This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I think this probably goes down as my most pleasant check-in ever. All involved staff were extremely nice. No attitudes or disinterestedness. Now... I decided to carry-out my idea of seeing if wearing my v-flyer t-shirt improved my experience. Did this make everything better or was everything simply better naturally? Perhaps I won't know. I'm sure most of you will assume the staff had little idea of what v-flyer.com is.
Security was a breeze. It's frighteningly fast. I just hope they notice Osama if he tries flying UC. [;)] No need to show stamp on boarding pass to avoid shoe scan. Seems they're relaxing that as they let me plus a whole bunch through without scanning.
T3's shopping mall was a nightmare. This was 8:30am. Last time at this time it did not seem this busy. The prospect of getting away from it all in the clubhouse was the only thing keeping me from freaking out. I can be a little xenophobic sometimes.
Checked into the clubhouse and the lady was very pleasant acknowledging I'd been before and wouldn't need the guided tour. Now did she do that because the screen said so or because of the t-shirt??? Probably the screen. She did look right at the logo though. Headed to the spa to confirm my appointment was on-time. Ten minutes to wait. So I ordered that traditional breakfast drink they call Mumm. [8D] Had my shave. Miss the previously included shoulder massage. Really used to help with my flying anxiety. Maybe I should just get the massage instead of the shave. Left the BT US$20 and told her to get herself a cocktail the next time she was in the States. We had discussed our experiences of visiting the States. As I left the spa I think I spotted Mr Slinky09, but I was in a rush to get to the loo and didn't pause as I whisked by. Looked like he was just about to head into the spa anyway. Time for breakfast. Can't complain apart from that warm water they call coffee. I much prefer rocket fuel/java-style morning coffee. I'm noticing the clubhouse is much busier than I like it. Almost every little seating area is already populated. I finish at the Brasserie and look around for a private spot. I see Slinky emerge from the spa and head to the loo. Must be something in that cowshed stuff that triggers a detox. [;)] I'm wondering if we'll bump into one another before boarding. I struggle to find a spot to sit. The roof garden is closed. Don't know why. I like going up there to escape a busy clubhouse. I make do with the hard shelve seats in the gallery between two other sets of pax. I ordered another Mumm. I'm wondering if boarding has started and I see Slinky head out the door. I'm determined to finish my Mumm so I refuse to move until it's gone. There needs to be more displays with the flight statuses. Very annoying that you need to go up to the main one to see what's happening. I discover that it now says my flight is closing. So I panic a little and get my jacket back from the cloakroom. The flight was actually on-time. I can't remember the last time I experienced that. Would be nice to have an SMS service or something to let you know it was boarding time.
The VS019 was at gate 3. Reasonably handy. Passing through the gate is a breeze until I have to join the queue in the airbridge. Boring. Wish they had a secondary airbridge for UC. I'm onboard and heading to the Upper Deck, seat 5K. It's just my favourite location on the plane. You have the big cabinets behind you... so total privacy from behind. Then your view ahead is of the other nine pax in the forward section and the flight deck. It's like being on a private jet with just you and nine other pax. You can forget there's anything of a plane behind you. AND there's two toilets. What more could you ask for? I really do not like the front section of the lower deck. It's a mental thing. I prefer knowing the flight deck is in front of me instead of nothing basically. It just creeps me out. 5A and 5K have to be the best seats on the 744 - if you like privacy, a feeling of complete attentiveness from the crew, and keeping an eye on the flight crew. Although I don't like the lack of comfortable arm rests in the UC suite. It's actually a rather odd design in that respect.
Pre-flight drinks were served and I opted for a champagne since I hadn't had any of that yet today. [:w].
Then we got under way. After take-off it was time for pre-dinner drink. For a change, I decided to have the bellini but it wouldn't be long before I'd be back on the champers again.
Time to place dinner order came along and I had already seen the new Summer menu on v-flyer. So I wasn't looking forward to it. I really couldn't bring myself to choose either of the starters. I hate fish and I wasn't the slightest bit interested in lettuce with peas and cheese. So I opted out. I later saw the brown around the edges gem lettuce and was pleased I had avoid it. I have noticed a lot of brown lettuce over the years onboard planes. Beginning to think there's some science to it rather than it being old lettuce. Probably not. I chose the beef for main course. This was ok. Edible. Tasty enough, but not luxurious or anything. This was washed down with some sauv blanc.
If you're beginning to think I'm a stereotypical Scot alcoholic you'd be right... no I'm kidding... I'm 6ft 1' with a strong constitution for alcohol. We're weened off our mother's milk with alcohol in Scotland so the resistance building starts early. [;)] The alcohol is medicinal for me. Helps reduce my anxiety of flying. No sign or feeling of intoxication as yet.
Shakety, shakety shake shake shake. Turbulence. Seat belt sign goes on. Having felt that on my domestic and euro flights recently that pilots can simply move the plane to a different level to avoid turbulence I'm wondering why we're being made to go through this. Is it because the bird's too big? It's not safe to take her off auto? I continue to attempt to continue eating my beef main course and it's like being on one of those crazy Japanese game shows. A fork full of food and trying to get it to my mouth whilst being shaken violently makes for some funny viewing. 5 minutes of shaking and then normality again.
