Upper Class Info Wanted.....

So, basically, I'm just after some info really..

If one was to fly in UC from MCO-MAN Departing 18:50 (Florida time), when would the bar be closed for the night? And do all of these night flights come with one of their flight suits? (and... Can you keep them after use)

Secondly, and very randomly, I don't suppose anyone has any photos of the UC onboard toilets for a 747-400LGW ?

Thanks in advance guys!

Technically, the bar never closes. But as it's a night flight most people want to sleep as soon as dinner's over and the cabin lights will be switched off.

A quick nightcap's fine but as the bar's actually in the cabin on the LGW/MAN 747s, the people in the seats either side of it wouldn't thank you for sitting there chatting all night.

As for sleep suits, yes they're available on all flights, day and night. And yes you can keep them if you so desire! Can't help with pics of the WC I'm afraid but they're pretty small and bog standard (cringe)!!

Bar never closes, except for Take off and Landing.

Sleep suits will be provided, usually left on the seat before boarding on an overnight sector.

No idea why anyone would want a photo of a toilet.

Did this exact flight in November. Although the bar was open During the flight we only had a quick drink there after dinner. As others have suggested - people need to get some sleep

Not sure I got a snap of the facilities! Are you asking about possibility of changing in them? If so they aren't huge but I'm 6'2" and managed fine.

A quick nightcap's fine but as the bar's actually in the cabin on the LGW/MAN 747s, the people in the seats either side of it wouldn't thank you for sitting there chatting all night.

Thanks, Gumshoe! I will be one of those that will be sat near to the bar on my return, which is the reason I ask, as I too, wouldn't take kindly to people making noise all night. For the day flight, how many seats are at the bar?

Thanks!

Not sure I got a snap of the facilities! Are you asking about possibility of changing in them? If so they aren't huge but I'm 6'2" and managed fine.

Yes etk, I was thinking of space for changing onbourd, but as I'm slightly shorter than you, I guess I'll be fine

J

it's not unkown for people sit at the bar all night, if voices are subdued it's not really a problem, but even in daytime i'd try to get a seat away from the bar to avoid any noisier people

of course there're still the snorers...

can't help with pics, but the UC toilets offer the same luxury as the PE and EC ones, just fewer people using them, as above they're ok to change in

From memory 4 seats. I would move forward 3 or 4 from the bar if you can/have.

I did a quick you tube check and found this, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ICKamSY00k4 I don't know the kid, but I wouldn't want to be on a night flight with him at the bar whilst his parent videoed.

Video looks like 2 seats, I recall two at the front and one either side....

From memory 4 seats. I would move forward 3 or 4 from the bar if you can/have.

I did a quick you tube check and found this, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ICKamSY00k4 I don't know the kid, but I wouldn't want to be on a night flight with him at the bar whilst his parent videoed.

Video looks like 2 seats, I recall two at the front and one either side....

Thanks, Marshy...

That video does show the scale of size/layout, but as for the first half of that video, I don't think I've ever seen such a cringy in flight video! lol.

Outbound, we have 6 A&K, but unfortunately the return only had the 3 most aft seats on either side, but oh well

Fight fire with fire then. Sit at the bar and don't move!

It is tight.

Not sure I got a snap of the facilities! Are you asking about possibility of changing in them? If so they aren't huge but I'm 6'2" and managed fine.

Yes etk, I was thinking of space for changing onbourd, but as I'm slightly shorter than you, I guess I'll be fine

J

By the end of a flight the toilets can be quite, um, how shall I put this, suffering the aftereffects of the (male, I assume) more directionally-challenged pax. It's all the fault of the UC bar, I was once reliably informed by one CC when I pointed out the minor deluge which greeted me upon opening the door to the loo.

Which is one thing I shall miss from the demise of the NRT route: for whatever reason, that route had the most impeccably clean lavs in the VS fleet!

Fight fire with fire then. Sit at the bar and don't move!

If people stand near my seat through the middle of the night, where most people are trying to sleep, then I'll either have to join them or beat them I suppose!

Has anyone flown UC from MAN or MCO? Do they have UC priority boarding at either/both? And what is their definition of 'priority'?

I have flown MAN-MCO Upper Class a couple of times. There is priority boarding at both ends. We have usually waited in the lounge until called and walked straight onboard after the wheelchairs.

Seats 6A and K do not have overhead lockers (these start at seat 8) so you might like to board fairly early to stow your belongings!

I don't sleep on flights, ever. So being devils advocate here, if I want to sit at the bar all night I will. Obviously I would be mindful of other passengers and be as quiet as I possibly could but at the end of the day, it is an aircraft and people have paid their money so if someone does sit there all night you can hardly hold it against them IMO. Obviously it depends entirely on their behaviour!

I don't sleep on flights, ever. So being devils advocate here, if I want to sit at the bar all night I will. Obviously I would be mindful of other passengers and be as quiet as I possibly could but at the end of the day, it is an aircraft and people have paid their money so if someone does sit there all night you can hardly hold it against them IMO. Obviously it depends entirely on their behaviour!

Of course, it's behaviour dependant. Like a hotel, people can do what/who they want in the room next to me, but if they're excessively disruptive, then it's hardly unreasonable to speak your mind and ask that they show some curtosy.

