This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Saturday afternoon we headed to MCO and used the UC check-in, or rather the PE check-in as the chap there appeared to be covering both desks. We had already put UC tags on the bags, which was probably just as well as it didn't seem as if the agent would have done. Perhaps I should give him the benefit of the doubt and say he probably saw they already had them, but to be honest I don't think that was the case. At least we didn't have to take our bags back and over to security ourselves as many others were having to do. We were given our boarding cards red ones, not purple, no idea why as I did see other people with purple cards and our invitation to the Delta Crown Lounge.
We were fairly early so spent a couple of hours relaxing in the lounge. It was very pleasant, quiet and cool, particularly compared with what I saw of the main terminal area when I nipped out to buy a bottle of Coke to take onboard. There is a distinct lack of food, even compared to The Escape Lounge at Manchester, but we'd eaten a good lunch so it didn't matter.
Shortly before boarding time we headed to the gate where a priority boarding line was taped off but was blocked by a crowd of people. Closest to the priority boarding sign was a very well dressed couple. When the announcement was made for UC boarding we headed towards the sign and the well-dressed gentleman picked up his bag and moved sideways, as if moving out of the way. Just as we were walking around him, the lady travelling with him decided they were going to board regardless and they then both pushed ahead of us. We then all had to wait a while on the airbridge because there was a delay in boarding the wheelchair passengers in front of us. Sure enough, the well-dressed couple were not sitting in UC.
The aircraft was English Rose, V-ROS. We were the first into UC and settled ourselves into 6A&K. Two groups of 4 people joined us but 7A&K remained empty until the FSM upgraded a couple from, I think, PE. The lady made no attempt at disguising her delight and was a classic picture of 'jaw-dropping'. It appeared the FSM knew the couple, possibly from a previous flight. She spent a great deal of time chatting to them, although she was having to work in the cabin as it appeared there was a shortage of crew. The upgraded lady proceeded to be the most demanding customer in the cabin; not in an unpleasant way at all, but constantly asking for things. (Including, for some reason, duct tape! I didn't hear why she needed it but gathered it was something to do with what she was wearing.)
I had seen various online discussions about upgrades, whether airlines do or don't, and whether they should or should not. I admit I was torn. One part of me thought, isn't that nice for them, aren't they lucky? Another thought, I'm jealous, why hasn't it ever been me? And a third voice in my head said, why should they be getting this for nothing when I've had to pay?!
After the excellent food on the outward journey, I was disappointed on the return. The salad was quite nice but the steak was dreadful, tough and inedible. I've had far better steak in economy. The chocolate ice-cream with raspberry coulis was good, but the cheese was a great disappointment after the delicious Cheddar on the way out this time it was the orange, plastic American stuff. Breakfast was okay, but again not up to the standard I'd expected.
My amenity kit this trip had a luggage tag and DH's had cufflinks, which he didn't want but the FSM swapped his kit for one with the luggage tag so he was happy. I was even less impressed with the Nova IFE than with Odyssey, but at least it had the skymap.
The food service seemed to take forever, perhaps because of the shortage of staff. By the time it was over and the beds were made up, we were only 4 hours out of Manchester so I knew I'd have a maximum of 2_ hours sleep before being woken for breakfast. In the event, I didn't sleep so much as doze off and on. I suspect it may well be different on a longer flight where you can really appreciate the bed, but another time I would probably just recline in the seat rather than mess with the bed as I didn't find it particularly comfortable to lie on.
We landed slightly early in Manchester and were quickly through Immigration. But then we waited a fair while for the luggage; it seemed as if a couple of containers of economy luggage came through before the UC bags began to appear.
All in all, we had a good first UC experience.
The outward journey was noticeably better than the return, which was a disappointment. I know the end of a holiday is never going to seem as good as the beginning, but I believe the experience and service should be consistent on all journeys and for us it wasn't.
I certainly wouldn't pay full fare for Upper Class but would happily travel on a Z class fare again.
