So, finally at 5:30am I'm up and ready to go to the airport, only for my driver to phone and say he will be late - I could have had another precious 30 minutes asleep
After a good journey it was off to bag drop, absolutely no queue at all, and friendly check in agent so 30 seconds later I was off to T1 security. Now if you want to do security this is NOT how it should be done. It was absolutely impossible to work out which queue was the shortest, and unfortunately the one I chose they decided to just stop the x-ray machine for about 10 minutes. Much tutting later from fellow passengers and finally we were through.
I had previously booked into the Servisair lounge, so after I actually managed to find it I settled in and stocked up on coffee and snacks while using the free wifi, it was very busy - but at least it wasn't with the rest of the hoi polloi.
After a very quick boarding and on time take off drinks were served, alcohol is $6, but I just have to start a flight with a G&T:
Yep folks, that is Tanqueray gin, but sadly not the dearly departed T10. It slipped down very nicely, and had I been on a proper carrier I'd have had a second.
In-flight entertainment was very basic, about 9 video channels, and a few audio channels on a loop, all displayed on about 3 inch screens in the seat in front of you. Basically a waste of time, so I settled in for a flight with a Dick Francis novel (LHR->SFO == 1 Dick Francis novel)
Lunch followed swiftly, and was a remarkably tasty chicken dish of some description. Stupidly I didn't remove the foil when I took a picture, but it was probably one of the better Y class meals I have had, and it was polished off in double quick time.
I managed to catch a couple of hours sleep, and there was a very strange sight later in the flight - a seconds drinks run! I have never seen such an event on a VS flight.
After managing to fill in the paperwork first time (very rare for me - I always seem to screw up the passport number or the date somewhere) a snack was served. Again UA seemed to do this very well, it was basic (twix, crisps and a sandwich), but it was very tasty and filled in a little hole.
Before I really new it, we were flying down the valley, and making the final turn over Mountain View/Sunnyvale before heading back for finals. Everything from now on was absolutely excellent, everyone got off the flight really quickly, immigration was over in a flash and the baggage was very fast through as well.
A quick taxi ride later (lucky I had cash as his credit card machine wasn't working, which he didn't say till we got to the hotel) and I was in the hotel (quick shower and off to the office!).
All in all an excellent flight
Return was great as well, I slept for 8 hours
![][|)](./images/smilies/icon_smile_sleepy.gif "Sleepy"){kind=icon}
and breakfast was actually edible unlike VS W/Y breakfast (come on Virgin ditch the egg) 
