V-Flyer

So having decided on Dubai for a family holiday - once booked the countdown began, day by day. With five of us travelling and two already booked in UC having booked sometime ahead, the ability to secure a reasonable UC fare for the outbound for the remaining three of us proved impossible. So PE it was to be.

Having looked daily to try and secure Gs for the three of us - I had given up when by departure day arrived and nothing had become available, even though 7 seats remained....

Driving down to LHR was different for a change, having taken so many LR flights in the last year, it was nice for a change. Driving took just over three hours including a comfort and coffee stop and all parked up in the business parking car park and across at T3 by 430pm.

Interestingly, on the way down, I had received a call from VS offering an upgrade for £799 each which I thought was still too steep and still no miles seats. Anyway, they agreed to hold them until 6pm should I have a change of mind....

Check in was seamless, welcoming, smiling and we were processed quickly. I politely declined the upgrade price and we were up in the lift and through the private security channel within minutes.

I've had warmer CH welcomes to be honest but we made ourselves comfortable and waited and waited....service was painfully slow, but we managed to catch someone's eye and drinks arrived with nuts and crisps (when requested)

Booking spa appointments and a table at the brassiere several days ahead is a treat. We ordered items from the British Tapas selection, Clubhouse burgers and nibbled on items from the deli - all good as always but the service was not as sharp as it usually is.

Several drinks later we headed down to the gate at 815pm and though the screens confirmed the flight was closing, it was far from that and people were running down corridors when it was unnecessary. With the two family members travelling UC just ahead of us they were processed quickly and we handed over our PE boarding cards.....each one produced a magic beep and we were all upgraded to UC. A totally unexpected treat....

Once on board boarding through L1 we were welcomed by the FSM who invited us to take our seats. Champagne, water and juice followed.

Sleep suits were offered and the amenity kit and menu were already on the ottoman. The flight was solid in all cabins and a total of 257 was confirmed with 14 crew.

Now I would never choose 7G as seat but this was an upgrade and you won't here too much about it from me- it did feel narrower than the window seats on the A333 in UC and of course no overhead lockers or air-vents

Pushback was a few minutes late as we waited for the paperwork but once we were moving a shortish taxi and airborne at 2130. A flight time of 6hrs22mins was promised.

Hot towels and bottles of water were soon distributed. A personal welcome too from the CSS which is always nice and it felt really genuine.

Drink orders were taken and quickly dispatched with crisps. Only one bar round on the flight but the tables were laid for dinner rather quickly, tonight's offer was:

Crab timbale or organic minestrone soup
****
Artisan breads
****
Seared fillet of British Beef- Jersey Royal Potatoes, carrots and watercress sauce
Grilled Chicken breast - potato cake, purple sprouting broccoli, toasted almonds and creamy saffron sauce*
Paneer kofta and korma sauce- mixed pilau and tandoori chole

*this option was not actually available it was a Chicken curry!

****
Croissant bread and butter pudding
Chocolate and hazelnut slice
****
Cheese and biscuits

Wine, water and bread were regularly offered and with it being a new wine list, I was invited to do a little "wine tasting" which was rather fun....

After dinner, I made a quick visit to the bar which was in a mess and was heavily marked and scratched. A poor show. The crew were a little critical of the UC cabin on the A333 still which is a shame but it really is back breaking stuff for them with the tables and suites....and the manual switching off of the spotlights above the middle seats makes me smile every time, though isn't funny that it has to be done one by one.....

I decided to watch a couple of shows rather than sleep and I do like the extended recline of the dream suite

It was really hot in the night and I missed the air-vent but soon enough it was time for breakfast and good to see a much improved selection:

Fruit juice, cereals, fruit salad, yoghurt with granola, croissants and pain au chocolat, scrambled eggs, chicken sausages, hash browns, mushrooms and tomato.

Chicken sausage rolls were also available and French toast too. Tea, coffee and juice were regularly offered and then before landing, a final round of hot towels.

So in summary a good flight- a hard working crew with an on the ball CSS - the FSM worked mainly in the galley but when we spoke at the bar was chatty and friendly.

The upgrade was a treat and well received and though they are rare.....they do happen

Jon

Thank you for the great TR. Congrats on the upgrades. I hope you had a great holiday in Dubai and a good return flight.

Thanks for that, Jon, sounds like a nice flight. And upgrades too - well done.

Sounds like all you LR support might have been recognised.

on the upgrades and on a great crew and a good flight

Thanks

David

Congrats on the updates

As others have said, congrats on the upgrades! Enjoy Dubai (somewhere I may be about to call home for a couple of years ).

I have just returned from DXB on the VS400/401 and both flights were almost full in all cabins. Very encouraging for the route with many connecting from/onto Little Red also. Busiest I have seen an A330 in economy.

Sounds like a solid flight Jon ,what a bonus on the upgrades aswell !

David wrote:Sounds like all you LR support might have been recognised.

on the upgrades and on a great crew and a good flight

Thanks

David

I think you might be right David......

This was a good flight but the return was outstanding, TR to follow this week. Good to see a number of passengers on this flight and the return transferring to and from Little Red flights.....

Jon

Jon - quick LR question (as you're the undisputed expert!) - do you know if Au's still get access to the LHR T1 lounge? Headforpoints is suggesting VS's contract with Servisair has ended so it's a £10 Costa Coffee card or nothing, but I thought you could choose one or the other.

I noticed that on Monday morning in UC they specifically announced you could get a £10 voucher (greeted by audible laughter) but no mention of lounge access and I did think it was conspicuous - but can't confirm as I wasn't a transfer passenger.

Great TR and love the fact you got upgraded

Wow three magic beeps... nice one. Sounds like all those LR round trips have paid dividend.

With a wine tasting on board and a pretty fair flight, it sounds like a good start to your family hol.

Hope you had a good time away Jon and I look forward to reading about the return

gumshoe wrote:Jon - quick LR question (as you're the undisputed expert!) - do you know if Au's still get access to the LHR T1 lounge? Headforpoints is suggesting VS's contract with Servisair has ended so it's a £10 Costa Coffee card or nothing, but I thought you could choose one or the other.

The contract has ceased so the only option is the £10 Costa card which you pick up at the LR ticket desk near Gate 8.

To be honest, I did think you could choose between the two but its the Costa card or nothing......