This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The last day was spent relaxing at the house, a little swimming and then packing up - lunch was enjoyed at Chick Fil-A with a final strawberry milkshake for a few months.... The journey from the Gulf coast to Orlando took about 1hr45mins due to heavy traffic outside Orlando but checking in at the little UC area and was processed quickly and without fuss -- I was asked if I wanted to treat someone to the lounge but travelling alone it was not to be this time.
Security took a while but through and into the Delta lounge which was quiet and enjoiyed a couple of drinks and some snacks. Boarding commenced at 1850 and I was actually the first person on the aircraft which was "Lady Bird" and meant a newly refitted one for my flight home.....
I was quickly offered a glass of champagne and refills offered and accepted. Newspapers and magazines offered along with sleep suits - the menu and amenity kit were on the ottoman.
With all 450 passengers and 19 crew (three on the flight deck) it was time to push back which happened at 1931 and departed at 1948 after a manual safety demo with a flight time of 8hrs confirmed. Now with 8 kids in UC and a baby, you could see the other passengers thinking what kind of flight is this going to be but thankfully all (including the adults) behaved very well indeed.
I recognised the FSM from a rather poor flight back from BGI in May and I am very sorry to say things have not improved. However, the cabin crew member looking after us was fine (No bells and whistles but ok all the same) - he introduced himself (no names used) and no welcome back either.
Drink orders taken and quickly dispatched with crisps but no refills offered, though when requested no problems. The dinner service began - but not before trying to get my table out which just didn't want to move, not even with the help of the safety card which usually works....
So had to move to 12K to have my meal which wasn't ideal but not a major setback. The FSM never came to apologise for this either though she confirmed later on that she was aware of the problem. A delicious leek soup with croutons was enjoyed, followed by a large piece of beef which was tender and rounded off with cheesecake. Wine and water were only offered once, though again when requested no problems.
No bread was offered at all until I mentioned if it had been loaded which it had and then it appeared as everyone was tucking into dessert....
It was a lack lusture service - the FSM was in the galley and the CSS who had been introduced as in charge of UC and PE was no-where to be seen until breakfast time.....it just didn't seem to flow at all.
No cheese trolley but again not a major issue but it was advertised and then it was lights out and beds made up for the night.
So how did things look on this newly fitted aircraft - had a good look around and the PE downstairs looks great actually, a private cabin which seemed to work well. Upstairs, PE at the front and Y at the back with the Y passengers encouraged to use the washrooms downstairs as the one's at the front are for PE use only....the crew mentioned this was quite a challenge already.
UC looked fresh and my suite did not have any marks except for a faulty table which was logged to be fixed on the ground. As a huge fan of JAM it worked well and was as superb as ever
It was rather rocky throughout the night and the bar was cleared of its bottles at one point...breakfast was offered about an hour from Gatwick with a strong coffee in a mug enjoyed with the bacon roll. A few laps and we touched down at 0849.
Not one of the best UC experiences - hate to say it but it was down to the FSM who was just not motivating to watch and the service suffered as a result with things missed or curtailed. It just goes to show and we have said it before many times, a great FSM will inspire and lead the service but when they don't it suffers and in this case, quite badly.
Last edited by horburyflyer on 28 Jul 2012, 11:31, edited 1 time in total.
