This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Mustang Sally
I wrapped up my Troubleshooting class in good time, and headed to SFO just after noon, arriving around 1pm.
I was expecting to find the check in area closed, as I thought I was a touch early, I hate rushing to the airport.
I found them set up in area 10, with the old UC desks taken over by Jet Blue, and the UC line pointing to some normal Desks, it does n't appear that there were any PE or UC checkin notices on the Electronic signs.
I waited for a while for some other passengers to re-pack their overweight bags, and be told they cannot take their huge carryon into Economy, to find that the Economy line passengers who arrived after me were ushered to an agent. This was probably because the UC and PE line is hidden behind a big piller to everyone else.
I was checked in efficiently and quickly, and asked if I knew where the lounge was. I did n't say anything other than 'Yes' because what I wanted to say, 'Of course I do, you personally have checked me in at least 4 times'
I headed up to the lounge, to be greated by Claire, and while I was hanging up my coat, I overheard that Claire was lamenting a change at the company I work for which meant some of her favourite passengers may not be flying much through SFO, and particularly about one of our projects that had been cancelled.
It appears she knew it had been put on hold the night before the rest of us !
Yet again I was the first in the clubhouse and settled down to a Corona and checked the menu, which I thought was very poor, and asked for the Fettuchini to be made without the Artichokes.
The lounge filled up and we were called for boarding around 3:40, a dash to the gate found that there was a security check on the plane, and we had to wait for around 15 minutes.
The usual priority boarding was called, UC, PE, Gold, Silver, anyone with Children meant that half the plane was priority boarding at the same time.
I got to my seat through the L1 door, which I've not used before at SFO, this time there was no one screening the passengers at the air bridge, and I met a family coming back who had taken the wrong turning.
The welcome was very professional and I opted for the first and only Virgin Champagne of the whole trip, and settled back into 12A.
This was my first time at the front, and it is very close to the other seat, and the passengers opposite me were also from the same company I worked for, so I did offer them my seat, which they declined.
We pushed back a few moments late, and then trundled to the take off position, it's certainly a different ride at the front, compared to where I normally sit, more rocking and rolling than back in PE.
The flight time was announced as 9 Hours and 15 mins.
The service was a little slow I felt, but always super polite, and I found it odd that someone would come up to the nose, and take an order form the right hand side, and leave the left hand side to their colleague. This meant my drinks order was some 10 to 15 minutes later.
I watched 7 Pound which was riveting, as Will Smith has picked up his choices of films since Wild Wild West.
The FSM came up and offerred the usual basket of stuff, but there was no welcome or introductions.
For dinner I chose the Flat Iron steak, which was a little tough, with mashed potato and spinach, and the Banana and Chocolate cheescake. One of the two caused me to be a little unwell later. My body usually tells be 30 minutes after I eat something if it disagrees with me.
The service was cleared and i settled down to bed at around 4am UK time, so I would imagine 4 hours of sleep before they would be serving breakfast.
I always have trouble getting to sleep in UC, which is why I normally do not upgrade myself, as I get more sleep in PE.
I woke around 8.30am, thinking I'll be served breakfast, which did n't happen for another 40 minutes or so.
I took a serial approach to breakfast, not knowing what I actually wanted, so it went Bacon Roll + Brown Sauce, Croissants & Jam and then Fruit and yoghurt.
We circled a bit over Biggin Hill before coming into land over Twickenham and were touched down by 10:35. Our stand was immediately in front of us, and we were off by 10:50.
Immigration was a breeze, depsite a longer queue at the Iris machine than the regular line, then down to Belt 6 to collect the bags, which took a little while to start coming out, and despite me checking in quite early my bag was off reasonably quickly. When I got home it had been searched at SFO.
I was met by the Purple Parking Chauffer service and headed off home. This service was only 46 for a weeks parking. Booked through the Flying Club pages. It's a great deal I think.
I was home within an hour of getting off the plane, so another good plane exit and bag retreival.
Incidentally, I overerheard a comment that despite the UC cabin being pretty much full, only 2 people were on full tickets, the rest were mileage upgrades or G tickets.
The next trip is August, to Hong Kong and then onto Sydney.
Summary :
Check in at SFO has changed and needs rethinking a bit.
Food on board was Below Average and I had issues.
Crew and entertainment as I usually experience, Excellent
P.S Limes duly ordered directly with Claire for next week's V-Flyer Bay to Breakers.
