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We flew from LHR > MIA. This was my first UC flight post pandemic.
In short, if I didn’t have time for the Clubhouse, I would be looking elsewhere.
Clubhouse – as the reviews on this site say – the Clubhouse experience is great. I am one of the nutters who use a Peloton bike before getting on a 10 hour flight. Best pre-flight experience ever. Most people will miss the spa I think.
Flight – food is average to dreadful. A bad mix of cost cutting limiting the crews ability to flex and poor menu selection. Pork cheeks or trout? Who thought this was a good idea. Dessert or cheese board? The cheese board itself reminded me of the line in Succession about the downside of flying commercial. The only decent option for afternoon tea – the chicken burger ran out after the first row. There were a lot of people complaining about the food.
No pyjamas – I am sure they used to be an option on day flights, but maybe my memory is playing tricks on me.
The Virgin staff remain outstanding. The reduction in crew numbers did show despite their Herculean efforts.
Does the Clubhouse and Virgin staff make up for a poor seat and disappointing food? For our very personal situation e.g. teetotal Peloton lover travelling with child – just about. I think for most normal people, probably not.
Agree with the point on food, I flew LHR-ATL in November and last week LHR-LAS. The menu on both flights has been exactly the same. I tried the pork cheek first time and wasn’t impressed. I settled for the Vegetarian pie this time which was actually decent. The state of the afternoon tea has declined and the crew were very stingy with the wine at mealtime. The quality of the champagne (Ayala?) has also dropped significantly. Overall they are great but you just don’t see them as often and I was regularly having to go and seek them out to get a drink or a snack. We sat at the bar on the flight last week and they apologised that they had no cabin crew able to staff it as a bar.
The clubhouse remains awesome, prefer the garden plane watching to the Peloton but they look good.
Hoping the flight back from LA on Sunday is better. You do get pj’s on the night flights.
Don’t forget the revivals lounge on your return.I’ve done Atlanta in December and Vegas, San Francisco in January. Same menu on all flights but limited amounts of each; as I was just ‘happy’ (erm…tiddly) to be travelling again I didn’t care what I ate, so volunteer to eat anything. Ended up with the vegetarian pie on last trip which was, as someone else said, perfectly acceptable. Slight downside for my liver was that the crew then gave me even more alcohol, some to takeaway and as many desserts as I could eat.
Agree that the LHR Clubhouse is great and I even enjoyed 6 hours in the semi-alfresco plane watching terrace of the Delta lounge in Atlanta, but it’s not a patch on LHR for food, champers and service. As for pyjamas, on the last trip, only small size had been loaded. And the Revivals lounge at LHR, I actually thought I had wandered into the wrong place as it didn’t seem very ‘Virgin’. Upstairs in T3 arrivals and not well signed.
Virgin cabin crew seemed much less robotic than Qatar and more ‘normal’ than their BA equivalents, just seemed to be happy to help, chat, not look bored and not making it obvious that they’re keen to rush off to bed. We asked to be woken in case Aurora Borealis appeared, which resulted in half the Upper Class cabin and several crew trying to find the best viewing spot for us all. I was also impressed to find on a trip to the loo that one of the crew was cleaning the toilet doors from top to bottom with wet wipes. And when having a nocturnal ‘snaccident’ they insisted on helping me even though I tried to decline, it’s a bit like they got a bonus for every customer interaction. Maybe they’re just happy to be back working?
BA service is just so unpredictable. My recent Virgin experience is best summed up – as a southerner – as a bit like going ‘up north’ where people are just more friendly and in less of a rush. 🙂
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The VS crew were the height of professionalism – I heard the FSM saying to one irate passenger that providing feedback would help them. I am not sure – I think their financials are so bad that that bulk buying chick peas (they were in every dish) is probably a necessity.
Thanks for the tip about the Northern Lights and vegan pie, will definitely try for those on the way back.
Can anyone confirm whether this vegetarian pie contains mushrooms or not? 😬
They are not listed in the menu. Main ingredient is cauliflower and lentils. It is vegan so pastry is probably flour and oil.
I’m pleased it’s not just us that hopes for the Aurora to make a show. The first time it happens I was gobsmacked that 90% of the passengers didn’t care. I spent an hour with the blanket over my head at the window as the lights were all turned up so you couldn’t see them.
I hope the food improves by September. It reminds me of the first ever UC flight when my husband preordered the lacto free meal. Outbound was ok but the return from SFO was a noodle dish which looked like something my cat would throw up and tasted disgusting. The poor crew were so embarrassed, and cobbled together something from a main meal instead. We have learnt now not to pre order as luckily we don’t have full on allergies!
Re: food
Outbound (Dec’21 to Miami) we got the choice of:
– Braised pork cheek
– Roasted fillet of trout
– Vegan spiced cauliflower, spinach and lentil pastry pieInbound (Jan’21 from Atlanta) we got choice of:
– Miso roasted chicken and soba noodles
– Tikka spiced seared salmon
– Smoked Gouda mac and cheeseBiggest limiting factor for me to not want to fly Virgin is that old naff upper class “flip it over for a bed” seat on the 787. I enjoyed the flight though and thought staff did a decent job 🙂
I didn’t realise they’d put pelotons in the clubhouse – such a good idea! How many bikes are there? It’s so nice to see a lounge focus on something non-gluttonous for a change – as much as I like having a meal somewhere relaxing before I fly, I always think the worst thing you can do before a long flight is overindulge – getting a proper workout before you sit for hours is ideal!
Can I ask, what did you do with your kit? Do they have spin shoes or did you bring your own? Once i’ve done 90 mins of spin my workout gear is drenched and not something i’d want in my hand luggage for the next 8+ hours!
Think it’s 3 peletons. There was a review of clubhouse not long ago: https://www.headforpoints.com/2021/12/03/review-virgin-atlantic-clubhouse-lounge-heathrow-terminal-3/
Where would you shower though? Are those still open in The Clubhouse?
Er…you *would* shower after you’ve been on a Peloton before I get to sit next to you on the flight to Miami?
There were 3 standard Peloton bikes (not bike plus). They were gym fit outs, bit not the domestic ones so has SPD pedals not delta cleats. I had figured this out after seeing a press shot for the bikes. There were clips on the other side for anyone wearing trainers.
My gym kit went into zip lock backs that I had been using when exercising at work. I got showered in the shower’s in the Clubhouse. Absolutely fantastic – they had a steam function and huge towels.
I don’t mind the beds when they lie flat but the regular seat position gives me back ache.
Good to know the food changes on the way home.
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