could prepare etc..., could you have like 2 or more of something whenever or just one per person (i.e. did you get the impression that it was truly like whatever/whenever/ and as much as you wanted etc...)
"Continental passengers are not permitted access to the Virgin Revivals Lounge traveling on a Continental ticket, but are extended access with Air Canada."
That is what i did not know, were you told this, and if so by whom?
Did you get the CO Concierge becuase you are CO elite? Did he/she seem to be helping other passengers as well?
Thanks, and great reporting!
:-)
To clarify
So the front section rows 3-9
so back section rows 11-15
(on the LHR-EWR J2000 flight)
What was in between the front and back sections (the beauty place only)? and then the back section just the bar and lavs. so basically what I am getting at is there are no seats in the middle section of the UC cabin at all? and what are the A's/B's etc...
2 (Aisle) cabin stuff (Aisle) 2??
I am surprised that you did not have more treatments at the VS Touch Salon becuase you got there extra early. But as you said a lot of people were turned away becuase they were booked.
I looks like there were not a lot of desserts on your outbound flight?
I understand whatever/whenever, Did they ask you when would you like this so they could prepare etc..., could you have like 2 or more of something whenever or just one per person (i.e. did you get the impression that it was truly like whatever/whenever/ and as much as you wanted etc...)
"Continental passengers are not permitted access to the Virgin Revivals Lounge traveling on a Continental ticket, but are extended access with Air Canada."
That is what i did not know, were you told this, and if so by whom?
Did you get the CO Concierge becuase you are CO elite? Did he/she seem to be helping other passengers as well?
Thanks, and great reporting!
Jan 3, 2002 | 4:44 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 13,662
My kind of Trip Report! Thanks!!
One note though on Virgin's masseuse:
Doesn't it seem kind of odd to wake you for your massage? I mean, you can hardly be any more relaxed than when you are asleep...
One note though on Virgin's masseuse:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">After dozing on and off for the better part of two hours, I was awakened by the Inflight Beauty Therapist who came by to wake me for the complimentary massage</font>
Jan 3, 2002 | 5:37 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 4,952
STAM4NICK, to clarify for you, the front section of the aircraft that I was on had started with row six and ended with row nine. The second section started with row 11 and extended to row 15.
Door 1L separated the two sections. Also in between the two was the forward galley and staircase to the upper deck. The Inflight Therapy Station is in the forward section on the right side of the station partition located from rows eight to nine. In the lower deck there are no middle seats. The configuration is two-aisle-two. As I mentioned, I did not go upstairs but I assume the configuration is 2-2-2 because I was offered seats D,G which I was told were two aisle seats. That and the fact that A,C are the left side of the aircraft, and H,K are the right side of the aircraft.
The reason that I did not have more treatments at Virgin Touch was because they were booked solid. In fact, I was fortunate to get in at all because I booked the day before. I was originally schedule on CO29 from LGW-EWR, but switched at the last moment to spend more time in London and also take the VS flight. Even with the encyclopedia of services they offered, I would have probably only wanted the haircut anyway. We were also somewhat limited with their time slots, and consequently, my wife was only able to fit a half hour facial in.
That is true that there were not a lot of desserts on the outbound flight, and I am not sure if that was due to it being an overnight flight or not. There was not a deficit of food though, and they had various other pastries and chocolates that were not listed on the menu. They keep bowls of snacks at the bar for the duration of the flight for those just looking to pick something up to bring back to their seat.
As far as the meal(s) go, they take an initial order, prepare and serve that for you. Then, at any other time during the flight, you can simply ask them to prepare something for you, whether it be breakfast or the entree and they will make it for you. You could have the Alaskan halibut for breakfast and the Virgin's all day breakfast for dinner if you so choose. Also, you could have the same item multiple times so long as they still have it. I did not hear them run out of any person's choice(s). Freedom is a good name for their menu because it does allow you to eat what you want, when you want. The same goes for The Clubhouse.
With respect to the Air Canada Arrivals Lounge- I was initially told by a CO representative that I would be permitted access to the Revivals Lounge, but I wanted make sure so I called VS Flying Club to confrim, and was told that if I was traveling on a CO ticket (despite it being UC) I would not have access to the lounge. Naturally, in the abscence of a definitive answer I turned to the wisdom of FlyerTalk and was informed by someone (forgive me for not remembering at the moment) that I would have access to the AC Arrivals Lounge.
I believe that all CO (BusinessFirst) passengers receive the concierge service. The London-based CO staff was truly excellent and deserve commendation. It is difficult to say whether my elite status had anything to do with it, but I suspect that it did not. I did not notice any other "CO" passengers at The Clubhouse (on my flight at least, there were other CO/VS codeshares) or on the flight. When I was met at the gate, the concierge told me that she was there to meet me and my wife to drop off the business cards and see if there was anything that we needed. I thought that was a very nice touch.
