This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
. I couldn’t get a return direct from Brisbane so had to do the trek from Sunshine coast airport to Sydney then to Hong Kong then LHW. I was very impressed with Virgin Blue compared to our low cost airlines there is no comparison 
. Just the fact they give you seat number makes boarding far less stressful. Arrived at Sydney collected our packs and travelled to the international airport at a cost of $11 between us, I’ve never seen an airport charge for internal transfers.
UC check in was quiet apart from a few families which made us wince (please no toddlers the whole way back to LHR). We got given an express ticket to get through security was not express at all it just blended you into the normal queue and probably too longer. The NZ lounge was quite a distance from security and we were really hungry after our early start so we were hoping for some good food when we got there. I’d heard the NZ lounge was pretty average and compared to the CH it was. I had a requisite sparkling wine, I think I prefer serving myself but that was the only bonus. The food consisted of sandwiches, hot dogs (not my thing but hubby liked it) and some very small hot dishes. All was fine but not CH standard. We were only in the lounge for a few hours and wanted to get on early and get a sleepsuit. When we asked for ones the FA was rather put out and said she doubted they had them on this flight, but they did. We were in 9a and 10a again and waited for baited breath to see whether the families we saw at checkin were sitting near us, Yes there were. 3 toddlers in total directly opposite in G. The load on the flight was very light at only 144 (I think) UC had some spaces and the lady sitting opposite the kids in K gave up her seat for one of the families to have an extra seat. I think she may have had other motives
. I got my sleep suit and changed before we got going, I was trying to keep awake this leg so that I could get back into things. The cliental on this flight seemed very up for drinking a lot. As soon as the seat belt sign went off a couple went up to the bar and send to the FA you are going to be our new best friend, with which they got a somewhat curt response ‘Can you please sit down until we have served the peanuts and drinks’. There was also 4 men on a business trip who wanted to get as tanked as possible. Throughout the flight they were at the bar, or when there was turbulence, which there was lots on this flight, or huddled together with a lot of beers. The drinking was no problem to me but it was the very loud talking which didn’t affect me so much (I was in between their seats and the bar) but really annoyed other passengers. One lady asked to be moved which was fine when there was turbulence but when they went to the bar she was right next to them again. As I say I was trying to keep awake so did not affect too much. As I was leaving another passenger in close proximity of the men did complain to the FSM, he said it was irresponsible to keep serving them. I don’t think the FA’s minded them as I heard them discussing meeting up with the men later. I had the full meal for the first time as I was pretty hungry, the starter was not very nice at all. It was Chinese in origin but tasted far too like some chicken feet I had in HK
. The main course of chicken breast was much nicer. I am pretty sure I had dessert but cannot think what it was, still a bit jet lagged I think. The rest of the flight was pretty uneventful, between the loud businessmen and children crying I didn’t have to try too hard to stay awake. On arrival in HK we made the quick dash to the CH to have a shower, we had to wait 15 minutes or so as we didn’t get out of the plane quite as quick we wanted. I cannot stress enough how much better I felt after it, I had a new change of clothes as well so felt far more refreshed. I had a steak sandwich and it was as good as I remembered.
I had the same seat on the final leg, it was a bit battered and bruised and had sellotape on the seatbelt which was a bit disappointing, but everything worked so I was happy. Again got straight into my sleepsuit and decided no alcohol or food until the morning. I was determined to feel good when we got back. I was glad I didn’t have the food as my husband said the sole was awful and he barely ate a thing. The loud party of men had departed at HK and one of the toddlers, so just 2 toddlers left. The flight was full this time and so no one could move. The lady who had to move on the first leg because of the noisy men was opposite them and I did feel her pain.
There wasn’t too much to say about the flight as I slept pretty much all the way through (to be fair the kids were fine when they cried the mum took them to the bar area and the FA’s tried very hard to keep them entertained). When I did awake I was very hungry so asked the FA for breakfast. At this point a lot of people had got some breakfast so didn’t think it would be a problem. I was told the main service was coming round in 15 minutes and I had better wait for it as it may get to me sooner than if I had it to order. I was a bit put out but she brought me a tea in the interim. After about 45 minutes and no order taken I was starting to get annoyed
it had been a good 14 hours since I had last eaten. It did finally arrive but was a bit cold. Out of all the fights in this trip the FA’s on this trip seemed the most moody, I am not sure whether that was because I was tee total on the flight. They were great with the kids but were a bit dismissive of everyone else. However I still enjoyed my flight as I slept most of the way and even though we could have revamped our kitchen for the cost of the tickets I wouldn’t want to do it any other way. We are both dreading going back to Y in January when we have reward flights to Barbados, I am hoping we can upgrade with my Amex free upgrades.
