This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I checked in online about 15 hours before the flight - though for some reason my printer wouldn't print the barcode on the boarding pass. It normally does, there was plenty of ink, so I'm at a loss as to what happened there!
I used the Addison Lee app the previous evening to book my car, and what a quick and seamless way to do it. The car arrived 10 minutes early, but luckily I was ready so we were soon speeding our way to Paddington. Got there at about 6.40am, and it does surprise me that so little is open at that time, yet the station is quite busy. No where to even buy a newspaper.... oh well.
Once again, a quiet UC check in so I was soon in the lift and walking down the private security channel. for those that know, and the bottom of this corridor is a person to scan your ticket - but this morning there was nobody there but a handbag on the little desk - for anyone to have there hand too! (I'm sure there are security camera's everywhere, but I wouldn't chance leaving valuables so open - not that I have a handbag you understand....!)
Anyway the security lady in question was round the corner having a chat with the people on the x-ray machine. She was quite embarrassed to see that I'd wandered through, so she took me back to the desk to have my boarding card scanned.
I was soon through security, and picking one or two bits up in WhSmiths I was in the lounge in my favourite seat by the window behind the bar.
As discussed in the thread I started from within the lounge - I had the Kedgeree - and lovely it was too! Would highly recommend it.
Nothing else to really add about the lounge - I was checked on regularly and as usual if got busier as the morning progressed.
I wandered down to Gate 16 just before we were called, and was able to go straight through the UC channel and on to the plane. For the first time in ages at LHR there were two airbridge's being used so I was striaght on and in to my seat of 5K. I do like the K row at the front as it seems quieter as your not facing people in the D row, so I'm now developing the habit of choosing a 2 - 7K if possible.
Our CC was round quickly with a bucks fizz, though on this morning flight the snooze suits aren't out and I had to ask for one which was quickly produced.
UC was practically full - I only spotted two empty seats.
Food, I opted for the soup and the chick pea cakes, which having eaten my way through this menu 4 times now in 6 weeks, I think is the best option.
The FSM was very visable - she was handing out landing cards and pens, bread and generally checking regularly in the cabin. In fact - all the CC in UC were very present on this flight - more than I'd noticed on the flights I took the other week, which was great to see.
I watched Kick Ass (very funny - but may not be to everyone's taste with the graphic violence and language) - but some real laugh out loud moments.
As I was feeling pretty tired I bedded down and slept for 3 and a half hours and woke just in time for the afternoon tea service. (I had the egg mayo sandwhich and a scone). Cakes were offered but the stand didn't make the trip round the cabin - though I did see it on the bar.
We landed 5 minutes ahead of schedule and by the time we'd taxi'd to the gate it was 1.30pm.
Now I last flew into JFK on the 3rd of this month, again on the VS003 - and exactly the same thing happened again - Immigration was deserted! Completely empty. So I've either fluked twice in a row or getting off the plane at 1.30pm is the optimum time to land at JFK!
Anyway, a short wait for the bags, and I was again in my downtown hotel by 2.30pm and in the office by 3pm.
(I always stay at the East Houston hotel - and can highly recommend it.)
So another flight with no complaints from me what so ever! Am flying to Fayettville Arkansas today with US airways, so will post a report on that later too.
