This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
After watching an edge of our seats Men's final at Wimbledon we made a rapid exit from Centre Court, found our car and headed for Terminal 5 at Heathrow to check into the Sofitel for an evening of relaxation, a bottle of red wine and a good nights sleep.
Check-out is at midday so, after a leisurely buffet breakfast, we re-packed our bags and left them with the concierge whilst we went to explore T5. Quiet, modern but not a lot to see so we spent an hour or so reading newspapers and people watching at Costa Coffee. T5 exhausted, we trundled back to the Sofitel, picked up our luggage and used the complimentary rail transfer service to T3.
Check-in seemed very quiet and there was no-one waiting in the UC zone so our luggage disappeared down the conveyor and we headed for the CH clutching our PE boarding cards via the UC security corridor (this really improves the passenger 'experience' at LHR). On into the departure lounge where Mrs NV commented that everything seemed much less chaotic with the absence of the shoe circus.
10 minutes of duty-free shopping later (Mrs NV's favourite face cream was not available) and we were tramping up the stairs to the CH where Frequent Flier and boarding cards checked and we were in.
4pm seemed a little early for a drink so Mrs NV settled for afternoon tea (Jing tea, smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches, sultana scone, strawberry jam & clotted cream) whilst I chose to eat a seafood salad with mixed green leaves accompanied by a pot of Earl Grey tea.
At 6pm we decided to have a glass of champagne before disappearing off for our selected facials in the Cowshed. Rejuvenated, we headed for the brasserie where Mrs NV ordered the steak and Guiness pie whilst I opted for the smoked salmon and scrambled egg. As usual, both were really good and Mrs NV followed on with a helping of Eaton mess.
The clock was ticking and after a Margarita at the bar it was time for a pre-flight shower and boot polish 9pm was fast approaching and the flight had still not yet been called. A chat with the concierge confirmed a short delay due to thunderstorms in the London area so it was back to the bar for a glass of champagne before making our way down to the departure gate just before 10pm. Most people had already boarded and it was a pleasant suprise to have our boarding cards 'rejected' by the reader and our seat numbers rewritten as 3A and 3D (Mrs NV loves UC!).
Down the airbridge and a left turn rather than a right led us into the UC cabin where we were greeted with a glass of champagne before settling into our seats. Departure time remained uncertain but both Captain and FSM kept everyone up to date with regard to the likely length of the delay.
The FSM came around with the basket of pens and creams and the FAs took orders for post-takeoff drinks and meal options. Having eaten in the CH, Mrs NV and I elected to share an asparagus risotto rather than attempting to eat anything more substantial.
So, doors closed at 10.56, kickback from the stand at 23.03 and take-off at 23.40. A great crew, the cleanest cabin that I have seen for a long time (the aircraft was 2 years old) and a fine risotto. I did check the entertainment system and it was working perfectly.
Seats converted and off to sleep waking 40 minutes out of Dubai to find Mrs NV tucking into Special K and coffee. An uneventful landing and into the convoluted bus to Customs and luggage reclaim.
30 minutes later we were checking in to the Al Qasr Madinat Jumeirah (highly recommended .... separate report to follow).
[y] As a footnote, get in touch if you are travelling with Virgin Atlantic on the morning of 2nd October 2009 and would like to access the Clubhouse appropriately dressed and definitely house-trained (unique offer available for the first two applicants). See itineraries for further information.
San Fransisco, here we come!
[countdown]Oct 2, 2009 11:30:00 AM[/countdown]
