Upper Class Newbie

My Wife and I have taken the plunge to fly Upper Class from LHR to LAS and then MIA back to LHR (internal flight between LAS and MIA part way through the holiday with AA).

Really excited as I have never flown anything above Economy before! The Wife has flown Upper Class before, but circa 10 years ago when she was young, wild and free, so a different experience for us both.

We are obviously looking to make the most out of our time in the clubhouse / on the plane, so just wanted to ask for advice on rules / etiquette / do's & don'ts / how to make the most out of our trip!

Thank you all in advance

Edit: First Class to Upper Class, sorry y'all!

I can relate to your nervousness and not wanting to stick out like a sore thumb - but honestly - relax and enjoy. I haven't picked up on any 'rules' as such but have only flown UC 8 times. Give yourself plenty of time in the Clubhouse and it really is an enjoyable experience and I find the staff there really friendly. They really want you to enjoy your visit so it makes it very hard not to. Hopefully it won't be too busy when you are there and you can spend time in each of the 'areas' to see how it feels. As for the flight - you know Virgin Crew are the most laid back and friendly (usually) as flight crews go, so if you need anything just ask but no doubt they have already been around and asked if you need anything. If it is overnight you can change into the pyjamas - but that is personal preference and not everyone does - no rule on this one. If it is overnight on your return you may want to freshen up in the Arrivals lounge, another bonus flying UC and as we are usually flying back up to MAN very welcome for us.

More expert Forum members than me can add to my initial thoughts - I am sure they will. My only concern is you are entering very dangerous territory! you won't fly Economy long haul ever again. !! Have fun.

Congrats on your first UC flight. You will never turn right again, trust me I always said, just the once, that was 5 years ago....

I am not the most experienced UC-er on here but here are my thoughts:

Rules/ etiquette - same as any other class I think. No dress code - not scruffy, but you don't need a suit and tie, just comfortable for the flights, be considerate of other passengers, enjoy the food and drink but don't get hammered etc.

Just have fun We love chatting to the crew (when appropriate), sitting at the bar if there is one and chatting to other passengers (not if people are trying to sleep though) and enjoying our time in the lounge and onboard.

We once saw someone pushing their way through the other passengers in line when boarding saying - "we are upper class" very loudly!!! It was very uncomfortable. Everyone has paid for their tickets and we are all flying to the same destinations, no need to be a diva - not saying that you are, it was just how not to do upper class

I hope you have a fab time and if you get a chance, a trip report would be great to see how you enjoyed your first UC experience, of many....

Like every one has said, there are no specific rules. Best ways to maximize- I'd say try the drive thru check in if you can (it's just a different way to experience the airport). Give yourself enough CH time and make sure you book a spa treatment as soon as you can. On board, there's really not much to say, if you want the PJs, try them on if you want to. On my last few flights, the crew actually were telling pax that they could take the PJs home, so even if you don't want to change, you could get a set as a souvenir.

Thanks for all the replies so far guys. We are both definitely in the club that this is a once in a lifetime trip, but, we shall soon see!

We are flying out to LAS on 2nd July (ready for the 4th in Vegas!) on a day flight, around Midday. So will be getting to the Clubhouse for 6:30am when it opens!

Flight back is overnight, not that I plan on sleeping, just trying out the bed. Will try to keep the PJs as a memento for sure!

I won't be drinking as driving at either end (not that it matters as I am not much of a drinker) so no worries about me getting hammered! My wife on the other hand ...

I will for sure do a trip report. Love reading others and they are really helpful so want to return the favour!

My main question is whats the deal with food on the plane. I appreciate that is a starters, main and dessert, but are the 'extra bites' a limited quantity? I'm not planning on eating copious amounts, but I do have hollow legs apparently! And I can't find much information on the Wonder Wall. What sort of things is normally on there?

We are staying at the Renaissance before hand, so probably will get the Chauffeur service from there to the Terminal, just to experience it! Although, its a bit on the steep side for a 10 minute journey aha!

Thanks for all your replies so far, it'll be here before we know it!

My main question is whats the deal with food on the plane. I appreciate that is a starters, main and dessert, but are the 'extra bites' a limited quantity? I'm not planning on eating copious amounts, but I do have hollow legs apparently! And I can't find much information on the Wonder Wall. What sort of things is normally on there?

Extra bites will be things like mini burgers, hot & cold tapas style items and afternoon tea. You no longer get a defined second meal service in UC but are instead invited to choose whatever you like from the extra bites menu, whenever you like. Quantities of each item are not limitless but you shouldn’t go hungry. The Wonder Wall is a Premium Economy feature, not UC, but there should be snacks available on the bar (crisps, biscuits, chocolate, fruit etc).

