V-Flyer

I was going to Denver for a Microsoft conference and Microsoft werent going to change the dates for 7000 people so I booked in May during the Upper Class Sale and scored a Z fare to New York for 1398.70 knowing I could snag some good internal flights to Denver and use them in my tier points campaign to keep my Gold Card.

Theres no limo with a Z fare so I needed a way to get to LHR T3 at 6:30 am for the 9:30am daytime flight to JFK. I dont get to go Upper very often so I wanted to enjoy the flight. It was a Saturday (to qualify there had to be a Saturday stay) so the buses werent as plentiful and there was no train to get me to the airport in time so I got the trusty X26 express bus to the airport to get me there on time without fuss. I highly recommend this if you live between Croydon, Sutton, New Malden, Kingston and Heathrow. It slices through the traffic and only stops at a few places for just 2 right to the bus station a hop skip and jump from the VS terminal.

Terminal Three is a shambles. It needs to be demolished. Enough Said.

Once checked I went to the Club House after negotiating the security stupidity of the 'one bag' 'taste the liquid' androids - as if it would make any meaningful difference to the security.

In the CH I had an Eggs Benedict. It was not as good as usual and the waitress spilt my coffee pushing past my table and pretended not to notice. Didnt bother me but just a little detail that wasnt how it should be.

The time came to board and the calling was perfect - no queue - straight on the plane.

Nice seat. 7K - a window in the front part of the Airbus.

Attentive staff. I have a glass of fizz and a water and wait till we are airborne. I have to have a G&T it seems unfair not to have a Tanqueray 10. My favourite. The flight attendant helps me unstick the UC table (do they all stick?)

No In Flight Beauty person on board this time.

I try the food. I chose the pie from a pie specialist in the UK but its not actually that great. In fact its dreadful. The Airbus ovent have nuked it into a soggily soft sludge (including the casing) which is not desirable in such a pie. Note to self to avoid next time.

Watching the TV is good, although the choices dont seem to be particularly up to date. In particular I dont find a film worth watching. Die Hard 4 would have been nice...

Im tired though and set up the bed. Its lovely. The duvet is so good. I drift away and sleep very soundly no doubt aided by the G&T until the flight is descending.

Soon Im out of the airport on the bus (no limo this end either) to my hotel in Flushing.

Nice relaxing start to my frenetic week.

Originally posted by mysteryflyer
I try the food. I chose the pie from a pie specialist in the UK but its not actually that great. In fact its dreadful. The Airbus ovent have nuked it into a soggily soft sludge (including the casing) which is not desirable in such a pie. Note to self to avoid next time.

Heated on steam rather than 'dry heat', is my guess. [V]

The BE Aerospace/Inventum steam ovens VS have will do 'dry heat', you just have to press the right buttons. [n]

I often question how much of VS food is down to poor galley operators, who aren't really into food or interested in how it goes out?

Sure, if the caterer has loaded a load of crap, you can't polish a turd. However, isn't it obvious that a pastry pie shouldn't be heated with steam, right? Or am I expecting too much?

At least there was the No. Ten to console yourself with.

Mike