Although, in fairness, I usually do sleep on this night flight, but I don't think that falling asleep will be hard this time, as I'll actually be able to lie down, rather than spending 5 hours of the flight, having your chin constantly falling off your hand, or your arm slipping off the rest, whilst cramped in a seat, trying to get a bit of shut eye! I look forward to reading the trip report that you'll hopefully put together though AJC

I don't sleep on flights, ever. So being devils advocate here, if I want to sit at the bar all night I will. Obviously I would be mindful of other passengers and be as quiet as I possibly could...

The cabin crew are mindful of this too. It has been known for the seat belt sign to mysteriously come on when there's no real turbulence, and the bar is quite busy/loud on a night flight...

Of course, it's behaviour dependant. Like a hotel, people can do what/who they want in the room next to me, but if they're excessively disruptive, then it's hardly unreasonable to speak your mind and ask that they show some curtosy.

Although, in fairness, I usually do sleep on this night flight, but I don't think that falling asleep will be hard this time, as I'll actually be able to lie down, rather than spending 5 hours of the flight, having your chin constantly falling off your hand, or your arm slipping off the rest, whilst cramped in a seat, trying to get a bit of shut eye! I look forward to reading the trip report that you'll hopefully put together though AJC

Ahhh I wish I could sleep! I have this terrible fear that I'm going to dribble/snore/talk in my sleep, or all of the above and it means that I just never am able to.

And yes, I totally agree with you. Even if I'm not sleeping if someone was behaving like a complete t**t on a flight and disrupting everyone else I would have no compunction in stepping up. Much to my son's disgust.

He absolutely hates it when I speak up about anything. I was in WH Smith not long ago and a man in front of me was obviously unhappy about something and he was being so obnoxious and rude to the cashier that she was in tears. There was a massive queue of people and he wouldn't leave her alone and let her serve despite being told that the manager was on his way to deal with his complaint. I tore him off an absolute strip and pointed out that the only person he was making look small was himself. It earned me a round of applause from the rest of the queue and one lady told Matthew he should be proud of me but all he did was refuse to talk to me!!

[honey lamb]

I've been on an ex-USA flight (IAD not MCO) when, unable to sleep after the meal service, I headed over to the bar only to find the FSM clearing it completely and muttering that she needed to go for her rest! There was easily another 3-4 hours of the flight left.

Ahhh I wish I could sleep! I have this terrible fear that I'm going to dribble/snore/talk in my sleep, or all of the above and it means that I just never am able to.

I just assume/hope that the rest of the flight are either asleep too, or have headphones in watching the TV, so if I talk/snore etc they won't know

As for that man, it's people like him that give us Brits a bad name! She's there to work, like he is when he goes into work, and not take abuse like that, so well done for standing up for everyone!

Just done the MAN-MCO and return in UC (out 13/1/15, back 29/1/15).

Both ways there was no problem at all with people at the bar. My wife and I sat there for 10 minutes outbound nursing a cocktail, but I have to say the seats are pretty uncomfortable with limited knee room. I think you would need to be a hardened social drinker to want to spend too much time perched there when you have a comfortable recliner/bed available.

My recollection is that there were four seats at the bar, but on the overnight flight everybody seemed to sleep and/or watch VERA - I think you would be very unlucky to encounter problems as there will be no more than 12 UC passengers on that route/cabin.

Like other posters have suggested, if another passenger is disturbing you then you should either let them know or have a quiet word with a member of the cabin crew. On a previous VA flight in economy, the person behind was being very difficult, deliberately pushing my seat because I had reclined. When a polite request to the passenger failed to alter his behaviour, a word with the flight attendant resulted in a courteous but firm word to the passenger that he should stop, that cured the problem immediately. Cabin staff seem well trained to deal with the problems that can arise when 400 people are confined together in close proximity sometimes with too much alcohol inside them!

We weren't offered sleep suits, and I didn't see anyone else with them. Quite honestly, on a 7 to 8 hour flight, once you've taken out the time for dinner and breakfast, it hardly seems worth the time and effort to get changed twice!

Hope you have a great trip,

Jonathan

Just done the MAN-MCO and return in UC (out 13/1/15, back 29/1/15).

Thank you for that Jonathan! That's a very helpful response, and I hope our trip goes just as well !

The bar doesn't look to comfortable, and as you mentioned, I can't personally see a reason why someone would choose a small bar stool in the middle of a small cabin, over a big comfy leather seat/bed!

Will you be doing a trip report on this/these flight(s) ?

J

Yes, will be doing reports in the next few days as both flights had some 'special' moments to share. Watch this space (or at least the 'trip reports' space!)

Jonathan

I can't personally see a reason why someone would choose a small bar stool in the middle of a small cabin, over a big comfy leather seat/bed!


J

Close proximity to the alcohol?

I have to admit doing both on-bar and off-bar (with kids and without), for me the seat comfort, or lack of, never entered my mind.

Just a quick question for those who are regular (or indeed have just used the service before)....

We are travelling to the hot and humid location that is Orlando, FL...

Would one be judged if wearing of a pair of (obviously good branded) shorts in UC for the flight? As I don't quite fancy wearing hot jeans on the plane anyway, let alone arrive there in them !?

Opinions welcomed

J

Don't worry, no one will bat an eyelid