This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Miss PVG got a visa to come to the UK and be allowed to marry, so we duly did!
She managed to get a business class flight on China eastern from PVG to LHR for not much more than the cost of VS economy, but of course the product is only slighty better than VS PE! But she was happy.
Surprisingly for my line of work, plans havent changed. Ive been expecting to go to Seoul for a nine month assignment since just after Christmas and it was always planned to fly out there on June 24th. So I tried to work flights so that I could fly China Eastern back to PVG with MrsPVG and then carry on to Seoul, with her joining me later once all our long term residence papers had been arranged.
This didnt quite work out due to non availability of J seats for me on the 24th. But my companys travel agent had for once quoted Virgin upper class to PVG. I jumped on this, having worked out that 1) MrsPVGs China eastern return was freely changeable for up to one year, 2) I very nearly had enough miles to book a reward UC ticket for MrsPVG.
So after a quick call to FC to confirm that sufficient reward seats were still available and would still be so in a couple of days when I had confirmation through that my ticket had been booked by my company, I bought the extra miles I needed to make the 100,000 for the UC ticket. The next day I booked MrsPVGs ticket, we chose our seats, and started planning our clubhouse experience.
Having done the research and talked with the company I would be working with in Seoul, I duly applied for a long term visa 3 weeks before I was due to depart. This got rejected due to some missing paperwork from the Korean Company A pattern now seems to be emerging of no one in Korea understanding their visa rules.
Plan B was that I would need to apply for a three month business Visa and change it once in Korea. This I did still with a week to spare and expecting express service from our travel agent..
Wednesday 21st (1 hour before getting married) Your visa wont be issued from the embassy until Monday 26th, we can courier it to you, but you wont be able to fly until Tuesday, what do you want to do?
After another phone call to FC to find out how easy it is to change the reward ticket, and happily finding out it only cost 25, I called my company back and told them to change the flight to the 27th. After confirmation, I called FC back and changed Mrs PVGs ticket Then I went off and got married!
Now the amusing thing about this little saga was, my ticket cost the company @3500, and MrsPVGs was free. To change the outbound date on my ticket, it needed to be upgraded to the next fare bucket at a cost of500! Whereas MrsPVGs freebie only cost 25 to change. Wheres the web link to If Airlines sold paint!!!!
Now, Im a worrier by nature. I worry about little details. I check and recheck facts and requirements. So, as this plan had been hatching over the months, Id checked in various places that it was possible to transit Shanghai, from one international flight to another without needing any kind of transit visa.
Yes, it was possible. All you needed was a ticket for onward travel within 24hours to show the immigration officer. Now, I had an eticket for the VS flight, but paper tickets for my onward connection to Seoul, and when the dates got changed the travel agent told me that there was no need to reissue the paper tickets as they would still be valid when I arrived at check-in. I thought nothing of this until I remembered Id need proof of my onward travel from China and promptly spent the first few days of married life worrying, not only about this, but about passing Virgins own valid visa checks. Oh and packing up my rented house and putting everything into storage. It was a fraught few days!
Travel day arrived, we finished off the packing of the house, and drove to my parents where we would be picked up from by our companies limo service. Last minute checks had me realize I hadnt printed off my latest itinerary from the travel agent, so did this on my dads computer, and was slight happy to note it also included details of my onward flight, which I hoped would suffice for Chinese transit.
Im going on a nine month assignment to a country where 1) no one is 65 with size 11 feet, 2)they dont sweat much, 3)Im going to experience both seasonal extremes. So I needed to take everything with me including half a suitcase of anti-perspirant and summer and winter clothes, so packing light wasnt an option.
Fortunately we normally get an excess luggage allowance of 40kg that the company will pay when we mobilize on assignment, so in the end my baggage count was this:
2x30kg suitcases and 1x10 Kg Rucksack for checked luggage.
