This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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Though we were well within our allowance, this was the most luggage MrStars and I had ever travelled with, and our stroller transport bag was just outside the size restrictions and therefore could be considered oversized. We checked in at the UC check-in and only 2 of our bags were even weighed. The agent didnt blink at the size or number of our suitcases, and there was a gentleman there helping to put the tags on. We were told to not even take the bags off of the trolleys.
I have flown VS in UC out of JFK many times over the past 3 years that Ive lived in the UK and this was the first time someone told us we did not have to bring our bags down to the end of the desks to the x-ray machines. The gentleman from Swissport (I think that was what his shirt said) took our trolleys and one at a time, wheeled them down to the end himself. Well done VS/Swissport this is the sort of small detail that makes a difference and makes it appear you are looking after your UC/Au flyers.
We headed to the CH and sat down to have some dinner. MrStars had a chicken pot pie, and possibly some soup to start. I had a salad. The food was decent and afterwards we snacked on some delicious chocolate chip cookies. When the flight was called the lines at security were long, even at fast track. While waiting we had the chance to talk to someone about Clear we are considering signing up. Once through security we headed to the gate and onto the plane. As has been my experience at JFK, there was a priority boarding lane in place. As we walked down the jetway to the plane we could see that it was Mustang Sally and nearly at the same time MrStars and I both commented Ive definitely flown on this aircraft before. It made me laugh as it would not be surprising for me to notice that, doing these TRs and all, but it is not something MrStars would typically notice.
We settled into our seats (17A & 18A) and heard the announcement for a rather short flight time of 5h55mins. I was chatting with a member of the crew before we took off, whilst waiting to change into my sleepsuit. When MrStars was changed and I went in to change, he chatted with the same crew member and she asked him if I was pregnant. When he said yes she told him to tell me to please make sure to drink lots of water. I knew this already, but it was thoughtful of her to reiterate. We pushed back from the gate on time, and in what can only be considered surprisingly quickly for a night flight out of JFK, wheels were up 15 minutes later. This must be some sort of record!
The rest of the flight was largely uneventful as I tried to sleep for most of it. We had a bit of turbulence but nothing like that which we had on the way to NY. We landed almost an hour early into a very bustling and busy LHR. The lines at immigration stretched far into the hallway before you even enter the hall. There was one person waiting at Iris and an officer saying that he wasnt sure if it was working. I guess it had been acting up. It didnt work for the person waiting, it did work for MrStars, but it would not work for me. Fortunately I was only sent to the very short line immediately to the left of Iris, which is for travellers with disabilities. The person in front of me had just had the same thing happen and I heard the Immigration officer gruffly question what he was doing on that line. He explained he was sent from Iris. I was a little nervous as I only had half of my landing card filled out (had left out what flight I arrived and some other detail near the bottom) and I could not find a pen in my bag. When it was my turn at the desk I explained I was there due to Iris failing and that I was terribly sorry my card was not complete. Fortunately the officer just smiled and was very nice about it and said he didnt mind the card wasnt filled in all the way.
Soon we were on our way down into the baggage hall. Our 3 duffels and 1 garment bag were all within the first 8 bags out, but then we waited ages and ages for the stroller transport bag. I even went to a desk to check if perhaps oversized luggage came out somewhere else, even though the bag hadnt been tagged oversized. They said it comes out on the same belt so we just waited and waited and waited. It finally came out, about _ an hour after the rest of our bags. We loaded up our two trolleys and headed through a busy customs hall where there were no officers in sight, and were soon on our way home.
