This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
As the flight didn't leave until gone 3pm, the parental unit (I'm 27 and can't drive cause of my vision) offered to take me down to Heathrow and see me checked in. We left Norfolk around 7:30am and the traffic gods really, really liked us, hitting Heathrow at 11am on the dot.
At check in, I enquired about whether I could purchase an upper class ticket but I was on a K and was told sorry no. At little disappointed my mother bid me good by and I was passed over to a lovely Virgin employee (whose name I didn't get) who took me to the Clubhouse where I was deterimined to make my 60 worth it. I had a head massage then enjoyed a spot of champers and dinner in the restaurant, had a moosey around in the departures terminal (quietly thanking my inner wisdom for paying to use the Clubhouse - departures was packed to the gills).
Around 2:30pm another Virgin rep - a really nice lady - escorted me onto the plane. We got chatting and I explained why I was going out and also that I'd tried to upgrade - I knew there were seats available thanks to a fellow forum member - and she went off to have a chat with the flight crew. Sadly she returned five minutes later saying there was a seat, but it would cost a grand to get it. I had to say no .... too much even by my standard.
So I was sitting in PE, coming to terms with ten hours in what was a comfy seat. The flight attendent came round and introduced herself, the rep had explained I was visually impaired and it was my first trip so they were going to 'look after me' which was sweet. By this point I was rather nervous and so declined the glass of sparkling white being offered.
Then the head of the flight crew - a chap called **** (lovely, lovely man) bounced up, introduced himself and asked if I'd mind coming with him. Part of my brain knew what he meant and where I was headed but as I got up, it felt like I was in some surreal daydream where all things are possible. Yes, he led me into the fabled land of Upper Class.
Shocked, I sat in my seat and tried not to grin. He explained they wanted to keep an eye on me so would I mind having this nice window seat on the right hand side of the plane? Apparently one of the other passengers had moved seats and to be next to their husband or something in the same cabin so I got there (although there was one UC seat left just across from me).
We pushed off around half an hour late, not thagt I cared. I accepted the champagne and ordered a bacon roll - the UC menu was a touch too poncy for my liking - then settled back to explore V:port, overjoyed for find an episode of ARIA on the Japanese channel and then checked out The Other Bolyn Girl and Spiderwick Chronicles.
The food was excellent and I didn't pinch the salt and pepper shakers. The cabin crew periodically came to check on me throughout the flight, offering more water/alcohol/other and I sat at the bar chatting to the woman serving and the other pax. During my hourly wanderings I got chatting to the VS folks in the Galley and they were all very friendly and it was a great atmosphere. The flight itself, while long, was bearable. I tried to nap on the bed (which while a touch hard was comfy) but my watch - set to SD time - and the knowledge it was bright outside despite the downed shutters made it next to impossible.
Ice cream was brought mid flight. i accepted the haagen Daaz but as it was rock hard - and still hadn't thawed two hours later, I was glad of the Econ choc ice I'd be given on top but the difference between cattle class and UC really showed.
One of the attendents filled in my landing forms for me and disposed of my sandwiches - who knew you got on the spot fines for such things?? We landed in LAX ahead of schedule about 6pm local time and I was soon off the plane and heading for my AA flight, which sadly was a shambles and very late but that's another story.
Edited to remove staff names - honey lamb
