This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Got to say I am glad that he did, it was just what was needed given the topsy turvey nature that business has been of late.
Thanks to the kind provision of a CDC I had a very effortless and efficient transit through the DTCI and was on to security within a matter of moments... Of course I paused to say a hello to some familiar faces who informed me that Mr Blacky1 had checked in a few hours previous
Security checkpoint was its usual banterful self with a bit of a delay caused due to the amount of baby food that the couple in front wished to take though, not overly impressive given the BAA staff made them subsequently open and try all of the bottles and packets before allowing the rest of us through. All taken in good stride though and was through and swabbed for explosives (again) within 10 minutes. I resisted the lure of the whiskey stacked shelves and made a bee line for the LHR CH, Blacky was waiting... 
Ascended the staircase to the CH and with my bags stored I took a wander in search of Blacky1. Found him drinking beer in the pit so joined in, would be rude not to, and unfortunately service in that area was a bit hit and miss - took me a whole 5 minutes to flag down my first glass of whiskey
Moving onto the bar for a couple of glasses of champagne to toast Blacky's achievement of reaching AU - well done to you. Not to mention a really good conversation with a bar tender that although younger that I was already going grey - ha ha ha ha
All in all, a boozy few hours spent in the CH with good food consumed and an entertaining time on the tennis court roof terrace, whilst plane spotting and drinking champagne - got to say Blacky is far better at aircraft recognition than I, hats off to you sir
With boarding called and the lights of the clubhouse fading, we made the journey to gate 18 where priority boarding was in efficient swing.
Boarded straight away through door B and was welcomed to my seat in the nose. Got to love the nose seats for privacy and a bit of peace and quiet. UC looked very empty and row 12 was left vacant.... Sorry pjh no poor strangers to rebuff your footsie advances
As is customary of vflyers, champagne was accepted and then Blacky and I took a wander to the bar... Practice run for later on
Given one of the crew has recalled me from a previous flight, she approached said her hellos and promised to hide all the whiskey looks like I am on best behaviour but good on her for coming over to say hi. 
Gate to gate IFE working well, still not a fan or all the adverts but can't win them all.. Captain came across and advised a flight time of 7hours and 11 minutes with 273 souls aboard.
Whilst a fair queue for a final runway departure, takeoff was smooth and we swung out toward Wales on our way to EWR. One weird observation was the fact that there were some smaller planes being allowed to jump the queue and enter the runway for takeoff ahead of the long haul carriers.., BA *cough cough* BA.. Lol.
On takeoff I did also see an ANZ plane in what to me was new livery. All blacks colours effectively.... Pretty cool and yep was looking out the window like a kid at a candy store a fair amount whilst listening to the music database of the IFE. Anyways..... Finally air bound and with a final glance over london and with the Thames fading into the horizon service swung into action.
A quick chat with Blacky1 who thinks that drinking time begins after dinner... Fool
before resuming seat for hot towels and a chat with the FSM. A welcome back by the FSM who was friendly and professional. Knew that I have flown in the past month and pointed out that the menu has not changed with an exception on the vegetarian option loaded. Good to see they do adapt certain dishes to demand. Bar orders taken and they have lost the JD..... Ahhhhh!!! How will I survive.. This bottle of Aberfaldy will do
Whilst Blacky was firmly ensconced in 19K I opted to start writing this TR as a bit of a surprise for you vflyers - enjoy
So far service has been stellar but with a plane this empty I would expect nothing less. Yay they have found the JD.
UC Menu for the VS 1 and 9 this rotation as follows
Starter
English ham hock - salad of sweet pea and carrot, crisp breads, honey dressing
Summer-picked Barley and Vegetable Broth
Warm Breads
Main Courses
Pan-seared Filet of Beef - Parmentier potatoes, sweet glazed carrots, green beans, pan jus.
