This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
As I mentioned in my previous TR, on the final day we went to the Stephen F Udvar-Hazy museum at Dulles a great place to go and they have an observation tower too. The aircraft land either side of it so you get a good view of Dulles. We watched as Dragon Lady lined up on approach and landed nice to know the flight should be on time! Spent a few hours there and then headed off to drop the car back and catch their shuttle to the terminal.
Drop off went smoothly and we arrived at the terminal at about 3.30pm. Id checked in online the evening before but couldnt see the fast bag drop. UC check in was empty so after the usual security questions a lovely lady ushered us forward and took our bags which she labelled up and then gave us our pre-assigned seats. She asked if wed like to use revivals and gave us pre-written invites which didnt have the ticket fare written on them (Z). I asked her to point me in the direction of the walkway which she did and we set off to go through security (which was quick and staffed by friendly and amusing TSA people a nice change!)
Used the walkway to get to the clubhouseNow I have to confess that I thought about logging onto the PC to check v-flyer but was concerned that Id spot the cricket scores and, after almost 2 weeks respite I wasnt in the mood to see if we were already in danger of losing the 5th and final testOh how I wish Id logged on! I missed a message from mcbenjamin!!! We could have met up I have now mailed him my apologies and I hope he forgives me!! I owe you a drink!
The lounge was lovely I think we were the first in so we were given a quick tour and we chose a seat by the window. Drinks and menus were quickly provided and I chose the house salad and a dry white whilst OH had the shrimp and a Sam Adams. Both were very good. More and more people started to arrive and many of the seats were taken but it didnt feel as busy as the LHR clubhouse did despite being half the size. Dragon Lady was parked at the gate and shed thoughtfully disgorged some up to date newspapers into the lounge chose an FT for him and a Times for me. Other than that, there was only a golf magazine available (zzz) so perhaps a few more local mags would be a good idea? Finally the flight was called about 6.15pm with the promise of another call in 20 minutes. Used the time to nip to the shops to buy a Hail to the Chef cooks apron, a spectacular pink First Lady t-shirt and some National Embarrasmints (fight errorism boot Bush)
Walking out of the clubhouse and straight onto the plane was great. Just how flying should be!! We were welcomed on board with champagne, which is OK but it has a sharp taste Im no expert on wines and such but it doesnt taste that great. Still, I like to make the most of every experience so I always pick it over orange juice. Water was already available and the same Carlos as before. A complete lack of other interesting magazines on board smacks of more dimes pinching to me. Sleep suites were offered rather than handed out so, as I didnt feel like changing I declined (but I would have preferred them to be handed out as a matter of course like they were on my last flight makes them seem like an optional extra otherwise)
UC and PE were full and yet again, Y was on the light side loads of empty seats. I cant work this out its obviously great for VS that their premium cabins are full but flying with loads of Y capacity doesnt make sense is it because of the pitiful leg room or their prices or that fact that this isnt a B&S route? Who knowsThe IFTB come and said hi but we both declined a treatment as we wanted to sleep. The captain announced a quick flight back to LHR and we set off on time. Another smooth take off and climb with fantastic views of Dulles, the museum and the surrounding areas. Headed north over NYC and Nova Scotia it was a couple of hours before the lights on the ground faded awayThe FSM handed out customs cards to those that needed them and when I said no thanks she gave us each a pink fast track anywaynice touch.
Food. Where to start. I chose soup and cheese and biscuits with a glass of merlot. I filled in my breakfast card and asked for cereal and omelette without the accompanying potatoes. I ask for tea and OJ too. The breakfast order was whisked way and evening drinks delivered. Another 20 minutes went by and still no food or IFE either. OH had chosen the soup and the crusted lamb. He too ordered breakfast (a bacon roll). Another 10 minutes (on a short flight when you want to sleep.) and the soup finally arrived. It was hot (good) but contained 3 or 4 slices of very hard under cooked potato floating in the middle. I left these and ate the soup with some garlic bread (that wasnt). OHs was better. Next my cheese and biscuits arrived. Bearing in mind I had skipped the main meal and opted for cheese instead I expected a platter, but no. A small tea plate with 3 small slices of differing cheeses and about 5 biscuits of all the same variety arrived. On the side of the plate was 3 (three) grapes on a denuded stalk (it looked like someone had picked off the other grapes and eaten them). By this time I was getting too tired to bother so I ate some very poor brie, the 3 grapes and left the rest. When I think back, no one asked if the meal was OK or was I happy with my choice etcyou get that courtesy in most restaurants these daysshame it didnt happen in UC.
OH reported that his lamb was well cooked enjoyable although the parsnip strings were oily, hard and inedible. The merlot was fine and we both had a second glass. I gave the food and indifferent service 2 out of 10. OH suggested 5 would be farer for him as he enjoyed the lamb (and he had a young dolly fawning over him so that kept him happy in his shallow little pool)
Food finally finished and I settled down to sleep. The IFE had finally been re-booted but half the films werent available and they were showing Madagascar again but I didnt bother as I needed to sleep. I awoke three hours later to find the cabin in full breakfast mode. Once Id woken up my breakfast tray arrived. Special K was OK, OJ was OK, but the ordered tea appeared as coffee. The omelette was rubbery and inedible just revolting. I left it and thought about eating in Revivals instead. The captain said LHR was foggy so they needed to get the plane ready for an automatic landing he also said we may have a delay but when we landed _ hour later, the mist was patchy and we sailed down the runway to a gentle landing about 10 mins behind schedule.
Priority disembarking worked fine but as we were getting off one of the ground crew was talking into his walkie-talkie commenting to someone that Revivals is already full to bursting so I made an instant decision to skip it (based on the last trips experience) and to go get the car instead! Customs was the usual bun-fight and even with the fast track it took about 10 mins to queue and get through. Bags off quickly.
End of another UC flight. Actually it was only my 4th UC segment. I dont want to seem blas_ but the experience has just not lived up to my expectations. Im left in a quandary. Do we persist with VS or do we give BA another try? Ive got used to flying in J but if thats all VS can offer then Im sorely tempted to look elsewhere at other cabins. I find myself depressed writing this. I want to be able to write a rave review and I cant I much prefer to praise than to criticise but there wasnt much to comment on (apart from the excellent IAD Clubhouse and I left a note in their book)
If anyone has any questions, fire away.