1apreferably
Jun 29, 09, 9:19 am
I have enjoyed the TRs that I have read here. I wish I had known about this site when I was still a 1K with UA, it may have made life on the road and in the air a little easier. So, having – involuntarily – changed jobs, I’m now just a grunt who flies infrequently, albeit in the most comfortable section I can arrange at the time.
A brief recent trip to LHR from ORD results in the following TR.
I booked VS to London as I had never flown with them - just OW as I was returning with someone already booked in UA business. After consulting seatguru and not wanting to take the chance of having to listen to a bunch of potentially inebriated – after all, James Bond had six Vespers on his VS flight - people at the bar all night, I reserved 14K, window seat in the rear Upper Class section just behind the galley.
After a speedy, if impersonal, check-in I spent a few minutes in the lounge before boarding. Just grabbed a Coke and read the paper for a bit. I was then joined by a group, six or so, of very noisy twenty somethings all trying to look inconspicuous in dark glasses. I suppose that they may have been a music group or such but I regret that my age precluded any recognition on my part. After a few minutes of listening to loud conversation between them about whom they had had dinner with in LA I decided that the gate may be a little quieter. The lounge guardian did roll her eyes in sympathy with me as I left.
Upon boarding I found the amenity kit already on the seat. My jacket was swiftly taken and I spent a couple of minutes familiarizing myself with Virgin’s seat controls. The seat angle with the plane’s side is such that one is unable to look out the window; not that you need to on an EB overnight. A night suit was offered and I accepted – then looked around for somewhere to store it. I espied a likely area and dropped my book, the suit and sundry other items onto the shelf beside me. It was only when about ten seconds later when the stewardess handed them all back to me that I saw the ‘Do Not Place Items Here’ sign. So, no real place for storage, a lament of many these days.
The rear UC cabin was full; I never walked forward to see if the front section was also booked. The group of inconspicuous wannabe rock stars also joined me in this section.
I declined the offer of wine or juice and just read until we pushed back, on time, and took off with the usual long line at ORD. Push back at 1800, wheels up at 1825.
After a few minutes someone came around for drinks orders and I ordered a glass of an Italian white that seemed like it might be inoffensive and that I hadn’t tried before. I didn’t keep the menu so I don’t remember the name. A small bowl of chip/crisps was placed and I picked at them as I looked over the menu. I usually order lighter fare, especially on a night flight, and selected the vegetarian dish which had a tomato base.
I put down the tray table, which is quite large, and a cloth promptly arrived. It seems that the footrest, which has its own seatbelt, will allow a fellow traveler to dine with you; a nice feature.
A passenger from premium economy then walked through the partially closed curtain and got as far as the toilet door before being challenged by the stewardess serving my side. Extended discussion ensues finally involving what I took to be the purser. After some minutes, the trespasser eventually got his way and disappeared into the toilet.
This seemed to unsettle the entire service program. My wine, which I ordered at say, 1845 or so was finally delivered at 1910. This was also when my meal order was taken. I finished my wine and waited for the offer of a refill. At least ten minutes passed until a refill was offered. My glass, instead of being filled at the seat, vanished into the galley. I gave it a few minutes to come back but no luck. Leaning forward I waved at the stewardess who had taken my glass in the galley and she did an Ooops sign with her hand over her mouth and promptly brought me a glass of red. I smiled and told her that I was drinking white but that I would keep this to have with my food. No sooner had she gone than the stewardess with the white bottle wandered by and kindly noted that I had switched. I requested another glass and she filled it for me, stepping into the galley for a fresh glass. Time now close to 2000 and the starter, which was an excellent soup, was finally served. I eventually finished the main course at just after 2030. Two hours for an E/B meal service TATL in business is a bit too long for my tastes. I declined dessert as it was so late and, not bothering to change, reclined my seat to read a little. Regretably the reading light, some type of LED device, is almost useless for the purpose intended as you have to hold your book or paper about six inches from it to have any effect as it is so dim.
