V-Flyer

Our winter break started with a drive down the M4 which nearly ended in disaster. Having been overtaken by a Transit, said van decided to have a blow out right in front of us. Brakes applied in anger we watched in horror as the van's driver took several moments to get his vehicle under control and over to the hard shoulder, we stopped to see if he was OK, which though shaken he was and as he got the spare out of the back we carried on our way.

Leaving the car at Long Term Parking we were on the bus to T3 at around 3.30 and started to think about the trip ahead. Check in was quiet and we were in the lift within a few minutes and on our way to the Club House. As has been discussed on here previously we couldn't book treatments before arrival so the first thing Mrs M did was secure a hair appointment prior to securing a sofa by the windows and placing orders for food and drinks.

Now this is our first visit to the LHR CH since our trip to IAD last June and at first we didn't notice any changes. The food and drinks arrived, I had a CH burger accompanied by a Tiger and this was the first thing I noticed, the burger was in a round bun and somewhat smaller than the square one enjoyed on previous visits. It was tasty and well cooked and I suppose I could have ordered another one but I didn't and instead visited the deli. Another Tiger or 2 followed which led to the inevitable bathroom visit which led to change number 2 and possibly 3.

When did they stop the bottles of Virgin Cola and water in the chiller by the pool table? We loved the fact you could take a bottle or 2 with you so you had something to drink at the other end of a long journey and now it's been replaced by a bad piece of woodwork. At least the sweets are still there.

The other change may well be may observation skills failing me but I absolutely don't remember the loos having men and women logos on the doors. The 2 times I used these facilities during this stay the 2 with man logos on them were both occupied so I used one of the others.

Anyway we went and did some shopping down in the mad house before Mrs Ms hair appointment and while she was there I had a little more food and one or two more Tigers. By this time it was around 7.00pm and it was getting really busy with not too many seats free, I don't think I've ever seen it like that before. Maybe business is picking up after all. Mrs M returned with her new do and was delighted with the result so much so that she celebrated with a Bellini.

Inevitably the call went out for VS400 so we gathered up our stuff and made our way down to the gate. When we got there it wasn't too busy and the had priority boarding in operation so we bypassed the small queue and made our way on board. As we got ourselves sorted out the crew offered the usual drinks and took meal orders for dinner and breakfast. We got changed into our sleep suits and settled down for the next few hours. Doors were closed and we pushed back pretty much on time.

Up in the air no goody basket was offered so yet another loss of benefits. These are little things but when you add them up it does start to make UC a bit of a cut price option without the price cut. Anyway I decided I was only going to watch 1 film with dinner and then try and get some sleep. The film was Surrogates and was in my opinion a less than memorable remake of I Robot, the food was even less memorable as I can't actually remember what I had.

After the film I plugged in my ipod and went into snooze mode for the next few hours until I was woken for breakfast. I had Weetabix followed by a lamb sausage roll which was different. At this point we were flying down the Gulf and as I looked out of the window it was still dark and you could see the flames burning off the waste gasses from oil wells, quite an impressive sight.

As we started our decent I got changed out of the sleep suit and had a quick chat with one of the FAs at the bar about Dubai, it seems that this was her first trip here as well and she was really looking forward to it. With that the chime went off for everyone to return their seats ready for landing. We flew over Dubai and then turned around for the final approach where I got my first glimpse of the Burj Khalifa which even from that distance was quite impressive, and a fairly smooth landing.

After pulling up to the terminal we made our way off the plane and on to immigration which was a fairly lengthy walk but a painless exercise as there was no one else in the queue when we got there. Our bags were up within a few minutes, we cleared customs and that was it, we were in Dubai.

Overall the crew were pretty good and the flight was very smooth, it's just a shame that VS have continued to cut the little extras that made flying in UC that extra bit special. What will they cut next I wonder.

Miopyk [8D]

Thanks for the TR. Did you go to the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa? I would really like to go there on my next visit to Dubai.

quote:Originally posted by miopyk

I had Weetabix followed by a lamb sausage roll which was different.


Yeah the lamb sausage roll as bacon cannot be served on the flight - not many people go for them - I think they are an acquired taste.

[quote]Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
Thanks for the TR. Did you go to the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa? I would really like to go there on my next visit to Dubai.

We went twice during our trip to the booking desk in the Dubai Mall to find that they weren't accepting any bookings as they were 'carrying out maintenance'. On line booking isn't working either.

I reckon the opening was done early to keep Abu Dhabi happy and now the fuss has died down they're finishing it off. But that's just my conspiracy theory.

I'm sure it will be worth a visit though.

Miopyk[8D]