Andrew W.

Review of Virgin Atlantic Airways

11 Apr 08, 10:20

London to New York with Virgin Atlantic

Disclaimer!

Much has be written in the media recently about the trans atlantic routes to Americas East Coast, and with loads of 116, and 113 on this trip on a 400 seat Jumbo, I can see why !

So if you're a fan of AL Gore's recent film Or global warming then this isn't for you

Despite living just under an hour away from London Heathrow, the journey on a cold February morning that took nearly 2 hours left me wishing that I'd booked an Airport Hotel the night before What is it about the M40 & M4 at 'Rush Hour ?'

Flight was called on time at just after 12.45PM, and involved a long way to one of the new gates ! It must have been my lucky day as again I walked straight through the 2nd round of security screening It was then that I got a clue to the light load on VS 045.

Even allowing for the people in the Clubhouse the gate area was more empty than the audience at a Britney Spears appearance at a Head & Shoulders Shampoo Convention

Priority Boarding soon commenced, and a minute later I was on the upper deck of the Boeing 747 - 400 by prefered home in the sky

Champaign followed, and I was winding down when a smiling Cabin Services Supervisor appeared, and asked if I'd mine moving back down stairs for landing, and take off to comply with the regulations as there wern't enough people to sit on the Emergency Exit seats!

I asked if I could bill Sir Richard Branson for the prvilige She roared with laughter, and said I'll make sure you get looked after on the flight

Shortly after I fastened my seat belt another glass of Champaign arrived. Soon after that we were on the way to the runway, and in the air shortly after the allocated take off time.

It's interesting to know that a 747 - 400 with 116 on board is like 'A Cat off hot bricks' at take off using hardly any runway.

This was also to be a quick crossing ... 6 hours 35 minutes with a routing out over Cardiff before making land again over Canada before dropping dpwn the Eastern Coast of the U.S.A.

Once the seat belt sign had gone off I did my Linford Christie sprint back to the Upper Deck No one was keeping me downstairs

A round of drinks followed shortly afterwards before the main meal. I went for the traditional 'Sausage & Mash'. I absolutley see were Virgin Atlantic are going with the enhanced meal service, and frankly it's better than I've had before in Premium Economy.

Throughout the flight, trays of drinks, plus a fruit bowl available at the rear of the Cabin, and the crew passed through with these from time to time. Also available was the Green & Blacks plus Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. The reduced Tea service was also served prior to landing into JFK. Whilst not the same as it's been in the past, it hit the spot on such a short flight.

On the entertainment front 'V Port' is simply brilliant ... I watched Borat, and The Queen, plus some of the destination guides.

A word on the crew at this point The Cabin Services Supervisor was true to her word. Simply brilliant ... I wanted for nothing, and was spoilt rotten which included a small thank you gift for moving for landing, and take off!

I made a point of seeking out the Flight Service Manger to let her know how good several memebers of her crew were which she recorded in her report

Then it was back downstairs for landing, and being 1st off the plane, I power walked my way to Immigration to find that the Air India flight that had sat behind us on the taxiway at Heathrow had in fact beaten us to New York

50 minutes later I was through, not helped by 3 people from one of our fellow EU countries deciding to have a go at the Immigration Officer, who promtly called a Supervisior ! Reams of paperwork followed whilst I just stood there watching the ensuing madness. Once through collected my bags, cleared Customes and hailed a cab to Manhatten.

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