This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
This was their first trip on VS, and therefore their first trip in UC. They fly transatlantic 1x per year (though who knows, could increase once grandkids are in the picture!) and have flown business class on a few different airlines. Their experiences have been primarily on UA and UA partner airlines, so this was their first experience with a flat bed seat/suite.
My mom was very excited about this flight, and was really looking forward to the UC experience. Overall she was happy, but there were a few complaints.
First off, they checked in on-line but did not print their boarding passes. When they arrived at JFK and went to the UC line, the person screening the line insisted they go to a different area (the bag drop line maybe - my mom was not sure?) even though my mom told them twice that they were flying UC. I'm not sure what the issue was and why they were shunted to another line. Somehow they did manage to check in.... and make their way to the CH.
They enjoyed the CH and said the food was good.
Not sure if priority boarding worked as it should have - I recall my mom saying it was a little chaotic by the gate.
Onboard service is what they were most disappointed in... they were never offered sleepsuits, though they did see a few people wearing them so there must have been some available. The IFBT never came around to ask them if they wanted a treatment - I am unclear as to whether there was an IFBT on board. I tried asking my mom if anyone was wearing black/white as opposed to red/white but she could not recall. Is there one on all JFK/LHR routes, or just certain flights?
During pre-flight, the CC was doing the usual drink requests, meal requests, breakfast orders, but went to the galley after talking to the person on one side of my mom, and when they returned, just skipped over to the person on the other side of my mom. She wasn't sure why, but wasn't confident enough in what was *supposed* to happen to complain. She thought maybe b/c she was on a Z fare instead of a J or D - but of course we know that is nonsense and I really have no explanation for what happened. She said 1 hour into the flight she was finally asked if she would like something to eat. My parents were sitting across from each other (I seated them that way) and I can only assume that the same treatment (or lack thereof) was given to both of them, as my dad would have noticed if he was receiving attention different than my mom.
Anyway, other then the lack of service, my parents were happy with the flight. My mom really liked the suite and the bed. My dad was not as into the bed, but that is just my dad being my dad. They were both happy with the IFE - once my mom's screen started working. It was not working during the safety video, which she was not happy about, particularly as she is not a frequent flyer and was not familiar with the airline or aircraft. The CC were somewhat cavalier about it when she told them. They did eventually reset her screen and it worked.
She said a vegetable couscous she had on-board was good. I don't know what else was on offer and what, if anything else, they ate.
Immigration and baggage claim went smoothly and they stopped at Revivals for breakfast b/c they did not want to get to my flat too early! They said the breakfast was decent.
I am hoping they have a better experience on the flight home near the end of this month. They have a manicure (mom) and haircut (dad) booked at the CH for the morning before their flight so hopefully that will start things off on the right note.
