This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The night before was a late one, due to one colleagues birthday and whenever someone is heading back west the team that are based in Tokyo always like to give them a send off, so a quick breakfast and I was pleased to see my driver waiting for me in the hotel reception.
The Gods were now smiling on me after waking me from my slumber and provided a practically traffic free journey to Narita from central Tokyo, which is a pretty rare occurrence.
This meant I got to the airport at 08.50, and had to wait for check in to open. There was a long line snaking back from economy, but nobody stood at the UC flag so I ended up being the first in line. Just before 9am there was a flurry of activity as a few more UC people lined up behind me. Check in was opened at 9am prompt, and they checked in all the UC passengers at all the desks first before opening the PE and Economy check in line.
Security was quick, though a 5 minute wait at immigration.
Once through there I picked up a gift at duty free, changed my remaining Yen into Euro (as off to France on Sunday) and headed to the lounge. Surprisingly I was the first in despite my meandering round the shop and at the currency exchange, but the lounge soon filled up. I had the cooked breakfast - it's fine - the sausages in Japan are not what we'd be used too - but I guess it's not the standard thing to be having for breakfast in Japan....
Boarding commenced on time, and I was soon settled with a bucks fizz and in my sleep suit, the pre flight routine was done and we were soon on our way.
At this point, I must apologise for the report being a bit boring! I had some soup, a tasty tuna mayo sandwich (didn't fancy any of the main choices) and I didn't even get through the film I was watching before I was turning my seat into a bed.
One nice touch here was that I'd put the sheet on and just dumped the duvet on top whilst I popped to the bathroom - by the time I was back a member of the crew had made the bed properly and turned the duvet down.
I got a good six hours sleep straight through - which on the 12 hour flight is the best way to pass the time!
Feeling quite awake I had a coffee and powered up my laptop and got on with some work on my next project. (Off to NYC for that one in a ten days time). After doing a couple of hours on that I wandered down to the bar for another coffee. It was really quiet - I was the only person at the bar so just sat reading a magazine whilst I had my drink.
After a while I headed back to my seat, and passed some more time watching 'The Blind Side' which was pretty good, in that typical American feel good way. I should add that the FCM was making regular walks through the cabin along with the other staff, which was good.
Soon it was time to get changed again as we started the descent into Heathrow. Luck carried on smiling on us and we were straight into Heathrow - I often wonder if they're more likely to let the planes that have done the long haul straight in and the planes that are doing the short hops get the short straw of circling above Watford. Well, thats how it seems to me.
Upon landing and at the end of the usual 'welcome to heathrow' speech the FCM made an announcement that one of the crew was leaving today and that had been her last flight. The whole plane seemed to burst into a round of applause. (I think led by the other crew members!) And why not?!
Heathrow was busy once we'd disembarked, but the fast track immigration queue did seem to be faster, and my bag was on the carousel by the time I got to it. I took the Heathrow Express to Paddington and picked up an Addison Lee for the final bit home - which was from landing at 3.45pm and walking through my door in Canary Wharf at 5.30pm which is pretty good going on a Friday afternoon.
So overall, another excellent flight. All I really want is some space and peace and quiet and that is certainly what Virgin UC seem to deliver for me time and time again.
