VS401 DXB-LHR 26 SEP 13 (Upper Class) WITH PHOTOS

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Having spent 4 amazing days at Atlantis The Palm it was time to make our way home. Arrived at the airport early to allow time to pick up my iPad from Lost and Found (which I had left on the outbound flight) perhaps a few too many glasses of champagne

My Cousin who was travelling in economy was allowed to check in at the Upper Class desk and they very kindly let her come in to the lounge too. The lounge was quiet and various food and drink available but not a patch on the Heathrow Clubhouse. The toilets were also out of use due to refurbishment so we had to go back in to the main terminal. Time passed quickly and we made our way to the gate.

Greeted on board by name and made my way to 5K. Prosecco offered instead of champagne this time but made a nice change

A senior steward came over after take off and said he had seen I was travelling with medication and to let him know if I needed an ice pack at any point. Nice that this was noticed. Menus handed out by another stewardess who introduced herself and said if I needed anything at all during the flight then not to hesitate to ask.

Lunch choice:

Starters
Pea soup with cheese twists.

Marinated prawns with apple celery salad.

Main
Grilled fillet of beef with whole grain mustard mashed potatoes, vegetable ratatouille and peppercorn sauce.

Rosemary-crusted chicken breast with roasted potatoes, steamed vegetables and chicken jus.

Spinach ricotta tortelleni with cheese sauce, sun-blushed tomatoes and shaved Italian cheese.

Dessert
Warm sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce.

Chocolate and strawberry roulade with fresh cream.

Followed by the cheese trolley.

Meal orders taken. Pre-dinner G&T and quickly offered another.

I had the prawns, tortellini and chocolate roulade, followed by the cheese. All were absolutely delicious and far exceeded my expectations.

Afternoon tea served just before landing which was very nice but I felt the crew were up against it timewise, this wasn't a problem though and second cup of coffee offered.

It was the crew who really made this flight for me. I spent a lot of time talking to them at the bar and they were so down to earth and really couldn't do enough for me. By the end of the flight I felt like I'd made new friends and they really made this an extension of my holiday. They went over and above and I will definitely be writing a letter of commendation to VA.

This was my first experience of Upper Class having previously flown Business with another airline and if this is an indication of the level of service I can expect I won't even consider flying with another airline.

The only negative being the outdated entertainment system which is well known about on these older aircraft. However, compensated for by Galaxy tablets which were handed out.

Photos to follow when I can work out how to reduce the file size on my recovered iPad!

Glad you enjoyed your first UC experience! A good crew really can make all the difference, particularly on the Airbus A343s which are disliked by many V-Flyers.

It's worth noting that, as an UC passenger, you are fully entitled to invite a guest into the lounge as long as they're also on your flight. So it really wasn't a question of them being very kind letting your cousin in - it was your right! (Assuming, of course, you hadn't already guested in someone else.)

Hello Bluey welcome to v-flyer, and thanks for a good TR. Glad to see the UC experience lived up to expectation for you, and that CC were doing a great job. Pity about the little issue on your outbound, but it sometimes it happens.

I had my first flight with VAA this year and am a convert. Love the service, the champers the friendly CC, everything. Thanks again.

Thanks for posting ,going the wrong way eh? Did she have one way signs out or something !
The LHR clubhouse takes some beating and prosecco instead of champers tut tut !
Glad you enjoyed the UC experience and well done to vs on the iPad front .
And a warm welcome to vflyer

Welcome to V-Flyer and thanks for a top notch inaugural TR

A shame about the miserable stewardess... I have got to say, whenever I have gone for one of my wanders around the plane (usually mug of tea in hand ) the CC have almost always found it amusing and enjoyed the other person to chat to.. Hopefully just a blip.

Good to hear that all other aspects delivered though, trust you enjoyed your time in Dubai and cheers for posting

gumshoe thanks for the tip re the Dubai lounge. Does this also apply to the Heathrow Clubhouse? They charged £63 to allow my Cousin entry. At the time of flying I had red flyer status.

Thanks

[honey lamb]

gumshoe thanks for the tip re the Dubai lounge. Does this also apply to the Heathrow Clubhouse? They charged £63 to allow my Cousin entry. At the time of flying I had red flyer status.

Thanks

If you are flying in UC, then you are allowed to bring one guest into the Clubhouse regardless of your FC status. Did your cousin check in separately and the purchase entry or had pre-purchased it?

Thank you for your report on your flights and welcome to V-Flyer but could I please draw your attention to this sticky

Welcome to V-flyer and thanks for the inaugural TR
Sounds like a great flight.
VS CC are in my experience pretty down to earth and always like to chat while going about their tasks.
I'm pleased to hear about the galaxy being handed. I only found out this year that REEL still existed lol and have a flight on a 343 coming up so will hope they give out the galaxy again as don't have tablet

gumshoe thanks for the tip re the Dubai lounge. Does this also apply to the Heathrow Clubhouse? They charged £63 to allow my Cousin entry. At the time of flying I had red flyer status.

Thanks

If you are flying in UC, then you are allowed to bring one guest into the Clubhouse regardless of your FC status. Did your cousin check in separately and the purchase entry or had pre-purchased it?

Thank you for your report on your flights and welcome to V-Flyer but could I please draw your attention to this sticky

Duly noted and amended.

[honey lamb]

Thank you for your report on your flights and welcome to V-Flyer but could I please draw your attention to this sticky

Duly noted and amended.

Great TR. Always good to read one that went smoothly!