This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Booking & Fare
Used law of attraction again to mentally will an affordable UC ticket. It seamed to work and got an amazing deal which I was very lucky to get as a few hours after booking the same flight almost quadrupled!
The Club House
After my issues with my bags ‘covered with traces of explosive' I decided it was time to retire her and get something less disruptive to maximise the CH. Made it through security this time without incident! Got the lounge and ordered my breakie (salmon & eggs)… after nearly an hour still no sight of food. After placing the order again it came - completely the wrong order. It was a Frankinstein jobbie - Salmon & Baked Beans do not go well together not to mention the fact I
its the only food in the world that I actually detest! Was too hungry to ask them to change it so placed a quarantine around the beans and ate anything that had not made contact with the beany sauce!
A few Kir Royals, Mariti’s and dash of Amarreto I was re-fuelled and ready for take off! (Golden Girl)
Up in the Air
Boarding was easy, main cabin already boarded and settled down into 5K. CC introduced themselves and sat trying hard to ignore to the blearing Xmas music (should be illegal after the 25th - bah humbug!). 3 glasses of champers later we taxi to our runway passing the grand old dame of the sky, the Concord (a tear fell from my eye - so born in the wrong era!).
Flight was pretty full (240+) but - only about 50% full in upper. Flight crew introduced themselves. Lots of attention from the CC which was nice. Plane was warm and on the stuffy side - most likely to help put us all to sleep!
As much as Virgin have struggled to retain a competitive advantage compared o the Asian and Middle Eastern carriers (not their fault when these airlines are pumped full of nationalised money) the Staff truly make up for this.
They were absolute gems on this flight. Real human beings not from the town of Stepford like the other carriers!
Ate at the bar, forgot to be given a starter but was given something called ‘A taste of India’ which consisted of 2 Barbie sized popadoms and some dips. It was certainly a ‘Taste' so no false advertising there but the dips did give my main (Chicken) some taste! (note to self, carry an emergency bottle of Tabasco!)
At the bar the CC offered me an impromptu in-flight wine tasting session. No Melbec this time but the Pinot Noir was very smooth. l Had an extra helping of Cheese to make up for forgetting my starter, but my lactose intolerant enzymes were no match for the second helping… :S
Decided to convert my seat into a bed and stole 4 pillows so that I could sit up thus removing the temptation of sleeping. Usually don't touch the IFE as I'm quite happy just soaking in the journey. However I heard a lot of good things about ‘We’re The Millers’ but zonked out 15 minutes in and woke up near the end (god darn it!). Assumed my Barfly position again and was kept company by the Crew as everyone else was in the land of nod.
At one point a gentleman meandered into our cabin on the prowl for a drink. The steward and stewardess both looked at each other before the obligatory ‘of course sir’. I asked what that was about and they said ‘that guy is wasted - the last few drinks we’ve made for him didn’t even contain any alcohol... He’s certainly no match for your tollerance!'… at first I was flattered until I started mentally calculating the number of drinkies i’d had up-to that point… and realised I needed a calculator (or perhaps a Sponsor)!
Back Down to Earth!
Landing was smooth and on time. Final death knell of the hole in the ground that is Mumbai T2 (thank goodness!). New terminal opens on the 15th Jan - which I miss by 3 days :’(. Its going to be a very rough departure. Last month it was horrible. Getting through the airport reminded me of the opening of Saving Private Ryan! They’ve pretty much given up maintaining it as its going to be demolished. The so-called 'First Class' Clipper lounge was horrendous and plan on just sitting in KFC next time. The Got out of the airport in record time. Bag was the 3rd one out which I think is a new personal best!
Law of Attraction
Made a Law of Attraction goal to hit gold FC before the end of the year….it seemed impossible but thanks to an incredible twist of fate I became Gold yesterday with a day to spare!.....Touch me!
I'm still pinching myself!
