VS043 LGW-LAS 6 Feb 10 (Upper)
Posted: 17 Feb 2010, 15:43This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
This jaunt to Las Vegas was to celebrate Mrs DAs significant birthday and as one of the shows we were going to see was Love, I thought I try and put a Beatles twist (and shout) to it.
Drive My Car The night before the flight we had a hideous journey to the hotel where somehow we managed to get stuck in two traffic jams due to accidents and countless roadworks.[:(!] The next day, we arrived at Gatwick South Terminal 21/2 hours before the flight was due.
Help! - We did a schoolboy error of going to the Economy Silver Card bag drop but an observant VS line checker asked what flight and kindly told us to turn around and go the PE line. We waited 10 mins in line before reaching the desk.
Helter Skelter SURPRISE 1, we were advised that there had been an aircraft change and our seats of 77K & H had been changed to 30K & H and PE was now in one section. My brain was starting to work overtime, was it a LHR 340 or 747[:?]. Anyway, we lost our bubble seats but the upside was that we had the leather seats and V:Port (unless it was the A343 [:0])
We were also told that there was a 1 hour queue to get in to the gate. As not only there was the airside security to pass, 51% of the pax will be checked at the gate and it was a busy flight. We enquired about the clubhouse and was quoted 45 for entry, we decided to decline as we would only have had at the most 45 mins to experience it and it didnt seem worth it. So after a quick bite to eat in Prt A Manger and a quick look in Duty Free, we wondered down to Gate 13.
Strawberry Fields Forever SURPRISE 2, we got to the gate and saw Mustang Sally waiting for use and there was a queue forming, we were unlucky enough to warrant a check. Mrs DA was searched quicker than me due to me having the camera, camcorder and other electrical items. Once I got myself sorted, I presented my boarding pass to the gate crew member. The pass passed through the scanner and I got a beep, beep! The gate crew member looked at the screen, scribbled a new seat number on the pass and said Mr DA, you have a new seat, 6A, you have been upgraded, congratulations[^][^] I had a mixture of emotions, excited that I was in Upper Class but also trepidation, what if Mrs DA didnt get upgraded. I said to the gate crew I hope Mrs DA is upgraded otherwise she wouldnt be a happy bunny and my life wouldnt be worth living for! I went in to the gate waiting area and found Mrs DA who beaming like a Cheshire cat, she had 5A.[:D][:D]
I want to Hold Your Hand We boarded the plane and was directed upstairs, so we didnt miss out on the bubble experience. As the more seasoned Upper Class travellers know, 5A and 6A are not together but separated by the emergency exit and the wardrobe. However, Mrs DA was chatting to a lady in 4A and once she found out the Mrs DA was not travelling alone, she offered to swap her seat with mine. A quick acknowledgement to the CC to what we were doing and soon I was in 4A![y]
A male CC member offered us champagne and also apologised if the service wasnt as expected apparently the crew was a LGW crew with a few members who had LHR aircraft experience.
Due to the plane change, there was a lot of re-jigging of seats because of the configuration meant more Upper Class seats and less Y seats. The first officer made an announcement that because of the change this meant resubmitting of paperwork. The male CC member also mentioned this flight was, last week, fairly quiet so a lot of CC took advantage of their privileges and invited friends and family on to the flight as well as off duty CC. However, because of the change and the lack of seats available, they would be the first to be offloaded to balance the deficit. He had a family member who was to suppose to fly today but he had a tipoff that the plane was being changed and told her not to go to the airport.
It was clear who got upgraded to UC as they were the ones all giddy and taking pictures of themselves in the suites and being shown how to operate the suite by the CC, us included [:I].
The flight crew were very good in keeping everyone informed of events and after 40 mins delay, we pushed back.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Drink orders was soon taken and I went for a beer and Mrs DA had a G&T, which came back as a large G&T[y]. The IFE was fired up and the both of us started to watch The Hangover to get us in the Vegas mood. The dinner requests were taken with another drinks order.
We both had the chicken salad to start which was very nice. I went for the Cumberland sausages and mash and that was very tasty. Mrs DA went for the Thai green curry and she really enjoyed that. I went for the lemon tart and that was very sharp with a nice crumbling case. Mrs DA had the cheese and biscuits but declined the port, she commented on how gooey the brie was.
The plates were cleared and both of us finished the film, so we ventured downstairs to the bar which was busy. Mrs DA went for a martini and I went for a Jack Daniels on the rocks. The bartender did apologise to another pax because they had run out of gin to make a G&T. He was prepared to break out a bottle from Duty Free if the pax really wanted a G&T. Makes you think about the decision to take T10 away and add another vodka selection.[:?]
After our little excursion, we went back upstairs to both watch Up. I defy anyone who doesnt get emotional watching the first 10 mins of the film. The CC came around regularly getting refills of our drinks which were gratefully accepted. After the film which was brilliant, I thought I enhance my UC experience, Ive seen a few pax do it so I thought why not, so I got my seat converted in to the bed. I wasnt offered a sleep suit although other pax were wearing one. However, it didnt stop me from having a couple of hours sleep.[|)]
With 3 hours remaining in the flight, I freshened up and got an orange juice from the galley. While I was asleep, Mrs DA took some pictures of me which I found out about later! Mrs DAs IFE froze a couple of times but she wasnt too bothered as she had her book and ipod to keep her entertained. I watched The Surrogates to pass the time away until lockdown, it was an OK thriller. The lockdown didnt really come in to effect until 40 mins before the ETA.
Revolution We landed in a wet Las Vegas around 2.20pm local time and we experienced another UC benefit, the ability to get off the plane first. This meant we were off the plane, through immigration, collected our luggage and in to a taxi, all within 10 mins. 20 mins later we were sitting in our hotel room.[y]
All you need is Love As this was our first experience of UC, and as it was sprung on us at the last minute, all I can say it was brilliant. The UC suite was excellent, the CC were very good and professional, the food was good and the bar a great escape. Would we pay for UC when we fly again, dont know all depends on how we get on in PE on the return and the price? However we were completely relaxed when we landed and actually helped us stay a little bit longer on Saturday night.
P.S. Just an afterthought, one of the toilets in the 'bubble' was backed up and closed for use during the flight. What would the procedure be if in the new upstairs UC/Y configuration, a Y toilet was unavailable for use?[:?]