We are staying at the Renaissance before hand, so probably will get the Chauffeur service from there to the Terminal, just to experience it! Although, its a bit on the steep side for a 10 minute journey aha!

Seriously, don’t bother. Unless it’s included in your fare, you’ve got miles to burn or you’ve got a long journey it’s a total rip-off. Just get an Uber or a cab to drop you off at Drive-Through Check-In. Same result, much cheaper.

Mega LOLZ at your thought that this will be a once in a life time thing....trust me, you turn left once, you never go back...especially when you’re a member of this site!

Personally I would aim for getting to the Clubhouse about 0700. Get your spa treatments booked and chill.

The only rule in the Clubhouse is that you must try the Virgin Redhead!

Drive through check in is an absolute must, other than the quick schelp through Duty Free it doesn’t even feel like you are in an airport when you do Drive Thru. I would look at London Heathrow Cars (just google them) they are always on time, always high quality and generally about £20-25 from most hotels around LHR.

You are going to have a fantastic time though so enjoy!

My recent trip in Feb was my first time Drive Through Check In. I loved it.
We stayed at the Premier terminal four and used Parker Cars. We told them before that we had four large cases and they sent a people carrier.
I got a text about 15 mins before the driver was due with his photo and a link to his location.
It was very good and I think cost £18.

Dick D

Again, thanks for the replies guys!

invited to choose whatever you like from the extra bites menu, whenever you like. Quantities of each item are not limitless but you shouldn’t go hungry. The Wonder Wall is a Premium Economy feature, not UC, but there should be snacks available on the bar (crisps, biscuits, chocolate, fruit etc).

I thought it was the other way round and it was a UC thing that PE had access to, so thank you for the info!
Good to hear I won't go hungry! Need some sustenance to get me through all the films I want to watch!

Seriously, don’t bother. Unless it’s included in your fare, you’ve got miles to burn or you’ve got a long journey it’s a total rip-off. Just get an Uber or a cab to drop you off at Drive-Through Check-In. Same result, much cheaper.

Sounds like a plan to me, others have mentioned some good companies so I will have a look around. Lots to choose from, which sometimes, is an issue!

The only rule in the Clubhouse is that you must try the Virgin Redhead!

Top of my list!

We stayed at the Premier terminal four and used Parker Cars. We told them before that we had four large cases and they sent a people carrier.
I got a text about 15 mins before the driver was due with his photo and a link to his location.
It was very good and I think cost £18.

I will check them out, thank you.

Thanks for all the replies so far guys. We are both definitely in the club that this is a once in a lifetime trip, but, we shall soon see!

We are flying out to LAS on 2nd July (ready for the 4th in Vegas!) on a day flight, around Midday. So will be getting to the Clubhouse for 6:30am when it opens!

...

We are staying at the Renaissance before hand, so probably will get the Chauffeur service from there to the Terminal, just to experience it! Although, its a bit on the steep side for a 10 minute journey aha!

Thanks for all your replies so far, it'll be here before we know it!

I might be in the minority on this board but I think it’s better not to get to the CH when it opens at 6:30am. I LOVE the CH but to me that’s crazy. I think 2-3 hours in the CH is more than enough time to enjoy it. To me, even a great lounge gets old after a couple of hours. To make it at the CH at 6:30am means you’ll have to wake up from your comfy sleep at the Renaissance at least as early as 5am even if you have access to the UC Wing. The CH isn’t much fun if you’re a zombie. Remember, the lounges and all the amenities are meant to make your travel experience more comfortable as well as providing a great experience. Why spend thousands of £££’s or points and then get up crazy early if you don’t have to?

My suggestion is sleep until 7:30am, head to T3 in the Chauffeur car or Uber/cab at 8:30am. You’ll probably get to the CH at 9:30am at the latest (likely at 9am). That gives you about 2 1/2 hours to eat nice breakfast foods, drink (it’s 5pm somewhere!), get a haircut and/or massage, visit to the rooftop to look at planes and still have an hour or so just to sit and be happy. As your flight departs at 12:40pm, I’d head out to the CH to the gate at 12pm.

On a side note, even if you don’t use the driving entrance to the UC Wing, you can still enter it though the regular T3 check in area through the UC Wing sliding door. One of the usually available VS agents roaming about will show you where it is if you don’t see it. You scan your BP outside the door and it will open.

Let the flaming commence. I’m sticking to that preference.

Hahah, well there’s a fight and a half.

I am normally in the CH for 7am for flights as late as 4pm! YES! I am being serious!

I do tend to find that I just cannot sleep the night before my flight anyway and I am just so excited for the trip that I end up being up early naturally!

