This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
This flight as a whole was more eventful than the outbound and, as mentioned in the outbound TR, we ended up with an extra night at the fantastic Spice Island Beach Resort, courtesy of VS/VH. We had packed up and were heading for a last swim/sunbathe before lunch and 3pm pick up when I received an email from the amazing VH rep in Grenada. VH really have excelled themselves with this lady – very different to the non-existent rep when we went to Dubai in November. She is a credit. Her email informed us that it was unlikely that we would be leaving today as the VS flight had gone back to LGW with a problem – and to watch this space. In the meantime she had already contacted the hotel and we were to stay in the same room etc. so minimum of fuss.
We decided to watch the beach instead but then an hour or so later, another email saying that the flight was delayed by at least 24 hours, profuse apologies etc etc. Not having anything to get back to on the Friday, we were not overly disappointed to have a free night in a luxury hotel in paradise….probably not what the 200 odd passengers put up in LGW were thinking…..We also had an email and text from VS to confirm new flight time (24 hours later than original) and number so comms were pretty good.
Roll on the next morning, we checked flightradar and the inbound was on its way so whatever fault had arisen on G-VGBR (Golden Girl) had been fixed. I was heading to the Grand Prix on Sunday, so another 24 hour delay would have been mildly irritating. Rep confirmed 3pm pick up in the morning so all was set. We arrived at GND to an empty UC check in – we had been re-allocated to row 1 on the G/K side so I politely asked if it would be possible to move back to row 5/6, where we had originally been sat. I had some funny moments with the check in agent here as she motioned for me to stand on the baggage scales – so I asked why she was weighing me, much to my OH, her and the other passengers amusement – however all she was doing was motioning to me look at her screen to see where we could be re-allocated to, and couldn’t move it round far enough to show me….laughs all round at my expense!! After that amusing interlude we decided to stay in row 1 and hoped it wouldn’t be too noisy etc.
Once the formalities of check in had been completed, we were issued with a delayed flight compensation voucher – 25k miles each as we were in UC (subsequently sent off and credits received – also have an EU261 claim pending with VS – as far as I can tell with the rules, we should qualify since the recent court cases have reduced the restrictions on the qualifying reasons) and another apology together with instruction to go and see a lady pre-security who would usher us to the lounge. To say that my wife was looking forward to using the bed in UC was an understatement!
Given there was a light shower, she wouldn’t be able to take us on the golf buggy to the IAM Jet Centre (which is where UC passengers spend pre-flight) – it’s a 1 minute walk back out of the terminal and around the side – we were ushered by a pleasant IAM employee with umbrellas in hand. The jet centre is fine to spend an hour pre-flight – you bypass main security and use the IAM security so it takes about 1 minute to get through – once in the lounge there are several tables, chairs, a selection of snacks and drinks. Staff take drinks orders and also duty free orders if you want it. It’s a nice (air-conditioned) space and way better than the main departure lounge (not-air-conditioned well) – having taken an island hopping flight during our trip, I wouldn’t want to spend long in there with a few hundred other passengers!
It wasn’t long before we were called to the plane and had a short stroll over to Golden Girl – UC seemed to have been called first and we boarded, champagne offered and taken. Soon we were off for the short flight to UVF, along with a much smoother landing than the inbound! This is where it got interesting….i was sat on my wife’s ottoman while boarding took place, and someone sat in my seat! Naturally I queried and we exchanged boarding cards – both of us had 1K….!!
CC were consulted and the flight manifest was retrieved – it had us in 5&6K (the original seats) and this chap in 1K. CC were rightly confused (as was I) how I could end up with 1K on my boarding pass but I did – anyway – the chap was more than happy to sit elsewhere to save us moving so the problem went away pretty easily….however other pax had clearly seen there was a slight issue and decided to wade in to the CC and grumble that they had been moved from their pre-allocated seats from the previous day’s flight (clearly most had moved with the new flight – why they couldn’t keep the assignments I don’t know – same plane, same people etc) but anyway VS IT had resulted in me sitting in 1K on one bit of paper and 5K on another – confusing! A third chap (who allegedly had “booked” 1K, so he told me) had a mild dig saying it was “ok” that I was sitting in “his” seat that he had “booked” 9 months ago….I didn’t have the wherewithal to dig back and say that his seat was printed on his boarding pass and that you don’t book seats, they are always subject to change etc – I was far too busy enjoying the second glass of champagne (yes you get champers in GND and UVF pre take off!!). The captain also popped out to apologise for the 24 hour delay – he looked sheepish but there was an accord of “we really didn’t mind spending another day on the beach” from the UC cabin!
Mild drama over, we were on our way, somehow we were a bit late but it meant that we would have a good few hours sleep at the “right time” once dinner was over. The CC mistook my request for Chablis as my first drinks order and brought me champagne, I think I looked slightly puzzled so she asked me if it was OK, I said I had ordered Chablis but it didn’t matter – within 30 seconds I was holding champagne in one hand and Chablis in the other…I knew the CC looking after the K side were going to be ace!
Dinner itself was pretty lacklustre, I had some beef dish that was like a bit of shoe leather and the OH had spinach soup that was pretty rank (and pretty solid) together with an open lasagne that was tasty but looked pretty morbid. Desserts were ok – overall the food offering tonight was poor really for any cabin, I have had better Y meals! Cheese board saves the day!
Service over, the CC sprang into action converting beds – asking my OH if she wanted pyjamas - she wasn’t expecting that so another surprise for her which she thought was a nice touch. I think the UCDS is slightly wider than the A346 beds as I managed to feel like I was able to move about a bit more. I’m “normal” size (slim and 5ft 11) and I wouldn’t have wanted the bed any shorter than it was so I am glad I avoided the middle seats, being 6 inches shorter. At 5ft 2, this didn’t really affect my OH in 1G.
I managed to get several hours sleep after I had finished watching 50 Shades of Grey (half decent I thought), and awoke to the cabin coming to life and beds being converted back to seats. I had pre-ordered full English before departure (as did the OH) but I really didn’t fancy it as the meal from a few hours ago left me feeling a bit full, even though I could only manage to eat half of it. I changed to a bacon roll, which was fine, the OH had the full breakfast but said it was pretty average.
During the clean-up and decent I chatted to the CC looking after the K side and found out that they get to stay on St Lucia for a few days before returning back, but often get requested to do the shuttles to GND or UVF and then head back to the beach. I thought that was quite surprising as I presumed the crew from the inbound or new outbound flight would do this.
Overall then a great flight, slept well, plenty of crew interaction and drinks, slightly let down by the food (which, on a flight where the lounge facilities don’t provide any significant meal, should really be better!). Well done VS
