This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The journey across the M62 to the airport was pretty seamless and after dropping off the car we arrived at the T3 check in area to a warm welcome. Our bags were tagged and with boarding passes and lounge invites in hand we made our way to the Escape lounge.
Security was pain-free at which is rarely the case at MAN T3 and we were settled in at the Escape lounge in no-time.
Boarding began at 1345 and were all seated in quickly with a really friendly welcome and with only 52 on the VS3048 we we off the stand early and airborne at 1419. The Little Red crew were amazing (as always)
A flight time of 40mins had us arriving at the gate early and with just about everyone joining the bus to T3 we were quickly on our way.
The walk to the CH was only interrupted by a toilet stop and we picked up some currency but we were all welcomed warmly and even received a personal welcome when seated by the CH Manager. Having booked some spa treatments ahead of time, we went to just firm up exactly what we wanted and I squeezed in a quick haircut too.
The next few hours were spent eating, drinking, eating and drinking....the photos do the talking I think...
After a wonderful time in the CH where service was attentive throughout the boarding call came at 1950. The gate was 32 which was a 15min walk from the CH and when we reached the gate it was chaos. Priority boarding was not enforced and the ground team apologised as "this is a gate they rarely use" but we were on relatively quickly and welcomed at the door.
UC was solid as was the entire flight and it was quickly apparent two "off-duty" crew were also in UC as the crew fussed around them with drinks and large bottles of water. To be fair, the cabin crew member looking after the K side welcomed us warmly, introduced herself and offered champagne, water or juice.
Sleep suits and newspapers were offered and the amenity kit was already on the ottoman.
No time for refills as we left the gate at 2038 and taxied up to T5 and then joined a small queue for take off from 09R.
We were airborne at 2056 and a flight time of 6hrs 45mins was promised. After take-off hot towels were offered along with bottles of water and then menus by the CSS.
Drink orders were taken and arrived with crisps - I really do like the mojito range on board and though I know it's pre-mixed I do like the mile-high one which is topped up with champagne or the Blighty mojito topped up with gin.....delicious.
Drinks were refreshed for those that wanted or were asked.....not everyone was
and then most of UC settled down to sleep as we were completely stuffed from the CH, eating was not on the agenda!!Though the menu was for those interested....
Starters
Pea and Mint Soup
Warm chicken satay
Buffalo mozzarella and Roma tomatoes
Mains
Lemon and Thyme chicken
Seafood linguine
Keralan curry
Chilled Thai beef salad
Puddings
Warm brioche and butter pudding
Chocolate Torte
Cheese, crackers and port
Only four people were dining in UC so the service was quick and soon enough the lights were dimmed.
I made a quick visit to the bar for a nightcap and it was there the FSM came and introduced herself after a nudge from the cabin crew member looking after our side of the cabin.
It was also here that the same cabin crew member became really unwell and had to leave the cabin.
After dozing on and off for a few hours the lights came on for breakfast about an hour away from Dubai. The sunrise over Iran was spectacular also around this time.
Breakfast options included juice, cereals, porridge, fresh fruit, yoghurt with granola, crossiants, the full works (eggs, chicken sausage, mushrooms, tomato and hash browns) or chicken sausage rolls.
I went for the final option of Belgian waffles with red berry compote and chattily cream and they were delicious. Tea was served with a refill offered and accepted.
With the cabin secured we touched down into a rather warm Dubai at 0740. An overnight flight is always going to be difficult, here we had a rather lazy FSM involved who took no interest in any aspect of the service and lacked a presence, a CSS who was just as bad and then on top of that we had a crew member down unwell.
Thankfully the crew member recovered enough to come and apologise for not being around during the flight which I thought was a nice touch but overall the cabin crew team felt disconnected and this wasn't a flight up there with the best.
Thankfully.....the return was bells and whistles and more besides....but that is for another time....
Jon
Last edited by horburyflyer on 29 Mar 2015, 01:13, edited 1 time in total.
As VS say themselves consistency is paramount.