This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I completed OLCI for the flight as soon as it opened, and got 19G - less than thrilled about that as I am an avid A/K seat occupier. O well! I will never complain at VS again after the outbound journey they gave me
I was very very tired thanks to driving all the way back from Karauli in Rajasthan the night before (12 hrs in a car on dusty, bumpy and frightening roads/tracks), and I was up the morning of the flight at 3.30am to meet some friends who were coming in on the early emirates flight. So I took my time, and turned up at 12.20pm for the flight at 1.50pm... I was cutting it close (especially with Delhi's unpredictable traffic), but was in the nice new terminal and over to the PE desk sharpish. The welcome lady wanted to give me a UC handluggage tag (as she ran out of PE), but I said you had better give me the PE one, as thats where I am going. Or so I thought.
After waiting forever behind an extremely complicated pax, I was beckoned over to the adjoining UC counter. The check in agent greeted me nicely and I made general enquiries about the flight. As she began to deal with my ticket, she asked me if I checked in already, which I told her I was and she took my boarding pass and after a few clicks on her computer, she tore it up. This is not unusual as they tend to reprint a boarding card rather than the paper boarding pass as it cannot take the many security stamps that are dished out throughout the airport. She then proceeded to check in my baggage and when she handed me the new boarding pass, she told me, we are glad to have you back Mr. vsharan1, your new seat is 10G
, please proceed straight to the gate for boarding (I was the last pax checked in). 
Upgraded again!!!! 
Thank u VS!!! I couldn't believe my luck.I filled in the departure form as I sprinted to passport control and security, as they are always overflowing with people despite having over 30 persons manning the desks. I remembered the UC boarding pass in my hands, and made my way over to the priority lane (Delhi standard) and was through in about 15 mins. The passport control clerk related to me that had I been around there at 10am, I wouldn't have seen a single person, but the airport management has all the flights depart in one big chunk from 12pm onwards so this is why the queues are gargantuan.
Zipped pass the horrendously overpriced duty free (they have prices comparable to the rest of the world... not something any normal Indian person could afford, and stocked with things that can be purchased of better quality overseas for people who can afford) to the gate area - an oasis of calm, being modeled on Singapore's Changi Int'l. Boarding commenced within a minute of me getting there, and I went over to the priority lane, but before I got to it I was asked what cabin I was flying in by a member of the ground staff - not very nice. I showed her the boarding pass, and she was apologetic, even though she was technically doing her job, so that was impressive. I made my way down the separate airbridge to the plane (Miss Kitty, 2003, I believe) and was met by a flustered, lonesome FSM screaming down the phone to his colleagues to get themselves up there to assist boarding... I was first on board for UC. Greeted nicely by a lovely Caribbean crew-member, a very bubbly character. In a first for me, the FSM came by and introduced himself briefly to every pax and called by name all the AU's. This was a task in itself as every single seat in UC was full.
Welcome drink etc was being consumed as a lady, her toddler and her elderly parents came and sat in 9G, 8K, toddler in 9K, and 10K. She looked flustered, which I thought was an omen for things to come... the 29th of Feb has a habit of throwing something of a challenge at me...
The poor child, I was told discreetly by my CC, had a few mental problems, so I felt bad for feeling irritated. I mentally asked for forgiveness and sheepishly surveyed the menu.
Saftey announcements over with, they sprayed the cabin profusely with insecticide, and all 314 pax plus crew & flight crew were off pretty sharpish with a 10hr flight time thanks to headwinds. After a warm towel, drinks were served with crisps and peanuts. The orders were taken for the starters and main meals. The veggie option was the same as the outbound leg, so I was slightly miffed at not being offered something new, but content anyway as I knew it was tasty. The starter this time was a very delectable pumpkin soup served with crispy baguettes. The Malai Kofta, rice and Veg were served in on a plate this time instead of the quirky bowl I got on the outbound, and the salad was a little more tasty this time thanks to the addition of fresh half-ripe mango. Dessert for me wasn't appealing (same brownie or cham-cham as the outbound leg), so I opted for cheese and crackers. After all was done, the flustered crew came around and patiently enquired about drinks, and dutifully gave everyone theirs. The wines were out in force - 4 choices. The crewmember serving our side remembered my needs and came back with a fruity yet refined mocktail just for me...
