This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
There was a lot of traffic at the Holland Tunnel which lead the driver to tell me it was likely to take 1.5 hours to get to EWR - however, as soon as we reached the Jersey side of the river it was full speed ahead so it took a total of 35 minutes! (This was from the Hilton Garden Inn Tribeca). Was met at the drop off point by a VS check-in person and within about 2 minute was on my way to security. Thankfully no line there, did the YMCA in the body scanner and then off to the Clubhouse.
It was about 6.15 when I got to the Clubhouse (for a 9.15pm flight) and I was the first person there, catching the staff off guard! They hadn't restocked newspapers, but were happy to get me a burger and wine. The Clubhouse did fill up as the evening went on though, and I got the impression that they could have done with 1 or 2 more staff members, as it took me a while to catch someone's eye for my (2nd) drink refill. Must be a tricky one to staff though, since they only have a flight in the morning and one in the evening.
After not hearing the boarding announcements until the "third and final" on the way out, I took the first boarding call as my cue to head to gather my possessions and head to the men's room. When I came out (and I don't think I took an inordinate amount of time) the place was deserted! I thought it might therefore be best to stroll down to the gate.
Onboard I was surprised by the cabin layout as I hadn't remembered I was going to be on a 747 and I was in the nose. Bags of room, and I'm surprised they haven't tried to slip an extra couple of seats in the centre of the forward UC section.
We (all 317 of us) were on our way on time, with the pilot telling us it was only going to take 6 hours to London. I got through the last 10 minutes of Jack Reacher that I hadn't seen on the way over, and then watched Taken 2 which was as daft as I expected. After dinner (Thai vegetable curry) I settled down for a couple of hours sleep.
Was woken after about 2.5 hours by banging and clinking as the CC prepared breakfast (that was finally served an hour later) and moved onto Flight. After breakfast we got the inevitable announcement that we couldn't land early at Heathrow and so would be doing circuits around west London for a while. Landed pretty much at the scheduled time, straight through the electronic gates at customs, and my bags were among the first 20 or so on the belt.
Not a bad flight all told, but next time I'll try for a seat slightly further forward to try and avoid the noise from the galley.
