This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Time had come for me to venture back to Wales to see the Clan. I booked this trip almost six months ago as I hadnt been back to the UK in Summer in a couple of years and it was time I did.
After the usual last minute running around in Antigua I turned up at VC Bird International a little before three oclock for a five-thirty departure. Check in was empty, however there was one person in front of me (the wife of an associate as it turned out) and despite making my presence known to the economy check in staff I stayed put (they just stared straight ahead, in fact when the economy passengers started to appear one closed her desk and walked off).
However it wasnt an issue as I had loads of time and I was called forward and processed. I said hello to one member of staff that I used to work with and the lady processing the person next to me mentioned that she knew my name, it turns out her son is a friend of mine. So all in all an odd but pleasant check inits a small island.
I had a couple of beers at the Sticky Wicket with the 50EC voucher that replaces lounge access at ANU and wandered over to security a little before four oclock as it usually takes thirty minutes to get through the security end emigration check. However this time there was only a handful of people in front of me and I was through in minutes. I began to suspect the load for this flight was low as the lounge would normally be packed but it was anything but.
Well another beer and a vodka tonic were imbibed while watching the first half of Germany Vs Poland before the boarding call was made. The nice thing about ANU departures lounge.err well room.is that you can walk from the Bar to the Gate in fifteen seconds, so I finished my cocktail and joined the line of mostly PE passengers that had formed. The flight was definitely quiet as once the UC and PE passengers had started to queue there couldnt have been a hundred people left in the lounge, and keep in mind ours wasnt the only flight leaving that afternoon.
So out I tramped to G-HOT (I think. Virginia Plain was the name) and boarded, turned left and settled into 9K. I did the usual settling into seat things and went to the bar to get a copy of the Independent. The very cheerful FA asked if I had had a nice time in ANU. When I replied I live there she asked if I was going home to support England in the World Cup. I felt a bit bad telling her no Im from Wales and Im rooting for Trinidad as it happens, I hope she didnt think I was being contrary for fun (I dont think she did).
The FSM came round and introduced herself and I availed myself of a champagne and later a mimosa/bucks fizz (delete as your nationality requires) and looked over the menu.
At this point the crew really started to make a mark on this flight, they were welcoming everyone on board, showing them how the seats work, offering cocktails and generally being very personable, professional and informal at the same time. The crew were outstanding on this flight.
Horror of horrors..guess who settled into 9A, yep you guessed it a three year old. Oh bugger (or words to that effect) I thought. He was obviously excited about the flight and the crew made quite a fuss of him, however during the longer than usual wait for taxi and take off he was quite a handful and needed continuous reprimands from Dadwho was in 10K next to me. Oh god here we go thinks I, eight hours of running commentary from the lads parents. Just after take off I changed into my Ninja suit and hung up my clothes. Once again the interaction with the crew so good Excuse me can I get a hanger from the closethow do you open this?Well if I tell you that sir then Id have to kill you or something to that effect, all delivered dead-pan and had yours truly chuckling.
We took off late and were informed by the flight deck that the flight would last seven and a half hours. A little short but what can you do. I looked over the menu, I would have listed the options here but the crew collected the menus just before landing.
Starters were a Thai marinated shrimp salad and corn chowder. Entrees were a Salmon dish, a Pork Tenderloin dish and a veggie pasta dish. Deserts were ice cream and a fruit salad served in half a pineapple.
The wine list was the new selection that has been mentioned in the new menu thread.
I had the soup, which was excellent, and the pork which was served with a Potato Gratin type side disk and steamed veggies. It was very good indeed. However for some reason the cabin lights were off and the only light to eat by was from the reading lights. As a result I went overboard with the pepper (the cruet sets were in evidence) and made a portion of the meal inedible.
I suspect the lights were off as the guy in 8K was having an animated and seemingly irate conversation with the FSM (when I took my headphones off to order) about something or other (I didnt catch most of the altercation) but his bed was made up immediately and he skipped dinner. I wonder if he asked for the cabin lights to be turned off so he could get some sleep, whilst the rest of us ate in darkness. I have no idea if that was the case and I didnt ask about the lighting so I guess Ill never know.
I finished with a cheese plate and a huge glass of port. The food was very good indeed.
However the wines on the other hand.
I only sampled the whites, I started with the Chardonnay and it was okay but nothing more than that, if I ran a pub it would do for a house white. When the pork arrived I asked for a glass of the Tantalus Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon and got a glass of mystery white instead (which as it turned out was the Spanish option). It was awful. Im no expert and Im certainly not a snob on these things but it was undrinkable. I replaced it with the berry bros white blend and it was better but not by much.
So I think Ill stick to the reds on my return flight at the end of the month.
Dinner was enjoyed whilst watching an episode of Ramseys Kitchen Nightmares which was hysterical. I then tried to find some other comedy shows but the selection advertised didnt appear to sync with what was actually being shown, however at this point its fair to say I was mildly sozzled and it may well have been mine mistake.
Well enough was enough, the FA and FSM helped make up my bed as the seat didnt want to respond to the button and had to be converted manually and I settled down for what turned out to be three hours of sleep.
When I awoke the breakfast I had ordered (at the same time as dinner) arrived. I did regret being somewhat greedy when I ordered as I couldnt do justice to the full meal of fruit and yogurt followed by bacon, eggs, potatoes and tomato.
Now at this point we were about an hour outside of Gatwick, do you remember that little brat I mentioned earlierthe one that was going to ruin my flight. Well he chose to wake up at that point from his five or so hours of solid sleep and have a quiet breakfast with his mum whist not uttering a word. I felt more than a little guilty about pre-judging the lad at that point as he was not noticed after take off.
I changed back into my civvies and the FSM handed out questionnaires to most of the UC passengers. I made sure to emphasize how good the cabin crew had been and to rate the wines poorly. In fact it was a pretty glowing report.
We arrived a little early at 6.15am and I had a longer wait than normal at the Immigration check and a five minute wait for my bag and I was though the green zone and off to meet my limo. I have to say that Limo service really does make the flight for me, its such a pain to get from Gatwick to Swansea (LHR is much easier) so its really nice to just jump in a car, pick up the paper and let someone else worry about how to get me home.
All in all a really great flight, the food was good, the wine poor (maybe the reds are superb so that will be a saving grace) and the cabin crew were exceptional.
Now then if youll excuse me I have to go and cheer for Trinidad as they are playing some minor European team today (Thursday) and they need all the support they can get.
Adam
