This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
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However let us abandon my mutilation of Jane Austen’s fine oeuvre and go back a few months to when Virgin Atlantic announced changes in the renewal levels for the Flying Club. I was aware that it was a possibility that I might not renew Gold this particular year but the changes made it very obvious that even if I did, I certainly wouldn’t make it next year. Did I want one last year as Gold? Not to have Gold would be very liberating to try other airlines, especially to places VS didn’t go but my recent experience of BA and Singapore Airlines had made me feel that the grass isn’t always greener.
I switched and swithered like flotsam and jetsam on a sea of indecision until one day in September in the middle of a fare sale when Aer John, in Dublin for a couple of days for job interviews/medicals/trying to find accommodation had pushed my patience to the limits and beyond and I just felt I had to get away. 
Totally ignoring the fact I was on the threshold of a jaunt around SE Asia in November I looked at the cheapest UC fare which proved to be Dubai. A quick check of the dates I had in mind showed that the Hilton Dubai Creek, where I had stayed on my previous two visits, had a fantastic promotional fare and before you could say United Arab Emirates I had it booked!! 
Of course the jaunt around SE Asia followed rapidly by Christmas pushed the trip to the back of my mind but when the reminder from Aer Lingus two weeks before the flight popped into my Inbox the old excitement spark was ignited and I started buzzing once more.
Finally the day of the trip arrived and by this time I was all revved up and ready to go. I had booked on the midday flight from Cork for the simple reason that the last time we had gone to Dubai the late afternoon flight was severely delayed and although we arrived in time for the flight, it had been very stressful and I didn’t want a repeat performance, thank you very much. The added bonus was that I got to meet some friends in London. *Disaster alert*
The morning of the flight I was almost all packed up and ready to go. By 8am all I had to do was shower and change after I had changed my bedlinen. So humming gently to myself I popped into the bathroom and hauled the fresh bedlinen out and stripped the bed. Ooops, no bottom sheet! Back to the bathroom and collected the said sheet from the back of the airing cupboard and off again to the bedroom. On that short journey I began to be aware there was something wrong? Or was there? I felt the sheet - it seemed a bit cold, felt it again. It wasn’t cold, it was damp! Oh, no!
Back to the bathroom and into the airing cupboard once more and above the shelf where the bedlinen and towels were housed was an ominous damp patch! Panic rising I felt around. Yep! Things were damp! Not sopping wet fortunately, but definitely damp! Omigod! What to do? I realised that whatever the problem was, it was a new one as I had tidied the said airing cupboard the previous Sunday in a fit of boredom but obviously I couldn’t leave it. A quick call to the plumber who was with me within ten minutes. He diagnosed a leaking water tank, turned off the water and drained the tank promising to replace it while I was away. Phew! Except that left problem #2. How was I to shower and change? A quick trip up to the local leisure centre soon solved that and happy in the knowledge that I would be my usual fragrant self for my fellow travellers, I set forth for my nice little gold run. My trip on Aer Lingus was bog standard. It went up; I had a G&T; it came down! I was meeting friends for a late lunch and a very pleasant time was had by all as we caught up before I was deposited back to LHR around 6-ish
The VS check-in area was busy but not overly so as it would seem that passengers for the late flights were just beginning to arrive. All three check-in desks for Upper were occupied but the staff member patrolling the area asked me where I was going and suggested I check in at the nearest PE desk which I was happy to do. The lady there was as pleasant as could be. I had done OLCI but hadn’t printed off a boarding pass. One was supplied quickly without an e-ticket and with just my passport before I was asked if I knew how to get to the lounge. I didn’t have any bags to check in but I did get a supply of the new purple UC baggage tags, enough to make Aer John happy. Check-in was up there with the best and indeed better than some in the past.
I was alone in the lift up to the security area and for the first time in ages I was able to scan my boarding pass as earlier, either someone else was before me or the door was open. This pleased me enormously (I’m such a child!) but coming from the DTCI was another passenger. With a quick sashay that would have scored a ten even from Craig Revel Horwood, I by-passed him and arrived first at the security area and was swiftly through.
Ah, the Clubhouse! How I have missed you. I gave a sigh of sheer satisfaction before I climbed those marble stairs to be welcomed as warmly as ever. I handed over my bag in the left-luggage place and headed for the gallery where the hanging chair was waiting for me. I was no sooner there than a staff member was at my side asking what I would like to drink and soon a glass of champagne was at my side. I caught up with all that had been happening in my cyberworld when suddenly I realised I had committed the mortal sin of all visitors to the CH - I hadn’t gone to the Spa to book an appointment as soon as I arrived.
