VS602 JNB-LHR 28 MAR 10 (Upper Class)
Posted: 08 Apr 2010, 22:45This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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We were to spend our last night at my niece's home and so just after lunch-time we headed off there where we chatted, laughed, played, drank beer while in the corner a turkey was cooking on the braai. During a lull in the proceedings I went into the My Booking page on the VS website. It was more than 5 hours before OLCI and I didn't expect to see any changes on the page. Nor were there any. I surfed the net for a while before going back and as the page was loading I became aware that more seats had been released and there in all their glory were rows 12 and 14 ready to be selected at T-5.
I quickly nabbed 12A/K for myself and my sister but before I could change my nephew's, row 14 disappeared. I looked and blinked and blinked and looked. 
Obviously someone else was as on the ball as I was. The most I could do was move him from 18K to 16K which had been my seat. I later went in to do OLCI. 12A/K were still ours but the nephew was still in 18K and 16K had been taken. Talk about fastest finger first!The following day at DUR I managed to persuade the SAA check-in agent to check our bags through all the way, mine to ORK and my sister and nephew's to LHR.
The flight was entirely satisfactory. It left early, arrived early and we were served a very tasty chicken wrap which really hit the spot since brunch had been some time ago. Beer and wine was also available but at that stage I only wanted a cup of tea which was very welcome. We parked on a remote stand and were bussed to the terminal.As I said in my outbound trip report, JNB has improved immeasurably but once in the terminal building I found the signage a tad confusing with signs pointing to Terminal A and Terminal B without any clear indication as to which one we were in. Or maybe I was being blonde! More by good luck than good management I found my way to International Departures where check-in was already open. UC check-in was empty and after the security check we were looked after by as nice a guy as you could wish.
I did try to see if I could get Michael moved up to row 14 but he showed me the screen of the seating area for zone A so that I could see it was full. No matter, I would ask on board and if we couldn't get it, well it wouldn't be the end of the world! Boarding cards in hands we headed towards security only to have him come after us as he had forgotten to give us our invitation to the Clubhouse and to confirm their CDC booking. Security and passport control was quick and efficient and soon we were in the shopping area. We didn't linger there but headed straight for the Clubhouse where I was anxious to print off my sister's boarding pass for her Ryanair flight as well as to check myself in for my Aer Lingus flight. WiFi wasn't working in the Clubhouse - or indeed in any part of the airport so it was up to the business area to use the PCs up there. Once that was accomplished we had a quick drink before heading back down to the shopping area. Michael wanted a shower but hadn't got a clean t-shirt. Nor had he any money at that stage so I went with him in case his debit card would not work. (It didn't, so Auntie came to the rescue!) and his mother wanted to get a couple more odds and ends for her grandchildren. We didn't spend too long there and quickly returned for something to eat. My sister and I had the lamb koftas and Michael had the burger all of which were delicious washed down in my instance by a G&T. Michael showered, my sister shopped and I surfed the net before having one last drink. The JNB Clubhouse is up there with the best of them and one I really like. It was getting near to departure time and people were beginning to drift away. There didn't seem to be any urgency is getting us out of the Clubhouse but we decided to mosey down to the gate. I was a little bit apprehensive as nothing was showing on the monitors in respect of VS602 but when we got to the gate the area was deserted and a few stragglers were going through. Great! Economy had been boarded so it should be a nice quick trip to get on board. Wrong! We sauntered out to find that we were being bussed to a remote stand and what is more just as we appeared, the dispatcher signalled us to wait as she sent off the waiting bus.
