This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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Sunday morning arrived, predictably though irritatingly so, quite early, it seemed, but there was my earnest friend Buns4vs, as promised, to whisk me from my hotel at Heathrow the short distance to T-3. Bidding thanks to Buns I quickly entered T-3 and managed UC check-in in short order, including a quick walk through Fast Track departures, a real bonus for VS' UC flyers. Heading straight for the CH and my pre-booked 'Rhinestone Cowboy' massage and shave, I was quite stunned to see the revised approach to the CH (Bazz had provided pictures earlier but alas, pictures can only tell part of the story). Arrival in the new CH, as one sweeps up those elegant stairs, is overwhelming in a wonderfully anticipatory sense that recalls the gilded age of travel when even short journeys once provoked wonderment and childlike excitement. I confess to being a bit misty-eyed when I saw all that Virgin has wrought with this superior new facility and an entranceway truly fit for kings and queens.
Shortly after being greeted and shown around by a lovely VS staffer I took a seat and none too soon, as fellow 'American in London' mcmbenjamin quickly appeared and bounded down the stairs to flop out of breath into the chair next to me. He and I had arranged to meet in the CH prior to our return flights; for the next two hours we enjoyed full English brekkies and a delightful drink known as Baileys & coffee (apologies to some who I know to be offended by such a 'wimpy' concoction), swapping stories over some of our shared experiences while in London for this long weekend.
All too soon it was time to say goodbye to mcmbenjamin and I began the 'trek up Everest' out to gate 42, the farthest outpost of the British Empire, where G-VSSH, Sweet Dreamer, an A340-600, awaited. The silver bird was beautifully clean and well appointed and the welcome from the cabin attendants was swift and genuine. After taking my seat in UCS, 3K (I'd recommend it!), and ordering a sparkling water, the IFBT came around to introduce herself and provide an amenity kit.
Taxi out began at 1141; as we glided by, I noted other famed VS aircraft resting at their stands, including Ruby Tuesday, my inbound aircraft. We were quietly airborne at 1204. Yes, what a quiet airplane the A346 is, I must say. And for those who've yet to fly Upper, I can say unequivocally that the UC experience on the A346 is very nice indeed.
Lunch was quickly brought around. To begin, I ordered the appetizer of leafy salad with chicken and tomatoes (chicken was a bit dry -- alright, a lot dry). In honor of a certain fellow V-Flyer I chose the vegetarian entree option, a vegetable and ricotta mixture that ladled into a pastry shell -- this turned out to be hot and very tasty. The task of washing down the meal fell to a respectable white Burgundy whose lineage may well have been royal, as the taste and 'mouth feel' were excellent. One of the FAs tried to add Pinot Grigio to my glass at one point, and the resulting combination was a cross between turpentine and 'Evening in Paris' parfum -- not good.
No matter, I got rid of the taste with three scoops of vanilla ice cream, once and always my favorite dessert ('cept perhaps for a bit of pie, on occasion).
VS' 346 fleet is V-Port equipped and I was ready to enjoy this system. After lunch I watched the first hour of 'War of the Worlds', if only to once again see my little hometown of Athens, New York appear in one of the film's important scenes, and to see the cherubic faces of my three greatnephews, hired as extras in the film. After the boys' faces passed on screen I moved my V-Port clicker to 'UK Comedy' and spent the next two hours absolutely in stiches with the gang from 'Little Britain'. Oh my goodness.
Wanting to prolong my UCS experience I asked that my seat be made up into a bed (in fact, most of the UCS pax were in this mode after lunch) and I went quickly off to sleep for about two hours. After waking I enjoyed the 'afternoon tea' service, selecting several excellent sandwiches and VS' reknown cheese plate (well, perhaps it's not reknown, but it is quite good). Very soon thereafter the IFBT beckoned and I pattered along behind to her station (on the A346 it is adjacent to door L-1: port side, forward) for a refreshing neck and shoulder massage. Having already enjoyed a treatment in the CH I was a little surprised to be selected for a second go 'round, but didn't want to appear rude certainly, and so I submitted to the kneading and prodding.
After leaving the IFBT station I glanced at my watch -- only two hours left? Where had the time gone? I'd so much left to do: view two more episodes of 'Little Britain' (my sides ached from my convulsing); reorganize carry-on (forget it, I thought; I'm heading home); check progress of trip on I-Map (ah, we were over Salt Lake City).
And then, before I knew it, our female captain was reassuringly describing our pending arrival at LAX and we touched down at approximately 1428, about thirty minutes early.
This was a weekend I'd long wanted. Nothing, not one moment disappointed, and the people of Virgin Atlantic made the trip all that much more worthwhile.
Chuck-
