V-Flyer

I am a virgin to Virgin.
Previously flew Cathay business LHR-HKG and was very impressed (apart from LHR Admirals Lounge which was a bit depressing- HKG lounge is stunning.) Service was good and attentive; seat and entertainment sys excellent (though the 747 was much better than the airbus on our return).
Anyway, we deicided to go Virgin Upper to try the new suite. Looked at the press releases and info that all planes ex-LHR would be converted by now. Evidently not. Asked Virgin customer services about this (very friendly lot) and got 4 different replies ! :- 90% chance; 50% chance; plane wasn't scheduled for refit; and then that it was due for refit in September. I think that is called hedging your bets!!
Basically i would like to know how comfortable the J2000 seat is and how good the "upper experience" is. Everything form food to comfort to service. (It would be a real bonus if someone out there has also flown Cathay for a comparison- but all repies are welcome).
Also, does anyone know the timetable for conversion to the suites. I am assuming we will be on an A340-600 so it will be one of the last to be done.
Thanks[:I]

you'll be on a V:port equpped a/c (99.9% likely) so you will have a great entertainment system, it's basically like a computer with a load of videos to access, you can create your own channel and view what you want to view when you want.

Plus there's not only new films, they put good films on there too, like pulp fiction.

Cathay used video on demand. I presume V port is the same. A lot of other people though complain of it malfunctioning. Are they in the minority ?

In addition to Blythys thread..
The Virgin Upper class experience starts at your house (with a J/D ticket)
or at the airport with the super apex J
with the exception of limos and limo checkin the rest of the experience is the same regardless of UC ticket type

you can divide the rest into two areas; the airport(Clubhouse) and the flight

Airport
You'll get an UC check in (if needed) and fast pass through security

The Clubhouse
The fun part!!
(All you can) drink/eat (inc hot food)!!
all served at your table
1 V-touch treatment is available (Haircuts massage etc)
Shoe Shine
Showers
Games
Internet

(not going into too much detail as there are loads of threads re the LHR Clubhouse)
Virgin Atlantic LHR Clubhouse Details

The Flight

You'll be sat in a fairly spacous UC cabin!
You'll have either a J2000 or UC Suite seat - the latter being the biggest flat bed in business

Freedom menu
What you want to eat when you want

IFB
massages available.

Very attentive cabin service

etc:D

Most people really enjoy it
if you click here Type UC in the search for: and subject only in the search in: and you can read other members UC experiences

The on board service from CX will be a little bit more attentive than the VS service, but thats what u get for having an all asian based crew, look at the inflight success of CX, MH, NH, SQ and JL!!!

VS crew tend to be more human and not so robotic like some of the above airlines.

Dont forget you will get a nice sleep suit to change into a proper on board bar with stalls not like CX small place to gather.

Also a freedom menu so you can eat what u want when you want, no set meal times, although due to the times of your flights dinner will be offered after take off and breakfast before landing.

Overall VS is fantastic product, hope you like it and look forward to your trip report!!

quote:Originally posted by galgorm
Cathay used video on demand. I presume V port is the same. A lot of other people though complain of it malfunctioning. Are they in the minority ?

Hi galgorm and welcome,

My own experiences with v.port have all been positive, I think there were a few teething problems and there have been a few bugs on some systems but overall the product is pretty reliable.

On three flights where I've seriously used V:Port, I have had two good ones, and one almost complete disaster that required three reboots.

I maybe should add a little more info.
We are flying from Belfast to LHR with BMI so i,m not sure if I can pre-book my seat on the Virgin flight.
We fly out on 25th October - looking at the great thread on the refit schedule, how far in advance would you be able to find out which plane you would be likely to be flying on.
Thanks for the replies
All are appreciated
Pulp fiction @ 32000ft with a glass of wine is definitely the way to travel !

It strikes me that V:Port is now running without any problems. Obviusly you maybe unlucky and have to have u system restarted. This happens on all airliens though! Last time i flew SQ they restarted the nieghbouring Paxs system 4 times! VS have simular problems with Odyseey only last month 4 Pax in my row on a 744 had either no sound or the system crashed! Guess what im trying to say is the teething problems are over and that any problems u now experience with V:Port could happen on CX, SQ or any other airline!

V-port has improved dramatically over the last few months, so that now there will be just a small percentage of faults if any at all.

One of the main problems was when the system was turned on you had ove 350 all trying to access the system at once and then there would be a fault.

These days with new software loaded, the system is very very good.

Entertainment has been hot on the 'must get right' list and people are getting in trouble if screens are not working so be assured you have a very slim chance of anything going wrong.

declansmith, am I right in saying tha V:prot is an ideal system to work with, as it's a blank canvas, and can be updated, much like a PC just by adding new software, peripherals (e.g. greater storage capacity) and so on, while the old systems are more like a bank of feeds, and there's a maximum feed limit