Another bus fetched up immediately and we were quickly on board. Naturally we had to wait for the bus to fill us but we were near the door so as soon as we arrived alongside Mustang Sally we were among the first off. The only problem was that they were still boarding from the earlier bus so we had to wait on the stairs which had me muttering under my breath such imprecations as "So much for priority boarding!". Of course if we had waited until we had been called from the Clubhouse, probably the queue would have gone. Once on board, we headed for our seats pausing only to place our carry-on bags in the 18K bin. We proffered our request to the cabin crew about a change of seat and accepted champagne and sleep suits. We were just chatting and settling our books etc for the journey when there was a sudden influx of passengers into the cabin, no doubt from a newly arrived bus. I looked with interest at our fellow passengers but when a couple of roughly my age headed for row 14 I realised that the chances of someone moving was zilch. Moreover they seemed to be part of a group and I went back to say this to Michael and the cabin crew. Michael was fine with remaining where he was but the guy in 15K offered to swap. I was aware that this seat had been booked even before I had booked last October since that would have been my first choice of seat so we thanked him but decided to remain as is. It was only with hindsight that I realised he might have wanted to get away from this group. 
It was hard to tell how many were in it - at least 6 or 7 of about my age led by a guy who within minutes started to annoy me as he strutted around the cabin. If the truth be told, I was probably prejudiced against him before he even got on board as I surmised he was the person who had snaffled row 14 from under my nose and then 15K. 
I'm trying to decide whether he was someone who found out from V-Flyer about seats becoming free before OLCI or whether it was just a coincidence on his part that he just happened to check. Anyhow, there he was shepherding his little flock and at one stage asked for their passports saying he would have to show them at Border Control. I gazed in disbelief as they handed them over to him although one or two seemed to query it but there he was standing in the middle of the cabin with a clutch of passports in his hand. I just shook my head and went to change into my sleep suit. He strutted around the cabin being important but when he put on his sleep suit he tucked the top into the bottoms. 
A definite fashion no-no! I wouldn't have minded if the group looked like ingenues but they didn't and seemed to be reasonably well-travelled professionals. Oh and after the flight took off he was writing copious notes and a diary. Shortly after this the cabin was secured for departure and after a longish taxi to the runway we were off. I can't remember if we were late or not but certainly we were due to land ahead of time. Once released to their duties the crew came round with drinks orders and soon I was in possession of a G&T with some rather greasy crisps which I left. A second one was offered and accepted and dinner orders were taken. I chose the vegetarian option, not because I am a vegetarian but because I don't like to eat too much meat and I had had ten days of non-stop meat eating (well except when I had fish). It was a sweet potato tart which was OK but the soup and the dessert were absolutely gorgeous and I also had cheese and port. The others were more than happy with their dinner and Michael joined us as before so we were able to chat. At one stage I went back to the toilets and looked at the manifest. In the front zone people were either Red or weren't FC members but there was no mention of me either by name or status.
All that was by my seat number was that I was having the vegetarian meal. I really was quite miffed by this.After the meal the cabin settled down for the night. We went back to the bar for a nightcap. My sister didn't stay long and even Michael gave up quite quickly (but then he was still suffering from Friday night and this was Sunday. But that's another story!) I chatted for a short time to an American gentleman whose first VS flight this was and he was impressed. We talked about V-Flyer so I gave him the URL (Incidentally they I overheard the guy in 14A say to his wife that he wouldn't fly Virgin again because they weren't sitting next to each other) before heading back to my seat. I slept reasonably well and woke somewhere over the north coast of Africa. Most of the cabin was still asleep and so to avoid the rush I changed before the demand for the toilets grew and had some breakfast of fruit and coffee. Gradually the cabin began to rouse up including the rest of my family who also had fruit and Michael also had a bacon roll. Soon the cabin was secured and we glided down to a smooth landing some 30 minutes ahead of schedule.
Once off the aircraft we began the long trek to Border Control. We had been among the first off the plane and the immigration hall was reasonably quiet with about four desks open for the EU passports line. We were quickly through and headed down for baggage claim where the carousel started shortly after we arrived there. Michael's bag came out fairly quickly but not so my sister's. We waited and waited and waited.........and waited and waited and waited. Some 30 minutes after the carousel had started it arrived and was one of the last five bags to come out. So much for priority baggage! In addition the lock had been cut off her case although Michael's was intact. By this stage I was in a thoroughly grumpy mood bordering on bad temper. Woe betide anyone who crossed me ! It was such that once out of the secure area I couldn't find my way to Revivals! Honestly! I had to ask at the limo desk.
