This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Arrived at LHR in good time to make use of the Clubhouse – and did so. A few refreshing Redheads and a Clubhouse Burger helped the time fly past. Boarding was called pretty much on time – only one jet-bridge in use so boarded via L2, turned left and took up residence in 3K.
Well, this was my first experience of the UCDS and all I can say is that it is definitely from the Gerald Ratner school of design, i.e. total crap. I appreciate Virgin are/were in a legal dispute with the company that did the original UCS, but how they can try to claim this new seat is a “Dream Suite” is beyond me. The only way this suite is long is if you have a conical head and ballerina feet. I’m only about 5’7”, and with the seat in bed mode my feet were touching the ottoman, even with my head pretty close to the cabin wall on a pillow.
On the positive side, the new UCDS cabin looks very good & the storage space in the ottoman is better than the movable armrest on the old UCS. The apology for an armrest on the new UCDS is just that – totally useless.
The design & position of the new drink tray on UCDS is bad, as I found out. I managed to clip the drinks tray with my knee pre-departure when a glass of bubbly was on it. Said glass went flying, along with the contents – thankfully, not too much went over me.
Anyway, enough about the inadequacies of the new UCDS and onto the flight. The crew were fairly on the ball and due to a quick 6h34m flight time, wanted to maximize sleep time for the passengers.
Drinks were served after takeoff and meal orders taken. I only went for the beef as I’d had some freshly cooked beef in the Clubhouse. The beef onboard was OK, nothing to write home about, but equally, nothing wrong with it.
After eating I converted my seat to a bed and snoozed on and off for a few hours. I’d asked not to be woken for breakfast – said if I was awake I’d have it, but not bothered either way. Well I did wake up about 90mins out of Dubai so partook in a chicken sausage roll – has got to be said, it was nicer than many a pork sausage roll I’ve had.
Cabin secured for landing in Dubai – got a pretty good approach with views if The Palm, and then into DXB. You’ll never say LHR is BA’s Manor when you have seen DXB! Was in the car heading out to the hotel within 30mins of arriving on-stand in Dubai, so no complaints there.
What followed was a crazy few days in Dubai, with waterparks, a rollercoaster in Abu Dhabi, a skydive, and more than a few drinks. 1st time in Dubai and I absolutely loved it. Time to plan (& save up) for the return trip to Dubai now – or look for a job there!
All in all a good flight – with the exception of the UCDS.
you certainly maxed out your time in DXB 
Not had the pleasure of the new 'dream suite' yet but sounds like it is ok but definitely not great!!
