I travelled on a Great Escapade RTW ticket, in upper (VS) and biz premier (Air NZ). All flights were Air NZ apart from LHR-JFK, and a bunch of internal stuff in the US.
LHR-JFK 12/11/06 VS009 but actually VS 25!
Was on the ill-fated VS9 that never was. Scheduled 16:00 departure, warned of a 90 min delay at checkin. By 17:30, delay had increased to 4hrs 30, meaning 20:30 takeoff. No UC on any other flights that day, but was offered to downgrade to economy on 20:10 flight. Given the minmal time difference I declined this!
However, by 18:00, VS9 was cancelled. VS25 (scheduled 18:00 departure) was held for us, and all UC passengers who wanted were transferred to economy on VS25, which took some time. VS 25 eventually took off c. 20:00; the passengers already on board VS25 were clearly a little unhappy at being delayed, then having every single empty seat in economy occupied at the last minute! Most of them had already spread out for a nap over empty adjacent seats.
The clubhouse staff were very good at handling the situation, as were the baggage folks who, to my relief, did manage to transfer my bags over. VS head office so far have been a little sluggish in responses- it took them 10 days to acknowledge my first email (after a phone call and subsequent email) and I still don't know what the compensation arrangements will be (have asked fro FC points rather than a refund). Interesting comparison to the speed and quality of the NZ response to a problem on another flight (see below!). VS would be better served addressing these situations proactively (ie emailing me to offer refund on ticket price 'gap' or miles or necker island [:D] etc.)
Flying Y was clearly a big change from J - my first Y flight on VS for many years. I've gotta say, the UCS is way ahead of the copmetition, but Y is so far behind it was scarey. The Y seat seemed extremely cramped compared to singapore, quantas, or any of the US internal flights I did. I can't conceive of a situation where I'd book a Y seat on VS comared to another airline despite the FC points.
Eventually made it to JFK at around midnight, to be met with the inevitable huge immigration and taxi queues, aided by my being pretty late off the plane.
Not an experience I'd care to repeat, but at least they got me to JFK which was the most important thing.
Various US internal flights 14/11-17/11
Next time I'd pay the extra $25/flight for the United premium econonmy seats - lots more legroom, and all you need for short hops.
Air NZ LAX-AKL 18/11
The direct flight, business premier. Nice lounge at LAX, not up to the clubhouse, but good enough, and served a hot buffet dinner which I always appreciate as it means I don't have to eat on the plane. Very good showers.
Biz premier was just like UCS, albeit no bar/pajamas/masseuse. I don't usually use the bar or masseuse, and have countless sleepsuits already, so to me it felt the same! As far as I can tell, the seat is identical, except for the lack of fresh air vent, which as others have commented, is a PITA when they play with the temperature to make you sleepy and sweaty!
The service was excellent, very attentive crew without being 'in your face'. I sat upstairs in 16A (1A on VS). Its worth noting the different seat numbering on Air NZ 744, as I'd booked 1A (then changed) thinking it was the same layout as VS, but its not. Biz prem downstairs are rows 1-15, and upstairs is 16-20. Wine list was exceptional, as was food - both were a little ahead of VS.
It was a c. 13hr flight, with good timing, i.e. you leave at night, sleep well for 8-10 hrs, then wake up in the morning at Auckland. Had no jet lag at all, and would highly recommend this routing to NZ rather than the eastbound london route.
Air NZ AKL-SYD 20/11 (connected from above flight)
Old style business class on an A320, but only a 3.30 flight. IFE was a portable DVD player which in many ways is superior to seatback integrated IFE as we got them straight after takeoff and didn't get forcefed instruction, departure and arrival movies.
Only downside was that on arrival in SYD, my bags didn't come off the conveyer... Air NZ staff were extremely helpful and soon located the bags - fortunately they were in SYD, but had been misplaced in the handling room, and they were brought out to me after 15 mins wait.
Air NZ BNE-AKL 23/11
The huge passenger volumes inbound to BNE for the cricket meant it was a 744, so lots of spare seats heading out of BNE, and back to the new style biz premier, which was mild overkill for a 2:45 flight! Very nice journey - spacious, over-crewed, and just time for a movie.
Air NZ AKL-LHR (via HK) 23/11
(Am writing this from HK so can't comment on the last bit to LHR yet!)
Good lounge at AKL, again, not CH standard (but who is!) but fine. Good buffet dinner available, together with decent showers (albeit only girlie shampoo!) and a golf putting green.
Biz prem on a 744 for the flight. Got 16A again. Midnight takeoff, so went straight to sleep, and woke c. 8hrs later for breakfast. A few minutes later, the FSM came round to apologise for the fact that the lights had been on all night due to a systems fault. I'd had my shades on and hadn't noticed - but, this is the good bit - not only was she apologising in person, she also had a handwritten note of apology for each of us in upstairs biz prem, and with it were $120 of air NZ vouchers for any future flights, fully transferrable.
This was extremely impressive service, a proactive resposne to a problem that I'd not noticed, together with immediate compensation. I suspect this is also good business sense - by nipping a problem in the bud its probably a lot cheaper than dealing with the admin afterwards.
At HK, we've had to deplane (didn't realise that the stopover wasn't just for fuel) for 1.5hrs, but am now ensconsced in the Thai lounge which is very nice, with a good selection of hot and cold buffet breakfast food.
So, I arrive home in 14 hrs time, after 12 days and c. 30,000 miles. Last time I did this routing I took 5 months over it, and I know which I'd prefer to repeat!
Any questions, please shout, but I'm not around much so responses might take a while!
Gotta go, flight boarding.
