My Aviation Gateway

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Since returning from holiday everyone’s been asking, “What’s with the cheesey grin?”

Well if you have to know, I just lost my Virginity, and to be really honest, I can’t wait to go back for more. I’m not a pushover you understand, but after hearing all the rumors, I had to find out what all the fuss was about for myself. So one minute I was innocently working away at my desk, and the next minute I was on the telephone to my travel agent booking a seat to Hong Kong for a couple of nights of serious shopping, and sightseeing.

I’m not one to tell, but as soon as I arrived at the Virgin Atlantic counter at Sydney Airport they were already waiting for me and inviting me to a special priority check-in for Premium Economy passengers, where a really friendly agent quickly checked me in with a big smile, remarking that I still had plenty of time to drool over the duty-free goodies before take off. Pretty fresh of her I know, but that’s just the start of it.

As I boarded the aeroplane, one of the crew suggested I slip into something a little more comfortable – like my seat – while she poured me a drink. Looking around with excitement I discovered it wasn’t just a line; Premium Economy really did only have eyes for me, and twenty-seven others people.

Not only were the seats wider than regular economy class – think, Beyonce dancing next to Kylie – the chair configuration of two, three, two across the aircraft provided just the right amount of personal space for me. Also, they’ve added extra padding, leg rests, and a generous seat recline. This baby was definitely built for comfort and just for me.

To put me in the mood before take off, I was offered a  wide selection of drinks, and a glass of champagne. I wasn’t going to let my guard down so early, but I’m having real glasses of French champagne, not just plastic picnic cups of Spumante you usually get. What did they think I was, a Business Class passenger?

Sipping noisily on my glass of bubbly, so they could hear me back in economy, I couldn’t help but notice a well-stacked set of amenities bursting out of the seatback pocket in front. I have to say I’m a legroom man myself, however, these colourful kits were more than a handful to say the least. Each one was stuffed with socks, eyeshades, pens ,notepads, tissues, and big enough to dry your dirty laundry in on the way home.

Once airborne, the crew really started to put on the moves. More drinks, unbeleivable meals (by airline standards anyway, although I did tell them it was the best I’d ever had), refreshing hot towels, and tempting snacks like ice cream and chocolate bars.

Shortly after dinner, the crew quietly dimmed the lights and lowered the shutters. However, this was not the time to roll over and go to sleep. The flight was still young, and the fun just beginning. Both Premium Economy and Economy seats are equipped with large seatback video screens. Being sensitive to our individual needs, Virgin offer 50 movies to choose from. I could play, pause, go faster, take it slow, back a little, and, of course, stop if the film was just not doing it for me. Whenever I felt like a break between the action, massive selection of TV shows, computer games, and audio channels awaited my every command.

After some initial fiddling around, I saw that each seat has its own phone and email address access. Naturally, I could have communicated with the outside world, but why bother when the real enjoyment was dialling seat numbers to prank call and heavy breathe other passengers for free until I learnt that my seat number appeared at the receivers end ( Damn). For those who would rather fly by the motto “all work and no play”, Premium Economy also provides an in-seat power supply for your laptop computer.

While gadgets might be a mans best friend, no airline gets far with me unless they can back it up with a great personality. That’s where the experienced and friendly Virgin Atlantic crew really made my first time really  special, even announcing over the PA system that they would be delighted for me to fly with them again! They haven’t phoned me yet, but I’m sure they will.

Now you know how I lost my Virginity and still have the big grin to prove it. But don’t take my word for it, give your travel agent a call and tell them “I want what he’s having”.

Brett and Steve

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