New Upper Class Meal Service Revealed

One of the things I like about UC service is they don't use those awful trolleys to serve it. The UA ones are like a frieght train thundering down the isles. Hopefully VS will do a nicer version.

Thank god I'm not alone! They are awful things. Hopefully they are a nicer version of the things down the back. Also will really block aisles surely? How will it work at the very front of the A-zone?

One of the things I like about UC service is they don't use those awful trolleys to serve it. The UA ones are like a frieght train thundering down the isles. Hopefully VS will do a nicer version.

Thank god I'm not alone! They are awful things. Hopefully they are a nicer version of the things down the back. Also will really block aisles surely? How will it work at the very front of the A-zone?

I couldn't agree more, after just coming off four SQ flights with awful trollies up an down the aisle I was sat wishing for the attentiveness of VS!

The trolley is only for cheese and afternoon tea. Everything else will still be served by hand.

Great to finally see the changes to the UC meal service. y)

Overall, sounds good, though, not sure on the Champagne coupes. The champagne will lose it fizz quicker in these glasses. v(

Now the article says it's the pre-flight champagne that is being served in these glasses, what about the rest of the flight? Same glasses or more traditional flutes?? If it's the Coupes, could find I'm drinking it quicker and need more refills to avoid loss of fizz LOL.

Like the new salt and pepper cocktail shaker thought, and the Graze menu I think is a good addition.

Looking forward to experiencing these changes when I'm in UC in May

The trolley is only for cheese and afternoon tea. Everything else will still be served by hand.

And if I want my cheese before pudding, can I still get that Tinks?

Overall, sounds good, though, not sure on the Champagne coupes. The champagne's will lose it fizz quicker in these glasses.

Are you serious ): . How could that possibly be a problem? That would mean leaving champagne in glass for like, ten minutes :0 !

Sounds like a good update. I hope that the CC implement it fully.

Are you serious ): . How could that possibly be a problem? That would mean leaving champagne in glass for like, ten minutes :0 !

lol Slinky, perhaps I was being a tad sarcastic there, but certainly won't be a problem for me, my glass never stay's full for long enough, for it to go flat.

Are you serious ): . How could that possibly be a problem? That would mean leaving champagne in glass for like, ten minutes :0 !

lol Slinky, perhaps I was being a tad sarcastic there, but certainly won't be a problem for me, my glass never stay's full for long enough, for it to go flat.

The lower airpressure in the cabin than on the ground would make the bubbles burst more easily with the larger surface area of the boob glass speeding this process up.

So to prevent all that the answer is indeed to drink it quicker !

I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised with both the update to the service and the seemingly positive reaction it's got - I was expecting to be a little disappointed with both if I'm honest.

From looking into this more there is either the 'Dine' option, which is a full-service 5 course meal at a set time, or the 'Graze' option - much like the freedom menu which is a selection of smaller hot and cold 'snacks' type dishes which can be ordered at any time throughout the flight - and for the longer flights, passengers taking the 'Dine' option can also request something from the 'Graze' selection if they get a bit peckish in the latter parts of a flight - after the 5 course meal, numerous drink top-ups, afternoon tea service and bar snacks of course!

I think I'm a fan of those individual cake stands already! And as for the coupe glasses - agree with others that this just means you need to empty your glass faster!

On a slightly different note, does anyone know when the new Upper Class seat will be announced? I seem to remember an announcement might be coming in March time. What do you think we can expect - something similar to the new AA offering?

Looking at the cheese trolley picture, it appears to be pre-sliced portions that are just waiting to be served up. Now I'm the first to admit that I'm a bit of a cheese snob, although I've avoided weighing in to previous threads commenting on the 'horrors' of pre-plated cheese. But I have to say, if you're going to do the whole trolley thing, why not at least have full cheeses to be cut up as demanded? This just looks a bit tacky to me...

I guess we'll just have to hurry up and help them "dispose" of the old salt and pepper shakers.

Also sorry to drag this slightly off topic, but did anyone read the comments in the blog?

Yes, I started to - seemed to be descending into some kind of slanging match

[Darren Wheeler]

Yes, I started to - seemed to be descending into some kind of slanging match

Saw that. How dare they serve me champagne that Tesco have on offer. I want Dom Perignon served from a glass shoe!!!

Just a thought; Do you think that the afternoon tea plates and stand will have "Afternoon Tea-leafed from Virgin Atlantic" stamped on them anywhere???

One of the things I like about UC service is they don't use those awful trolleys to serve it. The UA ones are like a frieght train thundering down the isles. Hopefully VS will do a nicer version.

Judging by the height in the photo, it looks like these trolleys are a low-slung version, not the battle wagons used for main cabin service, so hopefully not too many broken legs. Also, if I'm not mistaken, it looks like you will be served your cheese plate by Elaine Paige. She probably got fed up with singing and wanted to do something useful



"Hello Mr Branson, can you tell me where I can get a Virgin Atlantic job application form?"

Yes, I started to - seemed to be descending into some kind of slanging match

Saw that. How dare they serve me champagne that Tesco have on offer. I want Dom Perignon served from a glass shoe!!!

Your own private vintage, no less oo)

Bit of a debate going on here, as to whether a flute holds more champagne than a coupe, plus himself looked truly shocked when I mentioned the change!

I'm really excited about this new food service. I've never flown UC before, but I've heard from several places that the food wasn't really that great. Sounds like they are really trying to improve their UC product - this is a good start.

Now I'm hoping I get the afternoon tea on my morning EWR-LHR flight (VS18) in May.

[honey lamb]

I'm really excited about this new food service. I've never flown UC before, but I've heard from several places that the food wasn't really that great. Sounds like they are really trying to improve their UC product - this is a good start.

Now I'm hoping I get the afternoon tea on my morning EWR-LHR flight (VS18) in May.

Unless they've changed the service on the VS18 you don't get afternoon tea but lunch a couple of hours before landing

So, on the VS020 last week this is how the FSM introduced himself and the menu:

[Him] Talking to my seat neighbour introducing the service and handing out menu card.
[Me} Standing on ottoman retrieving something from the overheads.
[Him] Looks at me and says "I'm sure you heard all that", hands me the menu card, then minces off.

Great! The training has reached everyone then (and 'UNIQ' was clearly written on the manifest but did I get a single hello and welcome back?).

I think a note to Crawley Towers.

That is fairly shocking!

Shocking..Consistent at being inconsistent but I’d have thought with the new service, some additional training etc things may be different.

No, no, no v( Do please let us know the response to your proposed snot-a-gram slinky.

To add, I flew with the new Meal Service and the dinner was very good but the afternoon tea was awful. Trolleys and UC do not mix and they should go back to the old system.

Am I correct in understanding that on some flights the only UC "cooked" breakfast is a bacon sandwitch while PE are still served a full cooked breakfast.