This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The CDC driver picked me up on time & had even managed to find my address (its not on most Sat-Nav systems or in A-Zs). Credit to the driver, he said he could not find it in his Sat-Nav so hed been on Google Maps the night before to locate it. A quick journey to MAN followed.
Well Ive finally had it the travelling Economy sir? line from the security screener at MAN when you approach the Upper Class queue. After informing the screener that I was not travelling Economy, I was asked the normal questions and was through to check-in. After a short wait I was all sorted, purple boarding pass and lounge invite in hand. I was through the new T2 security area in next to no time via the fast-lane.
Once airside, Hot Lips had just arrived on stand yes, VS are back on airbridges now at Manchester. The airbridge driver must have forgotten how to dock the airbridge on a VS 747 while they were using remote stands. It was pure comedy to watch what ended up being a near-100 point turn and a 15min process just to get the airbridge docked on door L2. Frank Spencer would have been able to do it quicker.
Im currently in the Escape Lounge typing this. The lounge was fairly full on arrival, but has emptied out now that the SQ flight to Singapore has been called. Theyve rammed a load more seats into the Escape Lounge since last year if every seat was taken, you would be wanting to Escape from this lounge fast.
Boarding was much better organised than on my last flight out of MAN they seemed to be enforcing the priority boarding this time round. Once onboard, the crew were quick to offer drinks (I felt obliged to accept, honest [:w]) and take away coats. The MAN ground team did a good job today despite boarding starting only 25min before scheduled departure, we pushed back a shade under 20mins late. 8h33m and well be in Orlando. Prior to take-off, Ladybird arrived on the adjacent stand to form the VS73 to Orlando.
After take off, things got better. Id pre-ordered some headphones from the Retail Therapy magazine. Id been in touch with a member of VS Crew who is on this flight via V-flyer, she had informed me that the pre-orders are normally handed out late on in the flight. Well, thanks to her (you know who you are!) I had my headphones shortly after take-off. [^]
As 1st drinks were being served, the FSM came round the UC cabin to introduce herself to all the UC pax. Ive flown with this FSM before and she recognised me and welcomed me back a nice touch. It looks like this is going to be a good flight. Now where are the crew? Glass is empty & I could do with another T10&T.
The glass was refilled and lunch followed shortly afterwards. The service element of the lunch was great, but the menu was crap, IMO. I know the current UC menu has been discussed on here in other threads, so I wont go into it further. When removing my part-eaten main course, the crew asked if everything was OK with the food, I advised that I did not rate the menu and was immediately offered a comments card. I declined the offer of the comments card Ill write into customer relations to ensure the feedback reaches the people who may be able to do something about it.
A pretty uneventful middle bit of the flight followed. Most of the UC cabin went to sleep, including me at some point. During the flight I had chance to have a few chats with the V-flyer crew member. It turns out the flight is 2 crew down so the FSM is working crew positions today kudos to her for that. There are 456 people on todays flight, so the entire aircraft is full (babies on laps take the number over 452). Were currently 2hrs out of Orlando and Im tired time for a beer to wake me up!
Afternoon tea was served about 90mins out of Orlando, but I passed on it as I did not rate the sandwich selection on offer. (Again VS, plain options please with the odd / spicy sauces on the side so people can add them if they want, I mean, egg mayonnaise and sweet chilli sauce sandwich).
Arrival was uneventful and the FSM was holding back the main Economy cabin to allow a quick escape for UC & PE (+ the Economy mini-cabin). At Immigration I got called over to the lane reserved for Diplomats. All I can say is that I hope the Immigration Officer gives Diplomats a more friendly welcome. He was a fine example of US Immigration at its worst (would fit in well at Miami). Oh well, he admitted me into the country and Im now in the main terminal atrium waiting for the VS27 with my friends on to arrive.
Another good UC flight from Virgin. A week of theme park action beckons. Return TR to follow in a week and a bit.
James