I'm determined to have pudding but I don't like the sounds of the thing that was on offer besides 'dessert of the day'... so I ask L what's the lucky dessert. It's cheesecake she replies with immediate glee. Methinks she's already munched one down at some point. So I appreciate her enthusiasm by returning it in my request. When it comes it looks rather plain and at first as though it's one of those foamy, moussey cheesecakes which aren't true cheesecakes. So I think it's going to be crappy. My spoon slides in as though it's made from butter which surprises me. I insert spoon in mouth and I instantly think I was right. This is like butter cheesecake. I had to think carefully to detect the intended flavouring. It's lemon or some other citrus fruit. I'm really pleased. I love butter. This feels like something I should feel guilty about eating. Perfect. Exactly what you want to feel. Totally indulgent. My only complaint is the base is sponge instead of digestive biscuit. That might have taken me over the edge though as I would probably have found my fat self ordering a second one. This was not like cheesecake at all, so if there are those of you who would normally avoid cheesecake this isn't one to avoid. The texture is like eating room temperature butter. Not something most will admit to ever having done. [:w]
Time for a movie or two. I'm wondering where Slinky is. I decide that the best thing to do is to wait til about mid-flight, and after I've had enough of the movies, to head down to the bar. I get to the bar and order... guess... if you guessed champagne you're right. There's a guy from Manchester (or thereabouts) talking flights to the current bar attendent. You can see she's trying to participate but is really wishing she was elsewhere. I can't be bothered attempting to join the generic conversation and reach for a trashy rag. OK. Loads of crap, but more entertaining than people talking about flights. I keep trying to see what I can see of the lower deck UC cabin trying to spot Slinky. Can't see him. So I'll just need to wait and see. Don't feel like walking around the cabin checking everyone's faces when I hadn't met the guy before. Heck at this point maybe it wasn't even him I thought I'd seen earlier. The bored FA is relieved and replaced by brunette C. I can tell right away this one is a little more socially capable and friendly. The other one wasn't offering me refills... C was. How was I to refuse??? I look back down at my OK only to realise moments later that Mr Slinky has arrived at the bar.
I open with a discussion about how I am surprisingly calm when normally I find flying a struggle of nerves. Slinky knew the score and explained frequency tends to make these things get better. I think he's right and watching Air Crash Investigation to learn about just how difficult it is to actually crash a 744 helps too! Very nice, friendly guy. Really pleased to meet him. Our conversation became a three-way with C which was fun. She was very genuine. We were all bouncing jetlag war stories off one another.
Shakety, shakety shake shake shake. Turbulence. Seat belt sign goes on. Abandon bar, Mr Slinky, C and I run for my little cove of safety and comfort; 5K. This turbulence is bad. It was funny running up the stairs during it. Felt a little dangerous. It's over a little quicker than the earlier episode. I head back down to the bar as I hadn't finished my OK. Oh more champagne... why not??? Mr Slinky doesn't return the bar. I finish my OK and head back to 5K for another movie.
Mid-movie Mr Slinky arrives at 5K. I was completely reclined/slouched and unlikely to hear him with my QC3s on (there got a mention of QC3s in - 5 points) so I scramble to simultaneously remove the QC3s and upright myself. He gives me a business card and I'm thinking 'darn it, my cards are in my bag up in the storage bin'. I'm literally incapacitated by the fully reclined seat. Do i struggle to get up and get him a card or just hope he doesn't mind thus saving me from further clambering out of this seat? That's what I do. My cards only have my email on it. i don't usually give out my mobile to customers so I figured I would email him anyway and he'd get my email address at that point. I hope he didn't think I was anti-social or anything. Back to the movie.
I'm getting hungry again. It's roughly dinner time in the UK and my tummy knows it. I'm starting to get agitated wondering if the crew will ask about afternoon tea or whether I'll have to ask for it - which was making me feel like a fatty. Thankfully L started coming around asking. Only thing wrong with being in 5K is the fact that you're last served. So I'm going 5A next time. This time Laura's looking like she'd prefer us all to say we don't want anything. I just got that vibe from her. However, my stomach comes first. So I order both the sandwiches - which I knew would be all dried up - and the cakes. BOTH cakes. Coffee. Yes I stopped drinking. I do know when to stop you know! Coffee pretty weak again. Cakes were ok. Chocolate and hazelnut - a little dry. Cranberry and Almond slice was nicer.
Before I knew it we were being prep'd for landing. Fairly smooth. It's all over. We're safely on the ground. In fact we're too early and can't get around to the little 744 gate alcove and have to sit for a bit. SFO do the double airbridge thing, but it's only worthwhile for those in the front lower UC cabin. The crew hold back the W and Y pax allowing me to be the third person off the plane. As I swoop around to where the other UC-only airbridge is I run into Slinky. How funny! He's shocked I was out so fast. That UC-only airbridge ain't all it's cracked up to be afterall. [;)] I'm given the third degree by immigration and then collect bags - which took a while to arrive but my bags were amongst the first. Headed out to meet the Virgin CDC despatcher lady. The driver wasn't very friendly. There seemed to be a bit of an atmosphere.
Dropped off at the Hotel Palomar on Fourth. Nice hotel. Very handy for Moscone center. They certainly try hard. I had a so-called deluxe suite. Not bad. Two shiney black new LCD TVs, one in the lounge and one in the bedroom. Spa/jacuzzi bath. Very deep. Don't put a whole Lush bubble bar in and run the jets. Big mistake. Obvious, but I couldn't stop myself like a mischeivous child. I'd recommend the hotel. I'm sure you could do worse.
Ok well I hope you weren't bored reading that and that the style I've used was refreshing enough to make it worthwhile getting to this point. When travelling alone, it's definitely great to meet a fellow v-flyer. So I'd recommend keeping an eye on the itineraries to see if there's an opportunity. It really made the flight for me.
I'll need to ask Slinky09 for the plane reg. I forgot to check. [:I]
Slinky's trip report should be interesting to see how this flight was for him as a more seasoned v-flyer. [;)]
When all is said and done, this goes down as my favourite VS experience-to-date. Apart from the crappy food, everything else was fantastic. Looking forward to my return home trip report. It should also make for interesting comparison to this one.
Cheers.
Edited to remove cabin crew names - honey lamb
