VS065 LGW-MBJ 6 Dec 06 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

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Well folks i promised to post a TR report and its long so go easy on me......

Arrived at Gatwick the day before on a BA flight from Glasgow and decided to just do the twlight check in to get rid of our cases and keep our overnight bags for our stay at the Hilton.

Waited for about 10 min inc the security checks and proceded to the check in desk where a lovely lady who was very nice & efficent stated that fasttrack wasnt open and BAA have no plans to reopen it again the near future so was advised to be at security for 6am to allow for the delays.

Checked into Hilton and had a quick drink in executive lounge then went back to terminal to grab something to eat and have a few drinks to start our holiday off.After many, many glasses of Moet[:$]walked (or shall i say i was carried[}:)]) back to the Hilton to sleep it off!

Woke at 5.00am and had a shower to try and clear my head (i think i was still tipsy![:0]) noticed that i had my make up bag & tweezers, etc so went to UC desk to check my bag in for the flight.Now this is were it went downhill....

Stood on the famed red carpet for 20 / 25 min before even getting called to the any of the two desks.One family in front and the other desk was free except from the fact that the Passenger agent was so engrossed in his conversations with his collegue and a pillar to block his view despite the fact 2 other pax were behind me.I couldnt stand for it much longer and just walked over were he said i havent called you yet![:0].Despite this he checked the bag in and off i went completely annoyed despite this being my first UC flight.

Got through security in approx 5 - 10 min and decided i needed a curer and went to the sports bar as the clubhouse wasnt open until 7am.

Whilst in the bar received my anniversary pressie from hubby which was a lovely sapphire & diamond encrusted watch.I couldnt tell you the make but all i know is that it came from the same watchmaker in Switzerland that makes the european royals jewellery![:)]So i was very pleased[y]

Got to the Clubhouse at 7.02am(according to my new watch) and was told despite me booking the treatments 6 months ago and being those extra 2 min late (treatments booked for 7am)& the fact that they were busy i couldnt get any of the treatments, however she has put us on the wait list.I put my head around the salon room and there was no one there?! Explain?[:(!]

Anyway decided to have breakfast which was some sausages,egg & cant think what else and a refreshing glass of oj.(declined the champers of course!)Took a walk around and was really impressed as this was my first visit to the lounge.I was so impressed that i found the toilets and couldnt work out how to get into the cubicle i pulled open one door to find a guy sat on the loo in full throws of doing what men do and screaming at me that he forgot to lock the door![:0]oh how i laughed![:o)][:I]

After about 15 min in lounge the girl from the salon came over and managed to get my treatment in but not my husbands, oh how my husband was looking forward to his back massage! poor soul.


Our flight was called and walked to the satelite to find Ruby Tuesday waiting for us.(dont ask me reg no)No signs up for priority boarding so we just waited (i dont have the heart to push through) and was onto the jetty in about 5 min.Kissed my husband goodbye as he went upstairs to PE and i turned left with a huge smile on my face[:)]

I was instantly offered a champers but declined and had a oj and stood looking at suite i would be in for the next 9 or so hours.Wow!I could get used to this.Asked for a sleep suit whcih was promptly given and asked if i wished another top up.The FSM came round and said hello and disappeared then learned that we would be stuck on the ground for about an hour as some people had checked in late and BAA have a backlog at security.Chatted to a few other pax whilst one in particular made such a song & dance about it.I didnt care as it meant more time for me in this 'VIP' environment.

I found my 'scrooge pack' in the little seat and was soooo disappointed.Come on Virgin, what impression does this give to first time UC pax or indeed freq pax? I was so ashamed i just left it.[V]

Finally push back about 1hr later and off running down the runway.Oh my god, what a weird feeling sitting at an angle and taking off?[:?]

The very friendly steward (I cant mention his name as i didnt get permission)came and took my drinks order along with my food order.I ordered a bellini (i just love those) and ordered crab cakes then beef hotpot (i have posted the full menu under VS Experience) and stated could i order the dessert later?

