This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Check in was as usual a breeze and within 5 minutes we were in the lift up to the private security lane and had it not have been for the woman in front who did not want to remove her jacket we would have breezed through here as well. Some people just like to be difficult I suppose but in the end she relented after we were sent through the metal detector ahead of her and she realised she wasn't going anywhere unless she complied.
We saw her in the CH a little later giving one of the staff a hard time over something and came to the conclusion that she was one of those people who were full of their own self importance and wanted everyone else to know it.
We made our way up to the clubhouse and decided to have a late lunch of which I had the whitebait and clubhouse burger washed down with a couple of tigers while the wife had the goats cheese followed by the shepherds pie and we both had the apple tartlet which was very pleasant.
After this we went back down to duty free to do a bit of late shopping before returning back to the CH and settling down for a few hours and trying a selection of the drinks on offer. The Bellini was Mrs M's favourite.
In what seemed like no time at all we were called to the gate and made our way down to find that most people were already on board. UC was about half full we were offered drinks and the FSM came around and introduced herself. Within about 10 minutes the doors were shut and we pushed back. We sat in a bit of a queue before take off but this wasn't for long and then we were off.
I had already decided that I was only going to watch 1 film and that was The Mummy 3. During this dinner was served and if I remember correctly I had the chicken which you might have guessed wasn't memorable. Come to think of it the film wasn't that memorable either. Once it was over I had my bed made up and decided to try and get some sleep, something I've only really been able to do on a plane since we started flying UC [;)].
The next thing I remember was hearing the announcement that we would be landing shortly and to return seats to the upright position etc. In a panic I got up as did my wife in the next seat and made for the bar for a quick drink of water and to use the loos.
As I got to the bar I looked behind me and Mrs M was in a heap on the floor. The FSM was there and said she had fainted and hit here head as she went down. We got her back to her seat as she started to come around and one of the crew arrived with oxygen. It seems that she was dehydrated and getting up too quickly was all it took to bring her down. Apparently quite common on long haul flights as well.
Anyway the FSM came back and said she would arrange for some assistance at EWR and that we should wait in our seats until everyone else had got off. As we were now on final approach the oxygen was taken away and we strapped in for landing which was a little bumpy but at least Mrs M was starting to feel a little better.
After reaching the gate we waited as requested and then made our way off the plane, thanking the crew in the process to the waiting wheelchair. This was driven by a sprightly Hispanic lady to whom I explained we were staying at the on site Marriott and who I then think was related to Phillipe Massa as she claimed we would be out the other side of the airport in about 10 minutes.
She wasn't joking either as in the immigration hall we went straight to the front of the queue which was a little embarrassing as she barged past a couple of people. As we got down to the baggage hall our bags came up within a minute or so of arriving which must have been coincidence and then we sailed through customs and down to the hotels bus stop.
The bus arrived shortly afterwards and then we were at the Marriott, checked in and up the fourth floor to sleep. All in I reckon it took us 20 minutes to get from the plane to bed which for us arriving in the States is a bit of a record. Now all I have to do is see if Mrs M is prepared to pull the same trick when we go to Washington in June [}:)].
Miopyk[8D]
