This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
We spun our well rehearsed plan into action: car returned to rental place early in the day, finish packing, a couple of hours poolside, clean up and dress for the journey, then the CDC picks us up as planned and we are whooshed off to LAX door to door (although with the distance being about 127 miles we have to top up the fee to the limo company). A really good driver today, attentive, not too talkative, and put his foot down when able - all good points
. Arriving at T2 at LAX the journey time of two hours was much better than the three-and-a-half in the other direction (no doubt helped by Mothers Day keeping people off the roads). Bags unloaded and immediately off to pay the few dollars to 'rent' a trolly for the 50 feet from curb to check in (oops, did we acquire another bag full of stuff again 
).Check in efficient but not overly welcoming and thankfully as we were early security was very quiet, although it began to get busy just as we passed through, invite in hand, to head for the NZ Koru Lounge. We never linger in T2, frankly it's not a place you'd want to linger in, simply head upstairs hoping to bag some of the seats at the far end of the lounge with a view to the runway (the geek spotter in me coming out).
I've written positively about the NZ lounge at LAX before, but perhaps after to many visits it's starting to show both its age and a lack of style. The computer tables are gone, to be replaced by a ramshackle collection of chairs, the other chairs now looking dowdy, the loos not so clean - overall it's getting shabby. NZ is moving to TBIT this year so no doubt have no desire to spend any money on the current offering. On checking in we were warned that yesterday some VS passengers were being sent to the Air Canada Maple lounge because the NZ lounge was full (which would be a horror, they're pretty basic), we were OK being early, but it did fill up quickly (no doubt due to flight timing changes with two NZ and the VS8 now very close together). At least the wine offerings continue to be good, the WiFi works, and while the food hasn't changed in years (crab salad, other salads, cold meats, soup, cheese etc.) I like it. I do hope that with NZ moving the space will become available to VS - it is sorely needed.
The VS8 seems to be scheduled early currently, departing at 5 pm, and at 4.20 the first call came so the no. 1 and I headed into the throng that gathers around the gates here - too little space to handle the big jets that use T3 so those who are familiar with this know how you have to duck and dive to get to the front and board. No name check on boarding but FSM and Senior CSS soon came to introduce themselves. Bubbly or two in hand and then the fun started as we tried to guess the zedleb boarding late for whom even carrying their hand luggage on board was to much trouble. Turned out to be the partner of a famous singer and newly acquired children, nannies and body guard (those who know me on Facebook will have seen my observation - not to be repeated here!). Despite two nannies and dad, the children were somewhat lively throughout the flight shall we say.
Take off right on time, I didn't pull out the menu because it's pretty much the same as it has been for months so it was the duck rillette (very nice) and flank steak (really nice), the current white Minervois and then the Argentinan collation ... and not to much for me this time with a plan to get some shut eye. Nothing on the IFE appealed to me, and mine was dodgy, so I watched 'Weekend' on the iPad, which led to some comments from the FSM as it fell over during one particularly racy scene
. One drink at the bar and a little cabin crew chat before making the bed and sleeping pretty well for about six hours (Bose's on throughout which helped as the no. 1 said after that the children opposite were pretty lively in the middle of the flight too). Overall I marked the CC down from my usual excellent, because the one allocated to our section wasn't quite with it - a little slow at times, seemed to wander up to 4K then turn back to the bar, whisked away breakfast coffee when another would have been desired if asked or the chance offered ... not terrible, just not as on the ball as others can be.An hour before landing, while most were still slumbering, I went to change back to civvies, bacon roll (it's not really bacon is it, more like hot ham, which is a shame) and coffee, then a final pit stop before the captain came on to advise a short circling delay and that we'd be on the ground a little after schedule. Which we were. Our bags were off pretty quickly, I didn't count but among the first few, and so with loaded trolley we greeted our Tristar driver and stuffed them into all available spaces in the Mercedes to chance the M4 which had earlier been blighted by accidents. Home one hour and fifteen minutes from landing is pretty good with hold luggage and busy roads ...
Now waiting for the dogs to arrive and hare around the place, cascade up the stairs, and generally use up what little remaining energy I have (but in a good way).
So a 'good' flight not necessarily as excellent one for the reasons mentioned - but still good enough for appreciation of VS to continue. And that may be as soon as Sunday back to New York.
There's a plane at JFK, to fly you back from far away
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
Pretty close I think!
