This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Background
This trip started as an Amex PE upgrade voucher redemption flight to new York back in august 2010. I really believe that they are useful and with a little bit of determination and checking availability on a daily basis they can work for you.
Following successful redemption of said vouchers friends of ours decided they were going to get married in Vegas at the same time we were due to go to NY. Suffice to say I spent the next 8 months checking availability to Vegas with little success.
All of a sudden availability on the return appeared and then the outbound, we were ok, we were going to the wedding.
It doesn't stop there, oh no. I started having have delusions of grandeur, upper class dreams you might say. On the day of our flight I checked expert flyer and noticed that there was 5 empty seats in upper class. You know what's coming dont you!
The Flight
My wife and I arrive at gatwick and I make a break for the VS customer services desk. I ask politely on the off chance that I can use miles for an upgrade to upper. "It depends what class you are booked in sir" comes the reply, to which I reply "I am in U class", and she says "that's fine sir". I nearly bloody fainted, I have tried for 4 years to use miles on a Vegas flight and today the gods were shining. 40k miles and £38 extra in tax and we were in the turning left club at long last.
Check in was pain free, with no queue and we were shortly heading towards security and the sanctuary of the clubhouse. I didn't tell my wife until we reached the clubhouse about flying upper, suffice to say she was ecstatic and it made me really happy to see my wife's face light up.
The Clubhouse
Greeted by a really friendly lady who showed us around and advised of the flight delay until 12:00 which wasn't a problem as we had the clubhouse to entertain us.
Settled down with the wife and not long after we were approached for drinks and food orders. I order the breakfast and the wife had the salmon and scrambled eggs, both of which were delicious.
After brekkie and in true V-Flyer tradition (08:50am) I decided to order one of those fan dangled red heads (damn you V-Flyers), blimey they are nice. Let's just say I had a few but I enjoyed everyone to be honest.
I managed to get an appointment in the spa and had a safety shave which was bloody lovely, excellent service and the lady was really chatty.
The Plane
The flight was called, so off we went to gate 13, priorty boarding was in place but I had been picked out for secondary screening (5th time on Vegas flights). Anyway by the time I had finished being screened the priority boarding had gone out the window and we were at the back of the anyone who's on the plane in economy/PE/Upper section.
Whilst queuing we spotted Justin Lee Colins (good times) in the queue, I think he is a legend and all I could think of was swapping amusing stories with him at the UC Bar but he was in economy, great guy.
Welcomed on board and we showed ourselves to our seats. Shortly after we were asked if we would like a drink and we requested bucks fizz.
Really enjoyed the pre take off drink, sitting on the ottoman chatting to the wife. Upper is a fantastic, sociable place.
Take off was quick and within no time we were being asked for lunch orders, as we had only recently eaten I pre ordered the cod and the wife had pork loin. Both were good and interspersed with a great Italian Pinot.
Didn't bother with the entertainment as I had an important trip report to write.
Throughout the flight we were well looked after, drinks freely flowing and the crew were always happy when you spoke to them.
Couldnt tell what time we arrived as I was ever so slightly inebriated
, through immigration in no time and cases arrived shortly after. We set off to meet our driver and the next surprise for my wife being a penthouse at the bellagio.
All in all an excellent advertisement for VS Upper class, our return flight in PE didn't have the same appeal as usual, I can't think why.
