This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
VS400 LHR-DXB
G-VOGE A346
ETD 20.30
ATD 21.18
Decided to start this trip by public transport for the first time to LHR, mainly because we both wanted to have a drink on the return flight.
Arrived at LHR check-in at 15.00 where surprisingly it was very quiet. No-one at UC check-in and economy lines were the smallest Ive seen in a long time. Maybe this was because it was a Thursday.
Headed up to the fast track security and was through in less than 10 minutes. No shoes off today, or belts, in fact it was like before. T3 departure hall was very busy. As wed not eaten lunch we headed straight for the clubhouse.
Checked in at the Clubhouse and immediately noticed how big it seemed compared to when the temporary wall was in place earlier in the year. Found ourselves a quiet spot and was promptly offered a drink. Decided wed better eat so went and sat in the dinning area and had a meal. After that, went to explore the rest of the CH but the roof garden and sky lounge was closed. I did ask why and was told Its because the guitars are on display
Thought this was a bit odd as you cant actually see the guitars from down below. I thought they might have some celeb wanting to use it as a private area but we were in the CH for a good 4 hours and saw no-one go up there.
Had a treatment booked for 6pm and opted for the fresh as a daisy. Very good indeed. A couple more drinks later and I could see the flight was on general boarding. We dont like waiting until the last minute to board as we like to get settled etc so off we went to the gate. We were able to board straight away and could see the plane was G-VOGE which we have travelled on before.
Plane looked fab and UC was 95% full. Sleep suits etc handed out and a couple more glasses of champers before take off. Captain announced that we would have a small delay as there were over 30 passengers stuck in security. Quick pushback and take off at 21.18 with flight duration of 6hrs and 05 minutes.
Service was slow to get started after seatbelts off and all in all the dinner service lasted over 2 hours. I know this because we were past Vienna when I was eating my pudding. However, the food was fab! I actually really enjoyed it. Oh, and first time Ive had the metal knives and forks since I flew in May.. Much better.
Meal consisted of:-
Starters
Tapas (selection of garlic marinated prawns, ensalada campera, garlic olives and sweet red peppers)
Minestrone Soup
Mezze - Stuffed vine leaves, lamb kibbeh, baba ghanouji, houmous and mixed pickle.
Main
Steak with mushrooms, rosemary roas potatoes, greens and gravy
Fruits de mer - Monkfish, prawn and salmon in mushroom and white wine sauce with potato gratin and french beans
Lamb cutlets with Arabic moussaka with pea, mango and dill rice
Artichokes stuffed with roasted vegetable ratatouille served with rice
Cheese
Gorgonzola, Iberico, Fleur de lait
Dessert
Warm catonia citrus pudding (Italian eqv of bread and butter pudding)
Chilled ginger creme brulee
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Breakfast
Usual selection of cereals
Magdalena with orange marmalade
Brioche parisiene and pain au chocolat served with jams, honey etc
Fresh fruit and creme fraiche
Lamb sausage sandwhich & sauces
Scrambled egg, lamb sausages, potato rosti, baked beans and grilled tomato
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I never saw the FSM but he was male. Thats all I can say. He never appeared the whole time I was awake. IFBT gave impression she didnt want to treat anyone and no-one seemed to get priority cards either. I decided to keep my priority treatment card to use on the way back instead which I had kept from a previous flight.
Was going to go to the bar for a few drinks after dinner but I should mention at this point that earlier on in the flight as soon as the seatbelt sign went off, 2 other pax ran to the bar and perched themselves there for the majority of the flight. Anyway, had a few more drinks, made my bed, listened to a concert , watched skymap and fell asleep somewhere near Ankara this is a first for me on a night flight! Next thing I know I was being woken for breakfast, just under 2 hours before arrival.
Obviously no bacon on this flight but had the fruit salad and lamb sausage butties which were a nice change to the bacon. In fact, I actually prefer these.
Smooth long decent into DXB where as usual busses were waiting to take us from our remote stand to the terminal. Straight through immigration etc where the hotel had sent us a car to collect us. In Grovenor House Hotel by 08.30 which was great.
All in all, it was a really great flight, good crew, fab destination. Shame the flight was so quick! Return trip to follow soon.
