This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Originally booked PE and on two separate occasions managed to upgrade using miles to Upper. Being a little flush with miles, I also booked a CDC - I know many will question the wisdom of this but as it is worth about £90 to Mrs Buns and myself, it is not far off the "value" of an economy reward.
Not being one to miss out on valuable Clubhouse time, I had arranged for a 3PM pickup and true to form, Mr Tristar was there at the appointed hour and a reasonable journey round the M25 (always a danger in the late afternoon) we were going up to the DTCI just an hour later
Others have reported about the current building works and I can confirm that the DTCI entrance and check in are unaffected. However, this is were things started to go wrong. The check in agent said it was not possible to check us in as there was an amount outstanding
So we went down in the lift to the ticketing desk where it soon transpired that the reason my card had been rejected that very morning was because since I had made the upgrade booking on the phone to FC, my card had been renewed 
Does beg the question why this was left to the last minute, but after ticketing, we then had to find a check in a free check in desk and by this time the two Upper desks were occupied and as we made our way to PE, we were challenged to see if we were flying Delta and then when we got to the PE Desk we were asked if we had just upgraded. Mrs Buns had to rein me in at this point as I was getting a little irate.After checking in it was back up the life and directed to the small diversion back to the VS Upper Class Security Point. No problems so it was off to an empty Clubhouse over half and hour after arrival - hence the lower marking.
Between 4 and 6 in the afternoon is the quietest time in the Clubhouse. No problem with finding a seat when we arrived and treatments booked for 7:45 - so plenty of time to sit, relax and take in the ambience
Had a chat to one of the members of serving staff there who confirmed that the Grey Goose Lounge had closed the week before and there were still no plans for what would replace it (although all the branding is still in place up there). Had a few Redheads and by this time it was 6PM and we made our way to the Brasserie, which was already filling up by now) to have the Clubhouse Burger and some water to wash it down. After we finished, it was pretty difficult to find a seat before it was time for our treatments. Mrs Buns again had the Rejuvenating Hand Treatment and i a simple manicure - both therapists were engaging and have to say that this still is one of the best bits about the Clubhouse experience - even if you have to pay for it. By the time we had finished, the JFK flight had been called so there was now some space. A final drink before we made our way to Gate 21 for boarding.My views on the A330 have been fully aired previously - we always opt for 8A & 9A as these seats offer a degree of privacy. One good thing to report is that the coupe glasses have been replaced by a more traditional glass (but not the one you still get in the Clubhouse).
A very full flight as two jump seats were being occupied by passengers
Push back on time and a fairly quick taxi before take off. The Crew were efficient, but functional and this was the theme for the flight.Hot towels and drinks orders taken and the menu for the flight was:
Starters
Organic spicy lentil soup (a bit dangerous on board an aircraft if you ask me
)Ballotine of scottish salmon
Pear and blue cheese salad
Mains
British fillet of beef
Lemon thyme chicken breast
Caesar salad with tiger prawns
Methi kali mirch
Pudding
Salted caramel chocolate pudding
Vanilla cream profiteroles
Even though we were at the back of the cabin, both Mrs Buns and I were able to select the salmon and the beef. Salmon was very dry and uninspiring whilst the beef was tasty. We both passed on pudding and the cheese opting to bed down for the rest of the flight. I am not sure if I have mentioned this previously, but both Mrs Buns and i prefer to sleep in the chair in the reclined mode rather than transforming into the bed. Put my headphones on and listed to my I Pod for the duration.
Woke when there was movement for breakfast which was good - apart from the coffee which never inspired me. Landed on time and once at the Gate exit from the aircraft was via L1.
The usual trek to Immigration and only a short wait to get through before visiting the Duty Free to buy some wine
Thereafter picked up the bags and into the waiting car from the waiting car from the Hilton Dubai Creek.All in all, it was the Clubhouse that shone on this journey - our return was much better due to a really engaging crew.
Thanks for reading
buns
