VS400 LHR-DXB 30 Aug 08 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

I will make it short promise!
Our much anticipated UC trip to Dubai couldnt have come sooner, absolutely desperate for a hol.
Check in at T3 was a pleasure with really pleasant staff who accomodated my parents really well who checked in with us although they were in PE. Up the lift and along the private channel and through all checks within 5-10 minutes.
CH was so good i want to move in there! food was excellent and the speed of service from all servers inc bar staff was good as i know some people report rather slow servers, certainly not this time.
The Mojitos were epic as were the Negronis that kept flying down the hatch, we both had a hair cut which was very good too and a nice option to have in the CH.
Sadly the upstairs terrace was closed, and it was such a nice day that it would have been perfect to go up to.

We were called at 8.20pm and walked straight on, the cabin seemed very clean and tidy and soon settled down in our suites, pre flight drinks and extra lip balm etc came round, its a shame in some ways but the captain welcomed all onboard as usual and announced the flight to be ahead of schedule with a flight time of 6 hours & 20 minutes[:0] (i wished it was a 10 hour flight).
My meal outbound was rice cod and spinach and a garden pea starter which i actually enjoyed, and then went straight to sleep[|)][|)][|)].
Total outbound trip brilliant!

The return trip.
This is were its not so good, the Gulfair CH is so poor in relation to VS offerings that it really lets the UC product down on this route, for example the food was totally inedible, of what small amount there was, and things like curried chick peas[:$] for breakfast is not what i had in mind travelling back. I cant work out how BA can have a Terrace Lounge at DXB but VS think its ok to offer Gulf airs.
Its a shame VS cant secure an airbridge either as it takes some time to be ferried around the concourse on a bus[n]in such heat.
The flight back was excellent, but the food in this direction was just about ok and mostly warm not hot.
Overall the flight was great but 6 hours or so is too short for the UC price, but no complaints as we still pay it.
Staff were great and very attentive.
Cant wait to fly VS next month.

Cheers
alex[:D]

Glad you enjoyed your time and yes, the Gulf lounge isn't so hot is it. Don't forget though, BA fly there 2 x daily with T7s ... as much as we'd like clubhouses globally it's not always possible.

Loads of planes don't get airbridges at DXB, when the new terminal opens (next month I think) it'll be interesting to see if this improves but I loathe DXB as an airport - it can only go up.

I also once heard a story that the virgin lady painted on VS planes could cause offence in Dubai, so that's a reason why the remote gate.

[mitchja]

Thanks for the TR [y]

I agree, DXB is not a very nice airport. Just look at the state of the arrivals area - horrible and not a very nice welcome to Dubai.

The VS A/C is usually parked next to to one of the BA ones so it's not just VS that get a remote stand.

Regards

Why is it that they use this lounge could they perhaps use another, is gulf air in the Star Alliance and thats why its used or could they use some one elses llikes emirates across the hall

cheers
alex

[HighFlyer]

Not sure any of us here can answer your question Alex, but dont forget DXB is a new route so I assume the choice was made for a number of reasons, including availibility and cost. Gulf Air is also a flying club partner so that might have had some bearing.

As shared lounges go, I didnt think it was that bad (they had hot food options which is more than most lounges offer) but I agree that it is very small.

Thanks,
Sarah

After reading about emirates lounge across the hall being too busy and hardly relaxing, on reading that it kind of answered my thoughts as to whether it might be better than gulf airs, but on reasoning as to which i would prefer to be in i think that perhaps gulf airs aint too bad, just a come down from LHR CH.

cheers
alex[:D]

P.S
if anyone is concerned dont be! i will certainly continue to support VS build this route.