VS023 LHR-LAX 26 MAR 11 (Upper Class)
Posted: 13 Apr 2011, 16:28This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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Oh yes, and of course it was the family holiday in LA and Hawaii, but more about that and my flights on Hawaiian Airlines in other posts.
I elected to use our local, friendly taxi driver to get to LHR rather than use miles for the CDC, also electing to be dropped off outside T3 rather than try the DTCI thing - I had been told that I could do this provided I called up in advance and gave car model, make, reg number and colour etc, but it didn’t seem worth the bother.
Our flight was due to take off at 15:15, so I aimed for an LHR arrival in the region of 12noon, and in the event, we entered T3 at around 11:20.
By this time, mini-Concorde (8), aka Emma, was getting extremely excited about the whole UC thing, the concept of having a bed on an airplane appealed to her greatly. And so, as we arrived at the UC checkin, she was fascinated by everything including the changing colour light thingy and the general “differentness” of that area.
Very friendly and helpful chap on checkin, who very efficiently dealt with the formalities and issued our CH invites and boarding cards. He was also quite chatty with my daughter which was a nice touch, understanding her excitement and being respecctful of it.
Off to the clubhouse then....security was quite empty and we were through and being greeted at the CH within about 12 minutes of having walked through the doors of T3 - very good really.
The clubhouse seemed quite busy, but there was no issues finding seats and settling in for a glass or several of champaine and a bite to eat.
The food drink and service were excellent in the CH, no real comments to make either way on that. My wife and daughter had made appointments for nail treatment things (or whatever they do), and my daughter was delighted that she had nicely filed nails and the lady had put sparkly nail polish on for her - she was very pleased with that and showed anyone who was interested, and many that weren’t (interested, that is).
Around an hour before boarding, after exploring most of the CH, my daughter and I wanted to go to the viewing terrace upstairs, but it was roped off! Apparaently, there was someone “famous” up there! I find out later who that was:-)
At around 2:30, we took our leave of the CH, and made our way down to the boarding gate, feeling that everything was good in the world - and this had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the excellent champaine on offer in the clubhouse. I’ve been able to drink well over 6 glasses beofore now without any noticeable affects, so it had nothing to do with that, obviously:-)
Just getting our boarding cards checked by some very friendly agents at the jetway, when we discovered who the famous person was - it was David Hasselhoff, who it turns out was on our flight - and when on board, I was next to him (I in 3D, he in 2G I think - his suite sort of backed on to the side of mine).
Anyway, back at the head of the jetway, he suddenly came over asking what my daughter’s name was, and proceeded to sign a photo of himself for her....all very nice, but no-one had asked for an autograph. He then proceeded to do the same for the gate agents, and much later, when on decent into LA, requested a list of all the cabin crew, and did the same for them!!!!
Well, I guess it’s a nice thing to do, and he was fairly quiet and unassuming about it, but no-one had actually asked him for autographs, and it seemed it bit odd to be handing them out like sweeties at a kids party:-)
Right, must stay on topic, and with some semblance of chronology here...
So, if you remember, we were about to enter the jetway.
Boarding, and had the little frisson of excitement turning left, and being greeted by name (after looking at my BP, but it was a nice touch). G-VSSH (Sweet Dreamer) was very spick and span, everything looking in fairly good condition and clean and tidy.
Settled in to 3A, 3D and 4A and pre-takeoff drinks offerred, oh yes, and accepted - I didn’t want to be rude.
After drinks, the usual announcements etc, and we left the gate almost exactly on time. Moderate taxi to the runway and short wait in the queue.
Very smooth takeoff and climb up to altitude, with dinner service starting very promptly indeed.
Orders for dinner were taken, and the food arrived 20 minutes or so later. I know this is the freedom menu, but I guess the crew weren’t forcing anyone to eat straight away, just offrering, and most seemed to take up the offer.
Food was fair quality, I had the cod for main, but didn’t bother with a starter as I’d indulged in a burger plus other things in the CH. The cheese and bickys were very good as well.
I also had a glass or two of the French chardonay, which was very good indeed.
The crew were very efficient and quite friendly, I’d have to classify them as good rather than excellent if only because they were a little serious and stand-off-ish....but it’s splitting hairs really.
I bedded down for a while and slept like a baby for 4 or 5 hours, in time to be woken for sandwiches, a few cups of coffee and start of decent into LA.
Meanwhile, my wife and particularly my daughter, were having a fine time - my daughter slept really well, and was most impressed with having her bed made up for her and settling down. The crew were very nice to her and made her feel very at home - even though her ticket will never be rewarded with FC miles or tier p..........oh no, shut me up!!!
So, smooth decent into LA, very little if any hold time, and touch down around 30/45 minutes early.
Quite a long taxi to the gate, through a fairly grumpy imigration check and bags off quickly. In taxi around 25 minutes after leaving my seat on the aircraft - pretty good, I’d say.
All in all, a very pleasing experience indeed, crew were very good, Mr Hasselhoff behaved himself apart from handing out autographs to anyone in reach (and some that weren’t), a really great first experience in UC.
Watch out for my return TR, 4 hawaiian airlines TRs (if I write them all), and maybe some details on the Kahala Owahu plus Hyatt Regency Maui - both excellent hotels.
Feedback welcome!
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