This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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Of course karma comes back and bites you on the behind! I get to my car and notice my back tyre is almost flat! Instead of driving straight home I had to inflate the offending wheel!
Itching to get home quickly, 2 people pull up at the same time in front of me, I now have to queue for air pressure...no problem I'll enjoy all request Friday on radio2 with Simon Mayo. (I almost called up to request britneys "work bitch")
After waiting for ages it was my turn. I thought it best to check/fill the other tyres and leave the flat one till last. Obviously the pressure machine packs in when I need to fill the flat one!!!
Arghhhhhhhh, then it starts to rain.
Luckily someone comes to fix it, tyres are filled to the required pressures and I'm finally on my way home!!!
I get home and Simon is ready and waiting for me, we had packed our bags the night before (very organised for us). A quick change of clothes, bags in the car we were on our way for the 8 mile journey to the Celtic Manor.
Now, Facebook friends will know the CM is like a home away from home for us. Most weeks we eat at the priory in Caerleon, get merry and decide to on a taxi to the manor instead of going home. Some of our stays have been fantastic and others have been awful. I complained about the terrible stays and was given a very good deal for the night before our flight.
I digress...
Back to it...once we had parked the car we made our way upstairs to check in. Check in was fine a few people in front of us but we were dealt with efficiently by a nice chap who I've never seen before.
He gave us the keys to our room and we made our way to room 933.
What can I say...we opened the door to our room and were greeted by a massive suite. A living/dining room with complimentary wine on the table. A separate bedroom that I thought led into the bathroom until Simon shouted "omg! It's keeps going on! There was a dressing room with his and his wardrobes and then a huge bathroom. We found another bathroom after more exploring and a balcony that spanned the length of the room!!! It was huge!!!
We took in our surroundings not believing our luck, drank our bottle of wine and made our way downstairs to Terry M the fine dining restaurant all forming part of our package for the evening.
The food was very nice but the experience was wasted on Simon as he's a very picky eater. We picked an outstanding Californian Chardonnay instead of having the sommelier accompaniment and I'm glad we did. It was possibly the best Chardonnay I've drank. (Bogle I think, yes! just checked and its only $6.99 a bottle!)
We had scallops, foie gras, venison, goats cheese to name but a few.
Some funny moments were had, Simon asks what the White stuff was:
D-"It's panacotta Simon."
S-"What? With cheese?"
D-"Yes"
S-"What are these green balls?"
D-"Gnocchi"
S-"But they're green!"
D-"Yes Simon they must have herbs in them"
S-"What's that."
D-"It's artichoke"
S-"is that liver?"
D-"no dear (HA), it's venison...Bambi's mother"
What I hadn't noticed that there was liver on the plate but before I could stop him he had eaten it!!!
We had a good time even if Simon wanted to get a taxi to the Coldra roundabout and go to McDonald's after our meal.
Once back in our mansion we fake tanned each other and went to bed.
Only to be woken at 5am by a sudden movement!
"Simon! The foie gras has gone right through me!!!
So after the food drama from the previous evening and my stomach finally settling enough to have some breakfast we made our way downstairs to eat.
Breakfast at the CM is nothing to shout out about but the sausages are very good.
So at 10:05 we made our way to the car and started the journey to LHR. We made very good time, it took us 1h 40m.
I phoned purple parking 30m before arrival and was greeted by a very abrupt lady who changed her tone as soon as she read the notes..."oh you're doing the upper class experience Mr Morgan". She very sweetly informed me the driver would be there waiting for us and she would be calling him straight away so he was aware of our arrival.
We were 10m early so we waited a little for our driver to arrive. When he did arrive he drove us up to the wing, I gave him a little tip and he departed in our car.
Dtci was just as great as usual only a little bit slow as they didn't have our boarding passes ready. It did allow me to take more of the area in and realise how lucky we are to experience it.
Would I use purple parking and dtci again? Yes! If the driver is waiting for you it's still quicker than the terminal. I will be doing the same in September.
With boarding cards in hand and bags whisked away the check in agent asks if we know our way to the clubhouse but stops mid sentence, looks up and says "but of course you do". We have a little giggle thank him and make our way to security.
Security was very slow due to the fact we were selected for a random search. Even though there was just one person in front they were flying to LA with filming equipment and it took ages to swab and scan things!
After the small delay we went straight to the CH, we were welcomed back and made our way to our favourite seats.
The CH wasn't to busy but all the tables at the bar area were taken minus our favourite spot (lucky us).
I told Simon to surprise me with a drink and went straight to the spa to book a massage and a haircut. I was able to book both with quite a few slots open.
When a came back I was greeted by a redhead and a bramble, the bramble was mine!!
I fancied some smoked salmon and salad from the deli bar and wasn't disappointed, Simon had a selection of cheeses and meats but the cheese wasn't great and the meats quite dry. Cut to early and left out to dry maybe?
