This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
) was one that is worthy of sharing.The opportunity to grasp a Fare Sale Z ticket was the catalyst to decide that going to New York for a long weekend was do-able. It would appear I had some foresight in booking Tristar to the Airport, as in the weeks before our trip, the opportunity to use DTCI became available - subject of course to making that all important call.
So our departure day arrived and as usual Mr Tristar was waiting outside Chez Buns in a nice shiny Volvo Estate (a nice free upgrade) before the appointed hour so that we could immediately commence our trouble free journey round the M25. Arrival at an empty DTCI justifying the extension of the ability to pre-book the facility brought back some happy memories when I travelled on one of those notable V-Flyer escapades to SFO for Bay to Breakers - this is a reoccurring them throughout this TR
.Within seconds of stopping, the bags had been checked in and our White Boarding Passes issued along with the Customs Form and we were on our committed path towards the Clubhouse with only a minor delay getting through Security. From Home to Clubhouse it was just under the hour - result
. Warmly greeted at the entrance, we declined the offer of a guided tour and instead made a bee line for the Cowshed Reception. Despite being in the Clubhouse 3 hours before our take off time, we were lucky to get treatments 
, Mrs Buns her paid hand and arm treatment and I just managed to get a free manicure, both timed just before we would be due to leave the Clubhouse. We had a good chat with the Reception Team there, who appreciated our flexible approach. They were knowledgable about V-Flyer and joked about the DYKHIA brigade, demanding treatments 
The vital mission accomplished, we made our way to a relatively quiet Brasserie and took a table for our usual full english breakfast - with of course some obligatory Champagne. I espied the Sky Loft had been reserved off and again reminisced about V-Flyer gatherings up there and wondered to myself who was the famous one up there today. After a good (but needless to say small) breakfast we retired to the main area of the Clubhouse so we could catch up on E-Mails, Facebook and V-Flyer using the nicely placed power points and watch the world go by so to speak. No real famous sitings this time round, just Dennis, the older photographer from "Airport", who is still as charming as ever. A Couple of Virgin Redheads were consumed to build up our strength to venture into the Main Terminal to get some gifts that Mrs Buns could hand over when she visited work colleagues whilst we were in NYC.
I reflected how fortunate we are to have Clubhouse access, the Main Terminal area was teeming with people, with not a spare seat to be had and a temperature to match the most hottest of days on the Tube. Some bright spark has decided, no doubt as part of some BAA improvement programme, to install skylights to let in some natural light, but this has the effect of making the plc a greenhouse
. Presents quickie brought, we were back in the relative calm of the Clubhouse and decided to partake in some lunch. Now for you who have been paying attention during this TR, you will have noted that I have already said that the breakfast was small - much smaller than it used to be - so having a small lunch (Mrs Buns the salad and I the burger )- just really made up to what one course would have been a few years back. The group were still up in the Sky Loft having a great time.The lunch consumed, left us just enough time to have the treatments administered and I was content with my unexpected foray into hand treatments and Mrs Buns thoroughly enjoyed her treatment . Those of you who will have been here before, will know that the paid treatments last for 30 minutes and the complimentary only 15, so it would have been rude not to have used that time wisely by asking for a Redhead at the Bar.
Our flight called, we made our way to Gate 22, where it was almost empty and we were able to go to board at Door L1 and warmly welcomed by name, before being directed to our seats in the A Zone. Quickly we greeted in the Cabin and offered a drink as we made ourselves comfortable. Now I have to say that Seat 19 does get a bit of negative press, but I have to say I found it private and if I were to be travelling on my own it would be a good choice. Anyway, we had not long settled in, before the group who had been occupying the Sky Loft arrived. It transpired that hubby had sprung a surprise trip to NYC to celebrate his wife's 50th and VS had been kind enough to set aside the Sky Loft for him. It was clear that for wife and most of the group of 10, that this was their first time in Upper. Hubby approached Mrs Buns & I and offered apologies, but to someone who has seen what a party can be like in the A Zone of a 747 (thanks V-Flyers
), we must have appeared surprisingly calm in our reaction. This must have been a relief to him, but the CSS did make it quite clear prior to take off who would be in charge throughout the flight 
.Push back and then a fairly long taxi before take off was made up for the seat belts signs going off quickly after take off which saved me doing a "Depardieu" (not really, I just thought I ought to be topical
). Prior to take off, drink and meal orders had been taken and once again, our Au Status was acknowledged (well were were the only Au pax in the Cabin) and I have to say that the risotto and main course were really good.After lunch, I looked upon it as my duty to educate the Birthday Group as to the workings of the Bar (and how when too many people are there, expect the seat belt signs to come on!!) and after a nice JD, i retired for a little nap to catch up on having got up at 4am. Gnomeo & Juliet was the in flight movie choice as I am at heart a true Elton John fan.
The CC were truly excellent and Ms Buns I wanted for nothing - full credit to the FSM and her team on this front.
Not much more to say about the flight, other than the short flight time was more than offset by the hour wait to get through Immigration - something that the Dial 7 Limo seemed to use to its advantage (yes EGG, I should have listened to you).
All in all a top notch experience which retains my loyalty to VS, and as Mrs Buns so aptly put it "This is what it should be like"
Thanks for wading through this rather long TR
buns