Seat 2A, when the Inflight Beauty Therapist introduced herself to us before departure she asked us whether we wanted to be wakened for our treatment. I did not have the heart to tell her no
. I had no problem falling back to sleep on the outbound flight, and was awake to begin with on the return.
If there are more questions, please feel free to ask.
[This message has been edited by dsimon (edited 01-04-2002).]
Door 1L separated the two sections. Also in between the two was the forward galley and staircase to the upper deck. The Inflight Therapy Station is in the forward section on the right side of the station partition located from rows eight to nine. In the lower deck there are no middle seats. The configuration is two-aisle-two. As I mentioned, I did not go upstairs but I assume the configuration is 2-2-2 because I was offered seats D,G which I was told were two aisle seats. That and the fact that A,C are the left side of the aircraft, and H,K are the right side of the aircraft.
The reason that I did not have more treatments at Virgin Touch was because they were booked solid. In fact, I was fortunate to get in at all because I booked the day before. I was originally schedule on CO29 from LGW-EWR, but switched at the last moment to spend more time in London and also take the VS flight. Even with the encyclopedia of services they offered, I would have probably only wanted the haircut anyway. We were also somewhat limited with their time slots, and consequently, my wife was only able to fit a half hour facial in.
That is true that there were not a lot of desserts on the outbound flight, and I am not sure if that was due to it being an overnight flight or not. There was not a deficit of food though, and they had various other pastries and chocolates that were not listed on the menu. They keep bowls of snacks at the bar for the duration of the flight for those just looking to pick something up to bring back to their seat.
As far as the meal(s) go, they take an initial order, prepare and serve that for you. Then, at any other time during the flight, you can simply ask them to prepare something for you, whether it be breakfast or the entree and they will make it for you. You could have the Alaskan halibut for breakfast and the Virgin's all day breakfast for dinner if you so choose. Also, you could have the same item multiple times so long as they still have it. I did not hear them run out of any person's choice(s). Freedom is a good name for their menu because it does allow you to eat what you want, when you want. The same goes for The Clubhouse.
With respect to the Air Canada Arrivals Lounge- I was initially told by a CO representative that I would be permitted access to the Revivals Lounge, but I wanted make sure so I called VS Flying Club to confrim, and was told that if I was traveling on a CO ticket (despite it being UC) I would not have access to the lounge. Naturally, in the abscence of a definitive answer I turned to the wisdom of FlyerTalk and was informed by someone (forgive me for not remembering at the moment) that I would have access to the AC Arrivals Lounge.
I believe that all CO (BusinessFirst) passengers receive the concierge service. The London-based CO staff was truly excellent and deserve commendation. It is difficult to say whether my elite status had anything to do with it, but I suspect that it did not. I did not notice any other "CO" passengers at The Clubhouse (on my flight at least, there were other CO/VS codeshares) or on the flight. When I was met at the gate, the concierge told me that she was there to meet me and my wife to drop off the business cards and see if there was anything that we needed. I thought that was a very nice touch.
Seat 2A, when the Inflight Beauty Therapist introduced herself to us before departure she asked us whether we wanted to be wakened for our treatment. I did not have the heart to tell her no
. I had no problem falling back to sleep on the outbound flight, and was awake to begin with on the return.If there are more questions, please feel free to ask.
[This message has been edited by dsimon (edited 01-04-2002).]
Jan 4, 2002 | 12:59 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Agoura Hills, Ca USA
Posts: 470
This is a fabulous trip report. I am writing this reply fro my London Hotel room where I am enjoyoing a short stay in London. I tookVS 008 from LAX-LHR and was equally impreseed with the Upper Class service. This aircraft had the new J2000 seats and it was a delight. The only difference in the flight menu was that we had a choice of chicken curry for dinner . The inflight massage was excellent. Entertainment was superb. Thanks for your opinions.
Jan 4, 2002 | 4:15 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 4,952
Thanks for the reply, sarecca. Were you also traveling on a CO/VS codeshare or was this a straight VS ticket? If it was the former, I would be interested in your thoughts on the CO/VS relationship; whether you had problems getting accurate information over the telephone and things of that nature.
I hope that you have a great trip back to LAX and hope that you post a report.
I hope that you have a great trip back to LAX and hope that you post a report.
Jan 4, 2002 | 11:17 pm
#14
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: MIA / EZE
Programs: Lord of Malbec & all Wines Argentine. AA EXP / Marriott Lifetime Gold / Hyatt Explorist / Hertz PC
Posts: 36,207
Great report, very interesting to read about all the details of the service Virgin offers. Imagine what sort of treatments they will offer when/if they buy an A380 !!
------------------
Gaucho100K
------------------
Gaucho100K