This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
For the full version with the pics, see here: http://www.my-tripreport.com/2014/08/oz ... upper.html
I'd flown into SYD from BNE on QF. The report can be seen at the linked website, or on airliners.net
So my time in Australia was at an end. As I had to be out if my hotel by 10AM, the first stop was Starbucks at darling harbour to spend my last few Australian dollars on breakfast.
After a bit if a wander, it was on to the train to the airport.
I arrived around twenty minutes later. The Virgin Atlantic check in was at the far end to where the train station was. As with all the times I'd checked in with VS, I was met at the entrance to check in, and directed to the correct check in area. There were a couple of people in front of me but it was no more than a couple of minutes before I was seen. I came away with a haul of paperwork.
I went for a bit of a walk airside, before using the fast track security. It wasn't overly fast, and rather than being directed through the metal detector with nobody using it, I was sent through the nudiscope with a bit of a queue. Within ten minutes or so, I was through. Rather than head straight for the lounge, I took a bit of a walk to see what was around.
Eventually, I did head off in the direction of the Air New Zealand lounge (which VS use here in SYD), which was almost in a satellite area of the terminal, complete with another forced duty free shop.
Upon reaching the lounge I was welcomed in. It was actually quite a decent lounge, with some good food options. Just as I entered the lounge, my plane was being towed on to stand.
Unfortunately, since arriving in Oz, I'd had a cold brewing and today was the day it decided to make a full appearance. So I forced down a hot dog and some sprite before retiring to the quiet area.
Upon reaching the mobile free zone, there was a woman talking quite loudly on her phone... Another guy soon took care of it though by informing one of the staff members. It was quite amusing actually, as another guy started talking as if he was on the phone, and the same guy popped up like a meerkat to check he wasn't.
I stayed in the lounge before heading down to the gate around 30 minutes before boarding. The crew were arriving slowly but surely, the last of which to turn up were the three flight crew.
Just a few moments later boarding began. I made my way onboard, and turned left towards my seat.
Almost immediately, I was offered either water, OJ or champagne. I took the champagne. I'm hardly a connoisseur when it comes to champagne, but I didn't think much of it.
Our flight time was announced as 9 hours and 5 minutes.
Around 10 minutes after our STD, the captain was on again, saying that our 'lack of progress' was being caused by a catering issue - there hadn't been enough meals loaded, so we were waiting for some more.
We eventually did push back around twenty minutes behind schedule and made our way over to the active. During the taxi, the purser mentioned there were 305 pax on board and 17 crew. So a healthy load. Surprising how VS can't make this route work really.
Once at the threshold there were a few props to arrive and depart. In the mean time,ma pretty heavy rainstorm came - and went.
We ambled on to the runway and made a quiet and smooth takeoff.
Shortly after departure, the purser - or flight service manager as VS call them, brought the menus around, welcomed me back onboard by name and mentioned she had noticed I was a VS frequent flyer, so thanked me for flying VS again. Impressive as I'm just a measly red tier! I've never got that treatment from BA... She assumed that I was familiar with the seat, but I sheepishly had to admit it's been around 10 years since I was last in Upper Class, so hadn't actually travelled in this seat before. She was more than happy to show me the features of the seat. At the same time, hot towels were dished out.
A few moments later, drink orders were taken. They were promptly delivered, along with some mixed nuts - although they would have been a little better if they were warmed up like on AA. First world problems...
I caught up with a bit of TV before the table was set for lunch.
The FSM brought around the red wine options, of which there were 5. This wasn't good enough for the guy sat behind though. I didn't hear the full conversation, but he did mention quite a few times he'd just got off a Qantas first class flight... Yeah, and?! Personally I thought 5 choices of wine was pretty good.
The meal service started shortly after.
During which time, the guy sat behind decided he was going to complain some more. I heard the word disgusting used a few times, and 'get me a pen'. Again, I thought all of the food was pretty good. I was offered some cheese too, but I declined.
After lunch, I decided to watch a film. KickAss 2.
One complaint about the hardware is that the seat doesn't recline all that much, so lounging is out of the question. It's either a seat or a bed. Although the plus side of this arrangement is that the bed is very comfortable, especially with the sheet, duvet and pillow added.
Following the film, I went and sat at the bar.
After a chat with the crew, the seatbelt sign was illuminated, so it was back to my seat. Although as it was still in the bed mode, this proved a little awkward. During this time, the crew came around and offered drinks. I decided to take advantage of the snack menu and order a burger. And hoped it would turn up after I was able to turn my bed back into a seat... It didn't, but at least it did turn up in a tray so I ate off my lap.
Once my tray was cleared, I stuck my iPod on and had a proper lie down.
It must have been more comfortable than I realised, as before I knew it, I was being brought back to life by the afternoon tea service starting. Again, as my seat was in bed mode, it was a case if eating off my lap. A pile of sandwiches and cakes were on a trolley, and you selected what you wanted. I just went with 'a bit of everything' and some tea. By this point, I was well and truly stuffed!
Soon after, the crew started preparing the cabin for landing.
Descent started and within 30 minutes we were making a smooth landing at HK.
There was a long ish taxi over to the stand. Once we had arrived, I was off, and following the HK arrival signs (rather than the London transit signs) and on to the train. Upon arrival at immigration, there was hardly any wait and I was ticketed into HK with barely a word said. I was waiting around two minutes for my bag before heading off for tonight's hotel, the Regal Airport Hotel.
The following morning, I headed off to Singapore on Cathay Pacific in their Business Class cabin. I had booked to go in First, but an aircraft substitution meant I was downgraded.