After the lunch service was over the crew seemed more relaxed. I had originally booked this return flight for the 8th of March, and I would have seen the new lunch service, but I don't see how successful it will be on these jam-packed routes, especially with the Graze anytime options. Even with the lunch service out of the way, the crew were still buzzing around.
I was enjoying a movie all this time with the headphones in my ears, so wasn't paying much attention to fellow pax. When it was over though, I noticed that even though many pax had their beds set up and were in them, they were sat up annoyed looking. I took off my headphones, and found the reason. The toddler's exuberance and powerful lungs began to become grating, and the pax around that area (where I was also sat) were definitely repressing some serious frustration. Extra whiskeys were flying out of the bar to them! But the child was out in the aisles, screaming up and down them, having a bash at pax's outstretched feet as he went by. After about 3 hrs of this, the poor mother took the child and went to the bar area to try to calm him down - which promptly saw an exodus of 7 bar-side pax. Nothing doing... the child finally went to sleep 5 hrs into the flight. In that lull, I also took a nap, only to be awoken by the screams of the child 1.5hrs later. I was extremely tired thanks to the schedule in India, but never mind. I would probably catch up the sleep on all the internal flights I have here in the UK for the next two weeks (!) (by the way has anyone noticed how many flights BA or should I say IAG have knocked off BMI's schedule!). The other pax began to fraternize in the frustration. I met some nice people and found that the majority were also UC virgins on their trip and loved the experience. A few were seasoned VS300/301 UC fliers, and they commented that this was the busiest time for travelling the route - something they regretted having to do. I did not find any other upgradees though. Freeloader part deux
I went to the bar and had another mocktail and got to chat to the FSM, a couple of CC and the co-pilot (briefly) as well as two very interesting pax. The CC were very proud of their UC product and took offence when one other passenger mentioned that SQ were better... I made a strategic retreat to my seat at that point.2hrs before touchdown, we were offered afternoon tea if we had expressed the desire when we gave our earlier lunch preferences. I had the Indian option just to taste it - a Chila (like a savoury crepe but vegetarian friendly, made from chickpea flour, and stuffed with all sorts of nice veg). Hot chocolate was my hot drink for the day (no caffeine!). The traditional Afternoon Tea offerings were there for those who wanted it, but I have yet to find an eggless Vegetarian offering. Even at the Ritz I had to remind them a day before about the 'special' requirement. I wish that there would be a common understanding that for the majority of the world's vegetarians, eggs are also not considered vegetarian - but that is wishful thinking I think. Anyhoo - back to the topic in hand. All cleared away and ready for descent, which was made all the more clear by the increased wailing of the child due to pressure changes.
Landing at heathrow was a smooth affair, before time again - 35 mins early
Amazing! Off the plane in a jumbled order, but managed to dash to the front... a good thing too as passport control was packed - even with the new-fangled e-passport lanes. I didn't see the sign for the IRIS checkpoint, so I joined that e-passport lane queue - however I noticed that IRIS was hiding behind off to the side of the e-passport machines. A quick dash under the lane dividers meant I was the first person off VS301 to get to the belt, and my bags were delivered 3rd and 4th off the belt within 5 mins of me getting there. Plane to arrivals (even with the lengthy sprint from gate to passport control) took a mere 15 mins. I have never been happier on a trip - surprise upgrades on both legs of the journey, fantastic UC product and fantastic crew. Even with the screaming kid, I still didn't feel as tired after my journey as I usually do when travelling in PE and nowhere near as tired as when travelling Economy. I think I will have to seriously consider the whole VS credit card thing even though I hate credit-cards and haven't used any in my entire life - that is the only way I'll be able to enjoy UC regularly. I think I will have UC withdrawal for a long time to come.
I know I am probably tempting fate by writing up about the upgrades (I'm sure someone in VS will prob. see this and blacklist my name against any future op-upgrades), but I did so to try and honestly report what happened, and just say really and truly that I am thankful
