VS009 LHR-JFK 14 FEB 14 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

So with a only a few days notice a trip to NYC in the depths of winter was put into action. After some last minute travel plan changes due the horrendous weather in the Eastern seaboard, I was finally settled on the VS009 on Valentine's Day

Arrived into Heathrow just after 1pm - a super friendly welcome and sent on my way quickly. The whole check in to Clubhouse experience, via the private security channel took 15mins and was delayed only by me, picking up some pre-ordered dollars.

I was welcomed by name and told to enjoy myself in the Clubhouse, with the luxury of booking my spa appointment ahead of time, I settled in for some lunch. The CH was busy, really busy, due to the delay to the VS45.

Before too long, I had a Gold card cocktail and the clubhouse burger which was delicious as always, closely followed by sticky toffee pudding and vanilla ice-cream.

A quick haircut and a couple more Gold cards later, I ordered the afternoon tea and the Bramble cocktail which arrived quickly....

A quick visit to the outdoor terrace and then the first boarding call came all too soon at 1650. Gate 21 was about 10mins walk away and we were held up on the way by an arriving VS flight from Lagos as the Airport staff opened and closed doors to try and keep both set of passengers moving....

Priority boarding in operation and wished a great flight and invited to board through door B onto "Lady Stardust" at L1. Welcomed at the door by the FSM wearing the new uniform. Champagne was quickly offered, followed by newspapers. The new look menu was already on the ottoman with the amenity kit....

Sadly, Hello and Heat are no longer stocked on board... After a lot of coming and going by the ground crew, we were finally closed up for push back at 1750. Drink and menu choices were taken on the ground. By all accounts the refuelling started much later than planned. At 1755 we pushed back with 266 passengers, 12 cabin crew and 2 flight crew on board. UC was full and this being the A330.....felt cramped. A rather long taxi around had us in the queue for take off by 1815 and the captain made his first announcement, promising a rather bumpy take off as we moved away from Heathrow and a flight time of 8hrs6mins due to strong head winds in the first part of the flight.

Take off was at 1820 and it felt rather rough as we left the ground into some pretty moderate turbulence for the first 20mins. We heading northwards towards Yorkshire and then over Blackpool which could be seen clearly out of the window.

Hot towels were offered, followed by the pre-ordered drinks at 1900 with a bowl of sweet chilli crisps. Refills were proactively offered and accepted of both.

I settled in to watch Vera touch which is certainly fantastic, though the touchscreen was a little slow all flight long for me and needed a good prod each time I wished to change anything.

Tables for dinner were laid at 1950:

Smoked salmon and dill mousse
Organic Italian tomato and basil soup
*****
Artisan breads
*****
Seared fillet of British beef
Grilled Chicken breast
Wok-fried king prawns
Cheese, garlic and herb filled tortellini
*****
Clementine sponge pudding with custard
Dark chocolate and cream slice
*****
Cheese and port
*****

I had the soup which was actually tasty and warming - the crew were friendly and attentive throughout, working well as a team with a very proactive leadership focused FSM who was involved in the service from start to finish. Bread was offered a couple of times with regular wine and water top-ups. The Riesling was very moorish and nicely chilled too....

The chicken was delicious, presented really well and very enjoyable served with a fondant potato and a few vegetables. the creamy chervil sauce was good too. Feeling rather stuffed, skipped dessert and settled for the cheese and port which was delicious as ever.

I settled into the entertainment choosing to watch some TV and wanted to catch up with Emmerdale and Coronation Street which was great to be able to on board.......I know!!!!

No bottles of water had been provided so I went to bar to stretch my legs. It turned out that only half the amount of bottles had been loaded, but was provided with one without any fuss and grabbed a little bag of crisps and pick n and mix sweets.....

The bar was quiet and I managed to grab 20mins with the FSM at the bar who was busy policing it as several PE passengers came forward to take the fruit, crisps and sweets....we chewed over be recent Sydney announcement, the UC offering, the CEO and was clearly interested in what I had to say and how I had found things.

Ice cream was served a little later, did think it was not served on flights leaving the UK after 4pm but it was good to have it on this flight.

At 0100, drinks and items from be graze menu were offered:

Classic gourmet cheeseburger
Haddock fish cake
Indian taster plate

I had the burger which was delicious, served with potato crisps and a lovely plum tomato relish. Refills of tea were flowing and I secured another water bottle as one was left over....

We were all strapped in by 0215 touching down at 0225. Lots of snow on the ground but the airport was fully functional. My journey through immigration was not too bad, about 45mins and the officer was friendly and asked no questions......