1 x Large Wheely laptop bag, with 1x smaller Laptop bag perched on top (yes I NEED to travel with two laptops!) and 1 x suitbag. Lets not even go in to how much these weighed (and fortunately they werent!)
And then MrsPVG had her own 25kg suitcase to check in along with a wheely cabin bag and a laptop rucksack.
Normally our company limo company uses Kia Sedona people carriers (not very prestigious but adequately comfortable with plenty of luggage space), so I didnt think to remind them I was traveling heavy. And what turned up? A Jag XJ6! All very nice for impressing the parents neighbours and indeed MrsPVG (she wants a Jag S Type when we return finally), but absolutely hopeless for anything more than two suitcases. Anyway, after some creative packing we fitted it all in, and left room for ourselves and it was off for the hour and a half ish drive to LHR.
Thanks to the good information on v-flyer we had prebooked our pampering at the clubhouse. I had a haircut and MrsPVG had a massage and facial booked for 1pm. Id asked for the car to arrive earlier than originally suggested to allow us plenty of time to enjoy the clubhouse, but sadly the motorway was against us so it was still 11:30 before we arrived at T3.
First things first, reaping the benefits of shopping and traveling with a non EU passport holder we queued at the Tax Refund desk to claim back the more than 70 in VAT we had accrued in the month that MrsPVG had been in the UK. Happily, these days it is a painless process of claiming the money and is even done before check in so if they want to inspect the items you are claiming a refund for it can still be in your checked luggage. Best of all they can pay you in a number of currencies, so I took it in Korean Won to see me through the first few days.
Then it was over to the Virgin Upper class check-in. After wed fought our way through the exceptionally long economy queue we managed to get into the UC check-in area where our passports and tickets were checked. The girl there was a little disbelieving of me not requiring a visa to transit at shanghai, but eventually let us in and straight up to a desk. The girl there was cheery enough and we passed some idle chit chat as she checked in our four bags and 95kgs of luggage. Then the shocking news of the excess baggage bill. Shocking for her I think, since Ive done it a few times and was expecting around 30 per kilo. So when she told me it would be 1500 I happily handed over my virgin credit card and counted up the additional 3000 miles Id be getting! Though I suppose for 1500 I could have made 3 friends happy with a weekend in Shanghai, and still had luggage to spare! Yes, excess luggage is an extortionate rip off (considering the flight was only half full) but thats the price of convenience (and less hassle with customs) so us poor business travelers need to pay it.
The processing of the credit card took a long time, further eating in to our clubhouse time, but we got our boarding cards and were directed up to the clubhouse, but not via the fast track security check. Of course, I knew this option was available, but have often heard it is busier than the normal route, so we first went to the slowtrack entrance but the woman there directed us to fast track saying that it wasnt busy today.
** Note to VS ** I knew about fast track, but we werent told about it at check in! Tut tut.
Through the usual security rigmarole, made harder by my two laptops and MrsPVGs one laptop. A quick pitstop at duty free for some wine for the mother-in-law, then on for my first taste of the much talked about club house.
Oh
Where is it?
That was my first impression as the signs I saw where not obvious, but we eventually found the lift and arrived in this hallowed hall of travel extravagance. A cheery greeting for the welcomer, and a first timers explanation of what was available we dropped our handluggage and headed for some well earned G&Ts with MrsPVG sat in the bubble chair looking out over the apron.
First impressions? Very impressive, it has lived up to its reputation. The staff are pleasant and attentive, there is bags of space and it is an oasis of peace. The downside?. It was 12:45, our Haircut and Massage was at 1 and I flight was being shown at boarding at 1:45, so only an hour to enjoy, with half of that taken up in the cowshed. Two G&Ts where however quaffed before haircut time. The staff there were again very cheery and welcoming, MrsPVG was whisked away for her pampering and I was lined up in the haircut chair watching planes whilst having a haircut. What a novelty! Im not a great conversationist in the hairdressers, preferring not to talk about last nights episode of east enders or big bruvva, but I had a long conversation about this and that with the lovely lady cutting my hair. Ending with some very useful tips on how to get my just out of bed hairstyle looking just right, since even when I am just out of bed, it looks naff!
