This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
After making our way through the throng of people, we eventually arrived at the Upper Class check in line. (Despite receiving two e-mails from Virgin encouraging OLCI, Mrs Buns is still firmly of the view that we should always check-in in person). However, only one check in desk was open and was dealing with a complicated checking for a small group of passengers travelling in wheel chairs. Eventually after waiting for over a quarter of an hour[n], I suggested to the Security agent that we would be happy to take the first available desk - this promptly occurred and our mission to get to the Clubhouse was back on. Armed with fast track passes and an invitation to the Clubhouse, we briskly made our way to the fastrack departure line to find that it was anything but and was not moving at all. So in an effort to make up lost clubhouse time we joined one of the regular queues and were through to the departure lounge and then the Clubhouse in no time at all.
The Gatwick Clubhouse remains haven of serenity and this was even more so as it seemed the main departure lounge was bursting at the seams and it was still not 8am. Once greeted at the Desk, we made our way to free spot where we could still see aircraft on the apron. Service was almost instant with orders for the bacon roll for Mrs Buns and the Clubhouse signature dish (Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs) for myself being taken. Needless to say both dishes came with the almost obligatory side order of fizzy stuff (the arrival of Mumms champagne in the Clubhouse is most welcome). As the morning progressed, Mrs Buns and I had the opportunity to chat with the regular staff there (including Jack the shoe shine man) and most, if not all, asked about the well being of LRoM. I was of course able to report that he was in fine form as I had been able to share his company during the recent V-flyer social to Las Vegas. (I am quite sure that Mrs Buns and I could dine out on the fact that we are acquainted with LRoM[;)][:I][;)]). Talking of dining, as the UC menu did not seem too inspiring, I took the opportunity presented by a delayed departure of half an hour to opt for a second breakfast ~ this time opting for the full english.
The flight finally called, we bid our farewell to the Clubhouse staff and, with some reluctance, made our way to Gate 31 to board the flight. Mrs Buns had once again secured her record of celeb spotting in the Gatwick Clubhouse adding another famous name to her list. After the massive trek to the Satellite Terminal we found the usual Gatwick boarding scrum with no separate lines for UC, PE or Gold Member pax, but apparently they had only just started to call for pre boarding so the line was not too long. Quickly through we were welcomed on board and went to our assigned seats 8A & K. This was the first time Mrs Buns and I sat on opposite sides of the cabin and must say that I much prefer sitting on the same side. Service was very efficient with drinks being offered as well as our coats being taken for storage. As I mentioned earlier, the flight had been delayed; however, push back was not until 12.05 and it was close on 12.30 before we were airborne. It is perhaps a sign of the times that UC & PE were full but Y was about 75% full
Although not provided with a copy of Carlos (which I had already read) we were given amenity kits, headphones (not noise cancelling as would be found on LHR flights) and a welcome return of hot towels being distributed shortly after take off [y][y]( a second round of hot tolwels were distributed just before land too). We were surprised to find that the on-board menu was a special Christmas edition featuring traditional turkey Christmas dinner followed by Christmas pudding it would have been rude not to have accepted the offer so we duly partook. For a pre-dinner drink I opted for the Bellini which was OK~but not brilliant~and Mrs Buns her usual Bombay Sapphire and tonic. As the drinks and meal service commenced, so did the limited Nova IFE. After the obligatory see what you are missing Virgin promo and Sky news, I settled down to watch the Wallace & Grommitt movie. It has struck me that the choice of music channels is limited with nothing appealing to those with more mature music tastes like myself[:?][:?], nevertheless after the meal I took a port and this added greatly to the opportunity to grab forty winks. Some two and a half hours later (or thereabouts) Mrs Buns and I sat at the bar and had a nice chat with crewmembers who were aware of the V-Flyer site and of the recent social to Las Vegas.
I was not too impressed with the pannini style of afternoon tea sandwich (but perhaps that is me being too much of a traditionalist). We touched down at 16.40 and was soon off the aircraft and through the efficient Immigration process at MCO and the even more efficient double carousel arrangement. Even with have the luggage screened by customs and having to virtually undress (well shoes, belt) to go through the secondary screening process, we were fortunate to have caught the end of one of the trucks transporting the bags to the main terminal so the second drop process did not delay us at all and we were out of the airport in 40 minutes and in our hotel within an hour[y][y].
All in all Mrs Buns and I were not disappointed[;)]
