This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
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Cabin Crew
How a good FSM can turn around a flight
Our trip began auspiciously.ooops, come to think if it, it didnt and our fortunes bobbed up and down like corks in a choppy sea. [:0] The first bob of the cork happened appropriately enough in Cork where we learned that VS had changed the rules and as we didnt have a through ticket to DXB we could only check our bags through to LHR and had to re-check them there. Bummer! [:(!] However check-in at ORK was empty; we had exit row seats; the flight left slightly early and arrived 20 minutes early (more Clubhouse time) and by the time we had yomped our way from the bowels of T1 where they hide the Aer Lingus flights our bags had come through and we were ready for the trek to T3.
At that hour of the afternoon on the Saturday before Easter LHR was relatively quiet and we transited with ease but at that things started to go a little bit pear-shaped and the cork started to bob once more. Arriving at the UC check-in area there was no queue and no sign of the security person. On these occasions either the check-in person has gone to fetch them or else we have been called forward and then subsequently had the security check at the desk. However nothing happened and after hesitating a few minutes watched by the guy at check-in we decided to approach tentatively. He immediately morphed into the angel with the flaming sword and denied us entrance into that paradise which is the UC check-in area. [V] Fortunately the security lady came rushing up with profuse apologies and did the check in the middle of the red carpet. When we approached the desk, I apologised to the guy, but I might as well have saved my breath. He checked us in in silence and his only communication was a curt instruction to Aer John to remove his golf clubs from the scales once they had been tagged. He handed us our boarding cards and asked us if we knew where the clubhouse was and that was that. There was no instruction as to where Aer John was to take the clubs, information about Fasttrack nothing. It was the surliest experience I had ever had but what got to me was that on his identity badge his title was Senior.. [:0]
Arriving at Fasttrack there was just one person ahead of us already at the machine but by the time we got there he was still at the machine arguing about taking out his laptop! [ii] Eventually he got through and as Aer John and I put up our bags we were asked in turn if we had a laptop. I just said, No. I can read signs. I know how to take them out and winked. He just burst out laughing. [:D]
The Clubhouse! What can we say about the Clubhouse? It is just stunning! We both had something to eat and had treatments Fresh as a Daisy for me and a haircut for Aer John. John also went into the jacuzzi and sauna and Im sure will post pics of that momentous occasion! The time flew and all to soon it was time leave for the gate which is one of the far ones in T3.
If you thought the cork bobbed a bit before now, well that was nothing compared to the next while as it was well and truly tossed on stormy seas. Arriving at the gate we found that boarding had not yet begun and in fact they said that the crew had only just gone on board so we had to wait in the gate area except with a plane-load of economy passengers already in situ there was nowhere to sit. However we had positioned ourselves so that once the boarding announcement was made we were one of the first ones on and made our way to seats 1A and 2A on Jetstreamer. The rest of UC were following on our heels and the cabin crew had barely time to plonk a glass of champagne down for each of us when true pandemonium broke out. A family of five (or thereabouts) including adult daughters had followed Dad who had been instructed to follow me to seat 3A. They were obviously UC virgins [:w] and had booked seats in the same row all expecting to be sitting together. When they found out to the contrary they made a fuss, especially sorting out who sat where and were shouting at the tops of their voices. In addition, another family of five which included a toddler and two teenage daughters also landed in UC and to Aer Johns horror the toddler was seated in the Suite opposite him. [}:)] However these teenage daughters were soon consigned to economy. It was bedlam and while all this was going on we were totally ignored apart from the IFBT who took bookings for treatments. We put our names down more in hope than expectation given that we had already had treatments in the Clubhouse. I had a problem stowing my carry-on but no-one was there to help me. Eventually the family behind us was settled and sleep suits were handed out to them, whereupon the girls retreated to the toilets and then started parading up and down like a fashion parade. No sleep suits for us though. In the meantime, the toddler had to be prepared for take-off and screamed as she was being buckled into her seat as she was over 2 she had to have her own seat. At this stage Aer Johns eyes were rolling big time and steam was virtually coming out of his ears. Mum decided to move toddler into the suite opposite mine together with her blankie and Grumpy Gertie book and she did seem to settle. However for whatever reason, the crew insisted that she had to go into her own suite, but fortunately she settled down there and Mum with the crews permission, sat on the ottoman with her until the very last moment. In fairness after take-off Mum settled her for sleep and there wasnt a peep out of her till landing. [y] I digress back to the chaos. By this time the FSM realised there was a problem with my carry-on and decided to stow it elsewhere but what neither he nor I had realised was that Dad in 3A had plonked his laptop on top of it so that when he pulled it out the laptop came flying out also and landed on the floor alongside Aer Johns suite fortunately missing everyone in its descent! [:0] Fortunately at this stage we were ready for take-off so a relative calm descended on the cabin.
After a quick and smooth take-off (I cant remember how late, but given all that was happening, not all that late) chaos was restored once more. The FSM soothed the guy with the laptop, giving him details of customer service etc, but he continued to bitch about it (Dammit! Hed put the laptop on top of my case. Hed seen that it wasnt properly stowed. Hed seen the FSM query whose case it was and explain that it was going to be moved. Why didnt he say something?) Gertie Grumpy was being read across the aisle from us and..
we continued to be ignored. [:#]
At this stage I realised I had two choices. I could continue to grumble to myself and later bitch about the flight in my TR or I could say something to the FSM and let him know how I was feeling. Aer John popped his head over the Suite clearly feeling as I did and so when the FSM passed a couple of minutes later I nabbed him and politely let him know how we felt that there was a complete lack of service as far as we were concerned. We acknowledged that it hadnt been easy given that they were trying to prepare the flight and they had been late on board and that there had been difficulties with some of the passengers and seating arrangements but that apart from the IFBT no-one had spoken to us and at this stage, an hour after we had come on board, we didnt know which cabin crew was looking after us. He apologised and acknowledged that it had been chaotic but that did not excuse a lack of service. He went away and returned to let us know who our cabin crew was and she followed on his heels to ensure we had drinks, sleep suits and to take our order for meals. Aer John was then called for his treatment rapidly followed by me and the FSM came back a couple of times to check if everything was all right. Full marks to him. [oo] After that I certainly couldnt complain about the service.
For dinner I asked for a main course portion of the salad but I wasnt really hungry and I found the salmon rather too salty. I did however have the rhubarb and crumble which was gorgeous. After that I joined others at the bar and did not use the IFE apart from the skymap. When we hit a bit of turbulence I returned to my made up bed and tried to [|)] for the remaining few hours and all too soon we were descending into Dubai. Altogether a flight made good after an inauspicious start! [y]
We had been given fast track vouchers for immigration prior to landing. We were on a remote stand and while UC disembarked the crew were very vigilant in holding back the economy passengers including two young boys who were trying to make a break for it! [:D] Once off the aircraft it was easy to see why. The bus was labelled VIP bus and once UC passengers were on board the doors were closed and we were off none of the pantomime you have at IAD where they wait for the mobile lounges to be full so unless you position yourself correctly you get trampled in the dash off the said lounge and lose any priority.
Immigration was a breeze a quick flick through the passport, a couple of stamps and we were wished a pleasant holiday. The case came off pretty quickly but it seemed ages before the clubs came to us and we had to go to enquire. We were told they were on their way but a couple of minutes later we saw them on the ground to one side. They could have been there for ages for all we knew. No matter. Just a quick hop for a taxi and we were on our way! [y]
. Like other love the idea of the VIP transfer - it seems logical but so few places do it! Nice TR - and thanks for the interjections AJ - let us know what the golf is like there!
