This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
After that mcbenjamin escorted through the staff security line so no waiting there (I told you he was top man [oo]) and on to the Clubhouse. He had mentioned the manager there (I think she was the manager) was an Irish lady named Kathy and pointed her out to me in the distance before whisking Aer John away for more behind the scenes viewing (I told you he was top man [oo]). I went off for some duty free whereupon on returning I met Kathy and we chatted for a time before she was required elsewhere. I settled down for a glass of champers and perused the menu before seeking the inflight menu to assist my decision. It came back as one already seen on V-Flyer with lamb as one of the main courses (Mmmmmmmm! Lamb![y]) However shortly afterwards one of the staff came with a new inflight menu and said that it had changed the previous day. How I railed earlier on in the year when they failed to change the menu after three months. This time I railed that they had done it at the proper time. The choices for me were not so appetising. The main choices were cod, chicken and butternut ravioli [:$] and really nothing much inspired me. Still I enjoyed my meal in the Clubhouse and I must say I liked that Clubhouse very much even if all there was to see were the d*mn mobile lounges going to and fro. After a while Aer John returned and I bid farewell to mcbenjamin as nice a person as you could wish to meet. Thanks for everything, Benjamin. [:X] At this point the Clubhouse let itself down a little bit as there was nothing on the menu that Aer John liked and it was impossible to order off menu. I had no choice but to go down to Fudruckers and get him a burger and fries. [:(]
Just as boarding was called we met Kathy again and she escorted us to the Priority line cutting a swathe through the masses that were thronging the gate area. [:D] She told us she would say goodbye on board but, although she was on board later she was obviously working very hard to get everyone settled and I guessed there were a few op-ups happening.
The plane was once again VFLY and once on board we recognised one of the crew as having been on our flight in July from MCO. We werent very impressed with her then as she was very bossy and seemed to flit about the cabin without doing any actual work and I didnt seem to see any difference on this flight. The FSM came and introduced herself and the crew assigned to our section was really nice and therefore I will judge the crew on these merits.
At this stage I am going to utter absolute heresy! [:0] I was tired, not feeling that well (probably from all the hanging about while Aer John went off with mcbenjamin) and I just wished it was a GNF. There was nothing on the menu that really appealed so having partaken of my pre-flight champagne and had a G & T after take-off I donned the sleep suit, put in the earplugs and tucked myself up for a good nights sleep [|)] except, I didnt have any! Not a wink! At one stage I was on the point of dropping off and was disturbed by a crowd at the bar about 4 hours into the flight. [:(] Given that we were in 1H & K and I had earplugs, God alone knows what it must have been like at the back of the zone near to them! I gave up at about 5:30 and the cabin crew noticed I was awake and offered me breakfast. At that stage all I wanted was fruit and so had that and some tea. Later on I was sorry I hadnt had more but at that stage I was quite content. We flew over our home town but as it was still pitch dark (and raining) there was nothing to be seen. About 30 minutes from landing I managed to rouse Aer John who also had treated it like a GNF, had had some ice cream and then slept like a baby. [|)]
The flight landed on time but as it was very windy outside so the plane was buffeted quite a bit on approach. We were quickly to the gate and then left to do our usual stint of checking in via the FCC before doubling back to Revivals. When we arrived at the door for the bus there was a good crowd waiting there and although a couple of buses came they were very slow to let us on. It was while we were there we heard of the engine scrape on VS4. [:0] On arrival at the FCC we found the escalator was blocked and a BAA guy was only letting people up a few at a time because of the crowds above. Although we were through reasonably quickly in about 20 minutes or so we then had to wait at the Aer Lingus counter before doubling back to Revivals an hour and a quarter after touchdown. This left us with only a short time there. Aer John had some breakfast but there really wasnt time for a shower which I would dearly have loved. I dont know if it would have been quicker to go straight to Revivals but we still would have had to check in for our EI flight and so would have had to have left earlier. Who knows? [?] If Immigration had been anything like FCC, then probably not.
After that it was a quick hop over to T1 where security was very light and off for the quick hop home.
I cant honestly say that the VS flight was a bad flight mainly because I had chosen to try and sleep. However there was nothing that made it outstanding. The two trips however made me appreciate just how special the suites are.