This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
When looking for reward availability, and trying to avoid the A330 we ended up with 3 G’s EWR on the VS1, after moving from the VS25 to get on the B787-9 rather than an A343-600.
We were traveling with someone who had never flown with VS before so it was quite fun to show them the VS UC experience compared to BA Club.
On the day we used DTCI as we were being dropped off, and it is something BA does not (yet) offer its passengers, when we arrived it was the now ‘normal’ robotic bark from the VS agent of “remove your bags” and then we had a long wait at a check in desk while she cross checked lots of details from our tickets and passports onto a separate slip of paper – not too sure why?
Private security was empty and efficient as always with very friendly HAL staff. We then headed straight to the clubhouse, planning to return later to the shops. We were soon being welcomed into the Clubhouse, but for the first time not getting either a “Welcome Back” or a “Have you visited the Clubhouse before?”. So first things first headed over to the spa desk and the two who fancied treatments booked a couple (1 free + 1 paid) each for a little later.
We then had a later lunch in the brasserie and the Clubhouse burger was ok, not bad but not amazing, and the chips that came with it were very good. Tours of the clubhouse completed including a visit to the sky deck (with plenty of liquid refreshment), we headed out to look for a belt.
After purchasing a belt, back in the Clubhouse (without having to re-check in) I had a nice pot of vanilla ice cream while the other two had their massages. The old library area was very quiet, but there must have been an issue with the ventilation as I would suddenly get wafts of A1 jet fuel, and the toilet smells, and then clean air. I decided to move!
With all of us sat on the green sofas by the pool table we enjoyed a very nice afternoon tea then headed down to the gate for our flight.
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There was a priority lane in full working order to enter the gate room then a short wait for boarding to be called. For the first time ever in my experience with VS, boarding was through one door!
We were soon on-board and after a while, offered pre-take off drinks. This was our first time flying with the 787-9 ANZ modified suite, and must say it’s a good evolution, while still being a little narrow like the A343’s, having an armrest that is more behind you than next to you (just like the A343’s!). I definitely felt the 747’s offered the best amount of space still. The overall cabin did feel spacious though compared to the A343’s.
Once in the air drinks and meal orders were taken, of course I had to try one of the mojitos! I most certainly wasn’t disappointed with it!
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The menu (of the time) has been posted many times before but here it is again ☺:
Starters:
Pea and Mint Soup (V)
Warm Chicken Satay
Buffalo Mozzarella and Roma Potatoes (V)
Mains:
Lemon and Thyme chicken
Seafood Linguine
Keralan Curry (V)
Chilled Thai Beef Salad
Desserts:
Warm Brioche and Butter Pudding
Chocolate Torte
I had the soup, salad and chocolate torte. All very good! What was interesting though, many people weren’t getting their first meal choices (at least 6 people on the G+K side) and the crew were actively taking their details down on bits of paper, I presume to offer miles or something similar pro-actively. During dinner I asked for a top up of my drink, and after a half hour wait for nothing I asked again (different crew member) and this eventually turned up about an hour 45 minutes of first asking!
After dinner I set up the bed (what’s the point of a ‘chair’ surface and ‘bed’ surface when you still put a mattress topper on the top anyway?) and tried to stay away to watch a film. I got about half way though and nodded off, so when I woke I had to rewind to find my place! Plenty more mojitos enjoyed and the other two both had a very tasty burger each (I was too full or I would have joined them).
Now even though I have flown UC many times before, this was the first flight I have sat at the bar! While it was nice to stretch my legs, and have another drink, I can see why I haven’t been tempted to go up before; I know that’s very much just my personal preference though!
Throughout the flight I had been making use of the WiFi and I found it to be very reliable and surprisingly fast. Another thing to note, and I’m not a wine drinker, was that the Champagne option was still on the menu despite it being a 787, and many people were asking for it to be told that it’s not on board. I did find that the crew weren’t engaging at all, and not once did I see a smile from any crew until the one who hands out the Love Hearts came round.
At the end of the flight I felt so much better than I normally do after flying, no headache, dry mouth/nose or drowsiness, even though I had drunk more alcohol than I normally do. I really think I would try and fly the 787 over any other aircraft.
Once we landed we were soon off and immigration at Newark had a very small queue so it didn’t lake long to get through, and then not too long of a wait for bags. We then booked an Uber and headed to JFK for the night!
Next TR: JFK-MIA
