This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Check-in was OK as there was no queue, but not great. The agent took my passport removed the green card, put it to one side and then looked up at and asked me to hand over my green card! I told her she had already taken it, she did not believe me, so I had to reach over and point to the green card tucked under her keyboard. I had to ask for a pass to the Club House. I took my bag off the scales (only 12kg!) and took it across to the security belt.
The Club House looked good, apart from a couple of sleeping passengers lying across the chairs by the window. I would say there were about 6 passengers in the Club House at the time I arrived.
I was greeted by ******, she bought me a plate of fruit, pastries, tea and juice. Service was very good. Departure time was 7:40am so I had plenty of time to relax.
I much prefer the VS26 morning flight to the more popular evening departures. This way I dont suffer any jet lag on my return to London.
I made my way down to security and on to the fast track line. Security was already busy and hectic and fast track did not feel particularly fast. A bag had got stuck in the machine and the operator was screaming his head off at everyone, total mayhem even at 6:30am!
After a bit of a walk I arrived at Gate B30 and boarding was well under way. I joined the UC queues and handed over my boarding pass. The machine didnt like my pass and the light flashed red, tried it a second time, flashing red, so I was taken to one side and my details were entered manually and I was given the OK to board. There was a big queue down the tunnel but I was soon on board and settling into seat 9A. I like the layout of the A340-600 UC cabin as I had no body opposite.
The Captain announced an estimated flight time of 5hr 57minutes. There were 105 passengers on board and on baby. There looked to be 12 in the UC cabin. CSS ***** and FSM ******* introduced themselves and we pushed back at 7.55am, 15 minutes late at this point. We taxied slowly and were behind about 5 five planes that I could see. Once up it was hot towels time and used mine to add some sparkle to my suite giving my light, monitor and handset a cleanup.
It wasnt long before breakfast was served:
Breakfast
Selection of breakfast cereals Cornflakes, Weetabix, Fruit n Fibre, Special K
Butter croissant served with a selection of preserves marmalade, honey, strawberry & blackcurrant jams
Blueberry muffin served with a selection of preserves marmalade, honey, strawberry & blackcurrant jams
Bagel served with cream cheese
Seasonal fresh fruit served with natural yoghurt
Bacon roll served with either tomato ketchup or brown sauce
Scrambled egg with chives served with bacon, pork sausage. Potato & courgette rosti and roasted tomato
Being the healthy guy I am I went for Special K and fruit!
The IFBT introduced herself and asked if I would like any treatments, I didnt, but the most of the other passengers seemed to go for the hand massage. In fact I noticed there were two IFBTs on this flight, one with VPL and one without - attention to detail in writing these reports! [oo]
Lunch
Starters
Shrimp Caesar salad with parmesan croutons and Caesar dressing
Cream of tomato & basil sop served with a choice of warm breads
Main Courses
Roast chicken served with potato gratin, baby carrots and green beans
Beef & mushroom stroganoff served with wild rice, broccoli and red peppers
Four cheese ravioli with roasted vegetables and Mediterranean tomato sauce
Cheese
Gorgonzola
Double Diamond Irish-style cheese
Camembert
Dessert
Sticky toffee pudding with cr_me anglaise
Vanilla ice cream served with nut crunch topping
I chose the soup, beef stroganoff, and sticky toffee pudding, all were good.
The flight encountered a bit of turbulence during which the crew were asked to take their seats. The seat belt signs were on for over an hour and continued well after we had passed the turbulence. During this, I needed to use the bathroom and I was told the Captain would allow me to, but at my own risk! Other pax started to do the same as it didnt look like the seatbelt lights would ever go off.
We touched down at Heathrow at about 19:00, landing was smooth we were soon off the plane.
Service on this flight was very good, I would say the best I have received to date. I enjoyed the trip and look forward to my next.[y]
There was a long walk to immigration but straight through the IRIS and home. The only problem I have with IRIS is the unit which lights up for me is always the one at the bottom so I basically have to use it on my knees!?
