V-Flyer

Hi! First trip report. Hope it makes sense.
7am Xmas eve. Checkin lady v helpfull, security took seconds. No takers for 2 lounge passes(obvious later) so up we went to the Clubhouse and a good breakfast and several glasses of fizz. Well, you have to, don't you??? In The Clubhouse with my partner for the first time, so he's keen to look around and is impressed. Apparently we may never fly BA again!This trip was extremely last minute ie. booked Dec 4th @ £1005 each Upper return!
Left the CH early for the long-ish walk to Gate 22. Boarding just starting and first into Upper, door L1, turn left. Yes please! Parnter noticed the bar(no surprise there)and loved the cabin, seat and lay-out. Crew visible, drinks served, asked for a second one and got it,not always the case.
After take-off we asked for our beds to be made up(3 hours on Champers before 10.00am!!). Others ordered Lunch and slept after as we woke up. The crew wanted to make a fuss about us designating our dinning time, said 'they would "try"' and such. Why?. As it happened, everything worked out when we ate 3 hours later than the other pax, but with different crew.
After lunch I was keen to take my b/f to the bar, his first time. All the occupants turned out to to be crew freebies/upgrades. Nice lads all of them but all the Champers had gone, perhaps not their fault but suddenly understood why so many single men in the Clubhouse at that eary hour, all staff tickets!!!!!They all left when confronted with a real passenger(or we were just too boring).
Time passed all too quickly which was strange for a 10+hour flight and after tea and a mince pie(best ever)we were on our way down to SFO. Then came a big surprise. We were first off, long walk to Immigration, no one in front, through, bags collected, Customs and waiting for The BART.......in 8 minutes!!!!!!! No really, 8 mins!!!! Last time at JFK was 90 mins, worst ever LAX 200mins.
The crew we met were pleasent, our "late" meal did happen and the flight was on time but apart from the price(amazing)there was nothing to make it good apart from the b/f's first time and he thought it was FAB, the way we all used to think it was.
Had a great time in SFO for XMas and a really good flight home, but that's another story, soon.

Thanks for the inaugural TR

Although you grabbed a great bargain, this may backfire as there will be an expectation of always flying in UC in the future

buns

Great TR and very glad you had a good flight. I too have experienced "reluctance" to operate the freedom but luckily it all worked out for you both on this flight.

Thanks for the TR.

I wish they would sort out the freedom menu thing -- I too have seen a reluctance to deliver it, and my wife reported the same from a recent trip to SFO too.

SGJ wrote: They all left when confronted with a real passenger(or we were just too boring).

No that is the proper etiquette for staff travelling on staff tickets. They should vacate the bar if it stops paying pax wanting to use it. So they were following VS guidelines.


I think them wanting a time for dinner was to allow them to be able to cook it properly. Am not sure how long it takes to reheat an UC meal though its not a matter of 3 mins in a microwave.

Though I agree VS need to sort out pax expectations (maybe by making it clear on the menu to allow for cooking time)

Hope you both had a good time in San Francisco

Super first TR, thank you

Thank you for the great first UC TR.