A quick trot over confirmed that there were no bookings but I was put on a wait-list. Ah, well! Back to the gallery and I decided that a snack might hit the spot and off I went to the Deli for some cheese and biccies and a refill of champagne. Towards the end of my stay I decided that one more refill was in order but as there was no sign on the lady patrolling the area and I needed the Ladies I put in my request en route to that said facility. Of course while I was in there the call came for me to go to the Spa! I trotted over and was given the usual form to fill in and decided I needed my glasses so went over to get them. I was delighted to see that my drink had been refreshed and headed off for my treatment. Given the time restraints I had chosen the basic facial. The last time I had had that it had lasted about ten minutes which consisted of a quick cleanse, tone and moisturise. This time it was much less basic with a small massage thrown in and also some lip moisturiser. Whatever it was it lasted twice as long as the previous time. Ah yes, consistency rules! Back at my seat I savoured my refreshed glass of champagne but I had barely taken the first sip when the first boarding call came. Well there was no way I was going to chug back a glass of champers, so they were just going to have to wait for me - well within reason!
I packed up my things ready for the off and as soon as I had finished the champagne headed off to pick up my bag from the luggage place. The guy in charge left to assist someone just as I approached but after a couple of minutes someone came to help and I happily left the Clubhouse just as the microphone clicked for the second call. The flight was leaving from Gate 20 and for once there was no delay in getting to the gate as there were no arrivals necessitating the closure of the corridor to allow arriving passengers through. The gate area was deserted with the last stragglers for economy going through, in fact just as I reached the gate area one was directed towards the UC desk. Not to worry. I was immediately directed to another empty desk where my boarding pass was scanned, I was thanked for my continued loyalty to VS and wished a good flight. Boarding was taking place from two doors so it was a quick hop and a step and I was being welcomed aboard by the FSM and directed to my seat. From start to finish the ground experience was great.
Once on board I made my way to seat 11A and almost immediately the cabin crew was beside me offering a drink and within seconds I was in possession of a glass of champagne and a sleep suit.
I changed and as I returned the guy in 12A was engaging in banter with a guy whose seat was further up the cabin. They were obviously work colleagues and I offered to swap seats in case they wanted to sit near each other but they thanked me and declined. Incidentally, although 10A had been marked as selected on the seat map for ages, no-one was in that seat. In fact there were several empty seats in UC but I had been aware that the loads were light.We pushed back 10 minutes early and soon were in the air. The captain had warned that we would be facing into strong headwinds but although there was a bit of turbulence shortly after take off, it didn’t really bother us. As it was a Good Night Flight our meal orders were quickly taken ( they may even have been taken before take-off or maybe I’m confusing it with my Singapore Airlines flight). I requested a G&T (natch) followed by the light supper tray of prawn cocktail followed by cheese and biscuits and a glass of port. While this was happening the FSM came round and spoke to everyone in UC even if it was a quick welcome aboard. She spent some time talking to me during which my G&T was delivered before moving on.
IFE had been switched on nice and early although I had delayed in turning my own system as I find it is very slow when everyone else is doing so. Much better to wait a while during which time I read on my iPad. I did so when my meal was served. I tried to watch a film but at that stage, the champagne (plus the afternoon’s wine) and the G&T were beginning to take hold
so concentrating on a film was not an option so I watched a couple of TV programmes. After the meal service I decided to settle down for the night. It had been a long day. I’d been up since 6am, had had the problem of the water tank, plus the trip to Cork and the flight over. Oh, and let us not forget the alcohol!! My suite (which incidentally was spotless) was converted and in no time I was away with the fairies. I awoke with about 45 minutes left before landing and decided that all I wanted was fruit, orange juice and coffee. These were delivered to me promptly and afterwards I changed out of my sleep suit just as we began our descent into Dubai.Arriving at the gate some 15 minutes ahead of schedule, UC disembarked through door L1 while the jetway for L2 was still waiting to be deployed. The walk to passport control seemed endless but on my way there a horrible though struck me - I had an Israeli stamp in my passport!
Would I be allowed in? And if I wasn’t, would I have to bear the cost of the deportation trip! Fortunately none of these scenarios came to pass and I was free to go. Because I had no bag to collect I was out of the airport in no time and into an airport taxi. These charge 25 dirham just to sit into the car! 
Fortunately the Hilton Dubai Creek is merely a stone’s throw away from the airport and soon I was checking in where I got an upgrade to the Executive Floor and all the delights therein.It’s very difficult to rate an overnight flight where you spend most of the time sleeping but I have to say that while I was awake the service was superb. It might not have been ranked among some of the superlative flights I have taken but it is certainly among the very good ones. As an addendum, on my second day in the hotel I met a delightful NI couple en route to the Hilton Jumeirah. We met again that night in the Executive Lounge during which time I learned that they had been on my flight in economy. The loads had been so light that they had been able to spread out and stretch out on whole rows to sleep.
