VS020 SFO-LHR 26 JUN 15 (Upper Class)
Posted: 04 Jul 2015, 01:13This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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San Francisco had been good to us, we'd done quite a bit but didn't pack our itinerary (we never do as we don't like to rush and we like a little afternoon siesta most days). Alcatraz was great and Fisherman's Wharf wasn't bad - a tourist trap yes, but a decent one - but we got to a point where we'd had enough of it; the Castro was laid back and the whole city was a splash of colour getting ready for Pride. We discovered there's a zoo, but a bit late so couldn't go. We loved the old fashioned cable cars with the bells, one ran the length of California Street right past our hotel so we used it a couple times. I loved the old streetcars, bought in from different cities, that run from the Wharf down to The Castro and back. Real old school. Chinatown was charming with lots of shops and bazaars to buy all the tat you want. On our last day we took a tour up to Muir Woods to escape the city and see the majestic redwoods. Oh my, it was beautiful and peaceful even though there were a lot of tourists.
We ate well too, including in our hotel restaurant as I like a good steak and they did a nice veal chop. We'd discovered, as is usual in the states I've learned, that breakfast in our hotel was HUGE. We ate there just 2-3 times and found that it was so big a breakfast that I didn't want to eat until 4/5pm, which didn't suit me because I like to graze, call in at a coffee shop and have a pastry, or have a nice lunch somewhere (I highly recommend The Codmother for traditional English fish 'n' chips, the best we've had outside of UK). We found a bakery across the road from our hotel, La Boulange for a great breakfast, partly because we were sometimes too lazy to make it down for breakfast before 10:30!! And they had bottomless coffee served in huge bowls.
But all too soon it was time to return home. We'd got packed over the previous couple of nights so that we didn't have to rush on the last morning, so we walked down California to the Embarcadero where we'd earlier discovered a little craft market and bought a couple of gifts. This trip we'd been very good and not bought any trinkets for the house, but on this last morning we discovered extra stalls, and some beautiful glass, so we succumbed and bought three pieces from the artists who made them. More to pack, and back to the hotel to do it quickly before leaving. We called an uber and left about 12:45 arriving at SFO at 13:30. The desks weren't yet open but the ground crew were preparing them. A small line of half a dozen or so pax had formed and one of the crew was busy going between the desks whilst we waited patiently. A guy came in and walked up and asked about UC checkin, and she pointed to where he would need to wait. Then she looked me and Bryan up and down (and I didn't like the way she did it) and asked if we were travelling UC, which I confirmed. She then suddenly decided checkin was open called the man over to her desk and pointed me to a non-UC desk! Anyway, the young woman on the desk was charming, she asked if London was our final destination and I said no it was Dublin but we wanted bags tagging through to London only as we had an overnight layover. No problem she said. She then printed tags to Dublin for my bag, realised her mistake and reprinted. Then did the same with Bryan's but eventually it was all sorted. She offered us boarding cards for Dublin but we declined (besides which it was 48 hrs away, didn't think she could do that). She offered us directions to the Clubhouse and off we went. We were the first to arrive just before 2pm where we were warmly greeted.
Service was fantastic. The clubhouse was a bit quiet and the lady looking after us was sweet and very keen to give us everything on the menu right away! She was just a little too keen, but not enough to bother, but I certainly can't say we didn't have good service, because we were looked after very well. I ate well and worked my way through a few Redheads.
Some of you know the saga of our seats (12A&K) being changed about an hour or so before boarding. I won't go over it here, except to say I have complained, or rather expressed disappointment and that I feel we were lied to. The Clubhouse manager went into overdrive to try and appease us, but as you know I live with Mr Grumpy who had no qualms about voicing his displeasure. I've had the auto response acknowledging receipt of the complaint, I'm just awaiting a formal response. I did also send two separate communications about our positive experiences on both flights.
That's enough of that, enough preamble, I should really get to the flight.
