VS019 LHR-SFO 14 Jan 07 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Plane :V-BIG

Ok the tale starts a little earlier the day before while trying to use OLCI, got the message Sorry unable to process you at this time, please check in as normal OK then, reading the problems others have had (watch lists etc) I decided to rearrange transport times etc and get to check in at 0630!!

Upper Class check in, PE and Economy were all extremely quite, got straight to UC and the passport was whisked away, a short while later all was returned with boarding pass etc, very courteous and professional but no explanation of what had just happened, so I decided to wait and see what happens at the other end. Fast track was empty so straight through without hindrance. Lady at the IRIS office was asking travellers if they would like to register for miSense +, curiosity got the better of me so went ahead and registered, same process as IRIS but you get a card also. On reading the leaflets I realised that this programme expires at the end of Jan 07 and was only valid if you used Cathay Pacific or Emirates for flights, went back and asked she confirmed that the programme was being extended and that I should have no problems if flying with VS. (Got a flight with NZ next month so will report back).

Was first in the Club House and all was well, picked my usual spot behind the bar and enjoyed a bacon roll, went for my wet shave and shower. Staff were great and attentive; it really does knock the socks of BA lounges!!

Flight got called at 10.15 so we all trundled down to the gate, VA need to sort the priority boarding thing out!! Saw the long line of PAX waiting so being the wimp I am slowed my pace and allowed a few more clubhouse victims to gain the lead, one pre boarding security guy there oh dear heard comments from the long line like,whats the rush mate, the planes not going anywhere and theres a line you know!. This was a holiday for me so just tagged on the end of the line as I could see that they hadnt started to board as yet. BA have sorted this out VA please try and resolve this! (Oh and why call us down if boarding hadnt started?)

On board my usual seat 5K on V-BIG, normal routine coats taken, drinks gladly accepted, scrooge pack deposited in side pocket, ninja suit requested and a quick browse of the menu. The FA came around and introduced herself, FSM shortly after that all with a smile and a Mr Hyde. Chose the Devon crab cakes, followed by the hot pot and finished with the ice cream, all delicious. No IFBT requested on this flight but she looked busy. Watched a movie, on went the ninja suit and got a couple of hours sleep, they didnt pull down the blinds in the entire cabin that suited me as I dont particularly like the practice of full darkness on day flights. Enjoyed the afternoon tea and scones and managed to get another movie in before landing. The FA and the rest of the on-board team were fantastic on this flight, never flown on a Sunday before and was pleasantly surprised.[y]

No problems with immigration as normal for SFO collected baggage and through the security within 20 mins. No limo on this ticket so made use of the airport van and loved the $15 fare highly recommended service!!! [:D]

Great TR, hope you enjoy SF. The very reasonable limo comes as a surprise to many, after sticker shock at many other US airports (anything on the East Coast). Tell your friends not getting the limo about it! Then again, maybe not... price might go up and service down.

I know we all knocked the Best of British menu when we heard about it, but I hope the Beef Hotpot is kept - it's good! Yum. Glad to hear you liked it too. Some of the rest of the new menu is another story, but that's another forum's specialty!

As to the CH, why of course it's better than BA's. [}:)]

Looking forward to your return TR.

Thanks for a great TR! Sounds like you had a very good flight! Can't believe they are still giving out the scrooge packages? I thought they had changed them over??[:?]

Oh don't get me started on priority boarding!!! Don't be shy, I always go to the front of the queue, politely of course! [:D]If anyone asks, or makes a comment, I just tell them I'm in Upper, it is a perk for flying UC, and we should get it.

Have a great time in SFO!

Dominic

Originally posted by DMetters-Bone
I just tell them I'm in Upper, it is a perk for flying UC, and we should get it.

Alternatively, hang out in the Clubhouse for another 10 mins after they call boarding, only then do you saunter down to the gate... arriving at the gate just as the last one or two pax are boarding. [8D]

Very good idea, I am always up for another champers or 3!!! [}:)][}:)]

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by neilhyde
Òthere's a line you know!Ó

I was told the best comeback for this over breakfast after the PCP yesterday. 'Yes there is. For you!' [;)]

Great TR - thanks for posting.

