This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The hotel hoppa arrived ontime at 0600 and I was in my way arriving into T3 at 0620. I was greeted warmly addressed by name, thanked for my loyalty and wished a great flight with a final....."hope to see you again soon"....little things but my word they are powerful to me!!!
Up in the lift and through security with no delays, finished off some shopping and headed to the clubhouse which was just opening. I was asked if I had been before and then made my way in.....
Haircut booked straight away and by 0710 was sat ordering breakfast. The service was slow to begin with, but soon picked up and a delicious cooked breakfast arrived followed by coffee and juice - and still no black pudding!
Suitably filled up, I relocated to the area behind the bar and was looked after very well with regular top ups of champagne.....though I did find (again) that the English sparkling wine on offer was rather delicious too......
I see we have a new cocktail list and Gold card has gone though thankfully redhead is still around and a rather strong one was enjoyed.
Boarding call came at 1045 and I made my way to Gate 21. Priority boarding in operation and boarded through L1 onto "Lady Stardust" welcomed by name from the CSS.
It took a while for everyone to get organised and UC was full. At 1125 the captain confirmed a flight time of 9hrs35mins. Pushed off stand at 1139 and airborne at 1158.
The IFE was switched on straight after the safety video and several passengers seemed to be taking advantage of it. A total load of 252 was confirmed with 13 cabin crew and 3 flight deck crew.
Hot towels were quickly distributed, followed by menus and then a little while later drink orders were taken. A G&T was duly ordered and arrived nice and strong with crisps. Both were refreshed without asking......
Lunch orders were taken and today's menu was:
Flaked peat-cured salmon or Pea and Mint soup
Fillet of prime beef, Pan fried breast of chicken or Lemon and ricotta tortellini
Warm bread rolls
Mascarpone and clotted cream torte or Warm sticky toffee and chocolate pudding
Cheese and Port
Graze options were:
Mini beef burger
Aromatic chicken salad
Vegetarian sushi selection
Nibbles and sweet treats
Fresh fruit
High tea:
Sandwiches - ham and mustard, cheese and pickle, salmon
Warm scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam
Cupcakes- lemon curd, red velvet and carrot cake
Macaroons: rhubarb custard, strawberries and cream and blackberry and apple
Tables were laid at 1310 with wine, water and warm bread offered. I was told the black salt and pepper sets have gone...replaced again with the silver ones
I enjoyed the pea and mint soup which was tasty. As it was served we hit a very bad patch of turbulence so I had a job of keeping the soup in the bowl, some passengers were not so lucky with red wine thrown over their tables.
The chicken was also good and this came with herb new potatoes, mushrooms and leeks. It was tasty. I also enjoyed the sticky toffee and chocolate pudding and rounded things off with the cheese - though this being the A333 no cheese trolley.
The FSM was sadly not inspirational and didn't really play any part of the flight in UC, doesn't mean to say he was not busy but his announcements were not very fun filled.....more just going through the motions.
The CSS handed out the menus though no name check and was just ok. I have certainly experienced better.
Ice cream was offered mid flight which was good to see. I sat and enjoyed a couple of drinks at the bar, the crew though didn't join me. Snacks and fruit were at the bar and I was regularly checked on.....the NZ Sauvignon Blanc was nicely chilled and went down well.
The UC cabin was full and my own views on this cabin are known - it is cramped for sure and a full flight does not help of course. Still sad to hear some disapproving views from the crew but they are not really any different to mine and they have to work in that environment more often than I have to sit in it....it is here to stay and its hard to avoid the A333 in some ways without some creative planning....the dream suite, well is perfectly fine for a day flight and I do like the extended recline. I didn't convert it into a bed though knowing how tight that can feel
Afternoon tea was served early, 2.5hrs from Miami but not sure why but it was good, an array of sandwiches and cakes which delivered the required sugar boost.
Relaxed throughout with Vera touch which is just fantastic and laughed out loud a Miranda
Some great views of Fort Lauderdale as we made our approach and touched down at 1558 so a little faster than advised back at Heathrow.
Pulled onto the gate quickly and disembarked without delay. The long walk to immigration got the legs going again but it was a very long walk. The queues were horrendous, as expected and long thought about before I even booked this flight....but I was here and just had to deal with it.....
It took over an hour to the desk but the immigration guy was friendly an said "we love the British" which was nice.
Bags waiting for me and through customs without any hitches to catch the shuttle to the
Hilton.
Now just American Airlines to deal with to get me to Orlando so I can pick up my cruise!
Jon
) anything is possible...... 
Many is the time i have fought the demons to keep my drink from going all over me 
