This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The trip began inauspicously when the mobile went at 08:10 - the Tristar driver asking where we were. Seems the English habit of numbering their houses in a way designed to confuse Post People had thrown him. A few directions later and all was sorted so we finished last minute packing and prepared to leave. Moments later the Red Volvo Estate pulled up outside and we started loading. Unusually for the Deckers we had 4 bags to check - a few days in Disney followed by the enforced 'smartness' of a cruise coupled with some diving will do that to you. Still the driver was able and willing and in no time at all we were sat in the traffic jam that constitutes the A4 at rush hour.
Eventually the driver wisely decided that the M4 was a no go and
took us via the A4 to the A30 and thence the M25 - a decision that kept our trip as short as it could be. A mere 75 minutes later we were pulling up at the South Terminal - my ruse of hoping Tristar would think they were on a VS limo job failed
. Oh well back to Addison Lee next time then!We meandered to checkin where we were stopped short to be asked to confirm that we'd filled in our API then onto security and the checkin desk. Formalities completed we were handed our boarding passes and lounge pass and set off for the shopping area. A few necessities later we presented at the Clubhouse reception. 'Mr Decker - that name rings a bell' mused the receptionist... 'Did I get drunk and trash the place last time' I countered.... (Mrs D was VERY quick to point out that I was joking). 'No... what was it... ah yes - Buns mentioned you'd be in!'. Buns and Mrs Buns had preceded us by a day!
Off to seat 25 and Mrs D ordered the Baptastic while I confirmed
my Spray Tan. We both went for cappucinos. The Baptastic looked ace and Mrs D confirmed it tasted ace too! Whilst she tucked in I went for my treatment. Unlike LHR the spray tan at LGW is not automated and takes place in a tent like structure wearing your own underwear. So warning gents - if you plan to have this make sure your kecks are presentable... the treatment was straightforward and afterwards I rejoined Mrs D for my own baptastic.
An observation - the service at LGW is more personable than at LHR but slightly more chaotic.
We both stayed clear of booze and with 15 minutes to go before the flight ought to be called we wandered to the gate. This proved to be a bad decision as we waited and waited and waited.
30 minutes after we were due to board there was an incredibly opaque announcement 'Virgin are sorry to have to inform you that the plane is technical - we hope to be able to rectify this in 30 minutes'. Now is it just me or is it unreasonable to expect your average pax to understand 'technical'? Being cynical Mrs D and I high tailed it back to the Clubhouse where some Pride hit the spot for me. Sure enough 45 minutes later (rather than 30 - which including the walk time means an hour) we marched back to the gate at the behest of Clubhouse reception and sailed onto the airbridge before juddering to a halt. At least priority boarding was well signed and in operation.
The welcoming party at the door seemed a little confused on how to direct us to our seat so we just headed in the right direction and settled in! Usual ritual followed with a slight change - even tho' it was a day flight Mrs D and I asked for sleep suits - Mrs D because of an intent to sleep, me because I'd prefer that the fake tan rub off on disposable clothing rather than my own! Fortunately for us they had them to hand so moments later we were changed and watching the other pax settle in. As per usual we'd booked 8A and K so watched the traditional 'how do 6 and 7 stow their gear' shuffle. Directly behind in 9A and 9K were two children so naturally my immediate thoughts were
uncharitable. This was not helped by the mother grilling the crew on the food ingredients to be served. This culminated in the accommodating crew actually bringing the packaging for the mother to inspect.
Shortly after takeoff the 3rd degree was explained... the FSM announced that there was a passenger on board with a SEVERE nut allergy so no nuts would be served and it would be appreciated if all passengers did not eat nut products. I nearly felt guilty for prejudging the interrogation.
The lack of nuts translated into nibbles of poppadoms or twiglets (up there with Marmite in the love it/hate it league). The CSS concurred that on non LGW flights the poppadoms ran out before the cabin was served!
The new menu is a definite improvement in our books. We both enjoyed the Smoked Salmon salad and my sausages were excellent (Champ by the way seems to be mashed potato with spring onions mashed in). Mrs D's Cottage Pie was judged 'very tasty'. The wine choice is now
Berrys' own selection Australian Chardonnay 2005, Barossa Valley (quaffable enough)
Chapel Down Bacchus 2004, Tenterden, England (tried Mrs D's - very
floral up front taste with little after taste and lacking body.
Easy drinking)
Blanco di Custoza 2005, Monte del Fra, Italy Chateau du Tasta 2003,
Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux
Malumbres 2004, Navarra (tasty enough but lacking the full body of a mature Rioja)
Cabardes 2004, Chateau de Pennautier
During service I noticed the acting FSM from my previous flight appear in the galley. I wandered up to the upstairs galley and had a chat. Seems he'd been called in on short notice so there were 3 CSSs on this flight. This time he was acting down! Coming back down I got into conversation with the CSS for our cabin who (as always with VS crew) was charming. She asked if I flew with VS a lot and upon being told that we were both Au she expressed surprise as it wasn't on their sheet. Funnily neither was it on the boarding passes - so for some reason flying G seems to have a missing link. She explained that she was going to recommend Flying Club to me! Instead I recommened V-Flyer to her...
As I wanted to watch the end of Batman Begins I requested a DVD player which was duly delivered. As a jape I tried the DVD in my 'puter and surprise surprise it wouldn't play. Seems it is encoded for Region 8 (a non standard region - presumably for airlines) so if your DVD player is not region encoded you should be good to go!
Whilst typing this my iPod is in shuffle mode - (insert obligatory Preiffer jibe here
) currently the Quo then MC Solaar... lined up we have Tha Eastsidaz, Blondie, Peter Skellern, Half Man Half Biscuit, The Pogues, Marc Almond and Elvis Costello... almost worth missing Batman Begins for... almost... later peeps!
OK Batman Begins - Cool film. Watched Bullet Boy too. As landing got closer we were offered more food and I went for the finger sandwches which were GOOD.
Landing was uncomplicated (although it did involve a conversation with the children behind who turned out to be charming) and immigration was a breeze. Luggage was there almost immediately and transferred onto the second conveyor belt to disappear for a while. We headed for the pickup and I realised I'd left my PDA in the armrest. We walked to the VS luggage office who TRIED to locate the PDA for me. At the time of writing it has still not been located. As I know where I left it I am less than best pleased BUT it might be working its way through the system.
So all in all a perfect flight excepting a late take off and my own stupidity in leaving my PDA onboard...
