This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I did online check in the night before, no problems and was pleased to find my seat was as I requested. I went to Downtown Disney the next day to get rid of my luggage. It was quite busy and I also suspected that the Upper/Premium line moved no quicker than the Economy line
Still I was through and processed in under 15min so not too late for my onward trip to Epcot! I was advised by the agent there was likely to be a delay on my flight but he didn't know what that would be at this time, nor was there any gate information. He did write down a toll free number to call though if I wanted to find this out later on which was helpful. I had suspected there would be a delay as I had seen the 27 was late leaving LGW. I was pleased whilst at Epcot to receive both a text and email from Virgin informing me of the delay and what the new ETD would be. This meant I knew what time to get to the airport and it gave me another couple of hours of holiday time
We had a smooth drive to the airport (managing to avoid the deluge of rain that Buns encountered) and I was through security in less than 10min so not too bad at all for a Friday evening.
I trudged up to the Delta Sky Lounge....it was packed and too hot....which is generally how I always seem to find it! I had a drink or two but couldn't find anywhere to sit so trudged back down again to the much cooler gate area. Should I ever fly Upper Class again I think I will try and ask for the $15 voucher that I was offered one time instead of a lounge invite. This seems like a much better offering IMHO.
The gate area was now beginning to get really busy. The VS16 was due to leave about 10min before us with one of the Manchester flights also leaving around the same time. Incidentally they are renovating the restrooms by the gates too so the queue for the ladies was stretching across the corridor (even the gents had a small queue going out the door!)
I am afraid I was one of those people who stood near to the gate area, but only because I knew I would be allowed on the plane pretty much first
It was a good move as it meant I was first on when they put the call out for Upper Class!! I think I was a bit too quick as there wasn't even a member of CC by the door. I got myself sorted in my seat and was offered a drink. Champagne (noooo why have you got rid of the Lanson?!
) was accepted. I think I was also offered a refill but politely declined.We left a little later than our new departure time but were promised a reasonably quick flight time with no turbulence expected. Drinks were served soon after take off with the dinner orders taken soon after. I generally found the CC much better than my outward flight, the service seemed more consistent amongst all the passengers and I didn't feel like I was being treated differently to anyone else like on the way out. I guess some would say that meant the service didn't have the "sparkle" that you often get with VS, however I didn't mind.
The dinner menu has been posted in a few other topics so I won't bore you all with a repeat. I had the salad which was quite boring and in no way consisted of the "baby" salad leaves that the description stated
. For the main I had the vegetarian curry - this was lovely - not nearly as spicy as the curry I had coming out! I had asked for the lemon pudding before the CSS came out and proceeded to profusely apologise that the wrong puddings had been loaded, so sorry but they have loaded sticky toffee pudding instead, would that be OK? I'm sorry I didn't hear anything you said after sticky toffee pudding....yes bring me that...immediately...please Best mistake ever!! She apologised again whilst serving me my pudding, evidently missing the ear to ear grin on my face that was shortly to be filled with pudding!!I had a cup of tea after dinner, finished watching Theory of Everything and then made up my bed. I slept on and off for a few hours. I actually found the cabin a little warm this time..normally I am wondering if the penguin exhibit at Sea World is warmer than the cabin where I am sat!
The cabin started to come to life again about 90min before arrival. I made up my bed and breakfast was soon delivered. I had gone for the blueberry pancakes which were very tasty.
We had no hold into Gatwick and landed with a bit of a bump just after 0900. I was quick off the plane and through the e-gates at immigration before the queue had started to build up. My bags were off soon after and then it was off to wait for my bus home.
Thanks for reading! I probably won't be boring you with another TR until this time next year......probably....wait what's this about a BA sale...surely VS will follow....
