London to New York, as well as being one of the busiest routes in the World, must also be one of the most lucrative for the airlines. Competition between US and UK carriers is intense, and there are an overwhelming amount of European, Middle Eastern and Asian carriers using LHR as a stopover or offering connections via their Hub airports.
I have flown this route many times since 1988 in Economy class, and have seen the standards increase on all airlines, but Virgin Atlantic stands out as leading the way.
Unfortunately, London's Heathrow airport can be a stressful start to your trip. Many of Virgin's departures are within a few hours of each other, so the check-in area can be very crowded. There are however, marshalls and other staff who make sure that the huge snaking queue moves along nicely. Friends and relatives at the airport to say goodbye would do well to stand back whilst you check in.
My experience of the staff was one of politeness and efficient, yet not neglecting those familiar security checks. Following check-in, there is yet more queueing and long walks through the crowded departure areas of the terminal. Heathrow being amongst the busiest airports in the world, and in need of modernisation, does well to process the amount of people that it does. Beware though, it can be very busy and cause you get stressed! Obviously, this is no reflection of Virgin Atlantic.
My experience with Virgin continued to be a pleasant one at the gate. All too often, passengers get shipped passed the boarding point, and forced to wait in a tiny 'lounge' for an eternity. I hate it when that happens, so I was pleasantly surprised to walk through the gate, down the walkway onto the aircraft and find myself seated straight away (none of the usual waiting in the aisles whilst everyone else overfills the overhead lockers)
Cabin crew patrolling up and down the aisles seemed really down-to-earth, and it was good to hear different regional accents (Often, airline staff come across as being a bit 'stuffy') The safety demonstration was given courtesy of the seatback TV screen, and done in a clear and humorous way, very funny and innovative and actually gaining people's attention! On my flight, the crew followed this with a competition. I'm normally a bit shy with such things, but many of those around me, including American passengers seemed to enjoy the warmth of the staff.
A prompt departure was also the case (maybe I was lucky on the day!) and I was soon airborne. I have already mentioned the seatback TV. I believe this is now standard on all transatlantic flights, it offers a decent choice of channels, and also has video games. The now-familiar "Skyshow" is really compelling, seeing your position on a map, and observing flight data such as altitude and airspeed. The audio channels also offer something for everyone, and you can dim the display if you feel like some sleep, which by the way is much easier than you may realise...
Seat pitch is good, with plenty of legroom, and a good level of recline. Every passenger has a goody-bag, in which you find an eye-shade and earplugs! The blanket and pillow aren't up to much, but comparable with the other airlines.
Also in the goody-bag is a pen (for the landing card, and customs card... both of which are in the seat back, so cabin crew don't have to disturb you if you are sleeping) some peanuts, a toothbush with paste and other 'nice-touches'.
Drinks are (industry-standard now) all complementary, and you can request these when you like, though I'm sure the crew don't welcome abuse of this, and may refuse alcohol to those suffering it's effect! The meal was welcome, and was certainly as good as any other airline. I got my first choice, and enjoyed the familiar courses and accompaniments ending with the cheese and biscuits. And I think this was the first time I can remember that the red wine wasn't chilled!
So all in all, I enjoyed this experience. It was comfortable, roomy, I didn't get bored, I enjoyed the entertainment, the food and drink, and found the toilets clean, even at the latter stages of the flight. Negotiating Heathrow (and Kennedy airport) raised the anxiety levels, but Virgin can't be blamed for that. Staff were great, and exceeded my expectations. Best of all, I paid less than £200 return!
More details
Class flown most frequently
Economy
How often do you travel with this airline
First time
Where did you book
Online Travel Agent
Safety
Very safe
How well does it cater for disabled people
Don't know
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