HIGH FLYER - VIRGIN ATLANTIC'S SYDNEY TO HONG KONG ROUTE
High flyer - Virgin Atlantic's Sydney to Hong Kong Route - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Virgin Atlantic’s Sydney to Hong Kong Route | |||||
| By: Jenny Caspersonn, Issue 44 – Spring 2010 | |||||
| (Virgin Atlantic, Sydney, Hong Kong) | |||||
| LUXURY TRAVEL MAGAZINE’S EDITOR-AT-LARGE JENNY CASPERSONN REVIEWS THE UPPER CLASS SERVICE ON VIRGIN ATLANTIC’S SYDNEY TO HONG KONG ROUTE. | |||||
| Virgin loves to shake things up. Virgin’s founder and president Richard Branson is known for challenging conventions and his foray into the airline industry in 1984 with Virgin Atlantic Airways is no exception. Cheaper fares, competitive routes and a more youthful approach to the staid business of flying are hallmarks of the Virgin Atlantic brand. Let’s see if Virgin Atlantic’s business class - Upper Class - is up there with other airlines. | |||||
| THE CHECK-IN | |||||
| The check-in procedure was straightforward and facilitated by a polite and efficient staff member who took the trouble to provide a detailed cabin layout and make recommendations for particular seating. She was also thoughtful enough to offer helpful directions for the changed design at the newly renovated Kingsford Smith Airport. Express cards are issued for Immigration and customs fast-tracking. | |||||
| THE CABIN | |||||
| The cabin – with an agreeable colour scheme of soft grey, aubergine and crème - is configured in a modified herringbone layout designed to ensure everyone faces forward. Parts of the cabin have the seats looking toward a half wall that is pleasantly private for individual travelers, while couples can sit diagonally facing each other in the double seats if they so wish. There is a convivial separate bar; the Virgin Redhead cocktail is particularly recommended. | |||||
| THE SERVICE | |||||
| The cabin crew greeted passengers with an interesting mixture of British and Asian accents. All were attentive with that youthful Virgin vibe. Want an extra snack? A bucketful of melting moments biscuits appears. With their immaculate makeup and bright smiles the crew dealt cheerily and patiently with the usual pre-take off flurry of seat-swapping and general fussing about. | |||||
| THE SEATS | |||||
| The leather seats have touch button controls to enable the flip over conversion to a fully flat bed, noted as the most generous in any business class at 22” wide and 79.5” long. As it requires some expertise, the crew happily set the beds up complete with mattress, feather doona and blankets. Laptop storage is adequate, not enormous, but the location of the entertainment monitor is very convenient and a nifty fold down drinks’ shelf and snug nook for sleep-time goodies are useful additions. Clever seat design means that two people may dine together sharing the tray table. | |||||
| THE ENTERTAINMENT | |||||
| Interestingly, Virgin Atlantic was the first airline to offer business class passengers individual TVs with the introduction of Sony Video walkmans and a library of films in 1989. These days the V-port entertainment system showcases a slew of movies, TV shows and music on demand and obvious thought has gone into catering for a broad range of tastes. The hand control is user-friendly and the system delivers clear sound without any distortion through comfortable noise cancelling headsets. | |||||
| FOOD & BEVERAGE | |||||
| The “Freedom Menu” allows passengers to choose from the list of meals and snacks what they want when they want. It provides a range of contemporary and traditional cuisinefrom around the world offering, for example, European beef tenderloin, fish or pasta with an Asian dish of chicken and jade melon with black bean sauce. Vegetarian and lighter, healthier options are indicated on the menus. The wine suppliers Berry Bros. & Rudd are Virgin’s exclusive wine suppliers providing a selection of white wine from California, Spain and France and reds from Argentina, Spain and Chile. A full range of spirits and cocktails is available in-seat and from the bar. The highlight of the meal service, however, may be the adorable two-footed little jet engines masquerading as pepper and salt shakers. | |||||
| THE EXTRAS | |||||
| A handy lap top gift bag contains the usual practical necessities of earplugs, socks, shoe bag, eyeshade, toothpaste and toothbrush. Comfy black pyjamas are distributed with plenty of time for pre-take off changing. The delicately named Cow Shed brand offers Dirty Cow hand wash and Cow Pat hand lotion in the bathrooms. For Upper Class passengers, a limousine transfer service to the airport is available within a 60km radius. | |||||
| THE GRIPES | |||||
| Virgin has always been associated with music and a rousing Style Council track greeted the passengers upon boarding. Upbeat and pleasing to my ears it may have been a little loud for some older travellers. | |||||
| FLIGHT FREQUENCY ON THIS ROUTE | |||||
| Flights leave once daily from Sydney to Hong Kong. There are no flights to Hong Kong from other Australian capital cities. | |||||
| FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM | |||||
| Virgin Atlantic operates a Flying Club Program with three levels of membership, where you can earn points from miles travelled to spend on rewards, as well as earn through use of the Flying Club’s earning partners including hotels, airlines and car rentals. | |||||
| ON-TIME PERFORMANCE | |||||
| The flight departed on time. To the minute. | |||||
| FARES | |||||
| Fares start at A$6,373.18 for Upper Class Virgin Atlantic Airways is based at both London’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports operating long haul services to 30 destinations worldwide. www.virgin-atlantic.com | |||||
| FLIGHT LOG | |||||
| Sydney to Hong Kong on Virgin Atlantic’s Airbus A340-600 Upper Class Suite | |||||
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