VS024 LAX-LHR 9 APR 11 (Upper Class)
Posted: 17 Apr 2011, 11:18This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
VS24 was due to leave at 21:15 local, so we spent most of the day in Disneyland, getting our last Disney fix for a few months. I have to say, that California Screamin’ was a real highlight, mini-Concorde absolutely loved it, and dragged me on 5 times on that last day alone!
DL has fond memories for me, as it was my first Disney experience as a child of 9, and it was great to go back, albeit a poor relation to WDW in Florida.
We left the park around 16:30, taking the curtesy bus back to the Sheraton Anaheim and picking up our stored luggage, and taking our pre-booked taxi to LAX.
Check in at T2 was ok, not overly friendly or outstanding in any way, but not bad either. But most importantly, received our “invites” to the ANZ clubhouse.
Security was very fast, with virtually no queue, up in the lift and around the mezanine to the clubhouse entrance.
Very enthusiastic greeting by a really nice guy, who’s accent told me he was French – and this was confirmed when I was chatting to him – really good bloke.
Found some nice comfortable seats, and had 2.5 or so hours to enjoy the hospitality on offer.
I have to say, I really liked this lounge. It felt very homely, and the food and drinks on offer were great and plentiful, and easy to get at!
Much to my delight, they had really well chilled bottles of Stein lager, a NZ beer that I haven’t had for many a year; so, I proceeded to make up for lost time.
The Mrs asked for champagne, andwas brought an entire bottle, complete with ice bucket!!
All in all, a really pleasant couple of hours spent, not a patch on the LHR clubhouse, of course, but I really enjoyed the ambiance in there.
Very soon, it was time to head to the gate, where G-VFOX, Silver Lady, was waiting.
Greeted by name, and got settled in to 3A, 3D and 4A. The suites were very clean, I’d say, and all was in order.
281 passengers on board, and as usual, UC and PE were completely full, with only economy having free seats.
The mandatory champagne for me and the Mrs, and juice for mini, (I really need to cut down on this drinking alcohol!!!), and the crew set to work making everyone comfortable and offering top ups etc.
Everyone on board, doors closed, and an incredibly short taxi to the runway, short hold of about 5 minutes, then off we went.
Beautifully smooth takeoff and climb, and we were into the dinner service.
I chose the chicken tandori salad thing – which was actually very good indeed, followed by the steak pie – which was not very good. It was a bit soggy, although the meat inside was good enough. Cheese/biscuits to follow, an a few more glasses of that very good French Chardonay they have on board.
Now, about this crew. On this flight, I think I witnessed one of the best crews I’ve come across on any airline. Ok, this was upper, but they were all excellent. What I noticed above all, is that theFSM worked just as hard as anyone (not always the case), and the entire UC crew worked as a team. For example you could ask for something from one member of the crew, and maybe that one or a different crew member would be back quickly with it. They had no clear division of seats per crew member that was obvious, instead, they seemed to work together so well that they instinctively covered each other an all the passengers were very well looked after indeed.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention that sleepsuits were handed out before take off, and I had changed so was feeling very comfortable, relaxed and well fed by the time dinner service was over.
And so, I settled down, bed made up, and next thing I know, I was woken by movement as “breakfast” service was starting. Mini had already settled down before me, and slept very well indeed, as it was very late for the clock her body was currently operating on! Again, se was thrilled at te UC experience, ad this crew, whom I cannot praise highly enough, were really kind toher ad made her feel veryspecial.
I really had a very relaxing sleep, and on rising, staghered around to the rest room to get changed again.
Making my way back round to my seat, the FSM greeted me by name, asking if everything was ok, and did I want anything! “Coffee!” I said, and off she went, bringing me a blessed cup of coffee herself within a minute or so – this FSM was one of the best I’ve seen, and I think she is the main reason that this crew worked together so well.
Couple of bacon rolls, a funny apple muffin/Danish thing later, 2 more cups of coffee, and I was feeling vaguely human again.
A smooth descent and straight into LHR, arriving at the gate around 30 minutes early.
Off Silver Lady quickly, and it was then that I found out that I had at least half amile to walk to get to immigration! One long corridor after another, and we found ourselves at the immigration office at the end of the world!! Quickly through though, the agent seemed in a good mood, baggage out quickly and in our taxi at around 1600.
A really great flight this one, from the ANZ clubhouse to disembarking at LHR, the service and attentiveness and enjoyment couldn’t have been much higher.
Kudos to the crew on this flight, they were a fantastic advert for VS and made this particular leg of our journey, very memorable indeed an a terrific way to end our break.
And, so ends the marathon TR writing, hope you’ve all enjoyed it.
My final act from this trip, will be to jot down some notes on our hotels in Hawaii, to help others with their choices of hotel if you should ever go to the stunning place that is Hawaii.
?
It could be time for medication 
