Flying Becomes Fun? (Update!) (Virgin Atlantic)

Member Name: lily7star

Product:	Virgin Atlantic
Date:	02/07/00 (815 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Refreshingly different, games consoles and seat back screens

Disadvantages: Restricted route choice, Disappointing service for unaccompanied minors.

As a family we have flown Virgin many times now, both transatlantic and on the Athens route.The following comments apply particularly to the transatlantic routes.

(Update regards children travelling as unaccompanied minors and is added at the end!)

Virgin is the airline we keep coming back to and which we choose over all the rest. Why? Well Virgin have discovered that people *like* something that's a bit quirky, that makes them smile, that is more about fun than formality, and as is his wont, Branson has changed the face of flying.

Not only does everyone get a goody bag containing toothbrush, toothpaste,notepad, pen etc, and the brightest socks you've ever seen (which is probably why they give you those things to cover your eyes), but kids also get a rucksac of things to fiddle with and/or eat,and so hopefully annoy the other pasengers less!

Food is better than any other airline I've flown, and if you order in advance, the kids can have the kind of stuff *they* enjoy best.....it really *is* a kid friendly meal, and is served before all the adults get theirs. You do have to pre-order it though, ideally 24-48 hrs before the flight.

Adults get a menu from which they can choose, and although the food is not wonderful, it *is* a lot better than most airline fare and shows imagination and flare.
A nice touch is getting an ice cream during one of the movies......who needs the cinema when you've got this?

And the movies, well a great choice, and although having more child friendly ones would be nice, the kids are so busy playing the nintendo that it really doesn't matter. It's also a nice touch to have the sky map where you can follow the progress of the plane across the skies........

Before the plane takes off there is a very relaxing sequence playing on the chair back consoles/tv screens and somehow flying doesn't seem so bad, even for the nervously inclined. Even the safety v
ideo is done with style and a touch of humour.

The New York crossing gives you just enough time to watch 2 1/2 movies, which seems a little crazy, but hey, you can always rent the video you only saw half of when it finally comes out in the UK!

There isn't a huge amount of leg room, but we have yet to find that on any economy flight, however flying Upper class is a different matter, and you can have a relaxing massage from your own personal attendant....

The Virgin Lounges at the airports which are for gold card holders are an experience in themselves....if you get the opportunity, arrive early and use them! My kids thought they'd died and gone to heaven, although all the chocolates and coke had undesired effects later in the flight!

Seriously, the lounges are relaxing and luxurious and in some you can have a haircut or have your shoes polished - all free of charge - there was even a heated loo seat :)
We found flying Virgin was fun and good value. It's our kids' choice every time, and would also be mine.

Fly Virgin, get the airmiles and fly Virgin again :) It's the new face of flying.

*****UPDATE*****

My kids recently flew out to New York as unaccompanied minors. They've done it once with BA (see my op if interested in further info on their excellent service) but this was the first time with Virgin.

For the first time I am seriously dissatisfied with Virgin's service. I do not believe that my boys were properly supervised either before boarding, and my 9 yr old son ended up arriving in New York in sub-zero temperatures at night without his coat which was left at the gate!

The coat alone I could have put down to an oversight, but it was typical of a lack of care and attention which came as a surprise to me after our otherwise very positive dealings with the airline.

Unlike BA, there seems to be no particular scheme for children flying without thei
r parents, and I was left without proper information and more worryingly, the children apparently left alone at the gate with no direct supervision. Most airlines board unaccompanied children as a first priority - Virgin boarded them last.

Unlike BA, it is also a requirement that the adult bringing the children to the airport remain at the airport until the flight is airborne. While I can see the point of this, it is yet another time at which communication can slip up and I've a feeling I was left waiting after the flight was already airbound despite enquiring about this at regular intervals!

I am complaining to Virgin, and would strongly advise any parent thinking about their kids flying unaccompanied, to choose BA if they want to be sure of their children's comfort as well as their security at all times.

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