VS087 LGW-ANU 8 JUL 14 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

I can't see to add the flight number as it doesn't appear from the drop down, but it was VS087 LGW to ANU via St Lucia (12 hours flying and stopover time) - if someone is able to change that, it may help anyone searching for VS087 in the future. Edit - I've manually overwritten it.

T-60 8am sharp and we managed something I didn't think we would. We live in Cornwall, home of slow internet. But 4 seats in UC were checked in, with Seq 1, 2, 3 and 4.

We drove up the Monday (day before) the flight. It's a fair trek at 4-4.5 hours and we like to be up there to feel the holiday has started. Arrived at Gatwick and Mr M dropped the three of us off (Junior and his mate) at the Hilton. We checked in while he parked across the road at the the long stay.

When I originally booked our two rooms (£76 each) I wanted the boys (both 15) to be in a twin room next door to us. I was told there were no club rooms which could accommodate us in this fashion, so was surprised when we had both rooms upgraded to club at check-in (I'm Hilton gold). Result.

Rooms are looking tired but the lounge was certainly very welcome. Mr M and I made full use of the alcohol and the boys ate their way through the offerings. It was busy but we arrived early and departed when the bar closed.

We trundled across with our cases to Twilight Checkin at about 4.50pm. There was already a HUGE queue. A couple of minutes later it opened, but only two agents so it took a while. I do wonder why they don't have one desk open for Premium and UC. There were lots of us. Staff were ok, not at all chatty nor did they ask us anything other than how many cases we had.

We were up bright and early on Tuesday. Our flight departed at 9am so an early visit to the CH was required. Some weeks before we went I tried to tie VS down on what time it opened, but couldn't get a sensible answer. It was 6, or 6.15, or 6.45 or 7, depending on who replied (twitter, FB, email and telephone).

At 6.20 it opened. We were first in. Champagne offered, settled down to read the magazines whilst waiting for the spa to open. It didn't open until 7am but I wanted to be their first customer as our flight was scheduled to board at 8.10. There was only 1 therapist in the spa and I was a tad disappointed to see she was almost fully booked (by those yet to arrive ) However, she said she could do me a quick hand/nail treatment so I took that and 2 minutes later was sitting chatting as she attended to my nails. She was very pregnant and in her last week of work, she explained they were having staffing issues. It would seem there's been a bit of a turnover with maternity leave, annual leave and career changes which VS have under control but the authority that issue the passes to staff are very slow.

All of the staff in the CH were attentive, bright and bubbly considering the early hour and our stay was very pleasant indeed. Both boys had two breakfasts in the form of eggs benedict and a bacon butty - growing lads.

We didn't hear any calls to board, it had started to get very busy, so at 8.15 we wandered down to the gate to see we were almost the last on despite not due to leave until 9am.

Took up residence for our 12 hour adventure in 4A, 5A, 6A and 7A. We've flown A333 several times and it is what it is, some like it some don't, but for us it's ok. CC immediately offered us a glass of champagne. It was accepted and devoured, no refill was offered and we readied ourselves for take off. I think it was 262 pax +12 crew on board.

Smooth and on time take-off. Once up in the air CC came around for pre flight drinks. Now, some of you may need to take a seat and absorb fully what I'm about to say……I asked for champagne and within a few minutes I had a half glass. As it was thumped down I was told they had run out. Not 20 minutes into the flight there was NO CHAMPAGNE! Nice bowl of crisps though.

The reality knocked me sideways, I wondered how I would cope. 12 hours on a flight and no champagne.

Menus were passed around and the dinner service orders commenced.

Forget this one! I ordered a glass of white for with my meal.

I ordered the crayfish and then the chicken.

Food was actually very tasty but the service wasn't good. No sooner had my knife and fork rested on the plate when with one smooth action the table was cleared and the next course arrived, really, not a breath of air could be squeezed in between. The CC obviously wanted to get the meal service over quickly.

I had the cheese and biscuits. I only got two biscuits but Mr M had 5.

Again, once the cheese knife was rested and the table was cleared and stowed before I had even finished munching.

No drinks top-ups were offered (I asked and it was duly supplied) and I didn't see the wine come around as it normally does, so can only guess the CC were either busy or forgot.

I watched a couple of movies and flicked through the TV and sky map pages. Mr M and I went to the bar and before too long were chatting with the CSM. I asked her about the 'champagne crisis' and she said they had 7 bottles for the whole flight and it was almost demolished on the first run of UC welcome drinks. 7 bottles, she wouldn't comment if that was usual, but I've not known a drought in UC before on this route (or any Caribbean route).

As I chatted to her we were joined by a lovely chap. He sat down and ordered a cognac. Oh dear, no cognac. So he ordered a whisky. Oh dear…..it was going from bad to worse No whisky.

It turns out he is a VS pilot on was on an 'emergency mission' (his words not mine) being flown out to St Lucia and then to New York to cover 'juggling of the timetable'. He eventually was able to settle on a brandy. We discussed the drinks issue and certainly the 'spirits' problem was down to a couple of bottles smashing before they were loaded. Either way, it did all seem rather odd. Both my new pilot friend and the CSM urged me to write to Crawley Towers on my return (I have).

I soon realised we were being readied for afternoon tea. So returned to my seat and waited for the cake stand to arrive.

It was lovely. I was offered a 'variety' or specifics. I went for the variety.