A few minutes after the service was cleared, a stewardess came by to collect my breakfast card which I had filled in with generally light stuff, yogurt and fruit etc. No bacon sandwiches this morning. About this time the noisy youngsters repaired to the front bar and some peace fell over the cabin. I smiled with some satisfaction that I had chosen the rear.
As this was my first time on VS I was unfamiliar with the seat which requires you to stand before it flips over into the bed. Essentially the back of the back of the seat becomes the bed. The stewardess noticed my bemusement and quickly sorted it out for me. Odd but comfortable when flat. I pushed my earplugs in, adjusted my eyeshades – one of the better ones I have had – and lay down for a few hours sleep.
With almost theatrical timing it was cue the screaming baby in the bulkhead of PE, just three rows behind. I tolerated this for a half hour or so thinking that the alcohol and tiredness would bring me to the arms of Somnus but the baby was much more determined than I.
Then I discovered with some minor irritation what should have been obvious, is that the bed is either flat or not. One cannot press a button and cease flatness. So, standing up, I removed the bedding, pushing it down between the seat and the window, and returned the bed into a seat with as much recline as it would allow. I dozed fitfully for an hour between the infrequent moments of silence from one of the next generation of travelers from the rear and then decided to wash up and just read.
I had just finished my bottle of water when the galley noises became more urgent and the smell of coffee tempted the nose. A stewardess arrived and asked me what I would like for breakfast, I told her and she left. Another brought tea, which was excellent. Breakfast arrived; the yogurt was a little sharp but otherwise acceptable. A different person then arrived carrying the breakfast card I had filled out and seemed surprised that I was already eating.
Cabin then cleared, fast track cards distributed, jacket returned and disembarkation was speedy.
My general impression was that whilst generally a willing and happy lot, the crew was a bit disorganized. It always seemed that whenever one of them poked their head out of the galley they were genuinely and repeatedly astonished that there were people sitting out there and immediately popped back in again to report this phenomenon to their fellow attendants.
Overall a decent business class product but less than I was anticipating.
Respectfully submitted. June 29, 2009
A brief recent trip to LHR from ORD results in the following TR.
I booked VS to London as I had never flown with them - just OW as I was returning with someone already booked in UA business. After consulting seatguru and not wanting to take the chance of having to listen to a bunch of potentially inebriated – after all, James Bond had six Vespers on his VS flight - people at the bar all night, I reserved 14K, window seat in the rear Upper Class section just behind the galley.
After a speedy, if impersonal, check-in I spent a few minutes in the lounge before boarding. Just grabbed a Coke and read the paper for a bit. I was then joined by a group, six or so, of very noisy twenty somethings all trying to look inconspicuous in dark glasses. I suppose that they may have been a music group or such but I regret that my age precluded any recognition on my part. After a few minutes of listening to loud conversation between them about whom they had had dinner with in LA I decided that the gate may be a little quieter. The lounge guardian did roll her eyes in sympathy with me as I left.
Upon boarding I found the amenity kit already on the seat. My jacket was swiftly taken and I spent a couple of minutes familiarizing myself with Virgin’s seat controls. The seat angle with the plane’s side is such that one is unable to look out the window; not that you need to on an EB overnight. A night suit was offered and I accepted – then looked around for somewhere to store it. I espied a likely area and dropped my book, the suit and sundry other items onto the shelf beside me. It was only when about ten seconds later when the stewardess handed them all back to me that I saw the ‘Do Not Place Items Here’ sign. So, no real place for storage, a lament of many these days.
The rear UC cabin was full; I never walked forward to see if the front section was also booked. The group of inconspicuous wannabe rock stars also joined me in this section.
I declined the offer of wine or juice and just read until we pushed back, on time, and took off with the usual long line at ORD. Push back at 1800, wheels up at 1825.