** Note to haircut lady** Thanks for the teach-in, Im starting to get better at it!
1:30 it was all over and back to the bubble chair for yet more G&Ts and a quick bite to eat as we both skipped breakfast and were famished.
Our flight was called at 1:50 and we were told the gate was 10 minutes away, so off we trotted.
**Comparison No.1** Virgin Club house to T4 holideck lounge:
Well, of course after months of reading V-flyer I had very high expectations, and must say I wasnt disappointed, but didnt have as much time as I would have liked to sample everything on offer. However, the T4 holideck lounge also wasnt disappointing. It provided all you might want to relax before a flight, space, comfortable seating, ample food and drink, entertainment and a good view for the plane spotters amongst us and it wasnt overrun with the paid access riff-raff [;)]
So choice of lounge isnt likely to affect my choice of airline. Another plus side for Holideck is that it is right next to the gate KLM normally use, thus maximizing your lounge time.
On to the flight:
An Airbus A340-600 whose name I didnt catch!
I think I have noticed the look of the UCS on few occasions when heading to and from the back, but was still a little unsure about what they looked like close up. We took our seats midway along at the window and stowed our luggage. At least no fight for overhead bin space in J! The FSM and the inflight beauty therapist came and introduced them selves shortly after, along with the girl offering the champers All a bit rushed actually at a time we were still trying to get settled in. None of the Hello Mr PVG that I had got on KLM, and I had to ASK where I could hang my suitbag!
Once wed all settled down we noticed that the UC cabin was only about 1 third full, (No wonder I had no problem changing the reward ticket at short notice) and got down to the business of finding out what the buttons do.
Problem: None of the buttons on MrsPVGs suite lit up or did anything, no problem due to the emptiness of the flight, we moved down two seats and started settling in again.
First Impressions of the UCS? Cramped, a little worn and not very sociable when traveling with your new wife. Fortunately the reason I felt it was cramped was the same reason I could at least see over the fence and talk with my wife Im tall!
As Ive said on another thread, the UCS is all about smoke, mirrors and clever packaging. All in all the cabin is quiet crowded and squashed in. Though granted, for the lone traveler it is great.
However, once settled in and ready for take off it is very very nice to be able to lay back and stretch your legs out on the ottoman.
Departure was pretty much on time taking off to the east and heading out over London, but sadly soon into the clouds.
G&Ts were quickly offered again soon after the cabin crew were released from their seats and the process of collecting food orders started.
At this point I noticed the much abused Snooze Pack that is causing so much consternation over on another thread. Yes, it is dire. Socks, Eyeshades and earplugs. Not even a pen to fill in landing cards and food orders. I hope it is much improved before my return trip.
Being a night flight I was keen to get fed and watered as soon as possible and then try and get maximum sleep time, since I would need to transit Shanghai and fly on to Seoul the next day and still go to a meeting!
No complaints about the food, though to my shame I cant remember what I or MrsPVG had, but it was good. The wine selection was a little lacking, and despite the low workload in the cabin, top-ups were a little slow at being offered. Both me and MrsPVG choose to stay in our own seats to eat rather than one of us sitting on the less comfortable ottoman and cramping the table. Our choice, but with the design of the suite eating like this is a solo thing! Once dinner was finished we adjourned to the bar for a couple of night caps and had a pleasant chat with a couple of the crew, though I think my words were getting more and more slurred by this time. Even so the Bar is a nice touch and you certainly forget you are flying. I think we were heading over St Petersburg about now, so it was off to the loo for a quick change in to my sleep suit which was happily of ample size for me, whilst gone my suite was converted and made ready for me. My head hit the pillow and that was it! I think sometime during the night my legs had fallen off of the bed and Id tripped a couple of people up in the isle as I vaguely remember my legs being moved back onto the bed, but that was all I remember until about five hours after my head first hit the pillow I was woken for my pre ordered in flight massage ( I wish I hadnt asked to be woken now, but I of course wanted to try all of the upper class experience). Bleary eyed I noticed MrsPVG wasnt sleeping but watching films, something I didnt do at all, unusually for me. After the massage I manged about another hour of fitful sleep, but sadly a G&T induced headache was coming on. Then it was Breakfast time. Again I cant remember what I had but it was good, and again the refill service for tea and coffee was slow!