Once in Revivals I met the gentleman I had been talking to at the bar and he asked me once more for the V-Flyer URL which I gladly gave after breakfast. The promise of a shower helped lift my mood somewhat although it returned briefly when I found the shower to which I had been allocated was in use and so I had to traipse back to the reception area again. When I got there a lady was trying to blag her way into Revivals. She had an ongoing flight and wanted to wait there. Was she in Premium Economy she was asked. No, she was in economy. Was she Flying Club Silver, perhaps. No, she wasn't a member of Flying Club but she wanted to wait for her ongoing flight and asked if she could pay to stay there. The lady at reception looked at the manager as if to say "Over to you". He, without a moment's hesitation informed her that unfortunately it would not be possible as the Revivals Lounge was for the benefit of Upper Class and Flying Club Gold members only. I had been holding my breath during this exchange and given my current mood, I was not beyond pitching a major hissy fit if she had been left in but fortunately that was not necessary and I was able to breathe normally again. I luxuriated in my shower and once that was over I had a rather tasty breakfast which, if I recall correctly consisted of a flat mushroom, tomato and a poached egg on top of a sourdough muffin with hollandaise sauce. It was very nice and by the time I had finished my good temper had been restored.
By this time passengers from the east coast American flights had started to arrive and Revivals began to get busy which certainly justified the manager's decision not to allow that lady in. At about 9am the lady who organises the CDCs arrived to tell us that the driver was here to take my sister and her son back to Watford. I was mildly surprised to see that their driver was a lady - one tends to think only in terms of male drivers. Well I do! Oh dear. I was sad to say goodbye to my sister especially. I had just spent a fortnight in her company and had revelled in it and I thoroughly enjoyed being with my nephew whom I really didn't know that well before this trip.
Once they had gone I settled down for the long wait or my flight. Aer Lingus had changed its schedule and the early morning flight to Cork was no longer a legal connection although with the early arrival of the VS flight I could have made it. I had originally booked myself on a flight leaving at 12 noon which is a summer only service and for which this would have been the first day of the service. However Aer Lingus had decided to cancel this service and I was condemned to wait till 2pm! Still there were worse places to wait than Revivals. After a while the early morning arrivals gradually drifted away. Unlike the Clubhouse, I was offered no further refreshment but I felt that if I had asked I would have been given something. Eventually I was the only one in the lounge and there was a certain amount of "clearing up" activity. I thought that perhaps they were preparing to close even though it was still early but a quick glance around showed that they were setting up the place ready for the late morning arrivals of the VS10 and the SFO and LAX flights. At this stage I decided to wander over to T1 for my onward flight. Just as I was leaving the first passengers from VS10 were arriving and I later found out that I had just missed out on the circus that is Madonna in T3 as she was on that flight (but obviously not going to Revivals).
The ROI flights in T1 depart from an area which looks on to an active runway and it was obvious how much the BA strike was affecting traffic. It was much quieter than usual. The incoming flight arrived early. We boarded early and pushed back early to the extent that we arrived in Cork 30 minutes early. My bags came through quickly. I have long since realised that through checked bags go into a separate bin and it is the last one to be loaded. However, like my sister's bag the lock had been cut off mine and as it had been added because the inbuilt combination lock wasn't working, I could see that my case had been opened. I was concerned about this thinking of all that could have been stolen from my case. A quick taxi trip took me to the Toyota main dealer where my car had been deposited two weeks earlier as part of the recall program. Not only had the recall work been done, it had been serviced, valeted and washed and it felt like driving home in a new car - and no long-term parking fees. Once home I checked my bags. All was intact, but how I wish they had stolen the rather (for that read "very") hideous cow clock my sister-in-law had given me as a gift.
but as he had the pants hoicked up to just under his oxters a la Simon Cowell it was impossible to tell. Of course that meant there was three inches of sock on view together with his laced up shoes 
Obviously need more practice! 