Mat

Originally posted by McCoy

Originally posted by DMetters-Bone
I just tell them I'm in Upper, it is a perk for flying UC, and we should get it.

Alternatively, hang out in the Clubhouse for another 10 mins after they call boarding, only then do you saunter down to the gate... arriving at the gate just as the last one or two pax are boarding. [8D]

Don't do this on a full plane - possession is nine-tenths of the law, and if your seat just happens to be the one the system accidentally double-booked, if you arrive second you might be the one put to the back of the bus! Eeewww.

First one in the Upper seat gets it! [}:)]

Of course, if the pointy end isn't full, go ahead and take your time going to your PE seat. If it's double-booked, you might get an op-up! Then again, if J is full, you'd better arrive early for PE as well. You don't want to go as one of Y's self-loading freight [:0] if you have no choice but to g-g-get there!

Hmmm... hadn't thought of that. Arriving at 3K to discover someone already sat there? *shudder*. [:0]

Okay, I agree.. LHR to sort out priority boarding ASAP..

Originally posted by vs_itsallgood

Originally posted by McCoy

Originally posted by DMetters-Bone
I just tell them I'm in Upper, it is a perk for flying UC, and we should get it.

Alternatively, hang out in the Clubhouse for another 10 mins after they call boarding, only then do you saunter down to the gate... arriving at the gate just as the last one or two pax are boarding. [8D]

Don't do this on a full plane - possession is nine-tenths of the law, and if your seat just happens to be the one the system accidentally double-booked, if you arrive second you might be the one put to the back of the bus! Eeewww.

First one in the Upper seat gets it! [}:)]

Of course, if the pointy end isn't full, go ahead and take your time going to your PE seat. If it's double-booked, you might get an op-up! Then again, if J is full, you'd better arrive early for PE as well. You don't want to go as one of Y's self-loading freight [:0] if you have no choice but to g-g-get there!

Hmmm no...none of that is true!

Lol it's not first come first served if seat changes and op-ups are made - they're done in the system an hour before departure and whether you arrive at the gate first, last or somewhere in between and find someone else sitting in your seat or you're sitting in someone elses, it means nothing what time you got there!

[Neil]

Originally posted by fozzyo

Originally posted by neilhyde
Òthere's a line you know!Ó

I was told the best comeback for this over breakfast after the PCP yesterday. 'Yes there is. For you!' [;)]

Great TR - thanks for posting.

Mat

Classic, whoever came up with that one wants a medal[^][oo]

Great TR and as others have said, as a Premiuim pax you have paid for priority boarding so make sure you get the use of it, totally agree that VS need to sort this and quickly.

Originally posted by Lipstick

Originally posted by vs_itsallgood
First one in the Upper seat gets it! [}:)]

Of course, if the pointy end isn't full, go ahead and take your time going to your PE seat. If it's double-booked, you might get an op-up! Then again, if J is full, you'd better arrive early for PE as well. You don't want to go as one of Y's self-loading freight [:0] if you have no choice but to g-g-get there!

Hmmm no...none of that is true!

Lol it's not first come first served if seat changes and op-ups are made - they're done in the system an hour before departure and whether you arrive at the gate first, last or somewhere in between and find someone else sitting in your seat or you're sitting in someone elses, it means nothing what time you got there!

[:0][:0][:0]
That's something you don't see in the US - most US carriers will let the body in the seat stay there - and move the other, later person(s) here, there, and yonder in the plane (my personal experience with UA, AA, and NW). If you are hapless enough to be on a packed flight, you don't get to stay on without a fight - and woe on you if you dare not take a bump, no matter how good the buyout, for business reasons!

Hearing that VS is different, I will no longer trot off to the gate as early as I usually do! (So I'll just say, 'I believe I will have another, thank you, I don't need to rush, now do I?' [:D])

I do wish priority boarding would get sorted out, since it's the one thing I hate admitting the Dark Side has VS beat at each and every time, and not just at LHR. [:(]

Thanks for the TR![y]

I wouldn't worry about being seemingly rude- it's your perk and if you get grumbled at by fellow pax, tell them to take it up with VS as it's their cr@p system[;)]

VS.

Great TR, FF, Thanks.[y]