Boarding was called, and because we knew we still had to go through security we went at first call. There was a priority line, but it was slow. Boarding cards and passports checked, then another lady checked boarding cards and scribbled all over them. How shall I describe her...? "Face like a smacked arse" or "face like a wasps nest", something along those lines. She wasn't surly, because she just didn't speak, or make eye contact, and we both tried to politely say hello and thank you. Anyway, we eventually got through. There was a disabled lady on a mobility scooter, with her husband, and they didn't help her at all. Then they decided she couldn't go through the scanner until they had a female guard to search her if need be, and they kept her waiting whilst her flustered husband took care of their hand luggage and then waited for her. And waited. I'm still waffling I know.
We got to the gate and boarded with our newly assigned 18A&K seats, warmly welcomed by CC at the door. I got settled quickly and then took a box of fresh macarons I'd bought at that bakery to the CC. A few minutes later the FSM came by to thank me, and during the flight half a dozen other CC did too. Unfortunately there was only enough for one each, and I think maybe not enough for everyone (I think the pilots missed out!). They were delicious. I know because Bryan and I had shared a small box the day before.
Anyway, 366 pax and 15 crew, not sure if this included the pilots. Champagne offered and taken (I am a proud v-flyer after all!).
Push back was a little late, not that I paid too much attention, and take off, but we had flight time of something like 9hrs 45mins so would be landing on time. Once we were airborne and seatbelt signs went off the CC sprang into action. The FSM came around and introduced herself to everyone in the UC cabin, and had a brief chat with us all. Menus were given out and drinks orders taken, then quickly delivered with the usual pot of crisps. I changed into my own PJs and got comfy. Food orders were soon taken, so here's the new menu:
For flights VS008, 020, 024, 042, 044, 086, 104, 110, 116.
Starters
Parsnip and Parmesan soup
Mesclun salad
Antipasti platter
Warm breads as usual
Mains
Braised beef short ribs Asian style, baby book choi, wasabi mashed potatoes
Herb marinated chicken with garlic, confetti rice (multicoloured), baby carrots and sugar snap peas
Wild mushroom orecchiette pasta with butternut squash and sage coating, asparagus and mushroom cream sauce
Smoked salmon salad with olives, egg, dill crème fraîche and balsamic vinaigrette
Pudding
Chocolate caramel brownie
Red velvet cake
Cheese: stinky bishop, manchego, borgonzola (Canadian blue cheese apparently)
My OH wasn't really hungry after eating in't Clubhouse, and didn't fancy anything on the menu, so he had some bread and jam believe it or not. I had the antipasti, very nice and simple, followed by the beef short ribs which were unctuous and delicious. I was worried the wasabi mash was going to be overpowering but it was perfect. I could've eaten it twice! Then I had the red velvet cake. All this was washed down with a nice red burgundy.
After dinner people gradually started bedding down. I was the last in the cabin to do so. CC were all charming and efficient and swept through the cabin frequently to check on people, get drinks and snacks etc, the FSM was visible from time to time. I didn't really sleep, but I catnapped for about an hour. Felt better afterwards. Bryan didn't, although I think I saw him dozing at one point. I went to the bar and sat with a drink, and was then joined by two lovely Americans on their way to London for a break. One of them worked for Google so said she wasn't completely off work, and they had plans to go out of London on a couple of occasions and asked for advice on places to visit either this trip or another. Lovely folks and we chatted for almost an hour (and drank hehe).
Otherwise the flight went very well and all went very smoothly. Breakfast service began a couple of hours out of arrival and people gradually got changed. We landed on time and were quickly through border control using the passport e-readers, and waited just a few minutes for our luggage to be delivered to the belt. So we were through and I think in arrivals by about 12:40 (although I took a wrong turn once we exited the lift and took us to the car park!).
We had a warm welcome to a quiet revivals, had a very welcome shower and freshen up, fresh clothes, and a bacon butty, and then off we went to get the HEX and head north back to Lincolnshire. All nice and smooth, no hold ups in London as the Pride parade had already started and we'd missed the crowds that might've caused hold ups.
Another excellent flight, seat changes aside, with excellent CC led by another hands on FSM. Feedback has been sent to Crawley Towers.
Hopefully you made up for it with the Redheads 
