This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The UC desks were manned by 2 agents, one of whom was dealing with two pax who never moved from the desk the whole time I was there. This effectively meant there was only one UC check-in desk available. Inevitably the UC line grew longer and so did the PE one. Soon after a lady in VS uniform came along and got things moving. She sent us to the next available PE desk and finally our check-in process began.
I think the local zoo must have been missing a monkey, because he definitely was sitting in front of us! No greetings, no smiles, no brain I think. He then proceeded to ask us if we were travelling together after he had checked our passports [xx(]TBH we couldnt get away from him quick enough and thankfully we were soon on our way to the CH after dropping off our luggage to the TSA.
There were only a handful of people in the CH when we arrived and we sat down in the dining area to have a late lunch. We were looked after by P, a real character, who kept my champagne glass topped up throughout. This may explain why my head throbbed a lot, later on! We both started with the Wild field greens, candied pecans, strawberries and crumbled gorgonzola salad. It sounds like a strange concoction but worked really well. We followed this with the Angus burger, with pancetta and blue cheese. Again, this was excellent. MrG was facing out towards the Terminal as we ate and he remarked to me that he could see the VS crew walking down towards security. I asked him if any of the crew were wearing white, living in hope that there might be an IFBT on our flight. He confirmed there was, which was great news [y] My only disappointment regarding the food was the lack of Ben and Jerrys ice cream in the freezer. This has always been a big favourite of mine in the JFK CH. There was a choice of Cherry Garcia orCherry Garcia. I did manage to locate a rogue Chocolate Fudge Brownie, only to find it was a gloopy mess inside as the freezer wasnt working properly! So I gave up on that idea and some more champagne instead.
After dinner MrG wandered to the desk to see if he could change our current seats as we had 16A and G. Shortly afterwards one of the CH staff came over to ask us if we were happy to move to 6K and 7K. Unsurprisingly we were and we were fine with these seats being in the Snooze Zone.
The flight was called at 5.45pm and security was a breeze [:0](never thought Id write that!) and we were through in 5 minutes. That must be some kind of record at JFK? Straight down to gate B26 where priority boarding signs were evident and worked well. VS LHR, take note!
Once onboard we were directed to our seats and started to settle down. The snooze packs were already there. I was offered a drink, sparkling water for my champagne filled brain, and I requested a sleep suit also. This sleep suit had definitely seen better days as the sleeves were half way up my arms. This suit had seen one tumble dryer cycle too many! Not long after the IFBT came around and we both requested treatments. I asked for the mini manicure and MrG went for the hand and arm treatment. Interestingly enough the IFBT made no mention of us not being guaranteed a treatment and that she would try to get around to us.
As I settled down in my suite I became aware of the FSM apologising continually to the pax in 3K. He spent some time talking to this pax so naturally I was curious. As this was happening our dedicated CC lady dropped by to take our drinks order and explain to us that we were in the Snooze Zone. She wanted to make this clear as several other pax were not aware that they were in the SZ and had taken exception to this. MrG asked would it be possible for him to have a snack before sleeping and was told he could eat at the bar if he wished. So he ordered the supper tray and I opted for hot chocolate. The FSM then came over to us and asked would we might swapping with a couple of pax in 2 and 3K as he(FSM) wanted to make 6 and 7K non SZ seats to accommodate these 2 pax . We said we were happy to swap but as it turned out they decided to stay put. All this and before wed even left the ground!
This evenings flight would be 6 hours and 20 minutes and we pushed back at 6.35pm. We were number 150 in the queue to take off. [}:)]Ok, so thats a bit of an exaggeration, but we werent airborne until another hour later at 7.35pm. Shortly after take off hot towels were offered and the goody tray was brought around. Pen and polos for me thanks.
The IFE was switched on and I decided that I liked the look of Atonement having recently read the book. Firstly though I finished reading my paper and started to relax. It was then that the IFE failed and MrG was not a happy bunny. An announcement was made about rebooting, which failed, and meant it would take an hour to fix. Im not sure if this was related but we then lost the reading light and the functions to the suite![n] Realising that we were sitting in the dark, unable to read or watch the IFE, we popped up to the bar. The disgruntled pax from 3K was there, so I got chatting to him and found out that he hadnt been told he was in the SZ until he got on the aircraft. Wasnt this explained to you at Check-in? I asked him. No he said. After our check-in experience I wasnt in the least bit surprised that this hadnt been made clear to him.
The FSM came up to us while we were seated at the bar and asked us if we would go back to our seats as some other pax were going to be eating at the bar. MrG pointed out that this option had been given to him also. Who told you that the FSM asked . MrG pointed to our CC lady who was at the bar and she just shrugged her shoulders! We decided to go back to our seats, wondering what was going to happen next![:w]
MrGs supper tray arrived with apologies for the mess up and from then on the flight improved. The reading light and suite functions returned but we were still without the IFE. MrG was offered a DVD player to watch until it was sorted out. Just before he got this the IFE returned and all was well. I eventually got around to watching Atonement as I reclined on my bed. I found the film a bit dull and Keira Knightleys posh accent grated on me after a while, but I watched it until the end.
I managed to sleep for about one and a half hours and woke up to a breakfast of fruit, yoghurt and peppermint tea. Just before breakfast MrG was called for his treatment and later said how good it had been. None for me unfortunately.[:#]
Shortly before landing the FSM popped by to say that he had passed our details on to Richards office regarding the SZ debacle. It turned out that 12 of the 18 pax in the SZ were unaware that they were there. The FSM was making a case to head office to make the VS4 a non SZ flight, especially at this time of year when it takes off in daylight and at weekends when there are mainly leisure travellers on board. I thought he had a good point and appreciated him taking the time to explain it to us. I told him that I thought the ground staff at JFK might be somewhat responsible for not informing pax of the SZ flight. What really impressed me about this particular FSM was the way he had dealt with an on board situation that wasnt of his making and that he was prepared to listen to the pax and make a case to head office. [y]
We landed a few minutes before 7am. Immigration was quick and we were soon through to pick up our luggage. Priority baggage didnt work, I guess it never will. We decided to forego Revivals as our taxi was waiting to take us back to West Sussex.
Overall, a good flight. The CC were very hard working and attentive. The FSM had his hands full trying to sort out the SZ saga and the IFE .I think he handled it brilliantly. He was very active throughout the UC cabin and interacted a lot with the pax. This was a FSM who cared!
Food wise, MrGs supper tray of soup, cheese and biscuits and fruit was very good, he said. My breakfast was tasty though the portion of fruit was a bit on the small size.
This was my first VS flight since last September and I wasnt disappointed. I know we were very lucky to have had the IFBT onboard and it is sad to this will no longer be part of the VS UC experience [:#]