Meal & drinks came and was impressed at this efficent service.After dinner headed for loos (the loos were shared with PE pax as well) to change into my sleep suit which was so comfy.Headed upstairs to say hello to hubby who had been entertaining the cabin staff with his jokes and wicked sense of humour they loved him!

decided to try and sleep off remnants of hangover and slept for about 2 hours.Woke up and the only person sitting at the bar was the gentleman who made such a fuss earlier and he was really (ahem) drunk[:w] and was trying to start conversations with the crew who i think werent impressed.

Decided to sit up and play some games and drink water and i noticed that the crew werent in the cabin much and preferred to sit in the galley were the FSM was doing her paperwork.Is this the norm for crew just to sit in the galley?A few people from UC had to go through to ask them for things and i for one was one of them as i needed some lipbalm for my lips.Also they didnt come through and ask if you needed anything,is this the norm too?I didnt want to say anything as this is my first UC flight.

Whilst filling in customs form i was chatting to a crew memeber who said they have had nothing but fighting down the back of the plane.Apparantly soomeone was caught smoking gange or smelt like it and because there was quite alot of Jamaicans returning to their homeland for xmas , inter city fighting had broking out![:0]

Anyway landed an hour later at 3.50pm and my husband was down the steps already waiting to escort me off the plane!

I really enjoyed this flight and wont have any hesitations doing the UC experience again.

[HighFlyer]

Thank-you for a lovely TR Ger, glad you had a great first Upper experience.

Got to the Clubhouse at 7.02am(according to my new watch) and was told despite me booking the treatments 6 months ago and being those extra 2 min late (treatments booked for 7am)& the fact that they were busy i couldnt get any of the treatments, however she has put us on the wait list.I put my head around the salon room and there was no one there?! Explain?

Now, that needs to be the CH staff explaining that one. That is a poor show if you had pre-booked and you should have been given a proper explanation. If they didn't give you this, there is no harm in hunting down the CH manager and asking.

Our flight was called and walked to the satelite to find Ruby Tuesday waiting for us.(dont ask me reg no)No signs up for priority boarding so we just waited (i dont have the heart to push through)

Its not pushing through, you are entitled to Priority Boarding and a few 'excuse me's' should get you through. If anyone complains that there is a queue you can use the same retort that my Richard does of 'Yes, there is for you!'. [:)] Seriously, you have paid the extra money for Upper service, don't feel shy about ensuring you get it.

i noticed that the crew werent in the cabin much and preferred to sit in the galley were the FSM was doing her paperwork.Is this the norm for crew just to sit in the galley?

Quite often, yes. The FSM will slope off to do their paperwork at some point, but they, and all the other Cabin Crew *should* always be approachable. On the return it is often a case of Crew dissapearing to the galley and not showing face in the cabin, but this is not true of all Crew, its all down to the individual, hence why a good crew can really make a flight. I have had flights with absent crew, others where the FSM has had to order them to take a break as they were still working when they shouldn't have been. Swings and roundabouts.

I'm glad you had a good flight, shame that check-in was a bit of a disaster though. I hope your next Upper experience will be even better ... and hopefully with Hubby next time? [:)]

Thanks,
Sarah

Thanks for the TR.

Although I read a *few* things which shouldn't have happened, I also feel that you did enjoy yourself. (Ooh-nice watch!) And, although there have been a few grumbles about PE pax exiting from upstairs before the UC pax, it was quite appropriate and gentlemanly that your husband met you! I approve!

I have to also wonder, though, if you hadn't been a member of this site, would your first UCS flight have left you with a sense of disappointment?

I am really getting annoyed when I keep reading all the complaints aimed at VS for the repeat failures of service, both at the counters and in the air. Now it seems to be the CHs which are having trouble. You just reported all 3 were banjaxed for the same flight!

Let's be honest. Most of us joined this site because we fly VS and prefer to whenever possible. If we're complaining and seeing problems, what is the general public seeing? What are they telling their friends, family, and co-workers?

FWIW, I think we're acting as a thundering herd of Ghost Riders. We're being ignored. Or, if not actively ignored, we're being put aside for other concerns.

Please, VS, start paying more attention to service issues! We're here for the service and the experience. We can fly other carriers to get where we're going, but we choose not to - for now. It's up to VS to make sure we don't change our minds as to which company is our primary carrier! [:?]