V-Flyer

So after 2 weeks our holiday was over. We had spent the last four days in San Francisco at the Marriott on Fisherman’s Wharf. The city was very busy and it was sad to see an increase in the amount of homeless and mentally unwell folk who live on the streets.

We booked our taxi for just after 1.15pm, leaving us plenty of time at SFO. I had previously travelled out of here on a domestic VX flight and this time my first impression was how small the International terminal was. Very few shops and then the Clubhouse is actually landside, which seemed strange. Check in did not open until 2pm so we waited inline before being summoned forward by an efficient but not friendly ground check-in member.

We then headed straight to the Clubhouse lounge which was empty. We chose two nice seats overlooking the runway. The staff there were so helpful, friendly, efficient and attentive. We left our seats to sit at a table for our food. I opted for soup, followed by the clubhouse burger with trimmings and then fruit salad – all of which was very nice. A Delta flight was called and we were able to get back into our comfortable seats.

We made a mistake by not responding to the first boarding call because the queue for security was very slow. A nice gesture was that the clubhouse manager/supervisor was actually down at the security check point showing the UC passengers where to go and wishing us a good flight home. It seemed to take for ages to actually get through to airside and then unbelievably, the loud speaker said “last call for remaining passengers on VS20” So no time for duty free shopping and a quick pace to the empty gate. We seemed to be one of the last to board

Our seats on the 747 were 12 & 14 K. There had been no welcome on board from the flight crew member at the door, just a movement of the hand pointing left. The nose part of the aircraft was very chaotic. A disgruntled couple would not move from the part just in front of the galley area as they were not happy about their seats which I think were 19 A&K. They were standing there in the way of other passengers and the busy crew. Then another passenger was moaning his tv monitor would not move The cabin crew were trying to deal with this hassle as well as settling the passengers, doing the pre-flight drinks and getting meal orders. Eventually the elderly couple went and sat down after another two ‘single’ travellers changed seats from the other UC section.
Take off was delayed by 15 minutes or so and then we had long taxi down to runway. After take-off we flew along the coastline and directly over the Golden Gate Bridge, lovely way to say goodbye to San Francisco. I didn't have my camera ready for this photo shot moment (unlike Mitchja's great photo)

The cabin crew were so busy as soon as seatbelt sign went off. Dealing now with pre-dinner drinks, taking dinner/breakfast orders and also converting beds for those wanting to sleep straight way. Mr Grumpy with the tv monitor had every UC cabin crew talking to him in order to stop his rants. No sign of FSM though! Eventually he was given a DVD player but then moaned the films were not to his liking.

Now I don’t know if all this aggravation affected the cabin crew’s enthusiasm but they all seemed to go through the motions effectively but without any passion. I can’t really put my finger on it but service with a very fake smile is a good description. There was only one crew member,of the many that were in our cabin at various times during this flight, who seemed very caring or friendly. He was such a wonderful cheerful man but I only had contact with him when waiting for the restroom. His attitude stood apart from the rest of the crew. After the take-off around 6.15pm, everything was so slow. The dinner service was particularly bad. I just asked for cheese & biscuits + a coffee. I waited two and half hours for that. The cabin was so busy. Plates were left on trays and I think it was the FSM who took mine away just as the lights dimmed and he said “you don’t want coffee do you?” It was 10pm before a cabin crew member finally helped to convert my chair to a bed.

I might have had just about 2hours sleep before I was the first one in that cabin to be woken for breakie I was a tad insulted by a male crew member who, when he poured my coffee, said "you were snoring well last night". It think such a comment even said as a joke, is extremely insulting. Females breathe heavily I suffer very badly from sinus problems on a flight and I suppose I should not lay flat because this does affect my breathing.

In fairness to a night flight cabin crew, it is very hard to get everything sorted ie drinks, food and beds etc. Although I think 4 hours does seem a bit slow? However next time I travel, I intend to get my bed converted as quickly as possible but prop myself up with extra pillows or something.

Then we have a bit of drama As we approach Heathrow we are stacked for 30 minutes, so we go around and around. I saw the O2 and the London sights four times!!! Just as we come into land, the back wheels virtually touched down, and then whoosh – he aborted the landing apparently “due to cross winds” and we soar upwards at speed. Strange excuse as it was really calm and no movement in the trees. Personally I think perhaps another aircraft or something was on the runway. I have never experienced that before and it was quite scary. Everyone remained calm but there were apprehensive glances between us passengers. Then we landed safely on second attempt. We were the first passengers at the uk passport control, so straight through and luggage up very promptly.
Taxi used M25 to get us home

I have to say this VS20 flight wasn’t the best UC homeward experience I have encountered over the years and I personally prefer the UC seating in the airbus 340-600 Hev

Hev, what a good read, so interesting and informative. Shame you had to miss duty-free, you'll know another time but that's small comfort!

The crew make or mar a flight. Yes they had their hands full with awkward and demanding pax, but the meal service was surely much too prolonged.

I too would have been very offended by the snoring comment which should most certainly now have been made to anyone.

What a tale about the aborted landing! Maybe someone more knowledgeable will be along to explain it, sounds scary even to read about it.

Full marks to the taxi driver - after a night flight you definitely don't need unnecessary traffic woes.

Thank you for taking the time to post such a good TR.

Thanks for TR Hev , didn't sound like a very good flight , a bit of a common theme lately with flights coming back from the U.S.
A shame the FSM wasn't more visible and dealt with problems before take off

Thank you for the TR, so sorry to read it wasn't the best of journeys.

I second what whiterose wrote about the snoring comment - not very gentlemanly of him to even notice let alone comment

Thanks for the TR. What is it with return flights? I know they are perhaps tiresome for the crew, but it sounds like an FSM that didn't take charge and lead as they should....

Not a very appropriate comment for sure. Are you going to pass the feedback back to Crawley?

It may have been cross wind that lead to an aborted landing, and when cross winds happen the surrounding area can seem relatively calm. But it wouldn't be too unusual for that to be used as a reason for another issue such as a runway incursion ahead of you. Either way, you would want to abort the landing and come in again safely.

Yet another return flight from the U.S. With a lees than impressive CC Glad to hear holiday was good. Shame about the flight, I find it really disappointing when it doesn't meet expectations and exhilarating when you get a CC that excel.

Thanks for posting Hev

Enjoyed the trip report, thanks for posting, though didn't enjoy the sound of your experience on the flight - the FC do get training on dealing with grumpy pax but they seem to have let it get on top of them this time which spilled over into relatively poor service for the rest on board.

Those meal delays sound pretty awful and would have turned me into a grumpy pax :-)

Thank you for the TR, an interesting read. Doesn't sound like the best flight, especially for UC, and I would probably write to Crawley Towers re the feedback.

thanks for the trip report! how were you able to get window views? did you sit backwards with your knees tucked up? (I don't like the configuration, since it seems to me that all that window area is wasted, so I am really curious)
also - I haven't been on VS for a while and cannot figure out which seats (on the 747 lower deck) actually have usable windows - I see that you were seated in 12 and 14K, so can I deduce that those seats have windows lining up with the seat? TIA!

2ruse : to answer your query. Any view from an UC seat involves a whole body and strong neck movement in order to look out of the window!!! However it was possible to see the SF golden gate bridge and then have very clear views of London from our seats. I have the photographs to prove it