V-Flyer

After two weeks driving from San Francisco to Las Vegas we had to come home. Our trip had been San Francisco - Sacramento - Lake Tahoe - Yosemite - Death Valley (appropriately named given 115F) - Las Vegas.

Taxi to airport just fine - very chatty Polish-American guy. Curbside checkin great and by a guy named Jonathan (spelt same way as me). He noticed the v-flyer luggage labels. Passport control very quick, security a little slower, and then to the Club LAS lounge. This was OK but obviously no Clubhouse. A couple of drinks taken and a couple of sandwiches consumed.

Boarded about 40 mins before departure, Champagne offered and taken. Seats 9A and 10A.

Food a little disappointing - menu showed Fillet Steak, but when they got to me all had gone. Offered beef stew, presumably from PE or EC, and had that. What annoyed me most was couple opposite (hope they are not v-flyers) both had the steak and both left most of it.

Introduced myself to littlemissbossy - sounds like they had a good time in LV.

Most of UC in bed by 20:30 local time. I managed to keep going a bit longer, but the Champagne, wine, and Whisky took their toll eventually.

A nice bacon roll for breakfast, and then a smooth landing. Had bags within 25mins.

Have to say that having now experienced an LHR 747, a MAN 747, and an A330 in UC, I would have to rate them in that order.

In fact I would go so far as to say that I would be reluctant even to use miles on an UC upgrade on a A330 (excepting a LHR or LGW start with the clubhouse).

Thanks for the TR. I am glad you had a good trip.

stagsfan wrote:Food a little disappointing - menu showed Fillet Steak, but when they got to me all had gone. Offered beef stew, presumably from PE or EC, and had that. What annoyed me most was couple opposite (hope they are not v-flyers) both had the steak and both left most of it.

Perhaps they left it because it wasn't very nice, so maybe you were better off with the stew!

Thanks for the TR. Sounds like quite a trip.

stagsfan wrote:Have to say that having now experienced an LHR 747, a MAN 747, and an A330 in UC, I would have to rate them in that order.

Interesting. Why the LHR 747 over the MAN / LGW 747?

Interesting remark regarding the Clubhouse. I live "up North" and have often made the effort to get to Gatwick or Heathrow for an onward journey to enjoy the exceptional experience of a Clubhouse.
The ticket prices from Manchester do not reflect the rather second class lounge on offer from there. The T3 one is superior to the one in T2, such a let down at the start of a Trans Atlantic trip!

pjh wrote:Thanks for the TR. Sounds like quite a trip.

stagsfan wrote:Have to say that having now experienced an LHR 747, a MAN 747, and an A330 in UC, I would have to rate them in that order.

Interesting. Why the LHR 747 over the MAN / LGW 747?

I should have clarified the nose section of the LHR 747 - all that space. In fact on the LHR-SFO flight was a gentleman who appeared to be marking some exam papers, and he alternated between his seat and leaning against the end wall (the wall towards the next UC section). As far as I could tell he worked for pretty much the whole flight.

hazban wrote:The ticket prices from Manchester do not reflect the rather second class lounge on offer from there.

If it worked like that, tickets from Miami and Cancun would be free!

Sadly it doesn't ...

stagsfan wrote:
I should have clarified the nose section of the LHR 747 - all that space

but isn't that exactly the same space as the LGW/MAN 747? I'm intrigued about your ranking as I thought the received wisdom was that since the refurbishment of the LGW / MAN 747 the LHR 747 had become the poor relations.

pjh wrote:

stagsfan wrote:
Interesting. Why the LHR 747 over the MAN / LGW 747?

I should have clarified the nose section of the LHR 747 - all that space

but isn't that exactly the same space as the LGW/MAN 747? I'm intrigued about your ranking as I thought the received wisdom was that since the refurbishment of the LGW / MAN 747 the LHR 747 had become the poor relations.

The nose section of the LHR 747 does not contain the bar, whereas the LGW/MAN ones do, so more space.

stagsfan wrote:
The nose section of the LHR 747 does not contain the bar, whereas the LGW/MAN ones do, so more space.

Fair point.