VX909 LAS-SFO 30 JUN 10 (FIRST)
Posted: 11 Jul 2010, 21:09
It was a very happy honey lamb who therefore tried once the witching hour had passed and, doing all the things that were required with regard to changing my seat, there was the offer! Result! Well not quite. There had been a security alert on my credit card (put on when I bought a $3 bus ticket for the Golden Ace bus 
) and although I had spoken to the credit card provider, had the alert removed and told them that I could be making a purchase of $70 with Virgin America at a certain time, the card was refused. Still I had a second card which I rarely use and so with a certain amount of trepidation I used it. Bingo! I was delighted. I had two cases to check-in so if you deducted the $50 it would have cost to check them if I had remained in the Main Cabin, the upgrade cost me only $20. I could easily drink that in G&Ts! 
Some four hours later I was at McCarran and quickly found my way to the Virgin America First Class check-in where as nice a lady as you could wish swiftly checked me in and directed me to the First Class security line. When I got there it was the busiest line and the security guy in the employees' line called me over to that one so I was quickly through and at the gate.
VX was as bright and breezy as I first experienced two years ago. The gate agent took time to explain the boarding procedure a few minutes before the start and warned he would be strict about it. First Class was boarded first. A lady with a ticket marked zone A kept on trying to board but the gate agent, true to his word sent her back, firmly but politely. It didn't stop her trying it a second and third time and even when boarding actually did commence.
I was seated in 1A and I organised my possessions before stowing everything in the overhead bins. I was offered a pre-flight drink and soon a G&T was in my possession. The guy in 1C arrived and a very pleasant guy he was too.
We were informed that one of the male flight attendants had been Mr May on Virgin America's calendar and also Mr October was on board - nice to have some eye-candy!
As the safety demonstration was about to start, I asked Mr May how did we get to see the safety video. He replied that we didn't and that he was the safety video. Now, I did enjoy the VX safety video when I saw it 2 years ago but this was a most acceptable alternative. I don't think I've watched a safety demo with such concentration 
Once we were airborne I pushed a few buttons on my seat to see what would happen and surfed a few TV channels before I was offered another G&T and the choice of a large bag of nuts or cookies. That was the signal for Mr 1C to start chatting. He was a regular on VX - in fact he was a regular on most airlines including VS. He would have been perfectly at home here and I gave him a V-Flyer card before we left. As the flight flew, so did time and before we knew it we were making our descent into SFO. I was aware that VS19 had been delayed by 2 hours that day and sure enough as we taxied in, G-VWOW was still at the gate waiting to return.
So what did you think of First Class, honey lamb? I honestly don't know. I enjoyed the leg room and the G&Ts and the little bit of being spoilt by the crew but because of the shortness of the flight and the chat with my neighbour I never had a chance to try out all the bells and whistles of First Class.
