This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
So...after arrival Heathrow, and finding connections unable to check the bag through nor to do boarding passes (not sure why not?) we actually had to re-enter through arrivals and immigration (lucky one of us had an unused fast pass stuck in passport case) due to additional security. With huge holiday crowds, security checks and UC line which was very slow, it took us two hours from arrival to clubhouse. The new grand staircase was worth a walk up and workers were buffing up chrome and steel in the new kitchens. Apparently completion work has been slow due to security background clearances for workers taking so much time.
Breakfast, showers, haircut (him) facial (me) the papers and a drink and we were called to the gate--distinctly being told that there would be a 'dedicated' line for UC which we would be able to discern by the red carpet or something but it was actually just the usual push your way through if you dare at gate 32. With a full plane that meant some evil looks and comments but with perseverance and many apologies we cleared the last passport check and gratefully found our seats (main cabin again).
Welcomed warmly and sat down with Bucks Fizz and looking forward to longer version of outbound journey...but was not to happen. Our FA was clearly just having a bad day and wanted nothing more than for everyone to just go to sleep. The rest of the FC seemed cheerful and attentive so it was just our hard luck. The air was frigid as the lower deck was cooled off to help keep the upper deck from roasting--which would have been fine if sleep suits or blankets were available, but even after several passenger requests only a few red blankets were offered to those who complained the most loudly (not I!). Duvets were also stowed and inaccessible but the another kind FA did give me a sleep suit about two hours into the flight (after I went in search of them) and the temp did even out. Not interested in any of the film or tv choices as had seen most of them on other journies so read (okay I admit it) the new Harry Potter which I had purchased as a gift for my son--and found it hard to put away for dinner.
Dinner was again the same menu (are there new caterers or not?) but was fine with the crab and lobster salad (seemed a bit smaller portion than in past though--now it really is a starter rather than a small dinner) and cheese, as other choices were unappealing (bangers and mash, a risotto and a chicken dish) to me. The cheese selection was excellent, particularly the blue. Would have had more of that had it been on offer.
The chardonnay was also quite good although the gent sitting to my right apparently got a bad bottle at the start and was quite put out about it. Kept well topped up with water and wine, a quick trip to the (unattended) bar where guests were helping themselves until an FA arrived and chastized them (only staff can serve alcohol on a plane) and then slept quite well for several hours until tea --sandwiches (which were worth a miss as the bread was dry and old---a long time since they were fresh cut). The FA in our section seemed disappointed to find anyone wanted food or tea--I had a cup of tea thrust at me --no sugar nor milk--and had to push hard for a refill. Having had a small dinner on board 9 hours earlier and anticipating a long drive before a next meal in a day that has 8 additional time change hours in it--it didn't seem too outrageous to ask for another cup of tea for the road.
Arrival at LAX, first through immigration--and last to have our bags come off carousel despite UC tags. Although it was a good 45 minutes before they popped down the chute it was very entertaining to watch a New Zealand high school rugby team arrive with 48 matching bags to be sorted to their owners, and to see 30 or more enormous surfboard cases come down the oversized belt. I had no idea that surfboards are as personal to their owners as golf clubs (or as my riding helmet which rode as carry -on with me to save bag room, (leaving me open for several unoriginal gibes about being ready for a crash).
The cabin crew were all collecting for their transport to their hotel and it was good to be able to say thankyou and goodby--they seemed cheerful and even our grumpy FA looked brighter as they went off duty.
All in all a fairly ho hum trip--none of the fun or sparkle as on outbound, but Fc handled a long flight and a full plane well (did I mention that there seemed to be much higher ratio of staff to passenger than I have previously seen on a full 744?). The food was a distinct disappointment--it was fine for airplane food but decidely nothing special, and I found it interesting that it was the same meals and schedule served on an 11 hour day flight as on a six hour night flight.
Had to call Flying Club to get miles and points credited as had used upgrade miles but was easily caught up. Arrived home via America West SFO-Las Vegas-Boston last night -- uneventful except for excellent clear view of Grand Canyon, but an hour and a half late due to Vegas push off being restricted by availability of runways. Somewhere over Nevada I found myself heartily yearning for a flat bed, a duvet and a fine glass of chardonnay.
Hovering enticingly close to gold this month....
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