VS005 LHR-MIA 8 JUN 14 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Drinking with Americans always ends up messy and I should know better, the overindulgence at the crowne plazza the night before had taken it's toll on me and simon!

We woke up on time (amazingly) and our car was early so we headed straight to the upperclass wing, the driver told me that it wasn't possible as he hadn't been booked in!
I, of course, had his reg at 7am that morning and called it through.
I'm not sure how much the taxi should have cost because when I asked him he said "pay me what you think?!" So I gave him £20 hoping this was enough! I get this quite a lot with taxi drivers and it's very annoying!

Drive through check in was immense!
The grins on both our faces said it all!
Doors opened for us, greeted by name, bags taken away boarding cards in hand. A nice smile and "have a great holiday" from the agent , we were on our way to the clubhouse!

Security was easy, straight through and we were soon in the sanctuary!
We headed to the dining area for breakfast, service was ok, bit slow if I'm being honest. Our breakfasts arrived and they hit the spot! We then moved to the bar area and were happy to be served by the same girl as last time, she is a credit to the clubhouse, I can't fault her and we hope she's there next time! Our drinks were never empty and more arrived even without asking.
No treatments for us this time...the fuzziness from the night before made even the thought of a haircut painful...so we stuck with cocktails and champagne!
Simon decided to get the boarding cards etc ready, he said we were in seats 20 and 21A!
My world suddenly collapsed around me!!!
"No, No, No, simon, we are in 18 and 19A. Stop having me on!"
He wasn't!
They had moved us into the B zone! OMG!
A very quick trip to the concierge told me nothing could be done!
I was slightly annoyed at this point but luckily simon talked some sense into me (first world problem was thrown in my face) and I got over it!

Very soon we were called and made our way to the gate where priority boarding was in place.
Waiting to board we saw it was a family of 6 who had been given our seats, this cheered me up. I don't mind being moved for a family.
Once onboard we were greeted by name and had the obligatory saucer of champagne (I love the saucers), 307 onboard and we were on mustang Sally.
The suite was chipped, marked and very well worn. I also think the cabin needs a deep, deep clean. Not great!

Once airborne drinks orders were taken and soon after, our food choices.
Crayfish, nice but to much red onion.
Beef, with a fairy liquid sauce called bernaise.
Lemon tart with ice cream, very nice
We sat together for lunch and both ordered the same food! How sad are we!
Cheese and port devoured I fell asleep for a bit.

When I woke up simon was talking to one of the crew and we found out they were staying in the same hotel as us! More on that later!
We went to the bar and stayed there for a long time talking to one lovely crew member and a really nice chap who turned out to be the CEO of a very large retail company in the uk!
We must've been at the bar for a long time as they started to serve afternoon tea. We all retired back to our suites I had a coffee and a scone, simon decided on some sleep. The scone was lovely!

I watched frozen, but the screen "froze" and needed resetting. I think the content is good but the screen and twitcher thing are awful to watch and use!

All to soon it was time to clear up and prepare for landing.
We had a shock before landing because we received a bottle of champagne from 25A, I think he had a complaint about something and told the crew to give it to us. He thought we would enjoy it more!!!! Thank you very much 25A
We arrived at a very empty immigration hall, the longest wait was for our bags! I was very surprised! Even our "bar" friend said it was the quietest he's ever seen it! Lucky us!

We picked our car, a white ford mustang convertible!
Simon got into the car started the engine and freaked out! I had to add myself as an extra driver as he couldn't drive to the hotel!
My copilot wasn't working for some reason (flight mode! Duh!) so we navigated the old way...reading sign posts. We found the hotel very easily! The grid system over here is so straight forward!
Checked in and are now enjoying the miami sun!

As for the crew...they were all amazing, funny, engaging. A good laugh!
Our first night here we ended up drinking with them at the bar and next week one of the crew is back for 4 days so we've made plans for then also!
Contacts exchanged and all friends on Facebook!

A good experience overall.
DTCI, CH and service I can't fault. Food was good but that bloody sauce was awful. It's a shame the cabin is so worn and (in our eyes) dirty.

I hope the return is just as good because out return home last time was terrible.

[buns]

What a brilliant TR - Many thanks for a good read this morning

Not sure if I have ever got to the Clubhouse with a hangover, but glad to see the DTCI and service there carried you through

Shame about being shunted from the A Section - perhaps this was fate smiling upon you as you seemed to have had a good time at the bar and it would have been a long walk back to your original seats

Thanks once again

buns

Thanks buns!
Funnily enough I did say the seats were closer to the bar before boarding!

I can't believe you have managed to avoid the memory loss that seems to come with Club Rooms in any hotel and every Virgin Clubhouse.

Oddly, we seem to always end up with a 'new best mate' and they are ALWAYS American…...

Very enjoyable trip report thank you, glad it went well, nothing worse than a grubby suite hope it was cleaner on the way home.

Cheer
Alex

Thanks for the TR. I was wondering how the latest instalment was going to play out. Hair of the dog seems to have been the order of the day.

Looking forward to the report on the return...

Sounds like you had a lot of fun, and booze, on your way out. Thanks for a brill TR, made me laugh in places. And of course you've continued that enjoyment on your hols... Sounds like you need to come home for a rest lol.

No onesie for you then? Try the salt and pepper shakers and a couple of champoo glasses

Drive through check-in is *awesome*

fantastic TR, sounds like your hols got off to a great start in true v-flyer fashion.
hope your holiday continues as good as it started.

Thanks for the TR, we will be doing the exact same trip in UC later this year, counting the days...

Splendid TR Darren ,sounds like the only real let down was the state of the suite but having sat in 19a on mustang Sally a couple of months ago I can tell you it wouldn't have been much better but I guess that's just the usual wear and tear , as you say a good deep clean wouldn't hurt

Thanks all!
I will need a break from "booze" when I get back...normally that lasts 48 hours, or until the first day back in work!

Bretty, there was no onesie! But I do have some S&P shakers? How they got in my bag I don't know;) all I do know is there was salt everywhere, simon was not happy! I'm not brave enough to try for a saucer or 2!

Excellent report Darren, as usual.


PS And remember the phrase "21 units a week". That apparently is the recommended alcohol intake for a male..and it says "a week" not daily, as I discovered at a Well Man medical last week. I decided to be honest, I think the nurse is still in shock!!!