This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
As the headline suggests, this trip was the very first flight with VS for my partner and I and originally we booked PE, but shortly after booking our flights I thought about upgrading, initially for the return leg as it was a red eye, but was happy with the price offered for upgrade of both sectors so took it.
Pre-trip research using this very handy site got me well prepared for the experience and I was extremely excited to be flying Upper Class and being comfortable for a change on a long flight, and looking forward to the extras that come with the ticket.
As a Virgin virgin I feel I have to include the whole experience, and so to begin with, check-in at T3 was a dream. Ground crew at check-in were extremely courteous and helpful, and got the trip off to a good start making it feel like something 'special' when we were handed those boarding cards.
We took the lift up to security, and this again was a breeze with friendly and helpful security personnel. After passing security I got a bit confused about where to go to get to the highly praised and much desired Clubhouse 
, but was soon directed by someone from security. On arrival at the CH (we arrived about 4 hours before our flight to enjoy all it had to offer, as per good advice on V-Flyer) we were greeted warmly and introduced to the services available as first timers, and then we went for it.We got ourselves sat somewhere comfortable, and got a feel for the place before ordering a little drinkette or three... Champagne for me, but my partner is teetotal (which means I've always got a driver hehe) so he had tea as usual. It was quietish when we arrived around 11.30am, but soon started to get busy. I got myself over to the spa and booked a complementary massage and got myself settled with a second glass of champagne (very nice).
Food - my other half took himself off to the deli and came back with a nice plate of food which he tucked into. After faffing with my iPhone and taking a few pics and posting to Facebook (as you do), I also took myself off to get a small plate of something - some smoked salmon, hand carved ham, a little salad, some fresh bread and off back to my seat to tuck in. Delish! I had my massage at 1pm, very nice, short, but just what I needed.
More food - I've read how good the Clubhouse Burger is, but I'd had a good breakfast so wasn't in the mood for anything heavy, so next chose to try the seared salmon with fennel, orange and pine nut salad, along with a mojito. Absolutely delish, both! The salmon was just perfect and light and the salad perfectly complemented it. After 2 glasses of champoo and a mojito I was pretty giddy (I'm such a lightweight these days), but I think I had another mojito, though can't fully remember, although OH says I did, so I must have!
He went to get some ice cream, which was delivered to the table complete with pots of sprinkles for each, we felt like kids. We chilled out and soaked up the atmosphere, and I went for a short walk around to see the rest of the CH. I already have a VS Amex/Visa white card, but was talked into applying for the black as a special deal for applications in CH were offering a bonus of 24,000 miles on first purchase, making a total of 30,000 with the 6,000 given by Amex. I thought that little bonus would be worth the first year's £140 fee (am still waiting to hear about the application). But I digress.Soon we were called for boarding, and my OH wanted to get off to the gate, but I was busy with a drink (so I must have had a second mojito) and waited until the second call. Off we went to the gate, straight on board, and into our seats. I'd done some checking and figured we'd get either Rainbow Lady or Molly. It was Molly. Got settled in quickly, and lo... more champoo! Don't mind if I do. All CC were great, friendly, warm and chatty and nothing too much trouble.
By the time we were pushing back from the gate I was on my second glass of Lanson (or fourth if you count CH
). My first impressions of the cabin were good. In my head I think I'd built a picture that had a bit more space, but the seating configuration was good and there was in fact loads of room although for a first timer it might initially look tight given the descriptions on VS website. The cabin was a bit neglected in areas I felt and could have done with some attention, but otherwise, very pleased. Seat very comfy, and I'd selected seats that placed us away from the bar to avoid too much noise if we slept. Headset jack on the IFE was a bit loose so sound kept cutting out. 
Within a few few minutes of departure we were being offered more drinks, so a nice VAT for me with ice and slice, ta very much. There was a guy sat opposite me in row A who looked very familiar, and I'm sure he must have thought I was staring as we made eye contact at several points during the flight as I tried to work out where I'd seen him before. I eventually figured out he was a Hollywood actor whom I'd seen in several films.
Dinner service was excellent, efficient, and the food I thought quite tasty. I can't remember what I had for starter but I had beef fillet for main, and my only complaint was that I would have liked to have such a nice cut of meat a bit less well done, but otherwise it was tasty. Nice wine selection served with dinner and I plumped for a glass of red. Then we settled into the flight as CC went about their routine, every one of them really friendly and doing a great job looking after pax.
I tried to get a bit of sleep
![][|)](./images/smilies/icon_smile_sleepy.gif "Sleepy"){kind=icon}
but couldn't and was offered a nice cup of hot chocolate, yum yum. After a while, sleep still evading me and the hot chocolate not having helped, I resorted to another glass of champoo! Bored with the IFE (very bad picture quality on Vera reel), and after I'd tried reading and then watched a video on my iPad, I strolled up to the bar to chat with a couple of other pax and one of the CC who was very chatty. Evidently it was his first flight on this route so he was keen to get ideas for what to do with his time in Vancouver from anyone who'd been before, and where he could get good sushi - my favourite - so I was able to direct him to a couple of good places I remembered from my first visit last year.Afternoon tea was served about one and half hours before landing. I had the works, including chocolate dipped strawberries, yummy. Touchdown was a breeze, and disembarking the plane another pleasure as UC pax are given priority. Baggage came through very quickly and it was only a short wait to pass through customs before getting a cab to downtown.
Well, I'm no longer a Virgin virgin, and I could definitely get used to the luxury and comfort offered by UC travel. The whole experience, for me and my OH as newbies, was fantastic, and I feel it was worth the money we paid, although we were on a Z fare so got a good price. As we're off to Japan next year we'll be flying VS without a doubt, and one way or another, whether through miles upgrades or cash, we'll be flying UC, no question. Well done VS, and all staff we encountered on this trip and thanks to all v-flyers whose advice in the numerous forum posts was a great help in making this flight experience a fun and amazing one instead of a chore.
TR for return leg of this trip to follow.
Last edited by Bretty on 25 Jul 2013, 18:58, edited 2 times in total.
At the end of the jetway TURN LEFT and... champagne, champagne for everyone 
