By Ursula Maxwell-Lewis
Sipping champagne in Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class cabin I soak up what closely resembles ultra violet cabin lighting. The pinky-lilac infusion, teamed with pre-flight champagne, produces the clearly desired relaxing, pampering effect. I’d rate as an Uber Cool Senior if I could reproduce this combination in my condo. For now, I’ll just bask in it here.
“Have you been introduced to your ’suite’?” enquires an elegantly coiffured flight attendant. Her French manicured nails, fitted signature red suit, matching ‘Dorothy’ heels, and “Upper Class Red” lipstick by bareMinerals accented only by understated jewellery are reminiscent of a more elegant airline era.
Seated companionably on what will double as my in-flight footrest, she quickly gives me the lowdown on accessing the adjustable recessed touch screen entertainment system housing 50 movies and my collapsible sliding tray table. Later, when I’m ready, she’ll slide my seat forward to convert it into a bed for me. Angled away from the fuselage wall toward the aisle, the ‘suites’ to my left and right offer privacy and generate a pleasant sense of being cocooned.
Cabin-centre to my left lurks an inviting mood-lit bar worthy of any cosy upmarket bistro. I picture it appealing to trendy business travelers westbound on 10-hour daylight flights to Vancouver.
FIRST CLASS – With a Virgin Atlantic Upper Class suite and champagne, Ursula Maxwell-Lewis takes the high road from Vancouver to Jubilee London, Cheers!
My comfy navy ‘sleep suit’ is delivered after dinner, quilts cover my now converted seat – and it’s sweet dreams at 32,000 feet over the Atlantic, Virgin Airlines-style. Drifting off to sleep I recall the DC-6 hold outfitted with a mattress I once slept in thundering over the Sahara. I think, “You’ve come a long way, baby.”
Having requested a ‘wake-up call’ for breakfast an hour out of Heathrow, I’m ready for scrambled eggs, fruit and yogurt. Unlike my usual long-haul flights, I feel refreshed and minus that grungy, numb I-slept-like-a-pretzel feeling.
Ten minutes ahead of schedule, Virgin Atlantic’s brand new A330-300 inaugural flight from Vancouver greases onto the London tarmac with barely a bump. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations are ahead of me, and, thanks to a good night’s sleep, jetlag will be the least of my worries.
Eastbound two weeks later I dropped into the Virgin Upper Class Lounge at Heathrow. Spacious and well appointed with casual and a la cart dining, my early arrival also allows me time for a complimentary 15-minute manicure and facial. Even my shoes get a little TLC from the shoe shine bloke!
Upper Class on the return included not only a comfortable 3-hour snooze and lunch, but also high tea before arrival in Vancouver. Who says flying has lost its lustre? I’m feeling Richard Branson-ishly out of this world. Definitely out of my world…and enjoying it.
Watch for ticket sales and competitive pricing if London is on your Bucket List this year. No matter which of Virgin’s three classes of service you chose, these folks have definitely upscaled the neighb‘air’hood. (I just couldn’t resist that!)
Virgin Atlantic, services Vancouver–London (Heathrow) Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday until Oct. 27. Costs from $778 plus taxes, book at virginatlantic.com. When planning your trip, remember that www.VisitBritain.com will help put your plans in perspective on the ground.
Ursula Maxwell-Lewis was a guest of Virgin Atlantic. As a former Air Hostess, she remembers when cabin pressure had a different meaning. Contact her at utravel@shaw.ca