Going to Antigua in 2 weeks, is it worth Upgrading?

Endora_2

We had PE seats on lower deck going out to Antigua but with 2 people sat in front of us still found leg room limited when they reclined their seats. Wish we had their seats as they had a "wall" in front of them so had extra leg room and they were both small women, each travelling separately. Flight time was only 7hrs 21mins going and 7 hrs return (not 8hrs 40mins as stated in Thomas Cook brochure). The video entertainment system kept on "freezing" on the way out so took 2 attempts to watch a film all the way through. Although meals were served in "china" and you had "real" cutlery the food was not all that good, but then how much can you do with that type of food!

Endora_2

Virgin crew seemed attentative and polite and did all they could in the confined space. On arriving at Antigua we were one of the first few passengers to disembark and get in the queue in the arrivals for immigration only to find that we should've been given immigration forms to fill in on the plane to hand in with our passports. The lady on the desk/counter had these forms but by the time we had completed them all the passengers had disembarked and we had to go to the end of the queue! We asked one of the cabin crew as they came through why we hadn't received these forms on the plane (like everyone else seemed to have) and were told they had "run out of them"?! Finally got through passport control and picked up our one suitcase we had another 20 min wait for our taxi shuttle to take us to the hotel. All this in very hot and dry conditions (no air-con in the airport either). Flight back a lot better as got seats in the bubble on the upper deck, more leg room and managed to watch 2 films all the way through with no technical faults. On landing back at Gatwick, we were one of the first lot of passengers to disembark, our case was about the 8th one up the ramps and we walked straight through customs, there was no one there that time of the morning (5am-ish), straight out of the airport and onto the shuttle bus to Holiday Inn and collected car. Was home early too as no delays on the M25 that early in the morning and on a Sunday too.

Endora_2

What a fantastic hotel and stay we had here just recently. My husband and I had booked a week to celebrate out 25th wedding anniversary and to renew our wedding vows. We were greeted at the concierge reception by a glass of champagne, plate of canapes and cold flannels. It was then a great surprise to hear that they had also upgraded our room from the Deluxe Honeymoon Suite without concierge to the Venetian Suite with concierge. Only slight problem was that when showed to our room it wasn't ready so we made use of the resort's bar and pizzeria to get some lunch and cold drink. As it was an all-inclusive holiday nothing had to be paid for and in a hours time our room was ready, and what a room. Four-poster bed made for giants! We have a super-king size bed at home and this was even bigger and I needed stepladder to get on it!! Plasma tv on wall, free mini-bar and cold drinks in fridge. Large corner bath with jacuzzi and shower to fit an elephant in if needed! The view we had from our 2nd storey suite was spectacular too, we had views of the garden, main pool and the sea. It was just a pity we could only stay for a week, but what a week, I would recommend this resort to anyone who wants a romantic getaway.:A

Aidenr

Hi Endora,

sorry to hear about the flight on the way out ! what a nightmare !
Fingers crossed that the flight home in the "bubble" made up for it!

Landing forms can eb a pain as they are supposed to be given out on checkin and with limited amount on the plane, this can cause difficulties. Something that Virgin needs to sort out !

Entertainment as often said on here is the bain of the crews life. I know that there are plans to retro fit the entertainemnt at some point but, I know that does not help now that you have travelled !

Glad to hear no negatives on the crew as if my colleuges are anything like me, we do try with what we have.

well congrats on the wedding vows and indeed your 25th aniversary !
hope all is well

Aiden.x

Endora_2

Aidenr wrote: »

Hi Endora,

sorry to hear about the flight on the way out ! what a nightmare !
Fingers crossed that the flight home in the "bubble" made up for it!

Landing forms can eb a pain as they are supposed to be given out on checkin and with limited amount on the plane, this can cause difficulties. Something that Virgin needs to sort out !

Entertainment as often said on here is the bain of the crews life. I know that there are plans to retro fit the entertainemnt at some point but, I know that does not help now that you have travelled !

Glad to hear no negatives on the crew as if my colleuges are anything like me, we do try with what we have.

well congrats on the wedding vows and indeed your 25th aniversary !
hope all is well

Aiden.x

Hi Aiden,
Glad to see you're still on here, I was wondering if your job was in jepordy as heard that they were making job cuts with Virgin Atlantic. Re those immigration forms, we even did the twilight check-in of our luggage the night before the flight and we weren't even given these forms then?? Did ask the cabin crew if they knew of you but no one seemed to know an Aiden, do you work on the Gatwick flights?:A

Aidenr

Endora wrote: »

Hi Aiden,
Glad to see you're still on here, I was wondering if your job was in jepordy as heard that they were making job cuts with Virgin Atlantic. Re those immigration forms, we even did the twilight check-in of our luggage the night before the flight and we weren't even given these forms then?? Did ask the cabin crew if they knew of you but no one seemed to know an Aiden, do you work on the Gatwick flights?:A

Bless your heart !
Yes I work Gatwick and Heathrow flights, but mainly do Heathrow due to living closer to that airport as we are dual based

Yes, those pesky forms really frustrate me! have 400 imigration forms on the plane is not really praticle, but as said VS really need to sort it out, from Gatwick.

well must get to bed as in Hong Kong at the mo and have a long 12hr flight back to the UK :eek:

Take care.x

Endora_2

Aidenr wrote: »

Bless your heart !
Yes I work Gatwick and Heathrow flights, but mainly do Heathrow due to living closer to that airport as we are dual based

Yes, those pesky forms really frustrate me! have 400 imigration forms on the plane is not really praticle, but as said VS really need to sort it out, from Gatwick.

well must get to bed as in Hong Kong at the mo and have a long 12hr flight back to the UK :eek:

Take care.x

Hong Kong eh, lucky you, I actually lived in Honkers from 1976-78 when my father was in the Army and we were based out there, lived in Kowloon. Best time of my life as was teenager then and had lots of freedom to go anywhere I wanted with my friends. I left just as they were starting to build the MTR, I think it's changed quite a lot since I lived there tho, would love to go back one day but not sure of the long flight! Have safe trip back to UK.:A