This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Check-in went quickly enough as there was no one ahead of me and soon I was seated in the CH sampling a bit of breakfast and a very strong coffee. At this early hour only a few souls dared be awake and moving but before I headed to the gate the CH had filled to nearly capacity. Other breakfast items had been added to the buffet by now, with pre-made omelets, waffles with warmed syrup and a wide selection of fruit and pastries on offer. While many complain about the small size of the Newark clubhouse one cannot find fault with either the food or the service and this visit was perfect.
Boarding time was announced and off we trudged to the gate, passing our TSA inspections rather effortlessly I thought (at least in comparison with other visits, when TSA agents had their attack dog scowls firmly in place). Priority boarding was announced and, surprise no scrum! Orderly boarding ensued and I joined the queue, shortly arriving at door 1A of Sleeping Beauty, a newer 340-600. Seat 7K beckoned. The IFBT came by and had some words with me about the services she offered (alas, a treatment never materiali(s)zed), nor did a priority card). Another cabin attendant, Edwina (who eagerly offered her permission for me to use her name) approached, offering instructions on the suite if I needed it. Edwina is what we all hope every VS representative to be: full of energy, radiating a warm smile, self-assured and graceful.
Takeoff time came and went but as the captain announced, we would be aloft for only five hours, forty minutes today on our way to London Heathrow, so a bit of delay for paperwork wouldnt be noticeable. After a long taxi and a final turn on to the active runway Sleeping Beautys four engines roared and we were soon high above New York, heading East. The Airbus is a quiet aircraft and inside the cabin, todays travelers were quite able to converse without shouting. The earplugs I usually wear stayed in their case while I explored the contents of the Snooze Pack, VS amended offering to an earlier version which wasnt well receive (as many on the Forum know only too well). This version is equipped with a shoe bag, socks and eyeshades; the IFBT arrived soon with a basket overflowing with other items such as toothpaste and brush, mints, face cream, lip balm in short, all the items that formerly were offered in each amenity kit. No matter, the passengers on todays flight were happy enough to receive these items, even if they seemed an afterthought.
VS18 provides two meals, breakfast and lunch. For breakfast I chose the Eggs Benedict which was hot and quite tasty. All the lunch offerings on the new Spring menu seemed fine but for me the cabin attendant recommended the flat iron steak with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. I normally would not order steak in other than a steakhouse, but todays flat iron did not disappoint. Oh, a bit chewy perhaps, as is the flat irons pedigree. But with flavor, and the potatoes, while a little on the mushy side, were also quite edible. Though there were cheese and dessert courses to come I found I was quite satiated and spent the rest of the flight reading.
By the way, for those who havent seen The History Boys starring Richard Griffiths, the highly acclaimed British thespian, I do heartily recommend it. Thanks to the wonders of V-Port, the preferred VS IFE system there are many, many first run movies on offer during the VS flight and today I greatly enjoyed the above.
Our landing was straight in at Heathrow; no circling. The huge Airbus threaded its way among construction cranes, baggage carts and dashing airport vans to arrive at one of the ubiquitous and far distant VS gates.
Honestly, I did effort to find things missing on todays flight, but thanks to a friendly and seemingly well-trained cabin crew there were no gaps to be discovered. The trip ended as it had begun, with smiles.
Regards to all,
Chuck-
