This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
As you can see from my ratings for this flight I continue to be impressed with the UC experience. I still really like the seat which is the main reason I choose Virgin, but have also always been very pleased with the onboard service. This flight was no exception. In fact, I think this was probably the most professional crew so far experienced in all my flights. Attentive and friendly without being over familiar and no sign of stuffiness. Another reason I continue to fly with Virgin.
I did actually use the entertainment system this time and watched some TV comedy shows (Gavin and Stacey, Blackadder) and a totally forgettable film about teleporting which I gave up on about half way through. The system worked fine and I ended up listening to the album 'Parallel Lines' by Blondie. I'm showing my age, but had forgotten what a great album it is (I have it on picture disk vinyl only and haven't listened to it for years).
The food was fine. Perhaps my judgment here was somewhat tempered by the amount of food I had consumed on holiday, but I remember the fennel soup they served in the SFO Clubhouse and the mushroom soup on the plane were both excellent. I had light bites both going out and coming home and that worked just fine.
A lot has been written in these pages about the Clubhouses at Heathrow and SFO and I really can't add much here except they were both great as usual. Claire at the SFO Clubhouse is an asset to Virgin and we had a good chat.
As I become more seasoned with Virgin there are a few things I do to make the journey a bit more comfortable. I will ask for an extra pillow if the flight isn't full and will often lie on the duvet rather than have it over me as I find it gives a bit more padding and I avoid getting too warm. I have a second pair of earphones for my iPod which are much more comfortable to wear when trying to sleep. I am one of those that find falling asleep much easier if I am listening to something, even if it is a talking book and I am listening through one earphone. I always try to get up to the bar for a bit and have a stretch of the legs and a chat to the crew. Time seems to pass much more quickly that way. I am also one of those 'speed sleep suit' wearers and on night flights get changed into one ASAP as then I'm ready for the off. If possible I will try to fly a 747 as the seats whilst not as long as an Airbus are slightly wider and I prefer the cabin set up and larger bar area. My choice of location is in the nose section around row 15 or 16 (achieved on both outward and return trips). Oh and the Virgin Bellinis are good!
That's about it really. I can't think of much more to say except I will be booking with Virgin again for my next trip and will be digging into the pockets again for a UC flight, although if it was a shortish trip say to the US East Coast I'd probably try PE and see how the new seats shape up.
Phil
