This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I arrived at Sydney and headed to my hotel as I had 2 nights there before my flight home and I wanted to explore. (Super hotel The Shangri-La, see trip advisor for my review if you are interested!)
Ok, Im rambling again, so to the TR!!!
Left my hotel and got to the airport around 12pm, the Virgin desk wasnt open yet, so headed to Starbucks for a Latte to wait. (My flight was at 15.50) About half an hour later I saw people were able to check in. I was the only one in the queue and was called forward, no waiting at all. Check in was no problem; however I was told it wasnt possible to check my bag right through to Cork. Ho hum, was hoping they would as my case seemed to be much heavier going home than when I arrived and I knew that the limit on Aer Lingus is only 20KG, mine weighed 30.5KG.....mysterious.[:I]
I had checked in online at the hotel the night before and selected my seat 7K, seemed ok and was happy with that. Headed off through security didnt need the express pass the Virgin lady had given me as it was quiet. Stopped off at the Tourist Refund Scheme office to claim the 10% back on my luvverly Fendi patent boots I treated myself to the day beforewell its nearly Christmas and they were half price...
Then after a wee bit for retail therapy, headed to the Air New Zealand lounge.
Lounge was pleasant enough, but busy. Hot food on offer was veg with noodles and stir fried beef, this was all pre-prepared and sat on a hot plate. I had noodles and they were ok. There was also a selection of salads, cheese & biscuits and cakes & pastries. Drinks selection was ok, but no champagne open, plenty of beer and wine though.
Called to the gate which was literally downstairs around 3pm. It was pretty quiet and there were hardly anyone queuing, so I went right up to the front and was ushered through.
Was greeted by a couple of FAs and shown to my seat. Had the back of the middle suites opposite me which was great, however I was a little bit horrified to see 3 children all under the age of 4 to my left.!!!!!!!! No disrespect to families, but I though great thats all I need.
50 something Aussie guy to my right started to chat to me, but his attention was diverted by a 50 something British lady who had just boarded and was seated to his right. She asked him in a ridiculous Marilyn Monroe voice to help her open the overhead locker....erm, it was open. She was trying to open the fascia... It was clear she had over indulged on booze in the lounge as almost fell on him when he got up to help her.... More about those two later. I got myself organised and checked out the menu.
Lovely oriental FA came over and introduced herself, she made a point of mentioning that I was a flying club member and offered me a very warm welcome from all the staff. She brought me a glass of bubbly and some nibbles straight away. She was excellent throughout.
We pushed back on time and Lady Luck was in the air not much after 4pm giving me some fab views over the harbour.(will post in the gallery later)
I had decided that I wouldnt sleep as it was an afternoon/evening flight and watch a few films. Lovely FA took my dinner order and brought me more nibbles and a sparkling water. I started with 'You Dont mess with the Zohan, which you didn't need a brain to watch but it was mildly amusing if you like that kind of thing!
During the film my FA brought my starter: a salad of fennel and salmon which was very refreshing and a lovely glass of red.
I followed that with steamed perch with hollandaise sauce, potato gratin, sugar snap peas and honey roast pumpkin. Yum, it was most agreeable. I was quite surprised.
Then just a light dessert of mango ice cream and berry sauce. (quite nice)
During dinner service, Marilyn and Oz next to me were getting on famously clearly enjoying each others company. After dinner they went to the bar together, and were there a couple of hours.
I have to commend the children to my left, they were very, very well behaved and you wouldnt have known they were there, until Marilyn came back from the bar. She seemed to have misplaced her seat and tried to sit on the 3 yr old to my left. She was doing a blinding impression of Patsy from Ab Fab after too much Boli, I'm not kidding...She was closely followed by Oz who was rather worse for ware too! Throughout the flight they drunk more than I have ever seen anyone drink on a plane before, I mean fill your boots and all that, but Jesus!