The CC had obviously slowed down and it wasn't the jumble sale service of earlier. I had coffee and munched away slowly.

Not before long we were descending into St Lucia. Passengers filed off, I guess maybe a third disembarked but UC seemed to be half full now rather than bulging at the seams.

Crew changed and after about 65 minutes, with new CC we were asked to return to our seats. There had been a lot of walking around the cabins by pax and UC did seem to be busy with 'visitors'. Just as we were fastening seat belts a steady file of 8 pax came up from Economy and Premium at the request of their 'mum' who was alone in UC. A bit of arranging by the CSS and they were now seated across the cabin, all 8 of them. I've not seen that many 'daughters/sons' in one family before, let alone have them all join us in the cabin. If I'm honest, I still don't really know what to make of it all.

Few minutes later we were off down the runway and on our short hop to Antigua.

We landed just about on-time and the new crew were soon waving us goodbye before they all headed back to St Lucia.

Overall the flight was very smooth, food very good but all let down by the service and lack of drink choice. Part of my UC experience is the few glasses of bubbles I want to enjoy on the journey out. Hey ho. It's definitely a first world problem.

Thank you for a most interesting TR and I do love them when they come with photos . Excellent.

I cannot believe the Champagne ran out so quickly ! But overall it sounded a good flight which is pleasing to hear.

Congratulations on the Seqs !!!

Excellent report marshy11 and nice pics, thank you. Bit of a cock-up on the champagne front, maybe the others who got onboard earlier than you slurped it all.

And regarding this,

Just as we were fastening seat belts a steady file of 8 pax came up from Economy and Premium at the request of their 'mum' who was alone in UC. A bit of arranging by the CSS and they were now seated across the cabin, all 8 of them. I've not seen that many 'daughters/sons' in one family before, let alone have them all join us in the cabin. If I'm honest, I still don't really know what to make of it all.

I will give you some help....It is called taking the p*ss. And, whether it is a short hop or not, it should neither be encouraged nor permitted by the crew as such occurrence diminishes the UC product which others, such as yourself, have paid for.

Thank you for the very interesting TR - great detail and photos. I'm shocked by the lack of booze on board -- how are CC supposed to run the mini bar without most drinks?

Hope you had a lovely time in Antigua.

This sounds very much like our trip to our recent trip to LAX, the service was very rushed, the bar barely staffed and they ran out of champagne and gin very early in the flight.

I'm hoping this isn't becoming the norm.

Great TR marshy11, even if it wasn't altogether a great experience for you. I loved the added photos, I forget to take them but must remember next time I fly.

I just about dropped my iPad and screamed in horror when I read of the champagne crisis, and they had the cheek to hand out menu cards offering more champagne based drinks for "a taste of summer". Incredulous! That sounds like a problem with the caterers so glad you were encouraged to write to Crawley Towers.

Now, onto "the family". I've heard that CC might allow a pax from the other cabins to come in for a quick drink but not march 8 of them into the now empty UC suites for the remainder of the flight. As has been said by someone else, it's taking the p*ss and diminishes the product. Better that 'mum' could have joined them!

I don't know, maybe I'm a snob, but I just wouldn't have the cheek to ask if other members of my party could move up into the UC cabin, or if I could if I were in PE or Y.

Anyway, all that aside, I do hope your holiday was fab and Mr M made sure you got all the champoo you could wish for

Fabulous TR, I love pictures and lots of detail...now onto the serious stuff...

They ran out what!!!!
I had a dream, no! A nightmare a few days ago that we were flying and they ran out of all manner of alcoholic beverages on our upcoming flight. I woke up (surrounded by empty wine bottles) sweating, it was such a vivid dream!

On a serious note I think it's bad they ran out, the service you describe isn't what you'd expect flying UC! Bringing the waltons into the cabin isn't on in my books! I agree with HWVlover it diminishes the product. Something you've paid good money for!

Hopefully the crew redeem themselves on the way home with lots of champagne for you!

D

Interesting that 4* is still awarded for food/drink despite the issues. It read to me like a 2* flight due to shortages.

Great TR and you have certainly better patience than myself. Just poor planning (or cost cutting)on VS part me thinks.
As for the family of 8, crew let themselves down on allowing this. I agree that mother should have gone down the back rather than the other way about.
Iain

Thanks all for the comments.

Interesting that 4* is still awarded for food/drink despite the issues. It read to me like a 2* flight due to shortages.

To be fair, the food was delicious. I couldn't mark it down at all. Yes, the lack of champagne griped me but as I drink white wine, I was able to survive.

Thanks for the informative and relaxed TR.

7 bottles? Surely that's what you'd load at a minimum for an LGW 747?

The Extra Eight? Mmm. Possibly "mum" was a person of importance? I presume they only took the seats and had no extra service, but I wouldn't be particularly happy as I doubt they'd agree to me doing the same and the empty-ish cabin on the BGI-UVF section was one of the benefits of the (very short notice) double drop that we had two years back. That was the flight that featured a dreamy middle aged honeymoon couple (normal people do not gaze into each other's eyes for 8 hours) hogging the bar for the entire flight and then heading back to PE or Economy just before landing in BGI. I assume that they'd been downgraded as part of the flight combination exercise but negotiated access to the bar, which is fair enough, but they were really elbows out "this is our space"...of course, I said nothing...