This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Having deplaned from my AA flight, I had to pass the VS check-in area, which was empty. However on my return about an hour later it was MUCH busier. However I only had to wait for one person to be sorted out (I actually got checked in at PE, since the UC person was taking ages).
Very efficient check-in assistant unlike some other outstations, who was friendly and chatty. She found a little 'have a nice flight' note from my better half, which found very sweet and I found rather embarrasing! Asked if I wanted a Club America lounge pass, to which I said yes (although I remember what it was like before). Wandered around a bit and got some proper food from the bar/restaurant area next to security. This seemed like an absolute nightmare!!
Headed off to the Club America lounge, which is now down a long long passage, to find it just as I remember it. Not very welcoming and very little in there in terms of food and drinks. However had the chance to make some last minute calls and use the computer (there is also free WiFi in there). Headed off around 6.15, as I wanted to do a little shopping before boarding (last minute presents). I had already been told that UC can use the special assistance queue (not sure if this applies to Gold card holders). This is soooo much quicker than the normal queue, although it still seemed to take a while.
Grabbed my souvenirs on the way to the plane and was pleasantly surprised to see a priority boarding queue in place!! That seems like a novelty these days.
Once on board settled into my seat and had the offered glass of champagne. One thing I noticed was that the seats seemed to be a bit narrower than I remembered from my previous flights.....might just be my imagination though. However it did have the new all electronic table, although it would be nice if it put itself away again!! Sleep suits offered before take-off, along with a refill on the champagne.
After take-off it was rather bumpy....which seemed to be the story for the rest of the flight. The seat belt signs stayed on for a lot of the flight and at one point the crew were advised that they would also have to sit down (luckily after the meal service had finished!).
Drinks after take off in my section seemed to be very slow - seemed that there was only one CC serving the whole of the 'A' seats on the flight. Therefore popped to the bar and got myself another champagne. The nibbles options were either crisps (very good) or olives (not so good!).
vPORT seemed very slow, might just have been since it was a full flight. Had the intro video again, which is annoying on the return flight, which is shorter.
Menu options:
Starter
Alaskan crab salad
Pumpkin Soup
Main
Pork, with potatoes and green beans and an apple based sauce
Fish with rice and bak choy
Veggie pie
Desert
Pecan Pie
Ice cream
Cheeses - can't remember what they were.
Had the soup (nice but a little cold) and the pork (very nice with lots of beans, and surprisingly some mushrooms, followed by the pecan pie (very nice!).
Watched a film before and during dinner, and then settled down for some bumpy sleep. Asked for a hot chocolate (my night-time flying bedtime drink) and saw the CC bring it and then wander around as he had forgotten who wanted it! Managed about a couple of hours and then gave up. Hadn't put in a breakfast order as I had hoped to get more sleep. When asked if I wanted anything, and I tried to say what I wanted, was told to fill in the request card as the CC wouldn't remember what I ordered! The cranberry pound cake was rather nice.
After breakie, settled into watch some TV as didn't reckon I had enough time to get a whole film in. The beauty therapist hadn't managed to get round to that many people on the flight, although everyone who wanted something and was missed was given a priority card to use - don't see that happen all the time usually.
We were expected to arrive at around 0810, but ended up doing circuits for about 15-20 minutes. After arrival, we just seemed to stop on the taxiway and then sit there. The pilot then came on to explain that as we were early there were no gates anywhere free for us. After about 10 minutes, we then moved to a different taxiway and sat there for about another 10 minutes.....until a VS flight departed and we could park up. From what the pilot said, Terminal 3 wasn't as bad as some of the other terminals this morning!!! BAA really need to get this sorted as it is so annoying stuck there on a plane being able to see the terminal and wanting to get off.
Luggage took its time getting off......priority tagging didn't seem to really work. One bag appeared and then the conveyor belt just stopped for what seemed like ages! Once both bags had arrived, headed off to the AA baggage services to sort out the bag that they had damaged on my flight to Miami.
All in all not too bad a flight, although the turbulence wasn't great but that isn't anyones fault!
One little niggle is about 'Z' class fares and CDC. I understand that only 'J' and 'D' get a car normally, although I really don't understand the rule that on a 'Z' class you can't use miles to purchase a CDC. You can if you upgrade to a 'G' class, from either PE or Econ....seems a little silly to me really!
