This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
As a special end to the holiday we'd treated the inlaws to an upgrade to UC.
Once check in was complete, we were sent to the VIP lounge which is the most bizarre place I've ever seen! It was absoultely full with no room to sit our party of 4 together. On the buffet table were a handful of very unappetizing bite size 'treats' which included blinis with tuna mayo on top which had formed a skin and sandwiches with turned up corners. Needless to say...we didnt eat!
The flight was late boarding but as no annoucements were made, people were beginning to get anxious and getting ready to run as soon as boarding was called.
Boarding was eventually called approx 30 mins after we were due to take off. As expected there was a huge rush to the gate and because there was no priority boarding taking place, people were pushing and shoving holding their purple boarding cards above their heads presuming that the people in front of them couldnt possibly be flying UC!
Once on board and seated, we received a long message from the FSM explaining that due to a lack of staff, service might be affected.
Take off was like a comedy sketch as the elderly lady two rows in front decided that she needed to take her jacket off half way down the runway. She unbuckled, stood up and started to open overhead bins etc..this activity didnt need crew intervention due to the booming voice of her husband ordering Sybil to 'sit down for ***** sake'.
Once airborne, I started to settle myself in only to realise that I didnt have an UC snooze pack on my seat with eye mask etc. I asked the crew for one but was told they didnt have any and that they were too busy to get me a PE one.
Not sure how many crew should look after the upper deck UC cabin but for the majority of the service, we had one crew member with occasional support from someone downstairs.
Crew came to take food orders, I asked if I could eat at a particular time but was told that due to staffing issues, dinner would be served when it was served. I asked if I could sit with my partner opposite me but again, was asked if we could stay in our own seats to make things easier (not sure why it was easier).
The IFE was a nightmare and needed restarting a number of times. When it eventually stayed on, my partners didnt work and so the portable DVD was handed out which is not the easiest to watch in a reclined UC seat.
Lights were dimmed very quickly and most people tried to get some sleep. Dont think the beds are up to much comfort wise and next time, I'll just try to sleep with the seat fully reclined.
So, breakfast came and was almost thrown at passengers..the mum in law asked for a fruit salad for breakfast and was handed a banana as they had nothing else! She wasnt happy as I had been given a fruit salad with yogurt and a warm croissant
I asked to see the FSM to raise the issues. I was told he would 'try' and get to see me....but he never came. Although, he did find time to say happy birthday to one of the crew onboard which was pretty frustrating.
All in all, I was really disappointed and felt utterly let down by VS as we expected to a) get what we paid for and b) give the in-laws a special end to their holiday.
