This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
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Cabin Crew
Relaxing morning spent sorting out my bags, packing them (trying to leave room for some more souvenirs) and chatting with R & R, my gracious hosts for the last week. Finally we all got ready and round about 12.30 set off for the Udvar-Hazy Center at Chantilly, VA. Just happens to be very close to Dulles. Within about twenty minutes we were there and parking up in the big car lot. (Free entrance inside but 15$ to park..). Headed into the aircooled interior which was a haven compared to the humidity outside. We decided to go up to the observation tower first and after a short wait for the lift, we arrived 166 feet higher and proceeded to spend a short while watching the Dulles traffic. (Its a pity that I've never been up there at quite the right time to see the VS21 arrive.) We headed down and into McDs there for lunch. After lunch we paid homage to the Enterprise, Enola Gay and the Air France Concorde to name but a few of the fabulous machines they have on show.
After a quick dive into the gift shop, we headed out to Dulles proper, by now it was 3.15 ish. Short while later, probably less than ten minutes, R the male had come to a stop outside departures Zone 3. Me and R the female gave each other a lot of hugs and I headed inside. After packing souvenirs inside hold bag, I headed to the VS desk.
There were two females in uniform policing the UC / PE checkin and ticketing area. One tagged my laptop bag and welcomed me. The other one was in charge of the really non existent queue, assuring me I was next in line and then directing me to the service agent when she looked up from her desk (all in all a wait of 30 secs). Checked in very quickly with an individualised invite to the lounge. No security questions posed though. When I was walking out of the area, I asked one of the crowd control agents if there was a fast track security line and she directed me to the 'Diamond line' as I only had one bag. She gave me really precise instructions that worked. This line, strangely, is accessed through the domestic arrivals area. No one else ahead of me so was straight through and I was quickly onto the new train to the A gates. Longest part of the the checkin to lounge was the walk from the aerotrain halt to the lounge. Plain Sailing wasn't yet in but a few people were gathering in the gate area.
Entrance to the lounge was not impressive, hostess never really looked up from what she was doing, only to look at the lounge pass. As far as I could see there was only one other guy there. I found a table and ordered a champagne and water. I then decided to use one of the free internet machines and proceeded to chat with R the female (hmmm do you think we like chatting with each other?) who had got home by this time. Then went out shopping for some duty free and chocolate. Back to the lounge and had a bowl of their lovely black bean soup (could have done with some bread but was fine without it). More internet surfing for a while and then I decided to finally say bye for now to R the female and move to another seat to do some reading. Lounge was filling up by now. Papers arrived, Mail and Independent first and then a smattering of others. Flicked through them and took them on board. Had a lovely chat with an American lady and all of a sudden boarding was announced. Right on time too. two people tried to get into the lounge, a red FC member but she was told that paying was the only way and another passenger from another airline that was told that he couldn't come in right now as it wasn't the time for the other airline pax.
Headed with the scrum to the priority line and headed on board via the scrum for the duty free. By the time I had retrieved mine, non priority people were coming through but wasn't a long line on the jetway.
The really special portion of the journey started when I got to the door. I flashed my boarding pass at the male FA waiting there and he replied, 'Welcome Mrs Hall, straight through and to the left.' And a smile. I do believe I bounced. Not once, for all their good service, outbound was I addressed by name. Cabin was already busy with people getting themselves settled, flight suits being distributed etc. Found my seat area and found that a man was standing there quietly unloading his stuff. I stood there looking at my pass and the seat number and hoping this wasn't a bumping scenario and he realized that he should be in 7K and apologised and moved. I'd unloaded all the bits I'd need for the flight and was putting my duty free bag up when my next door neighbor on the other side asked if I wanted help. I smiled and thanked him but I'd already done it. The FA came up and asked the three of us if we needed a drink or anything else right then. Ordered the usual
I sat down and started organising my area (aka filling up the ottoman hole up with my bits). I filled out the breakfast card and handed it to the FA when he came back and asked me if I needed anything and if I knew how to operate the seat. He did this to everyone on the K side. The other FA's in the cabin were also performing the same function. Finished my drink and helpfully took it back to the bar and they asked me if I wanted another one, so I took a glass of water back. Before departure, the FA's made sure that they visited everyone, took their orders for post take off drinks, meals and duty free. I asked for my meal at the bar as I was conscious of people wanting to get down to sleep and the FA said that everyone was having some sort of service so I needn't worry but he'd make it up at the bar, no problem. As we were pushing back from the gate (on time) I remembered that I had some DF on preorder. As he passed , he asked if I needed anything and I mentioned about the preordered stuff and he said that if I could get my receipt out after take off, he'd go and find it.
Take off was fine, service started about 20 mins after, although pax weren't able to get up quite yet. Drinks were served. I was just thinking about getting my bag down to search through my paper docs pile for the receipt when FA arrived with precious cargo in his hand.
Meals service was started shortly after. He set my place at the bar, everyone else was in their suites. The other FAs were just as busy but involved me in their cheerful, funny but not loud chat while they buzzed around the bar area. I had the beef which was scrummy and much better than the cod I had on the outbound trip. Finished I headed back to the suite which I reclined fully and just bundled myself up with the quilt. Just had skymap on. The FSM had announced that the film times were set and and stressed this point, 'that it was not the on demand system' so I don't know if there had been complaints on previous flights. He had to reset it as it was still set with the VS21 entertainment configuration. Dozed on and off for the rest of the night, when awake, I always saw a member of the CC (including the FSM) be around in the cabin somewhere, reminded me of my old days on nights as a nurse - always wandering around to see if there was anyone with a need. They brought drinks, pillows etc , all with a smile.
Woke up for good sometime before 5.30 ish, breakfasty smells already starting to waft through the cabin. Just after 5.30, K side FA came up and asked, smiling, if I was ready for breakfast. Served with a smile and exactly as I ordered. The Bacon butty was okay - bread a little odd though. I'd changed my drinks preference while I was having dinner and I got the change, he'd made sure he'd got it written down then rather than perhaps forget. Cabin was warned in plenty of time that we would be descending soon and thus there was general actiivity. Attendants poshed up nicely as well, but still worked hard and with a positive, friendly attitude.
Descent into LHR was smooth with little holding. The FSM actually thanked the crew for their hard work via the PA - first time I'd heard that and a nice little touch. We landed on time. Just ahead of a BA747, just like we'd taken off ahead of a BA747 at IAD.
Great flight, great crew. Had the WOW factor ++ When I was in revivals after some caffeine and food, I sent off an appreciative comment about the four UC crew via the comment form on the website.