Seemingly landing cards werent handed out, so I want off to the bar area to find my own and get some more water to try to counteract the G&Ts, and then off to scrounge a pen since it most have been forgotten when they put my snooze pack together [;)]
Landing into Shanghai was on time and uneventful, and we were quickly off of the plane and queuing at immigration. Happily just ahead of the other morning European arrivals!
It turned out I was worrying needlessly about the transit procedure. I simply showed the officer my itinerary and told him Transit, then his supervisor walked over and stamped my passport with what I assume is a transit stamp and I was on my way. Our four bags were quickly out onto the baggage belt then through customs and out into the madness that is China!
MrsPVGs Dads driver was coming to pick her up at the airport, so we found him, left her luggage with him and went off to find the Asiana check in for my next flight on to Seoul. But thats another story!
**Comparison No.2** Virgin upper class to KLM world business class on the same route.
KLM aircraft Usually a slightly aged 747-400 Combi
Virgin aircraft A340-600 ranging from brand new to I guess 4-5 years old
KLM seat 2 + 2 conventional seats with (on the 747) 60 seat pitch 20 wide and 150degree recline.
Virgin seat UCS 79.5 seat pitch 22 wide fully flat bed
So, on paper Virgin looks better. Yes without doubt the UCS is great if you want to sleep and very comfortable if you dont. For someone tall like me I can sit upright and still rest my legs on the ottoman. However, the KLM seat is still adequately comfortable and getting out past your neighbour is not a major problem.
Certainly the lower deck forward cabin on the KLM 747 is a great place to be. Bags of room and with only 4 rows before the galley, has a very exclusive feel to it. This is made even better by the intimate and personal service that the cabin crew offer.
Whereas on the Virgin flight, thoughts of Battery Hen or those Tokyo Hotel pods kept springing to mind. Yes, you cant fault the comfort of the UCS, but it just didnt feel as roomy or as exclusive as the KLM cabin.
The IFE of course is without comparison. But saying that, I didnt use it at all on virgin, and only used the skymap on KLM.
Then there is the service. Virgin wasnt bad, but the KLM crew just seemed to have the edge on attentiveness, and of course the Welcome MrPVG always gets things off to a good start, even though I know they are just reading it from the list!
There was little to choose between the two with food choice both being of excellent quality, and KLM win hands down with their selection of Wine.
A hot topic at the moment are the amenity kits. Ill post a photo of my KLM one, which I traveled with this time, as it is way beyond the functional effort that Virgin seem to have reduced to, but of course the virgin sleep suit as a great idea.
KLM also offer quite a nice delft model of dutch houses, full of bols as a gift when you leave, and even on a previous two hour flight with China Eastern I got a very useful business card holder, but with Virgin I got nothing (unless you count the sleep suit).
So thats it. A comparison. Overall each airline has its plus points. Virgin is of course direct between LHR and PVG whereas I needed to transfer in AMS on KLM.. But the plus side of this is that I could have started my Journey from Birmingham and not had to suffer the queues and holds at Heathrow.
BUT remember this. For two services which overall I wouldnt mind which one my company decided to stick me on, the Virgin Ticket was twice the cost. And also, watch out Virgin, because KLM have started using B777s on the PVG route, and these have a V:Port equivalent IFE and updated seats with 170 degree recline. And still at half the cost of a Virgin Ticket. Virgin need to stop relying on the clubhouse and UCS to allow them to charge the earth and smarten their act up.
