VS008 LAX-LHR 29 AUG 10 (Upper Class)

[Neil]

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

After a fantastic road trip around California and Las Vegas it was all too soon for my flight home. I'd forgotten what a dull airport LAX was so was glad to arrive at UC check-in with only two hours to go. Mind you, there were no check in people to be seen at UC as most were busy checking in Economy, and we were made to wait for some time and then felt like an inconvenience.

The usual queue and bun fight through security then ensued, (they really could learn a thing or two from VA's private security channel, and then up into the Air New Zealand Lounge to relax and enjoy a few glasses of wine before the flight. The lounge was extremely busy as pax awaited the NZ2 departure to London. Have to say was very taken by the new look Economy, Economy Couch, Premium Economy and Business Class that Air New Zealand are currently rolling out (due to hit London Routes by April 2011) across their long haul fleet - it will certainly make VA's offer look very dated, even the VA lounge host was impressed, and certainly made me think of trying when it reaches LHR.

Soup and Cold Meats and Salads were on offer as the snack in the lounge, and as we wondered about and looked out on the crowds below we received some very interesting one and two finger gestures from passengers, which I felt was a bit rude. VS8 was delayed until 1800 hours, but a prompt boarding call at 1720 with Upper being loaded first and escorted down by the concierge.

Greeted by a really friendly stewardess, who looked after us really well. They seemed a bit surprise as to the prompt boarding as many of the cabin checks hadn't been done as they had only just got on the plane, so menus and headsets were given out with the pre-taxi champers. Compared to 747 UC felt cramped and seat was not as comfy as I had recalled before. A full flight and est flight time of 9.5 hours we settled back for dinner and then sleep. Dinner was extremely disappointing. Opting to go straight for the main, I was looking forward to the tasty risotto with Chicken. What appeared was tepid chicken and a timbale of rice, no jus whatsoever, so left most of it - the other half didn't even take a bite! The lovely CC was most concerned, but I was ready for sleep so called it a night. Well tried to call it a night as the flat bed was very uncomfortable and felt very cramped vs 747... is it just me? Sadly a very disturbed night due to illness, when finally I did drift off it was breakfast time which I couldn't face. Again the CC member was fantastic and brought me some mint tea and a large bottle of water to help me out.

A very quick land into LHR and then a long walk from Gate 23 to immigration and customs. Aren't they a friendly lot? Not!

Compared to outbound flight, walked off the flight non-plussed, food was bland and pretty awful, but hats off again to the crew and especially the CC member looking after me who was fantastic!!

For those of you interested in the new look Air NZ seats here is the link.... VA you should be worried!!!

http://www.futuretakingflight.com/

Nice TR! You might want to delete the crew members name as per forum rules if you didn't gain their permission to publish it on here.

[Neil]

Nice TR! You might want to delete the crew members name as per forum rules if you didn't gain their permission to publish it on here.

Thanks Tink, I was just editing it as you posted.

Just a reminder to all that if you wish to include the name of a CC member you must ask and gain their permission for their name to be posted on a public forum and if you can make a note stating such when posting a TR we know not to remove them.

Thanks,
Neil

Sorry! Didn't realise being a newbie.. thanks for letting me know...

Sorry to hear it was an unpleasant experience. That is certainly not up to VS UC standards.

One comment I am rather curious about is the reference to the rude gestures. What was that all about?

Thank you for the great TR.

One comment I am rather curious about is the reference to the rude gestures. What was that all about?

Lounge PAX lording it over the general pax below, in the quite rude and unpleasant opinion of the below passengers. Chip on the shoulder, it seems. Gotta love LAX ...

One comment I am rather curious about is the reference to the rude gestures. What was that all about?

Lounge PAX lording it over the general pax below, in the quite rude and unpleasant opinion of the below passengers. Chip on the shoulder, it seems. Gotta love LAX ...

Unfortunately Air NZ lounge was pretty full so the only seats available were the ones near the business area which looks out over the rest of departures. Weren't doing any lording, but clearly a glass of wine in the hand got us a two or one finger salute...

Bit sad really that people feel the need to do that... god bless LAX as you say, never understood why VA didn't build a lounge there - surely more traffic than SFO

Thanks for your TR shame the flight was just so so, i often wondered why they built a ch at sfo when lax would have been more appropiate?

cheers

alex

Thanks for your TR shame the flight was just so so, i often wondered why they built a ch at sfo when lax would have been more appropiate?

cheers

alex

I believe it is to do with space or rather the severe lack of it in T2 - that terminal is tiny.

One comment I am rather curious about is the reference to the rude gestures. What was that all about?

Lounge PAX lording it over the general pax below, in the quite rude and unpleasant opinion of the below passengers. Chip on the shoulder, it seems. Gotta love LAX ...

Unfortunately Air NZ lounge was pretty full so the only seats available were the ones near the business area which looks out over the rest of departures. Weren't doing any lording, but clearly a glass of wine in the hand got us a two or one finger salute...

Bit sad really that people feel the need to do that... god bless LAX as you say, never understood why VA didn't build a lounge there - surely more traffic than SFO

I apologize on behalf of what I can only assume are my countrymen. There is no excuse for such behavior. Despite global opinion, those types are very much in the minority.