New to UC

Hi,

Never flow UC before and wondering if there is any etiquette I need to know, especially when I'm returning from Cancun!

Cheers in advance.

Neil

Hiya,
Not really. Dress comfortably, casual is just fine. Some people take a change of clothes or even pjs (VS give them out on night flights but they're not generously sized) to be comfortable - but it's not a requirement. Enjoy the clubhouse (if you're flying UC fro pm LGW or LHR, and definitely enjoy a redhead or 3!

Just relax and enjoy the flight.

Just to inject a degree of realism...

I'm hoping this is UC return, in which case make the most of the LGW clubhouse - you'll love it.

For the Cancun departure, forget any idea of a fancy pre-departure experience. The lounge at Cancun is generously described as awful. Having flown back from there several times I'd choose to just forget the lounge exists and buy myself a burger in Air Margaritaville instead.

On board, dress comfortably, enjoy the service and don't forget the toilet shoes

I suspect most of us fly different classes (but always hope to bag an UC one whenever we can afford or get a deal on one) so I suppose the other part of the etiquette is to try not to look too smug as you turn left and keep the dancing / skipping towards the front of the aircraft to a reasonable level of decorum.... then grab some bubbly & enjoy / recline!

People are definitely more casually dressed on return flights from beach holidays, even in UC, so there is nothing wrong in dressing for comfort and then (as Bretty suggested) maybe having a change of clothes and something other than beach shoes for landing back in cooler climes. Sensible rule is imagine how you would feel if someone sat close to you dressed as you intend to dress .... shirt & tie unnecessary but something like a clean t-shirt rather than a vest and clean shorts rather than a swimming costume & preferably without 3kg of beach debris stuck all over yourselves

Hope you have a great holiday, I'm sure you'll enjoy the UC experience - don't forget to post your trip reports as we do like to hear experiences (good or bad).

There aren't any rules.
One I would like to see is a restriction on use of the bar on a night flight when all the other passengers in the cabin are trying to sleep.
Enjoy this flight and all those that will follow because once you have done it once you just have to do it again.

Dick D

Thanks all, just what I thought. I didn't want to look totally out of place and make it obvious that were UC virgins!

Some of your comments have made me chuckle! I can't guarantee that I won't be looking smug in departures or doing a little dance!

I have heard that the lounge in Cancun is poor so might only use this if needed! To make up for it I might upgrade to the clubhouse on my way out. I'll save that question for another posts.

One last question, do you get to keep the sleep suit? Just wondering what you can keep to remember the flight by. Simple things serve as a happy reminder, like a spoon off first class on the Eurostar.

Thanks
Neil

The little silver aeroplane salt and pepper pots normally go walkabouts after an initial UC flight I think. I checked with the stewardess on our flight and she said she might accidentally forget to take them when she cleared my table, but I am sure they expect them to be pinched. I keep mine on the kitchen windowsill and they remind me of the lovely UC experience each time I look at them.

The little silver aeroplane salt and pepper pots normally go walkabouts after an initial UC flight I think. I checked with the stewardess on our flight and she said she might accidentally forget to take them when she cleared my table, but I am sure they expect them to be pinched.

They expect to be pinched, it is why it says "pinched from Virgin Atlantic" on the underside of the feet.

And OP, please don't get too excited, when Lucy says "silver" she means plastic of a silver colour!! And the black ones in PE are quite smart too!

And re "etiquette"; Wear what you like and be as you like, you have paid (one way or another) to be there. It is business class on a plane, nothing more, it aint dinner with Her Majesty.

One I would like to see is a restriction on use of the bar on a night flight when all the other passengers in the cabin are trying to sleep.

Disagree I'm afraid. If I've paid potentially several thousand pounds for an UC ticket I think I'm entitled to use the bar if I so choose. If others want to sleep that's their prerogative but if I want to stay awake and chat - quietly - at the bar, that's mine. It's not a hotel.

One I would like to see is a restriction on use of the bar on a night flight when all the other passengers in the cabin are trying to sleep.

Disagree I'm afraid. If I've paid potentially several thousand pounds for an UC ticket I think I'm entitled to use the bar if I so choose. If others want to sleep that's their prerogative but if I want to stay awake and chat - quietly - at the bar, that's mine. It's not a hotel.

-quietly- I have no problem with that at all.
Last year I was on a night flight when a couple spent hours at the bar getting progressively more inebriated and louder. Then Mr Noisy went to his seat and couldn't get it to convert to a bed so more commotion. He didn't seem to care too much and slept in the seating position and started to snore even louder than he had previously been talking.

Dick D

Do you get to keep the sleep suits? Wife is hoping to keep it?!?!?

Yes, if you want to keep them you can.

When we came back from Cancun they "forgot" to tell the lounge they were boarding; my wife wanted to get on early so we headed down and bypassed most of the scrum (they were calling everyone over to the priority line by then) but I told them the flight hadn't been announced in the lounge - cue for a panic phone call! I slept really well on the return - the late evening departure is conducive to drink/eat/sleep!

We had our first experience of upper class last year and when we arrived at our seats we couldn't contain our excitement and trying out the seat, reading the menus etc. I looked up to find a teenager looking very unimpressed at our excitement. She was obviously used to the upper class experience and just sat there giving us funny looks. I took my own comfy clothes (pj's) to put on after take off as it was a night flight. The only problem is once you've done it, it costs a fortune to go on holiday again as you will want to do it every time.
Enjoy your first upper class experience.

We had our first experience of upper class last year and when we arrived at our seats we couldn't contain our excitement and trying out the seat, reading the menus etc. I looked up to find a teenager looking very unimpressed at our excitement. She was obviously used to the upper class experience and just sat there giving us funny looks.

Had quite a few of those looks over the years from people so blase about the whole thing. They should be forced to commute into London on the train every day to make them grateful for what they have...

I have been very lucky to have flown UC quite a few times now but I still get super excited walking onto the plane and turning left. Still take the same selfies, food, bar, seats and bed shots I did on my "Virgin" UC flight.

Enjoy your first UC