This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Mrs csparker and the little csparkers are thrilled - it's a big stretch, just like we needed to get the four of us plus two weeks worth of luggage to the airport. Journey goes smoothly and we're at the airport by 8pm. No queues ay any check in line, but since we're flying G, we get to use the Upper Class line.
Check in seems slow - perhaps having four people travelling increases the time by a power of 4 rather than a factor. Bags are tagged and wheeled to the drop. We are in the CH by 8.15.
The burger 'special' (which always seems to be available) aside, the menu isn't that kid friendly. The girls order that, while the grown ups have a salmon and rice thing, which isn't to bad. Kids and I decamp to the computer room to pass the time.
CH is emptier than I had expected, since there is no VS046 tonight. Flight is called at 10pm, and security is a breeze. When we board, Upper Class is not full.
This is where things go downhill. It feels like it is amateur night for the cabin crew. Here is a list of the things they don't get right on boarding compared to normal service:
- Block aisles while getting to seat
- Do not offer a drink
- Do not take coats without being prompted
- Do not offer sleep suits (though some are available)
- Do not make sure water bottles are in the holders, despite the tray of bottles being left half way down the cabin and then stowed! (when I asked for a bottle, the FSM tells me there is one there - that was my own bottle! I get one, though no-one else in the cabin seems to get one
- Do not distribute amenity kits until after the seatbelt light goes out
Talking to Mrs csparker after the flight, she got the sense the cabin crew had friends on board and were more interested in them. I had spotted that as well, but interesting to know that a less regular J pax spotted it.
A woman in the outdoor gear asks everyone if they were told there was no meal service in the snooze zone. Could this have been done by someone more appropriately attired?
Push back on time, but it is a while before we're in the air. Again it's schoolboy errors, when the sound is not turned up for the first 30 seconds of the safety video.
Lights are out quickly and we get the kids, then ourselves settled in to bed. Limited help from the cabin crew. THEN the amenity kits are given out. I settle down. Five minutes later, the cabin lights go on! This flight is looking like it is being filmed for a 'How not to do it' video.
No further issues until its wake up time. Usually, people in snooze are offered a drink, but oh no, not today. Given the lack of water bottles, this is a problem for some of my group. We hold for a long time, and are warned that we're going to be on a remote stand. Eventually we land and taxi for so long that a stand has freed up. Not too long a walk to passport control, which is busy. Some bags are already on the reclaim, but we don't have to wait for too long.
Revivals is quiet. Menu service only, but of the staff tries to direct me there when I ask for a bacon buttie. Car arrives on time, and that's then end of the MCO epic. Luckily the appaling service on the flight has not spoiled it for us, but VS, you must do better, especially on the JFK 'business' routes.
