Upper or Lower in UC?

This is my first post, so sorry if this has been asked a lot.

I am going on my first UC flight (LHR to SFO) and have booked seats in the upper section. How does this work? Do you have FA's up there all the time? or do you have to buzz them. Also do you walk through the PE to get to down stairs? I am travelling with my husband and we are booked into 3A and 3K. Should we be one in front of each other or are they close enough? I have read that we should either go for a ones at the front of the lower cabin, but I don't like enclosed spaces and wondered if either row 8 or 9 going out and stick to the upper section coming back? I did think about the ones that change into a double, but is is comfortable without the middle section? Also there is lack of space in the seats upstairs or are they the same?

Sorry for all the questions, but I just want it to be perfect!

Also where do you get your invite for the revivals lounge? Some posts have said at the CH. But on the VA website no mention of an invite.

Thanks

[Nottingham Nick]

Welcome to V-Flyer [8D]

An awful lot,if not all, of your questions have been answered many times before.

If you have use the search facility- particularly in the trip report section, using the term 'UC Suite' or the Seat ratings page you will find lots of info.

UC passengers are admitted to Revivals without an invitation - just show your boarding stub, they have manifests and can check that you are eligible to enter.

Nick

Thanks for your prompt reply. I have done all the search and read loads of trip reports. Not many mention upstairs and the FA's etc. I suppose I hoped that someone would say def. one or the other.

Thanks

[honey lamb]

On the LHR-SFO route 3A and K will be upstairs and you will go through the PE cabin to get there. I personally prefer to be downstairs as I feel you get the whole UC experience there but I know others prefer upstairs. I should add that I have never travelled in the suites upstairs.

Generally the cabin crew are visible especially at the start of the flight when drinks and meal orders are taken but after the meal a lot depends on the crew. I personally have never had to buzz them and found them very accessible.

With regard to Revivals, only once have I been given an invitation but they do have a list of all those who have flown in UC and are eligible for Revivals (Gold members are regardless of the class they have flown in. Op-ups are not) If you don't get an invite just go along to Revivals. It won't be a problem

Enjoy your flight and do feel free to ask any questions

[Nottingham Nick]

I am not a regular UC flyer, but have no complaints about the attentions given by FA's upstairs or downstairs. They seemed very attentive in both cabins.

My own personal choice would be downstairs, there seems more happening down there, you are handy for the bar (but not too close ). There is also more luggage space downstairs.

The general concensus on the site seems to be that upstairs is the place to be if you are in PE, but downstairs in UC gets the vote.

It is down to personal choice though.

Nick

Didn't the upper decks used to be classed as a quiet zone? I am not overly clear on this as I have NEVER actually flown in UC on the upper deck. I imagine that the upper deck would be quite nice as you must surely have a good ratio of crew to pax being only 10 suites (I think this is correct).

Paul

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by p17blo
Didn't the upper decks used to be classed as a quiet zone? I am not overly clear on this as I have NEVER actually flown in UC on the upper deck. I imagine that the upper deck would be quite nice as you must surely have a good ratio of crew to pax being only 10 suites (I think this is correct).

Paul

Well the upper deck is/was the snooze zone for the east coasts flights back to the UK.

I flew in the upper deck the first time I booked in Upper on a 747. It was the J2000 seats and we were in 3A and C. I had flown in PE before on several occasions and I can still remember the acute sense of disappointment we felt on boarding on being directed upstairs. [:(] To me it was like an extension of PE. Like Nick says, there seems to be more happening down there.

Funny you should mention 3A and 3K. That row is one of my favorites on the UC suite. I prefer the upstairs cabin to the larger downstairs as it seems much quieter and I've always been looked after well by the FA's. It's also nice to wonder downstairs to the bar knowing that you can retreat back upstairs. On only negative can be when you leave the plane, but the FA's normally do a grand job on traffic control.

BTW - This is my first posting... so hi to all V-Flyers!

Hello Mutley!

welcome to V-Flyer

I have flown both up and down and I would say down for a day flight and up for a night flight. Watch out for overhead luggage space on the upper - my rolly case will not fit (but as its UC they whisk it away promtly).

Thanks for all your replies. I have decided on the both of them. 8A/8K out and 3A/3K back. That way I have done both, and won't have any regrets!

You never know when I can afford the money or miles again.

Excellent choices! Row 8 is about as good as it gets downstairs, as long as rows 6 and 7 have not pinched your overhead locker space... The upstairs UCS are much of a muchness, and 3 gives you a balance between being near the flight deck and toilets, and the (slightly) noisier PE cabin.

One advantage of upstairs in upper is the pax to toilets ratio - much better than downstairs.

No need to worry about crew not being available there are always 3 on the UD, 1 x Cabin Crew and 2 x Senior Cabin Crew, youll find that there will be one senior crew member to 10, on the maindeck it is 1 SCC to 17 (though the FSM and CSS will help out)