The shuttle to the hotel took 30mins to arrive after a quick trip on the Airtrain so it was 0400 before I got to the hotel feeling shattered

A really good flight, a super friendly crew who worked well as a team, were attentive without being too intrusive and led by a very focused FSM. Though I have got use to the UCDS, I still struggle with it and the cramped conditions of the cabin always put me off a bit from choosing the A330 which is just about impossible on my routes these days....That said.....nothing any of us say will change any of that

Now it's time to head out into the snow....

Jon

A fantastic TR Jon, I am liking the new look menus.. less like a takeaway menu and more like a leaflet you may pick up at the doctor's office

What's in the Gold Card cocktail? Don't believe I have had one of those before

I shall be heading to NYC myself next Saturday. Feel free to warm the local bars up ahead of my arrival.

Cheers for posting and enjoy your time stateside in the snow

Thanks for the TR. Really nice to hear it was such a pleasant flight. Enjoy the rest of your stay in New York.

Fine TR, Jon. Good to see another VS flight that does exactly what it says on the tin. Again, thanks.

[buns]

Thanks for a super TR

A really good flight, a super friendly crew who worked well as a team, were attentive without being too intrusive and led by a very focused FSM. Though I have got use to the UCDS, I still struggle with it and the cramped conditions of the cabin always put me off a bit from choosing the A330 which is just about impossible on my routes these days....That said.....nothing any of us say will change any of that

Could not agree more - having a focused crew makes up for a lack lustre product in my view and one can only hope the 787's arrive soon enough to put things back on track.

BTW, I now have to visit WH Smiths to get Mrs B her dose of Hello!! as even the Clubhouses have stopped supply

Thanks once again

buns

A fantastic TR Jon, I am liking the new look menus.. less like a takeaway menu and more like a leaflet you may pick up at the doctor's office

What's in the Gold Card cocktail? Don't believe I have had one of those before

I shall be heading to NYC myself next Saturday. Feel free to warm the local bars up ahead of my arrival.

Cheers for posting and enjoy your time stateside in the snow

Joey, when you are in the CH this weekend ask for one and let me know what you think....

Enjoy NYC and the bars suitably warmed up for you.....

Jon

Thanks for a super TR

A really good flight, a super friendly crew who worked well as a team, were attentive without being too intrusive and led by a very focused FSM. Though I have got use to the UCDS, I still struggle with it and the cramped conditions of the cabin always put me off a bit from choosing the A330 which is just about impossible on my routes these days....That said.....nothing any of us say will change any of that

Could not agree more - having a focused crew makes up for a lack lustre product in my view and one can only hope the 787's arrive soon enough to put things back on track.

BTW, I now have to visit WH Smiths to get Mrs B her dose of Hello!! as even the Clubhouses have stopped supply

Thanks once again




buns

Buns, really miss my regular dose of "gossip" whilst on board courtesy of Heat.....that said the CH did have a small stock of Hello

Jon

Thanks for a super TR

A really good flight, a super friendly crew who worked well as a team, were attentive without being too intrusive and led by a very focused FSM. Though I have got use to the UCDS, I still struggle with it and the cramped conditions of the cabin always put me off a bit from choosing the A330 which is just about impossible on my routes these days....That said.....nothing any of us say will change any of that

Could not agree more - having a focused crew makes up for a lack lustre product in my view and one can only hope the 787's arrive soon enough to put things back on track.

BTW, I now have to visit WH Smiths to get Mrs B her dose of Hello!! as even the Clubhouses have stopped supply

Thanks once again




buns

Buns, really miss my regular dose of "gossip" whilst on board courtesy of Heat.....that said the CH did have a small stock of Hello

Jon

I vaguely recall seeing a stack of Hello magazines on the counter of the cloakroom when I was there last month.

Thanks for a super TR

A really good flight, a super friendly crew who worked well as a team, were attentive without being too intrusive and led by a very focused FSM. Though I have got use to the UCDS, I still struggle with it and the cramped conditions of the cabin always put me off a bit from choosing the A330 which is just about impossible on my routes these days....That said.....nothing any of us say will change any of that

Could not agree more - having a focused crew makes up for a lack lustre product in my view and one can only hope the 787's arrive soon enough to put things back on track.

BTW, I now have to visit WH Smiths to get Mrs B her dose of Hello!! as even the Clubhouses have stopped supply

Thanks once again




buns

Buns, really miss my regular dose of "gossip" whilst on board courtesy of Heat.....that said the CH did have a small stock of Hello

Jon

Have fun making up your own involving fellow passengers and crew...

Thank you for a most interesting and satisfying TR. I felt really pleased by the end of it as though I had been there myself !!!!

Have a good time in NY and a great flight back.

Loved the TR - sounds like a fun flight.

Sounds like a more than acceptable flight Jon , nothing wrong with catching up with emmerdale and Corrie either !!!!!
Thanks for posting