After an hour or so we ordered some tapas, we had the deep fried brie, the pulled pork sliders and devilled egg. The pork slider was very good.
Very soon it was time for my haircut and massage, I took a glass of champagne to enjoy the views when having my cut but was greeted by building works. The new transfer building I was told. Shame really.
After my treatments I was ready to board so when the first call was made we gathered our bits and left within 5 minutes.
We arrived at the gate and walked straight onto champagne belle (great name) using L1, we were greeted at the door and directed to our seats.
This was the first time we've flown on the A333 but I was well aware what to expect, Simon on the other hand doesn't read vflyer so his opinion mattered more to me as I felt it was unbiased.
Princesses verdict...he liked the look and that was it. He commented on how cramped the cabin felt. He even thought there was more past the galley (no dear that's the cockpit), he said the seat was smaller and felt boxed in. He noticed straight away the was no arm rest. He even said it wasn't very private with the transparent partition. So I'm sad to say we don't like the A333. One more thing...we always dine together and this flight was the first time we couldn't as there wasn't enough room. We tried but soon realised it was to cramped with our legs on top of each others.
Any way, back to the flight...
Once in our seats our crew came round and offered champagne with refills also being offered.
The FSM came around and introduced herself to the UC cabin, she addressed everyone by sir or madam but when she came to me and Simon she used our names, welcomed us back and thanked us for our custom, recognising our status. Two other crew members on different occasions also mentioned our status throughout the flight. Little things, but really made our flight even better!
Initial impressions of this crew were great. The FSM was clearly on the ball and the crew worked really well with her and this set the tone for one of our best flights ever!
We pushed back on time and were soon in the air. There were 90 onboard today, Y and W were empty with J being 3/4 full.
Soon drink and food orders were taken. I noticed the new amenity pack and had a look through. I think the lip balm is a great addition, not that I used it as I carry on my own little amenity pack filled with lotions, potions and jelly beans.
I had the mile high mojito and it was bloody lovely! I found out later it was shaken with real cucumber. The wonderful CSM on our side kept my crisps and cocktail topped up and she even brought me a chocolate bar over. Crips, chocolates and cocktails what more can a girl want?
Dinner time!
Food today wasn't the best, the salmon starter was tiny. The beef was dry and tough. The saving grace was the dessert, a mango mousse thingy, it was very tasty.
After dinner I sat at the bar and Simon soon followed. We both sat and chatted to the crew and pax for a few hours. The bar area is a disgrace, it's chipped and dirty. I could sense the crews frustrations and embarrassments for the cabin in our conversations.
At the bar the one CSM kept plying me with food and drink. When our CSM went for her break another brilliant crew member took over, she was hilarious! At one point I asked for another mile high mojito, she had no idea how to make it but got there in the end by putting "a bit of this" and "some of that".
At the bar I tried out the charcuterie board and the sushi. The sushi was nice but the board wasn't enough for 2 to share. In the goody bowl there were marshmallows and I was told they were amazing eaten on their own or melted in hot chocolate, having had my fill at the time I politely declined.
After what seemed like ages at the bar we returned to our seats and I listened to some music to pass the time, it was a long 8 hour flight today.
During a bit of "Shania" one crew member came over with a "gash" bag filled with a selection of marshmallows, chocolate and hot chocolate powder. "To keep us going in NYC" she said!
Being a late afternoon flight options from the graze menu were offered. Being the fat glutton that I am and the crew twisting my arm to have one, I had the burger...and I'm very glad I had it because it was lovely.
Lots of pax refused options from the graze menu but when they saw my burger they jumped on the bandwagon.
Soon we started our descent and my opposite neighbour started talking with me about how great the crew were and how she never has a bad flight with VS. Sentiments I agreed strongly with.
We landed into a cold and dark JFK, once at the gate we got our things together. The crew came round, thanked us and wished us a great time in Manhattan. My opposite neighbour overheard Manhattan and offered us a lift as she was going there. She had a driver and it would save us money so she told us. I initially declined but she was very insistent so we both agreed and thanked her. I thought we might lose her in immigration but the queues were short and she only had one bag like us.
We exited the airport with our new friend got in her car and she whisked us away to Manhattan saving us a few $$$
I can't fault this flight apart from the cabin itself. Credit to the crew, not one of them was off today, they were all amazing. The FSM had told me she has been with VS for almost 30 years. She was phenomenal, working the cabins dealing with the ife issues herself. Her experience clearly rubbed of on the crew because they were following her lead! Just a great great crew! Well done Virgin.
I hope our return is just as good as I'm just finishing this TR off 6 hours before our homeward flight.
Thanks for reading
Darren
Last edited by ultreen1 on 18 Mar 2015, 03:06, edited 1 time in total.
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but I did laugh, and "we fake tanned each other and then went to bed" is the best euphemism I've heard or read! 
) souls there .