This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Reading the various threads on V-Flyer about what many perceive as a fall in standards over the years, coupled with the very real issues with the website and seat request process, it's very easy to fall into the trap of believing that VS is on the way down.
But this flight proved one thing to me: whatever the issues on the ground, in the air VS cabin crews ARE the best in the business and the reason why, in my humble opinion, VS trumps the predictable corporate blandness of most other airlines.
Alas 3 hours in the Clubhouse (busy at first but quietened down) passed all too quickly before it was time to board whereupon, immediately after sitting down, I was greeted with an extremely friendly "hi, I'm xxxxx and I'm going to be looking after you today". And look after me he did - for the next 11 hours nothing was ever too much trouble for him or his colleagues.
Sadly departure from the gate was about 20-25 minutes late due to some baggage/paperwork issues but we were kept informed from the flight deck.
It soon became apparent that the aforementioned member of CC had an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things VS which would put many V-Flyers to shame! He did a special PA announcement before take-off telling us lots of technical info and trivia about the aircraft we were on - Lady Luck - including how it featured in the James Bond film "Casino Royale". Here was clearly a CC member who loved his job and the airline - and was proud to show it.
Drinks and dinner out the way (I'll post the current menu at the end as I know lots of people like to know) I had a choice: sleep, as most of my fellow passengers seemed to be doing, or stay awake and watch some of the 16 hours of TV I'd loaded on to the iPad. In the event, it was neither because a quick trip to the bar ended up lasting 6 hours!!! I'm never quite sure of bar etiquette - can you outstay your welcome? Does your presence there annoy the CC because it prevents them from doing other duties or gossiping in the galley? Whatever the truth, I was made to feel thoroughly welcome and spent most of the time chatting to two CC members - including the one mentioned above - who were more than happy to chew the fat about all things VS and impart plenty of juicy galley gossip! Only a couple of other passengers really ever came to use the bar including a film director who kept us entertained with tales of Hollywood A-listers!
So this proved to be an unforgettable flight - thanks mainly to the superb crew who really were a credit to VS (and yes, I have emailed customer services to commend them). It's the personal touch that makes VS stand out - if only every crew were like this one.
The only downer was the fact that the late departure from LHR meant we were just pipped to the post at LAX by the NZ flight so there was a 20-25 minute queue for immigration. Such is life.
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UC menu - March 2014 - flights 5,7,15,19,23,27,29,31,33,43,63,65,89,93,97
Crab timbale
Organic minestrone soup
Seared fillet of British beef in a watercress sauce with potatoes & carrots
Grilled chicken breast in a creamy saffron sauce with potato cake, purple sprouting broccoli & toasted almonds
Paneer kofta & korma sauce with mixed pilau & tandoori chole
Warm oak-smoked trout salad with seared new potatoes and dill & mustard dressing
Croissant bread & butter pudding
Chocolate & hazelnut slice
Graze: gourmet burger, baby back pork ribs, tempura vegetables
