Virgin Atlantic Airways

There were long lines at the airport, like usual, but unlike previous flights there was no designated line for families with small children, so we had to wait in line for a long time and Astrid was getting antsy.

Security isn't all that different at LAX, except you must remove your shoes now. (Before you could refuse and they'd have you sit on a chair and do some swabs to your shoes and run it through a machine to test for any traces of explosive making residue.)

Since security chose our diaper bag to randomly search, they found and confiscated the tube of ointment we brought for Astrid's nose. (She did a face plant on the concrete a few days ago and we've been putting ointment on the tip of her nose so the abrasion will heal.) When I tried to explain that it's for our baby's nose, all I got in response was, "I don't make the rules ma'am."

Thank gawd for first class! We were so happy to get to the upper class lounge with the relaxed atmosphere, complimentary buffet, and drinks. After a couple glasses of champagne and some food, I felt human again.

In the photo above, Astrid is exploring the lounge and the flat screen TV featuring a game of rugby. Yes, we are flying Virgin Atlantic. No football games here."First class has its advantages!"

Uwe with his beer and a big smile.

David Lynch (the director) was on our flight. Here he is making himself a cappuccino (with his assistant standing next to him). The seats were shaped in a "U" booth configuration, so you can lie the seats down flat to make beds, or sit up with your own table and your own separate 2nd chair in front of you (to put your feet up on, or for a guest to sit in front of you.)Astrid checking out the entertainment center. The TV pops out and you can move it around to suit yourself. Lots of movies to choose from and a remote control so you can lie back and relax.Uwe was very happy with the quality of complimentary headphones which also cancel out the noise.

Here you can see the awful abrasion on Astrid's nose. Everyone keeps staring at her like she's deformed.A happy little jetsetter.Here you can see what our seats look like when they're turned into beds.

It took awhile for Astrid to fall asleep, but when she finally did she was out until breakfast when she woke up with a smile and in good spirits.

Virgin does a great job and I would fly with them again. My only complaints were:

1) It was too hot when we were sleeping. While we were up it was chilly, so in our thin Virgin PJ's it was perfect under the blankets, but then later on we were roasting in our sleep. Uwe even mentioned it to me the next day.

2) They are seatbelt happy. Anytime we hit a little bit of turbulence, immediately the seatbelt signs were turned on and no one could leave their seats. I saw little kids being turned back to their seats and not allowed to go to the bathroom until the sign was turned off. And they even woke me up when I was sound asleep to put my seatbelt on and to use the child seatbelt to strap Astrid to my seatbelt, even though she was sound asleep too. And it was only a minute of turbulence and didn't seem necessary.

3) I wish there was more privacy. I was woken up by a little boy with a thick British accent holding a bottle of water. I kept asking him what he wanted and finally figured out he wanted me to twist off the cap on his water bottle.

But 1st class is hands down the way to travel. We were even allowed to bring our stroller onboard with us, and they stowed it away in a closet. Other less fortunate families traveling in coach had to retrieve their strollers at baggage claim.

We found this out when a British lady exclaimed, "How'd you get your buggy?!" Huh? Say again? That's when we realized that the Brits call a "stroller" a "buggy".

First stop on our European vacation is London for 2 days.