Sautéed chicken breast - buttered new potatoes, peas and chorizo, tarragon cream sauce
Thai vegetable curry - fragrant jasmine rice, coriander
Crispy warm chicken Caesar salad - crispy pancetta, croutons, Italian cheese, Caesar dressing
Desserts
Chocolate salted caramel pudding
British strawberry and custard tart - mixed summer berry compote.
Cheese and port of course followed as well as the usual selection of wine and spirits from the bar.
I have opted for the chicken satay to start (I know it is not on the main menu, but it is on the Gaze menu
) and the beef fillet for the main. Both very delicious and enjoyed at the bar with excellent company and conversation with Blacky and the crew. Jack Daniels supply ultimately depleted, sorry return flight, moved onto the Aberfaldy. A very nice substitute and again good conversation and company from Blacky, the crew and a VS engineer travelling on holiday- duck people
I was nice and questions received some very interesting answers, especially the info provided on VS staff travel concessions and the future of the upper deck seat config for the LHR 747s 
Seatbelt sign binged on and back to our seats where I had great fun chatting to the fellow next to me and the crew that walked past..... Yep a slightly intoxicated joeyc in a confined space again... My incarceration did not last too long and found myself staggering back to the bar empty glasses in hand in no time at all. Conversations resumed and had a chat with the lovely CC and FSM, apparently they were expecting more turbulence than this but looks like we are going to be lucky
Moving forward I really cannot recall what we filled the rest of the time talking about, all I know is that drink refills flowed freely and there were a variety of pax from the UC cabin that came to join the party. Looks like the chat from the CSS about knowing your limits and how the US authorities deport drunks will not be a completely random interlude - her efforts to hide the JD from me were amateurish at best, fair play for trying to leave some for the return though
With the customary cup of tea in hand I took a wander about the plane, looks like the loads were very light and I can understand why the sales fares were available right up until departure... Funnily enough I was talking to the bar tender in the LHR CH and he did tell me that people are superstitious flying stateside around Independence Day - a shame that people live in fear, hopefully tensions will ease off in the years to come (unlikely, I know)
Seatbelt signs came on for one last time and it was back to the seat for the customary unpacking and repacking of my bags - only kidding although there was a stash of amenity kits both night and day packs left unattended at the bottom of the cupboard next to me, Blacky… do you remember appropriating one or two?
With seat resumed and feeling completely content that I have had a solid VS flight and have done nothing overly embarrassing, I craned my neck to see the approach and the landing. Wow is all I can say, the view over manhattan was incredible and I even managed to get some pictures for the old scrapbook (not easy as I am no yoga pro)
Landed into terminal B and there was a short delay at disembarking due to a diplomat hiding upstairs that had to be escorted out first. There was a bit of a long trundle to the CBP hall where I was confronted by a queue worthy of JFK (30min wait) Not to panic though as I chatted with Blacky about what he will be dong on his weekend in the city and some rather random tangents, after which we were directed into a queue with quite frankly the most confrontational CBP officer I have ever had the misfortune of meeting... I was in no mood for this, questions of all sorts asked as well as a full barrage of fingerprints and photos taken... He may have got some slightly sarcastic answers as a result of wasting my time although thankfully he appeared too concerned as to what his friends were doing to notice.
Bags retrieved and then onto the dial7 car for the short trip into the city. Flying into EWR gives an amazing view across Manhattan yet I still do prefer JFK - the view taking the Queensboro bridge onto the island is just as spectacular (especially at sunset) CBP is unpleasant at both airports so will even score it on that front
A good check-in experience, excellent time spent in the CH and a stellar flight - what more could you want. CBP officers aside, all staff I came across were cheery and I did not notice any probs with people using the IFE.. a very good experience - 5* all round VS
Cheers for reading all and apologies for the delay in posting this up, in fact have a drink for making it to the end
. You literally walk from a nice terminal building with shops and cafes into an industrial looking building with exposed pipe work and air conduits that looks drab and uninviting 
