This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
After a fantastic three weeks touring round California and Oregon, with side trips into Mexico, Nevada and Washington, it was time to head home. We spent the last three nights of the holiday at the Residence Inn by Marriott at Oyster Point in South San Francisco, this is a very handy hotel for the airport and is right next door to a Courtyard by Marriott.
As is always the case on the last day of a trip to the USA, the last morning was a bit of a drag. We knew check in would open at 12.30pm, but as is always the case when you are not in a rush the trip back to SFO, the rental car return and the air train to the terminal took less time than we anticipated, so we were a few minutes early to check in. There were already quite a few in the Y queue when we arrived, and as soon as check in opened, we got sorted. I had used OLCI the night before to ensure that we kept our pre-selected seats of 2A, 2K and 3A.
Boarding passes and invitation in hand, it was straight up in the lift to the Clubhouse, which, a little surprisingly, is landside. On arrival we were greeted by xxx (name omitted until I have her permission to include it), a lovely lady who is well known to several V-Flyers, she gave us the tour of the facilities (unsurprisingly, we were the only pax in there at this stage).
We started with coffee and read up yesterdays UK newspapers, I went on the internet and posted on V-Flyer then had a walk downstairs to stock up on magazines. We then ordered a meal. I had a chicken, BLT sandwich, with roasted herb potatoes. Sue had tomato Napoleon with grilled bread, goats cheese and sherry vinaigrette and Christopher had warm Thai beef salad with Nam Prik sauce. Three very nice meals, and as a bonus they accidentally brought us a light bite of lamb kebab with orza pasta, mint sauce and asparagus, which we shared.
After the main course we all had a bowl of really nice fresh berries, Christopher and I had ours with ice cream and Sue had cr_me fraiche with hers. A very nice way to finish. Sue also had a couple of glasses of wine and I have had a couple of Buds! (No blue drinks to be seen!!) We passed the time on the net, reading, watching the aircraft outside and the golf from Ohio. The Sunday papers arrived once the incoming aircraft had landed. The lounge filled up a little, but was never what you would call busy.
When the flight was called, we made our way downstairs though security. We avoided any TSA issues, and went to the gate. Waiting for us there was Birthday Girl. Not only do they have a priority line for PE / UC pax but, once you are onto the jetway UC pax are directed to the left even avoiding the jetway queue.
We settled into our seats and were straight away given sleep suits and the new amenity kits. We pushed back slightly early, but had a long taxi before we took off. The seatbelt signs took quite a while to go off, but once they had, V-Port was started quite quickly. There were a few new films for August including Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and, very surprisingly the mega violent Sin City.
Details of all the V-Port films showing in August can be found here.
I watched HHGTTG (again) and ate while it was on.
Menu:
Starters.
Seasonal leaf salad with crab, oyster crackers, yellow teardrop tomatoes and black pepper dressing.
Potato and leek soup served with a choice of warm breads.
Main
Poached salmon with a medley of julienne vegetables, red bliss potatoes and Napa Valley sauce.
Crusted lamb served with parsnip fries, green beans and Merlot and thyme sauce.
Thai Green Curry with jasmine rice and toasted coconut.
Dessert.
Cheese, aged cheddar, double cream brie and Buttermilk Blue. Served with organic crackers and grapes.
Fresh summer berry sponge served with mascarpone.
Dulce de leche ice cream. On its own or with chocolate sauce and crushed crunchie.
Given all that has been written on V-Flyer about the UC food, I wasnt expecting too much, but was VERY pleasantly surprised. Christopher and I had the lamb, and they were massive steaks that were as lean and as tender as any I have had in a restaurant. Sue had the Salmon, which again was a huge portion and she thoroughly enjoyed it.
A lot has also been written about the Good Night Flights. This wasnt one by name, but was for all practical purposes. As soon as the meal was cleared away, the lights went down and all of the people in the upstairs cabin (apart from us) settled down to sleep. As it was only about 7.30pm (PT) I didnt feel like sleeping, so I went downstairs and found that everyone down there was also horizontal with the lights off. There was no one at the bar even. There were a few spare suites, but the FSM said the plane was nearly full. xxx had commented on how loads had gone up since the BA food problems!!
After a smooth (ish) flight, we had breakfast about 90 minutes out of LHR and then had a very smooth landing at 10.30am. A stand very close to the immigration hall and not much of a queue meant that we passed through very quickly. Our bags were among the first to appear shortly after we got into the baggage reclaim area.
We made our way to Revivals and found it almost empty. One thing that struck me was that no one had mentioned Revivals to us at any stage, not when we checked in, in the CH, or on board. It makes me wonder how many people fly UC on VS and leave the airport without realising that it exists?
Showers and a bit more breakfast were the order of the day and then out to make the long trek to the Underground station.
Another excellent insight into how the other half travel. Full marks to VS in every respect. Now to top up the much depleted FC accounts.
Nick