VS043 LGW-LAS 16 MAR 15 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

As being retired with a lot of time on your hands and getting through the winter of dreary days and cold, always looking for ways to break up the gloom. Having finished my year long treatment of implants, and found the joy of tasting and eating again (not that my waistline noticed) was always looking for reasonably priced flights to somewhere warm.

We have a few Virgin miles left and have been collecting Airmiles for about 18 months so was continually looking on both sites. Then in February up popped two UC reward seats to Vegas for March, as these are like hens teeth had quick word with hubby checked to see what was available on the return only economy but BA had WT+ seats so a quick call to the flying club and everything was booked. Did the BA ones online.

I know Vegas isn't everyones cup of tea but we like it that there is always something to do, food is excellent, fabulous rooms for the money and good choices of shopping and sizes for us older generation, and it was warmer than the UK.

Booked the Hilton for the night before with a meal through Holiday Extras plus parking.

We set off about 1.30pm and first thing nearly didn't make it out of our village as on the slip road to the A1 some idiot was texting or something as was weaving all over the place so that he was on our side of the road and hubby had to take emergency action, that shook us both up a bit. We decided on the M1 past Bedford then onto the M25, for those that don't know the area the Black Cat roundabout has been under reconstruction for about a year. On approach at the last minute you have to go on a single lane to Bedford of course we missed it as did several cars in front, its quite a long detour on back roads to get on track.

Being a Sunday think all the worst drivers are out on the roads must have counted at least 30 people in cars all on mobiles weaving around and not paying attention. We eventually arrived at the Long stay Gatwick parking, no ticket came out of the machine used intercom if you book a package with the Hilton you have to get a voucher at reception as they do not inform the car park of your registration number.

Nice room but bed was too hard for our liking and the pillows too soft (you just cannot please all the people all of the time) so did not sleep very well. Checked out at 7.30 to make our way to the UC check in area, did not use Twilight check in as like to keep our things with us. We have only ever used Gatwick with Virgin Holidays and PE so was really looking forward to the start of this experience.

Check in area was empty went through the UC entrance and received a very warm welcome and off to security. There were already long queues everywhere although premium was stamped on our tickets no lane anywhere to go so got on the end of long line. Found the haven of the lounge were we were warmly welcomed, breakfast and drinks ordered, very attentive service and we were offered many drinks, as the flights were. called it emptied and was very cosy.

Flight was on time so we made our way down to gate were there did not seem to be any priority boarding and a large group of inebriated young men were in the queue, we got behind them and I went in front to see if there was any separate lanes for UC and found one so grabbed hubby, the uproar from the group as we leapt in front was quite intimidating.

Welcomed on board by name and the UC cabin was full, think we had made a good choice of 7 & 8 K although no overhead bins think we prefer them to the front two as we can talk more easily over the screen. Attentive crew quite chatty, lots of drinks supplied. I did not like the new menu as I do not particularly like spicy food as it does not agree with me, hubby does so he loved it all, went for the chicken which was dry and the sauce awful so did not eat any of it, they did offer to get me something else but as I had a good breakfast in the Clubhouse was not too bothered.
Good selection of films although not too keen on the touch screen IFE and it was very dark even on full brightness. Excellent flight hardly any turbulence fabulous views over Hudson bay crystal clear and all still ice bound. We landed ahead of schedule to a hot Vegas, reasonably empty immigration hall we were directed to the self service kiosks, hubby was accepted but not me could not get the hand prints right so had to go to an agent, dealt with very quickly. Our bags were first off and we were on our way to the car rental within half an hour of landing must be a record.

Thanks for reading all the niff naff and trivia, will do the BA trip report soon. Linda

Thank you for a most enjoyable TR.
Despite a shaky start things certainly improved for you as the day progressed . Well done for being brave enough to find the UC boarding queue. Sometimes I think the ground staff are not very helpful at this point.

I look forward to your return TR.

Congratulations on finding and snaffling those elusive Gs to LAS Sounds like a decent flight, not the first TR to mention UC food a little under par but good to hear the CC trying to put it right

Thanks for posting an enjoyable read Linda

[buns]

I will add my own congratulations on grabbing thos G's

Glad you were able to enjoy the haven of the Gatwick Clubhouse - but the encounter at the Gate must have been a little unsettling. I trust thee were no flight incidents with said group

Hope you enjoyed Vegas and thanks for the TR

buns

Thanks for the TR.

Though a Hilton devotee (follow the points!) the beds aren't always the most comfortable. Glad the flight service was up to snuff even if the food you had wasn't.

Why that route to Gatwick? We'd normally go clockwise, particularly now the Dartford Crossing toll booths have been removed and replaced by number plate recognition.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

To your question Paul, we absolutely despise the A14 and M11 route and as we are almost on top of the A1, hubby calculated that it would take the same amount of time to do that route. It was a little slower but there are numerous services on the M1 to stop off on the way home for a break not just the Stansted one.

Infact on the way back all we could hear on the radio was Dartford crossing accident, A14 accident.

You have to pre book the Dartford crossing as well.

Thanks for an interesting TR, glad you had more good bits than bad. Hope Vegas lived up to your expectations.

Thank you Linda for the TR. We too love Las Vegas for the same reasons. I hope you had a lovely & lucky time. Looking forward to reading the return TR on BA.