Finally caught a glimpse of my Duran Duranesque FSM, hot footing it through the cabin for some reason, he didnt introduce himself to anyone near me, and that was the last I saw of him.
I carried on with my films, luckily with the noise cancelling headphones so kindly provided, I wasnt bothered by the rather loud voices coming from my right. But I could see from the looks that other passengers were. I felt a bit sorry for my FA they had her run ragged. Bong, the call button would be activated every half hour.....more wine. The pair of them were hammered.
I chose films I wouldn't usually go for, just for a change and watched Hancock (was ok) then The Dark Night (anything with Christian Bale in it ticks my boxes) and during that another FA brought round ice cream, which I thought was a nice touch. Luckily by then the effects of the alcohol had sent Oz and Marilyn to sleep, so everyone got some peace and quiet. The 3 children were fab and I commented to their mum that she should be very proud of them.
The time flew and as I was half way through Ironman, (Robert Downey Jnr is definitely back on my radar) it was time to stow everything away. My lovely FA had a job waking up the two alkies and my god they looked like death warmed up and the smell...[:$] I felt for her but she remained polite.
Off at HK, and popped to the shops to pick up a gift for one of my staff, then to the CH which was fairly busy. Didnt have anything to eat just some fruit juice, my fellow hung-over passenger topped up her alcohol levels, rather her than me as was obviously going on to LHR.
Didnt need the shower facilities, however popped to the washroom to take my make up off and freshen up ready for the sleep leg of the flight.
We boarded at 11pm and I was straight on, again a separate channel for UC and shown to my same seat by a new FSM (male again, but much older) I changed in my trusty PJs and took my seat. New neighbours both sides.
New UK FA introduced herself to me; she was very polite, friendly and helpful. Lovely chap to my right (from Cork of all places!) chatted to me for a while and joined me in a glass of bubbly, we looked v sexy, him in his ninja suit and me in my stripes!
Pushed back around 11.30pm so I settled down and finished off the film I was watching (Ironman) earlier, that's the great thing about V-port isn't it?
My FA came round to take drinks and food orders, just a bowl of tortellini for me (sorry no photos) didnt want anything too much as was planning to sleep. That arrived a bit later on and was pleasant but very filling
Time for bed, flipped the seat over myself, but FA rushed over and said that she was have done it for me. I was ok, but it was nice she was aware & looking after her section. I decided that I would skip breakfast and eat in Revivals, but FA told me to call her if I needed anything at all when I woke up.
Slept well, (didn't get too hot which I did on the LHR-SYD leg) but woke a few times for a toilet break. I suppose it helps only being 52; I do fit nicely on those beds!
Made our approach into LHR half an hour ahead of schedule, got changed and folded bed away, again my FA rushed over to help and then brought me a cup of tea and some fruit salad.
Disembarked without any problems and headed to security and then baggage collection. It was freezing!!!!!
My bag was one of the first off so then made my way to Revivals. Met by friendly staff and had a very welcome shower, followed by cornflakes and scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and toasted brioche, washed down with lashings of tea.
I had a manicure later on by the same girl that had looked after me in the CH. Put a bit of face on and felt human again, enough to indulge in an almond croissant and mango smoothie.
Relaxed in the lounge until 8.15am, then it was time to march over to T1. Got away with my v over weight case and strolled through to the Aer Lingus lounge (other airline lounges will never seem the same after the CH)
So in conclusion, 100% better experience on the route home. I found the FAs on both legs to be excellent, attentive, helpful and genuinely friendly. FSMs were a nonentity, but what is their real function, does anyone know?
Food was much much better and the service was very good.
You cant help fellow passengers behaviour, but when someone is so obviously drunk and it affeccts other passengers I dont think they should have been served with more drink and thats not me being a party pooper. They couldnt walk or see straight and embarrassed themselves, to me thats a bit much.
Anyway that had no bearing on my experience, which was very good, I was very happy, it's just what UC should have been on the way out. Thank you Virgin and thank you to my FAs you were 10/10[^][^]
