This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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Arrived T3 after making my way from T1 and my standard BA domestic flight. VS check-in is still not finished yet but its getting there. It's already looking brighter and more modern.
Having already checked in online I made my way to the now extended Upper check-in. Theres now 4 J check-in desks. No queues and no more pre-check-in security screening. The check-in agent now attaches the security sticker to passports. One thing I did note was that the agent made a very obvious point of telling me she had marked my luggage to be loaded into the J bin. Maybe this was because there was a note on my PNR from customer relations about this. I was originally in row 19 in PE but I asked to be moved forward to row 18, which was done for me after a quick phone call.
Once checked-in I popped outside for a quick smoke before heading up to the Upper Class wing. Ive said this before but this is fantastic. Check-in to Clubhouse in about 5 mins. There was a slight queue at the passport desks before the shoe screening area (where all pax where having to remove shoes).
The clubhouse was not too busy when I arrived at 15:30. Had a quick check of V-Flyer (using the WiFi which now seems to work, although you might need to refresh the start page if the user-name and password are not accepted first time) before tucking into the obligatory Clubhouse burger with a side serving of Mumm Champaign.
It seems a couple of VS flights where delayed today. The VS23 to LAX was about 2 hours late and a New York flight was also slightly delayed. Did the usual relaxing before my ear-lowering treatment booked for 18:30. After that I thought I thought I deserved a dip in the spa followed by a nice long steam shower. Had a few more refreshments after this and before long the VS400 flight was being called. We where departing from gate 3 tonight.
Priority boarding really doesnt work at the newer gates as all pax have to queue to enter the gate area. There was about a 10 min wait there before boarding actually commenced. Its only at that point when priority boarding kicks in but the board J, PE and VS Aus first anyway. We where boarding using door 1 tonight so all pax where walking through the J cabin. I soon found my PE seats 18A but just as I was unpacking and settling in another pax turned up with the same seat number as me. After the crew took our BCs the FSM came back and asked me if I minded moving to seat 17K. It never dawned on me at first but this was an Upper Class seat so Id been op-uped [8D]
Thats the third time in 18 months that VS have issued the same seat to me and another pax not that Im complaining mind!!
J was a bit hectic with all pax still boarding from door 1 but the usual pre-flight drinks where offered, the IFBT did her rounds and J pax where settled in. On opening the Freedom menu my heart sank a little as I'd forgotten the DXB route was a GNF route.
The menu consisted of the following:
Nightcap and Turndown
Hot chocolate and coconut macaroon.
Camomile tea with chocolates.
Single malt whisky and cheese straws.
Supper
Broccoli and stilton soup served with a choice of warm breads.
Dark chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis.
Hot Supper Trays
Chicken tagine served with pearl couscous and Mediterranean veg.
Wild mushroom fricassee with coriander pilaf rice and buttered leaks & carrots.
Spicy bream charmoula served with Arabic rice.
I opted for the soup followed by the chocolate mousse, which was very nice actually, although not quite enough if you havnt eaten in the CH before. Breakfast menus where the usual choices, although the bacon rolls are replace with a turkey sausage roll instead.
Tonights flight would be quite a quick 6 hours and 15 mins. We pulled back on time at 21:00 and where airborne by 21:25. V:Port was switched on and was working at full speeds straight away tonight. Drinks and dinner where served pretty quickly and before long the J cabin was settling down to sleep. I watched a film on V:Port before converting my seat to sleep. Just as I was settling down the IFBT came and invited me for my back/neck and shoulder massage which was as good as ever. Headed back to my seat and tried to sleep for a while. Once again the cabin temperature was a bit too warm but I managed a few hours sleep.
After waking up and having breakfast, I approached the FSM to ask my usual geeky 'Whats the registration of this A/C please' question. She said it was G-VRED. She asked me why I wanted to know so I said I made a note of all my flights in a spreadsheet [:I]. Her response to this was 'Oh, your not a V-Flyer are you?' [:D] It turns out the FSM (Jane permission given to use her name) is actually a V-Flyer member, although hasnt posted for a while but has promised to read my TR. We had a chat at the bar about V:Flyer and various other things before I changed and got ready for our approach into DXB. I had a quick wander down the back. It still amazes me how long the 346's are. All cabins where virtually full. There were only 2 empty seats in J.
We landed on time at 07:50 using the usual remote stands at DXB (parked next to a BA 777). Steps where used at both door 1 and 2 and before long the buses where taking pax to the terminal. Fast-track immigration was a bit slow but the agent was very friendly and as I made my way to baggage collection the bags where already coming off so no idea if priority baggage actually worked.
Met the VH agent who directed me and a few other VH customers to awaiting mini busses to take us to our hotels. Its warm and sunny here here BTW [:)]
All in all another great VS flight [y]
Regards
Regards
James Mitchell
James Mitchell