I do have quite a stressful job which tends to occupy most of my waking thoughts and so when I’m off on holiday, taking that day out in the CH is a good buffer to the holiday, its relaxing, its doing two things I love...cocktails and plane watching, not to mention people watching....I personally come from a very humble background in the North East and I find it fascinating listening to others conversations about who they are why they are going where they are going.

I’ve never once in 8 visits to the CH including a mammoth 9 hour stay once, ever got bored or thought...this was too long!

Hahah, well there’s a fight and a half.

I am normally in the CH for 7am for flights as late as 4pm! YES! I am being serious!

I do tend to find that I just cannot sleep the night before my flight anyway and I am just so excited for the trip that I end up being up early naturally!

I do have quite a stressful job which tends to occupy most of my waking thoughts and so when I’m off on holiday, taking that day out in the CH is a good buffer to the holiday, its relaxing, its doing two things I love...cocktails and plane watching, not to mention people watching....I personally come from a very humble background in the North East and I find it fascinating listening to others conversations about who they are why they are going where they are going.

I’ve never once in 8 visits to the CH including a mammoth 9 hour stay once, ever got bored or thought...this was too long!

Hah! With such varied amenities, I guess one can spend a whole day there. Perhaps because of being a Yank, I want to maximize my non-airport UK experience as much as possible. When I have a 5 hour or longer LHR layover, I typically will leave the airport even if I do have CH access. If it's particularly long I'll go into the city. If it's limited to around 5 hours, I'll head to the excellent Pheasant Inn restaurant/pub a couple of blocks north of Bath Road.

I am one for early clubhouse too.
Hotel breakfasts are not always the best having been cooked hours before you get them.
The clubhouse breakfast is wonderful. So we tend to skip the hotel breakfast and head straight for the clubhouse.
It is a ritual for me to always have eggs Benedict to start, accompanied by a nice frothy Cappuccino.
After an hour or so I may have a second serving of whatever takes my fancy and possibly a Redhead.

Dick D

The Clubhouse is very nice, but it’s just a lounge. I can’t imagine wanting to be there for more than 3 hours max. If you have a stop over that leaves you in a lounge for 5 or 6 hours then you don’t have a lot of choice, but rocking up hours before you have to sit contained in a metal tube is way off my choice.

We are staying at the Renaissance before hand, so probably will get the Chauffeur service from there to the Terminal, just to experience it! Although, its a bit on the steep side for a 10 minute journey aha!

We stayed at the Renaissance on the night of 3rd April before flying UC to SanFrancisco.

When we arrived at the hotel, we asked the ‘Transport Services’ guy, who was positioned just inside the hotel entrance, to arrange a taxi for the morning. We went down at arranged time of 8am and the driver was waiting. I actually think they work in partnership with the hotel. Very smart driver (like a chauffeur) and pristine vehicle took us straight to the DTCI. Cost was £10 and we gave £2 tip.

Enjoy that experience. Renaissance is very comfortable hotel, with nice bar and restaurant.

Another vote for more sleep and less time in the CH. I’d say it’s the best lounge I’ve ever been in, but it is just a lounge. If you were enjoying the booze, at a push, maaaaybe, but that’s a long six hours to sit somewhere sober to eat a bit of bacon.

Can I just ask, what are your plans with the car in Vegas? We found it so much easier just Ubering around. If you needed the car for the odd trip to any of the canyons or Hoover D, it’s incredible easy getting to the airport to pick up a fairly priced rental. I’d assume most hotels have car rentals too, but you usually end up paying a bit more.

We stayed at the Renaissance on the night of 3rd April before flying UC to SanFrancisco.

Looks good, I have booked the room overlooking the runway, just to add to the experience (as we are adamant this is a once in a lifetime trip!)

Another vote for more sleep and less time in the CH

Can I just ask, what are your plans with the car in Vegas?

I get up at 5am for the gym 4 times a week, so the motivation to get out of bed to head over to the CH and enjoy free food and drink should be easily found! Also, my wife is a worrier, so she will be A LOT more relaxed once we are checked in. Hence staying in a hotel as close as possible the night before. Less to go wrong.

In terms of a car, I always use Turo, which lets you rent out peoples cars. Alot cheaper than going through a rental firm and they do insurance now as well. You can manage the booking from the app and you know exactly what car you are getting. Vegas we are just getting a little runaround as we are most likely going to do the Hoover Dam and Freemont Street and the Las Vegas Speedway, so handy to have. Miami we will have a much nicer Jeep!

Get as much time in the Clubhouse as you can allow. If you have never experienced it before it's well worth it! After several flights you will know how much time to allow, but for your first time get there as early as you can and embrace it!

Drive through check in is fantastic and will most likely spoil you for ever but it is a great experience.

On the return, allow time for the Revivals Lounge. It's small but perfectly formed and its lovely having a shower there after your flight!