VS354 LHR-BOM 3 FEB 13 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

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Well there hasn’t been a TR s on the Mumbai service since its return so I thought I’d write one.

Check in was as usual flawless. Quick and efficient and rapidly through the Upper Class wing. Desk at the end of the long corridor unmanned (as I am more usually an evening visitor it seems always to be manned then). Through T3 and into the CH. Again a good experience- no drink of course for me at 0.8.00 but breakfast and a haircut from a pleasant chatty coiffure. I think the CH is one of VS’s remaining clear assets though it almost seems too big these days.
On to gate 22. Was asked to wait for eventual boarding via Door B; Economy was already boarding via A. This really is not on. If the aeroplane isn’t ready for Premium pax then boarding should not start at all IMHO. Worse still the only indication I got that we could board was when pax started to stream past me.
So on Board and in 1A in the UCDS, second time in an A330. Black shirt introduced herself to me pleasantly; settled down for the journey. Meal and meal service good except so far as I could see there was only one wine round; so had to request a second glass. I still wish there was a choice of two English rather than one English and two Indian meals- the vegetarian option offers only Indian fare. And I don’t like drinking wine from a beaker!. Nice to see the condiment pots back- but can we have silver (or if you want to be novel gold) black is a bit tacky.

I think my first flight on the A330 was mitigated by the fact that it was a daytime flight with an excellent crew. This was a part night time flight and whilst no one was in any way unpleasant I’d rate the cabin service as good rather than excellent. In particular after the lunch service crew were thin on the ground until afternoon tea (see below); I am sure I remember a time when if a passenger sat at the bar it was pretty immediately manned by cabin crew- had I done so here I felt I would have waited a long time.

This time the shortcomings of the A330 came home to me. The aisles are ridiculously narrow so if you move about the cabin when most pax are asleep it’s easy to bump into feet. There are not enough toilets; effectively UC share the rear ones with PE who slide round the curtain; can you give us some clearly dedicated UC ones please. On this flight the poorly signed forward loo was unavailable during meal service – it wasn’t last time but this is understandable since it is unfair on CC to have pax traipsing though when they are preparing meals as I said before(TR VS301 4 August) And VERA touch kept jumping from music/map mode into video all the time; it might have been a conflict handset/touch screen problem but was very frustrating. I honestly would have preferred VERA Reel and that’s saying something. And no crew rest means that CC take rest in vacant UCDS seats- I don’t blame them but it doesn’t help the image.

I think the meal service also needs a re-think on 354. I always set my watch to destination time on departure so we set off at 4 p.m. and the first service is really dinner. Which makes afternoon tea at 10.20 p.m sound just silly? Better a light supper- keep the sandwiches but add soup or let’s say samosas- I don’t know if two hot meals are possible.

So into Mumbai. More pain. Unlike Delhi at night Mumbai is crowded and lacks capacity (the arrival time of the old VS350 was fine) so; two queues for business pax, but the multiply staffed ordinary lane moved quicker. Baggage hall mayhem- VS rep doing her best but I had to look for my baggage as had been offloaded and “walked” some distance. Long queue for the pointless inbound baggage screen .......but just navigate around the queue and talk to a customs officer; he’ll let you by pass this lot as I feel the screen is more for inbound smugglers than us visitors. Lots of UK pax weren't bold enough to do this despite my urgingas a frequent Indian vsitor- go on just do.

Out into the warm balmy air and a driver to my hotel; life isn’t so bad.

Glad VS have resumed Mumbai work wise and it isn’t all as bad as it sounds; but the 330 UCS needs a re-think unless it is confined to sectors of 7 hours or less. Or staff need a bonus to work them happily! On India we’ll put up with them all summer on Delhi and Mumbai. I’d rather be on a 343 frankly. I’ve already another trip in April booked in UC, but will be looking at PE as I am not sure the UCDS justifies the price paid.

Well in a weeks time I’m on the 301 which fingers crossed will be a 346 ( but only for a few weeks) – Happier times I hope.

[Decker]

Thanks for that. So if there's noone on the desk who checks your passport? Nice bits of detail there. I'd assumed that in the absence of crew rest, crew didn't rest! I too am used to someone appearing at the bar as soon as you sit there - or at least quickly. The reason given was to prevent you free pouring for yourself. Thanks also for the tip - which made more sense one I deciphered urgingas which regretfully I was reading as some obscure ginger reference rather than urging as

I believe due to the sector length the pilots have 1K blocked off for them to use for rest purposes.

Thanks for that. So if there's noone on the desk who checks your passport?

I was through a week or so ago and was told that the BP check desk in the UC wing isn't staffed anymore - you go straight to the screener.

Nothing to add on UCDS.

[Decker]

Thanks for that Slinks

I was through a week or so ago and was told that the BP check desk in the UC wing isn't staffed anymore - you go straight to the screener.

Nothing to add on UCDS.

I suppose in theory, you should have either scanned your BP at the big glass door, or been checked in at the DTCI, although it's easy to sneak through on another passenger's coat tails!

Thank you for the great TR.

Thanks for that. So if there's noone on the desk who checks your passport?

I was through a week or so ago and was told that the BP check desk in the UC wing isn't staffed anymore - you go straight to the screener.

Nothing to add on UCDS.

Indeed I was through on Friday and it was confirmed that the desk is not manned anymore, in fact the security officer scanned it whilst I was loading my bags onto the belt. Seems tomake sense to me.

Thank you tugpilot for a great insight into the service on the Mumbai run- really useful. I was in the UCDS on the VS022 last night and I think I am changing my views about it, I feel much more positive about it now.......though a half empty cabin and a wonderful crew also probably helped!!!

Jon