This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
After a largely sleepless night I got up the following morning earlier than intended and decided to head for the airport and the delights of the Clubhouse. A hoppa bus arrived just as I had checked out and shortly after 8:00am I was approaching zone A and the delights of VS. The Upper Class check-in was deserted so it was straight up to the desk and within minutes I was in possession of my purple boarding card and heading for the UC security channel. Just as I left the lift a couple of guys arrived from the direction of the Travelex place and beat me to the door so I was denied the pleasure of scanning my boarding card and for once was part of a queue at the security scanners. The first guy was swiftly through but the second guy, when asked about liquids acknowledged that he had some within his carry-on and promptly produced a wash-bag. I gazed in disbelief as the security guy informed him of the requirements, produced a clear plastic bag and helped him decant the various articles. I am in total amazement that after all this time there are so many people who are in ignorance of the rules. [V] The security guy looked at me in sympathy as I all but rolled my eyes and looked as if I could give yer man a swift kick up the transom. I had never been so long in the security channel!! I was soon through and while yer man was still packing his goods and chattels I had my bits and bobs gathered, was once more into my coat and heading for the next part in the obstacle course, the shoe channel. I was slightly impeded by a family coming out of the last of the main security channels but soon skirted past them and joined the throng heading lemming-like for the shoe channel. There was a guy standing to direct the people towards the shoe channel but when I turned left (getting in practice for later) to by-pass it, he did nothing and so I waltzed past and soon was on my way to the Clubhouse. [:D]
I was welcomed back to the Clubhouse and checked in my coat. At this stage I was starving as my last meal had been in Ireland. I headed to the bistro where I was swiftly attended to and soon was in possession of orange juice, tea and the wonderful Eggs Benedict. In fact I think I was too soon in possession of the eggs (or rather, egg) as shortly after I started tucking in a guy at another table called over the waitress and complained that he had ordered Eggs Benedict 'ages ago' all the while glaring at me. Sorry, sir, but I hadn't hi-jacked your eggs (or egg). The waitress had just come and placed it in front of me. He was soon served but while he was waiting I ate mine with relish! [}:)] Once finished I left the Clubhouse. Waiting for me in Dixons was my brand new MacBook and I was quivering with anticipation. I soon was in possession with my brand new baby and found a quiet corner of the Clubhouse to set it up. I managed to get so far but was having difficulty with the Wi-Fi, so temporarily used the laptops in the Clubhouse before heading to the Cowshed for my facial.
Once refreshed I decamped to the area behind the bar alongside the windows. Immediately a staff member was at my side asking what I would like to drink and within minutes a glass of champagne was at my side. I don't know whether it was the facial, the champagne or a combination of both but the minute I opened the MacBook, everything just fell into place including the Wi-Fi and I happily passed the time. A little too happily as it turned out! The lady serving me kept on popping up to my elbow at regular intervals with a bottle of champagne in hand and topping up my glass. Her reason? 'Well you're not flying the bus, are you?'!! [^]
Eventually the flight was called and gathering my things I headed to gate 3. I didn't wait till the second call but I was d*mn near it. However when I got to the gate area boarding had not yet commenced. The load appeared to be very light and once I was in the gate area (with a 'Thank you for coming back to us') UC boarding was announced. The scrum for boarding was virtually non-existent and soon I was on board and settling into 3K. Because boarding had been call after the Clubhouse call most of UC boarded at the same time and so the cabin was rather busy. However it soon settled down and the crew were able to come round with pre-take off drinks (champagne, of course) and I took the opportunity to get and change into a sleep suit. Pushback was slightly early and soon we were trundling to the runway. Traffic was light and within minutes we were airborne and I was heading east for my Japanese adventure.
Soon we were winging our way over northern Europe and the cabin crew were released to their duties. I had a very nice cabin crew assigned to our area of the cabin who proved to be very attentive and obliging. The FSM was visible throughout but apart from coming round with the basket of goodies, he didn't appear to interact with the passengers at all. Nonetheless he ran a tight ship. First of all the hot towels came round swiftly followed by the drinks orders and naturally a Tanqueray 10 and tonic with lime was the order of the day. There was a nasty moment when the cabin crew said he did not know whether there was limes on board and I mentally kicked myself for not purloining one from the Clubhouse. However I need not have worried and any self-harming habits were unnecessary. He arrived back and rather like a magician producing a rabbit from a hat, delivered the TT&T with a flourish, announcing that there was indeed lime. [:D] A second one was offered and accepted on the grounds that to refuse would be exceedingly bad manners and the dinner orders were taken. I know that some people will be disappointed that I did not go for the bento box but I'm afraid I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to experimenting with food. Instead I had the prawn cocktail and the lamb which was beautifully moist and tender. I also had a dessert but can't remember what it was. A rather nice shiraz was served with the meal and I also had some cheese and biscuits washed down with port. Diet? What diet?
While all this was going on the IFE was turned on and worked perfectly throughout the flight. Initially I put on the iMap to plot our journey over northern Europe and the wastes of Russia while I read but my book failed to grip me so a quick peruse of the movies available had me watching Mamma Mia! Well after unmeasured quantities of champagne, a couple of TT&Ts together with a couple of glasses of wine and a drop of port Mamma Mia was just about all I could manage. In time the medicinal properties of the hooch started to work its magic and soon the effects of my sleepless night were to be no more. The suite was converted into a bed, I snuggled down and in no time at all was away with the fairies! When I came to awoke we were over Mongolia and about to cross the border into China.
A quick freshen up had me bright-eyed and bushy-tailed once more and this time my book grabbed me and I settled down to read. I was however thirsty and as I had long since finished the bottle of water at the suite as well as the one I had brought from the Clubhouse (silly-billies if you thought I had quaffed all that alcohol without equal measures of water [V] ) I trotted down to the bar. A very nice Japanese cabin crew was there and when I asked for water he joined his hands and bowed before handing over the glass. After such a ritual I half expected it to turn into wine! Shortly after breakfast was served. I had the Full English and I have to say it was delicious. What made it even better was that I was asked if I wanted toast and later a second helping of toast was presented on request. I love toast. Oh and I had coffee instead of my usual tea which I often find has come from a pot which has long since been made and is stewed and far to strong for me. The coffee was good.
Shortly after that we started our descent and the cabin was prepared for arrival. I had changed out of my sleep suit almost immediately after breakfast to avoid the rush to the washrooms and was content to look at the Japanese landscape as we glided into Narita for a perfectly smooth landing. It had been a very good flight and one which ticked all the boxes - one that was up there with the best. Upper Class disembarked by the first door and I was among the first off. It seemed to be a long enough trudge to Immigration but that area was empty when we arrived so there was no wait for an officer. We were finger-printed but the whole experience was as pleasant as any Immigration episode can be and certainly a lot more than some of the TSA ones and I skipped through to baggage claim. We waited a short time for the carousel to start and when it did UC bags came out first - well all except mine! Crew bags came next and eventually my bag came out with some of the Premium Economy and Economy bags - the only blot on the landscape of a perfectly good flight. Customs was a breeze and in no time at all I was through into Arrivals where I bought a ticket for one of the Limousine Buses to the hotel and two hours after landing in Narita I was ensconced in my hotel room and admiring the warmed toilet seat!! [:w]
