This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
This was the outbound flight of a short holiday in good old Australia (internal trip reports to follow as well).
Left our luggage at Paddington in the morning and then a full day at work [:(]. Headed out to Heathrow on the Heathrow Express, using the very generous on line 5% discount and automatic First Class offer on the VS website. Journey was uneventful and then arrived very quickly at check-in. It was empty and so we soon had our bags checked in and both boarding cards issued. We were warned not to buy anything over 100mls in Duty Free as this would be confiscated in Hong Kong. Made our way via the American Express bureaux de change to pick up pre-ordered currency (only available land side for some reason). It was then the VS security channel and there was a queue - admittingly it was only 4 people, but still a queue!! Headed off to the lounge as we were hungry and wanted to grab a bite to eat before haircuts/facials were due. The service in the lounge was really good this evening - much better than on recent trips through there. Got a table in the restaurant straight away and had some deli stuff as a starter and then the beef pie for main (very good indeed). Drinks were rapidly served and all with a smile. Afetr my facial, time to do a little shoppping - needed to get some tea for someone we were staying with! Once back in the lounge, another cocktail and a glass of champagen before it was time to board through Gate 1. No obvious 'priority boarding', although we followed an elderly couple through the end gate and this soon became the priority boarding area. Double airbridge onto the plane - not that this made much difference as most people had already boarded!!
Once on board, the crew were friendly, smiling and professional throughout the flight. Glass of champagen sir - of course!! This was topped up for pretty much everyone prior to take-off. Opposite us was a husband/wife and their 4.5 month old baby. I know what people are now thinking, that I am going to complain about babies in Upper etc etc.....WRONG!! The baby was all smiles throughout the flight and slept like a baby (obviously) pretty much all the way to Sydney (it was a little grumpy on the descent into Sydney....but who wasn't!).
Short taxi to the runway and no hanging around as it is pretty much dead at LHR at 22.30! After take-off, drinks were served and food orders taken. The flight to HKG was pretty much full in upper - 2 spare seats (thankfully - see later).
Menu items:
Starters
Leaf salad with blue cheese, pear, bacon and tarragon dressin
Spring Vegetable Broth
Fish wanton with soy sauce
Main
Coq au vin with pilaf rice
Baked cod with pesto, roasted veg, potatoes, butter beans and spinach
Pumpkin ravioli
Char sui pork with egg fried rice, pak choi and roasted peppers
Deserts
Apple and caramel tart and custard
Berry pavola with crushed meringue
Cheese
Can't remember these!!
I had the fish wantons, char sui pork and the apple and caramel tart. The starter and main were really good - huge portion of char sui pork. The desert was a little disappointing. Cheese was good. Very good selection of wine as well. Liked the fact it was a full meal service - thought it might have been a cold supper tray affair. After finishing my film (Frost-vs-Nixon), was time for bed.
Had been asleep for about 3-4 hours, before there was an annoucement for a doctor on board. I thought I was dreaming, but when it continued in CHinese, I realised that I wasn't. Half-asleep, I offered my services, only to find that 4 other doctors and a nurse had already volunteered!! Had some water to refresh as I wasn't needed and then doozed for a little bit longer. Woke up properly about an hour or so later and noticed a doctor in one of the spare seats and a dazed looking passenger covered in blood in the other....no idea what had happened but thankfully she seemed to have sorted things out and we hadn't had to divert.
As I was awake, watched Body of Lies (very good) and had a light breakfast before it was time to change and get ready for landing in Hong Kong. Normally there is only about 90 minutes on the ground, but we arrived about 1 hour 20 minutes early, which made things better in terms of getting off the plane, to the lounge and grabbing a shower. More about the lounge etc in Part 2.
All in all a great flight - the crew were very good and consistent throughout the flight, food options good and the bed seemed more comfy than normal!!
