VS039 LHR-ORD 14 JUN 14 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

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For my first trip to the clubhouse I decided I had to use the DTCI. Could count the steps from the car to the check in desk on both hands and then straight through the private security. Quick stop off at boots and then off to the clubhouse. Spa treatments booked then grabbed a window seat so I could watch the planes land (although the most excitement came from my girlfriend when I pointed out Tinker Belle pulling in). Took a bit of time to get some service and they forgot my breakfast order but this was swiftly rectified. I had my cutthroat shave, which was as much a massage as a shave and very relaxing. Sat at the bar while I waited for my girlfriends blow dry to finish (took an hour and a half in the end).

The first boarding call came quite late at 10.30 but I decided I had time for one more drink as I was still waiting for the blow dry to finish. When we eventually left I received a call from the gate, they were waiting for us. Quick jog down to 21 (must be the furthest gate...) and boarded at 10.50 with the doors closing behind us . Alas, we missed the welcome drink on African Queen but I quickly made up for this after takeoff.

First impressions were that the cabin was smaller than on the A346, my only other UC experience. There were maybe 6 spare seats in the forward cabin, I didn't see behind the bar. They made their excuses for Vera reel before handing out tablets to those in Upper. From what I could remember, there is a slight difference between what films they list on the website for June, what was actually on Vera reel and what was on the tablets so I have included them at the end for those who are interested.

In a way, having the tablets was better than Vera, given that they are much better quality and sit fine at the far end of the table leaving plenty of space for your food offering and drinks. Drinks were offered, in fact I don't think I ever had an empty glass and regularly had multiple on the go. Lunch orders and choice of wine were taken and served. For starter there was pea and mint soup, tomato mozzarella and olive salad or crayfish, avocado and tomato tian. Main choice was fillet of beef, chicken Katsu, grilled tiger prawn salad or spinach and ricotta ravioli. Pudding was warm sticky toffee pudding or lemon tart and vanilla bean ice cream. Cheese and port was served after with more ice cream mid flight and afternoon tea about an hour before landing. I also had a burger off the extra bites menu at the bar, where I spent maybe 2 hours talking to a work colleague's old friend (who I had been advised was going to be on the flight and decided to creep out by guessing his name). Everything I had was good, especially considering we were on a plane. The sandwiches were a little dry, but that wasn't much of a surprise given the air conditioning and we were served towards the end.

In all it was a great flight, everything was clean and I'm not sure how the crew could have been better . IFE wasn't an issue; even though some of the films I wanted to watch weren't on the tablets, I only had time to watch 2 anyway. I can see how it would be a problem if not in UC and I guess in general VS IFE is quite old when compared to some other airlines (although maybe not on this route).

IFE outbound:
RoboCop
The grand Budapest hotel
Muppets most wanted
The need for speed
Endless love
The Lego movie
Anchorman 2
Jack Ryan: shadow recruit
American hustle
12 years a slave
The secret life of Walter Mitty
Enders game
Dallas buyers club
Gravity
Enough said

Inbound:
3 days to kill
Mr Peabody & Sherman
A New York winters tale
The monuments men
Cuban fury
Her
Captain Philips
The counsellor
Saving mr banks
Lone survivor
August: Osage county
Cloudy with a chance of meatballs
The book thief
About time
Thor: dark world

Tablets (assume the same both ways):
12 years a slave
Anchorman 2
Dallas buyers club
Endless love
Frozen
Gravity
Hangover 3
Hobbit: the desolation of smaug
Home front
Hunger games catching fire
Iron man 3
Jack Ryan shadow recruit
Lego movie
Monsters university
Nebraska
A New York winters tale
Pain & gain
Philomena
Saving my banks
Thor: the dark world

Oh, forgot to say... Had to wait about an hour in the visas and first time ESTA queue at O'hare thanks to having a new passport. Looked like our bags had only just come off as the rest of our flight were still waiting once we had got through. So worked out fine.

Thanks for posting this TR ,don't see many from this flight so it makes a change ,also good to hear that the reel/tablets situation wasn't bothersome to you

[buns]

Thanks for the TR

Glad you enjoyed the DTCI and (eventually) the Clubhouse offerings The other half certainly had the full works in the Spa.

As Blacky said, it is good to hear about the Chicago route

Thanks once again

buns

Excellent TR, thank you for posting.

Thanks for the TR,and it sounds like you had a great trip. Our first experience of the CH was before an ORD flight too...

One misstep though

Quick stop off at boots and then off to the clubhouse.

CH first....

First time esta queue - sounds odd in ORD.

Orlando in Feb, my wife hadn't travelled before on as passport was new, new ESTA, and could use the automated immigration machines still as apparently they match on fingerprint. Any visit in last 5 years on any passport was what the officer said to us would entitle the quick method. Worked fine, amazed to be honest - as was expecting issues.

Odd how the experience in ORD is different from MCO.

We're on the same route in 10days time This being a friday it will be interesting to see how the immigration hall compares to the saturday. We are both 'in the system' fingerprints etc but this will be the first time using ESTA so we'll be keeping our fingers crossed. TR will follow