After a few minutes someone came around for drinks orders and I ordered a glass of an Italian white that seemed like it might be inoffensive and that I hadn’t tried before. I didn’t keep the menu so I don’t remember the name. A small bowl of chip/crisps was placed and I picked at them as I looked over the menu. I usually order lighter fare, especially on a night flight, and selected the vegetarian dish which had a tomato base.
I put down the tray table, which is quite large, and a cloth promptly arrived. It seems that the footrest, which has its own seatbelt, will allow a fellow traveler to dine with you; a nice feature.
A passenger from premium economy then walked through the partially closed curtain and got as far as the toilet door before being challenged by the stewardess serving my side. Extended discussion ensues finally involving what I took to be the purser. After some minutes, the trespasser eventually got his way and disappeared into the toilet.
This seemed to unsettle the entire service program. My wine, which I ordered at say, 1845 or so was finally delivered at 1910. This was also when my meal order was taken. I finished my wine and waited for the offer of a refill. At least ten minutes passed until a refill was offered. My glass, instead of being filled at the seat, vanished into the galley. I gave it a few minutes to come back but no luck. Leaning forward I waved at the stewardess who had taken my glass in the galley and she did an Ooops sign with her hand over her mouth and promptly brought me a glass of red. I smiled and told her that I was drinking white but that I would keep this to have with my food. No sooner had she gone than the stewardess with the white bottle wandered by and kindly noted that I had switched. I requested another glass and she filled it for me, stepping into the galley for a fresh glass. Time now close to 2000 and the starter, which was an excellent soup, was finally served. I eventually finished the main course at just after 2030. Two hours for an E/B meal service TATL in business is a bit too long for my tastes. I declined dessert as it was so late and, not bothering to change, reclined my seat to read a little. Regretably the reading light, some type of LED device, is almost useless for the purpose intended as you have to hold your book or paper about six inches from it to have any effect as it is so dim.
A few minutes after the service was cleared, a stewardess came by to collect my breakfast card which I had filled in with generally light stuff, yogurt and fruit etc. No bacon sandwiches this morning. About this time the noisy youngsters repaired to the front bar and some peace fell over the cabin. I smiled with some satisfaction that I had chosen the rear.
As this was my first time on VS I was unfamiliar with the seat which requires you to stand before it flips over into the bed. Essentially the back of the back of the seat becomes the bed. The stewardess noticed my bemusement and quickly sorted it out for me. Odd but comfortable when flat. I pushed my earplugs in, adjusted my eyeshades – one of the better ones I have had – and lay down for a few hours sleep.
With almost theatrical timing it was cue the screaming baby in the bulkhead of PE, just three rows behind. I tolerated this for a half hour or so thinking that the alcohol and tiredness would bring me to the arms of Somnus but the baby was much more determined than I.
Then I discovered with some minor irritation what should have been obvious, is that the bed is either flat or not. One cannot press a button and cease flatness. So, standing up, I removed the bedding, pushing it down between the seat and the window, and returned the bed into a seat with as much recline as it would allow. I dozed fitfully for an hour between the infrequent moments of silence from one of the next generation of travelers from the rear and then decided to wash up and just read.
I had just finished my bottle of water when the galley noises became more urgent and the smell of coffee tempted the nose. A stewardess arrived and asked me what I would like for breakfast, I told her and she left. Another brought tea, which was excellent. Breakfast arrived; the yogurt was a little sharp but otherwise acceptable. A different person then arrived carrying the breakfast card I had filled out and seemed surprised that I was already eating.
Cabin then cleared, fast track cards distributed, jacket returned and disembarkation was speedy.
My general impression was that whilst generally a willing and happy lot, the crew was a bit disorganized. It always seemed that whenever one of them poked their head out of the galley they were genuinely and repeatedly astonished that there were people sitting out there and immediately popped back in again to report this phenomenon to their fellow attendants.
Overall a decent business class product but less than I was anticipating.
Respectfully submitted. June 29, 2009