This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
We went straight to the Club House and got our Revivals passes (once again, Fare Code written on - why is that?) and bagged a nice corner seat next to one of the ironically named 'Fast Internet Access' terminals. I swear these aren't even 56K. Drinks were offered and accepted and I nipped into the toilet to change out of my somewhat dishevelled clothing. Came back, started my iPaq charging and caught up with some news. Mrs D was planning on taking advantage of the Good Night Flight 'straight to sleep' option so was keen to eat in the clubhouse. We awaited the much vaunted 'improved food options' with expectation. The reality seems to be 'no change'. EWR stalwarts can correct me if I'm wrong but the menu (which referred on the bottom to 'or enjoying the Freedom Menu' on board) was as follows :-
From the Hors D'Oeuvre Trolley
Chicken Liver Pat_ with Melba toast
Selection of Sushi with wasabi ginger and soy sauce
Traditional cheese and spinach spanokopita (traditional for who? Some context might be nice)
From the dinner buffet
Soup of the day served with a selection of fresh breads
Saut_ed Chicken Francais in butter lemon and white wine sauce topped with Pecerino Romano and Parsley
Beef and grilled vegetable wrap
Portobello mushroom roasted in basil and balsamic vinegar with blue cheese dressing
Shrimp Club Salad
Seasonal leaf salad with kalamata olives, feta cheese and red wine vinaigrette.
Ice Cream Selection
Mini Italian Pastries Selection
Seasonal Fresh Berries with creme fraiche
Cheese selection with accompaniments
and a fairly comprehensive wine list.
I picked at some sushi and the chicken but it actually reads better on paper, this is mass produced food turned out like in a staff canteen - none of the individual catering of the JFK CH.
Boarding was called and in deference to Mrs D I removed my shoes on the way through security - embarrassing myself is one thing... down to the gate and an empty priority line allowed us to rapidly board. An employee stopped me on the way down the airbridge to query my two items of carry on but seeing my boarding pass apologised. I was actually grateful that they were checking. Seems silly to make other weight related economies if you don't enforce carry on restrictions. (One of the other pax in B zone had a slightly over size carry on that was stuffed to the gills with heavy items. The poor FA who offered to help stow it had to put it in a wardrobe as she couldn't lift it. Now there's an area for potential weight saving!).
For once we were in B Zone (15A and 16A) and I was very pleasantly surprised by how much space there was in the overhead, a lot more than in A zone. Rapidly changed into sleep suit and studied the menu. Mrs D declared herself very impressed with the choice and opted for a hot chocolate whilst I opted for the cold tray. These were are described elsewhere but it does raise an interesting issue. There are 2 options for the hot tray (including one vegetarian) but only one for the cold and as this includes duck it can hardly be said to be vegetarian. Presumably they'd just assemble without the duck is vegetarian cold were called for. The other interesting thing was that our FA asked for our preferences before take off and no sooner were the seat belt signs off than Mrs D had her hot chocolate. My tray was delivered pretty soon after by yet another example of charming VS crew who reminded me that we'd flown together before tho' neither of us could remember the route.
The only comments I'd make on the tray were that it is of a 'light bite' size, with the cheese and biscuits being served in a small dessert style dish and that the salt and pepper were served in paper sachets NOT VS pots. Presumably this is another weight saving exercise? I finished watching Sin City, watched another highly amusing Kung Fu film then dozed for a couple of hours. We opted not to be woken as we were going to eat in Revivals.
Throughout the flight the crew were attentive and I can see that for those who WANT to sleep GNF is a good idea. For me (being a bear of little brain who can't get to sleep until near midnight) it's a slight pain but then 'short' overnight flights are.
We landed - predictably on a remote stand somewhere near T5 and were off and onto the first coach quite quickly. Immigration was no real problem and we were the first people off VS002 in Revivals. Refreshing shower, some food and out to the taxi rank and home. All in all a very good trip [:)]