UC LHR-SYD via HKG - Nov

Hi there,

My first post - so please be gentle!

I'm flying to a wedding in Sydney via Hong Kong with Virgin at the end of Nov. I've flown Virgin only once before (back in 1991 MIA-LGW!!) so I'm a born-again Virgin in a way...

I'm so excited to be flying Upper Class from LHR-HKG then a few days in HK to see an old friend then UC again from HKG-SYD. I'll be flying back PE from SYD-LHR. I'm sure PE will seem a little less special than UC - but as I normally fly all the time in regular Economy PE will still be a lovely treat for me! In fact, I'm beyond excited at the thought of sitting anywhere in front of the curtain! My boss has paid for my flights (well, I paid the difference for the UC legs) so it's all so exciting!!

I've been reading through a lot of the posts on here and have found it very interesting and informative, but if anyone wants to give me any tips about flying UC for the first time (and PE for the first time), facilities at Heathrow/HK/Syd, or any other pointers from experienced flyers then I would be delighted...

Thanks!

I have flown that route in PE (last March), we had a brilliant time, we were very lucky that it was not completly full. Crew were really nice throughout the flight. PE cabin very comfortable.

One thing we did, upon getting to HK, was to go and have a shower, we had to pay $9 (US) but well worth it. Can't remember the name of the place, but it is up the escalators.

We are going back to Australia next March, and this time we are treating ourselves to UC - I CAN'T WAIT. [^]

Make sure you do a TR, It will be a good read, for a first time UCS user.

Have fun!
Mark

[Neil]

Hi Mazzy, firstly welcome to V-Flyer[y]

Glad you are liking the site, a good tip is to read the TR's posted by other V-Flyers, this will give you the best insight into flying UCS & PE, and many of the reports are from people flying these classes for the first time also. here is a first time UCS TR, and here is a first time PE TR.

For any specific questions/queires you have, its a good idea to utilise the sites Search Engine to see if any of the previous posts will be able to help you also.

Otherwise there are loads of really helpful people on here who will be able to give you some useful tips/hints etc

I am sure you will have a great flight and don't forget a TR on your return.

Neil:)

Thanks for that Mark..

Great tip about the showers - I'll watch out for that.

I fly UK-US a couple of times a year in Economy (I prefer Delta as it's US cabin crew and I feel as if my US holiday starts a little earlier that way!) but I haven't flown any further east than Dubai before now; nor have I had a longer flight than MAN-MIA so I'm hoping to not go too stir crazy on these long flights! That's why I'm so thrilled that I've got a bit of extra space and extra bits and pieces to keep me occupied (I'll probably be like an annoying child who keeps flipping my seat back and forth just because I can....)

I'll definitely follow up with a TR - plus photos! I presume you can take photos on planes? I seem to remember not being allowed at one point (years ago)...

Was looking forward to getting a nice little amenity kit (I have a couple of the Anya Hindmarch BA ones from a friend) but I'm disappointed that they have changed to.... well, a carboard box with not much inside.... according to the reviews. Well, there's plenty else to be excited about!!

Thanks!

Thanks Neil!

Have just been making my way through the TRs - especially those that you had pointed out - it makes me even more excited!!

Thanks again guys!

Originally posted by MazzyK
I'll definitely follow up with a TR - plus photos! I presume you can take photos on planes? I seem to remember not being allowed at one point (years ago)...

Doesn't seem to be any problem. Took some of my partner and the LFO "enjoying" PE this year..they said they were just resting their eyes...

Enjoy the trip when it comes round.

Paul

[honey lamb]

Hi Mazzy and cead mile failte go V-Flyer

My son, Aer John and I did the same route last July. Our trip reports are here, here and here. Unfortunately we didn't do the trip report for the last leg but as far as I can remember we had dinner, slept and had breakfast on waking.

You'll have a great time both on the flights and in Hong Kong and Sydney

Hi Maria - email or ring The clubhouse to book yourself a beauty treatment or haircut if you haven't already done so. You can do this 8 weeks before travel.

Jilly

Hi, Mazzy, and welcome. I'm writing this in Cairns, having arrived in Sydney on VS200 on Sunday. Great trip over, and I've had no symptoms of jet lag so far (which is just as well, as I was diving on the Great Barrier Reef 24 hours after arriving!

The whole UC bit was great (apart from the amenity kitswhich, according to the FSM on the HKG-SYD leg, are likely to be changed again before long). FWIW, I'd offer a couple of bits of advice. First, bearing in mind that most of the 20 or so hours you'll in flight are in darkness, you'll want a seat you're comfortable and can sleep in. My suggestion would be to go on the right side of the aircraft, at the front, so you are looking at the back of the middle seats. Seats 2-6K would be great, if you can get them. Secondly, set yourself up to arrive in Sydney at 6am from the start. I left LHR having eaten in the CH, and slept shortly after taking off for 5 hours or so. I then had 'a day' awake and watching films/reading/using the bar before arriving at HKG at c 5pm. I treated the second leg as a 'night', eating shortly after take-off and sleeping for the second half of the 9 hour flight, so it felt right to be at Sydney early morning. Take a change of clothes and grab a shower at both HKG and on arrival at Sydney (if you're able - I used the Virgin Blue lounge as I was flying on to Cairns). Result - no jet lag!

Anyway, have a great flight and enjoy the trip. If there's anything in particular you want to know, then ask away!

Best wishes

David

[honey lamb]

David, I think Mazzy is breaking her journey in HKG on the way out and is flying SYD-LHR on the way back.

Although I haven't done any of them straight through I was determined not to sleep on the SYD-HKG flight and I didn't. In fact it was the best flight of the four legs I had flown. If I had been continuing onwards I'm sure I would have slept on the HKG-LHR leg no problem after that.

And the moral of this is that I should read the whole of the OP in detail before replying - sorry about that!

Best wishes

David

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by DavidM
And the moral of this is that I should read the whole of the OP in detail before replying - sorry about that!

Best wishes

David

Don't apologise. Someone else may benefit by your words of wisdom [y]

Hi we did the trip just after Virgin had started the HKG-SYD segment and it was fab...

we stopped over in HKG for a couple of nights to break the trip which was fun..

The HKG- sYD segment was pretty empty .. so it was lovely and quiet got loads of sleep... so arrived in SYD refreshed and raring to go ...

first day there is was 36c and our friends route marched us around Sydney for the day ! ha ha

Hey Folks
I flew here on 01/09 in economy. I have to say the flight went by really quickly and the cabin was full!

You'll have a great time, though try not to laugh to hard at Peep show on V port, I got some funny looks! [:I]

I was on the first flight and that was amazing.