This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I arrived at check-in just after 6 am and was quickly dealt with, with a smile, by a friendly agent. It only takes about a minute to get to the Clubhouse, and I went straight to the breakfast buffet because I had not eaten anything at the hotel. It is a good selection of items and I enjoyed a plate of fresh fruit, together with a cup of tea and then some nice bread and jam. Fortunately the wifi in the CH was working well on this occasion (for me, at least), so I was able to get some things done whilst waiting for boarding call. Soon after 7 the flight was called and everyone shuffled out of the lounge -- the guardian angel held the door open for us and bid us a good flight, which I thought was a nice touch. The staff in the lounge were all very professional. I just wish that the place had some natural light!
Security was a bit better than last time, and it took about 10 minutes to get through. There was no priority lane in operation again, but the ground staff had clearly timed the call to ensure that the main lane was pretty empty, so I guess it wouldn't really have made any difference.
Lady Bird was waiting at gate 55 and she was in pretty good shape. The UC cabin was nearly full -- I could see that 8G was free and maybe there were a few others, but there can't have been many. I think there were only 250 on the flight, so it wasn't crammed full in economy either. I was a bit groggy from the early start and somehow managed to sit in the wrong seat, which is pretty embarrassing (to put it mildly!) and I should know better, but the FSM told me not to move and the person who thus got mine didn't seem to care (I did apologise). I hope to goodness that this wasn't the other v-flyer on the flight... oh the shame of it!
We pushed back more or less on time and took off quickly -- no delays at this time on a Sunday morning! There were some great views of Manhattan as we banked round to the right after take-off. We were promised a quick flight of just over 6 hours, although the First Officer warned that some rough turbulence could be expected 3 hours in. Oddly enough, this didn't materialise -- or at least, I didn't notice it! Even more oddly, the crew started to serve lunch/dinner quite early, about 3 hours out of Heathrow -- right at the point when things were supposed to get choppy!
There's not much else to say, really. The crew-member looking after my section was first-rate. Breakfast was served; there were a couple of drinks rounds. Lunch was served efficiently and enthusiastically. I didn't notice the cheese trolley, although I was offered cheese (but declined). The salmon rilette starter is OK; ditto the bread pudding. Last time I asked for the chicken main course but had to change to the beef because there wasn't enough chicken; this time I got what I wanted, and I must say, it was cooked superbly: hot, moist and very tasty -- in fact, I was amazed how nice it was (I have very low expectations of aeroplane food). I don't know whether this was some kind of fluke, but it was probably the nicest meat I have ever eaten on a plane (and I include my experience of BA First in that comparison). It was accompanied by a glass of the merlot, which is nothing special but harmless enough.
The time whizzed by and after a brief hold (followed by some good views of London in the evening) we landed on 27L. There was no queue for the electronic passport gates, so I was through in seconds, and my case was in the first handful to appear on the belt after the crew's luggage. We landed after 7.30 pm and I left the terminal at 7.50 pm, so top marks to the ground crew.
I have to say: for me this was a flawless flight. The young UC crew were, I think, the best I've ever encountered. The FSM was not very visible (although she did greet me by name at the door), and in fact I think a lot of the announcements were delegated to one of her senior crew-members, but you just knew from the moment you got on that she had organised her team well and that they were going to be good. You could see from the crew's body language and the way they addressed each other as they passed in the aisles, for instance, that they got along well. I was really very impressed, and I will be contacting VS to pass on these compliments.
it does happen. Flying back from Sydney last year on preparation for landing at Heathrow someone came back from the toilet - sat down - buckled up - before another confused passenger returned to wonder why someone was in his seat.
