BerksFlyer

Earlier this week I flew overnight from JFK-LHR in First and had an annoying and (to me) odd experience. I’ll preface it with the fact that this was my first overnight First so I’m not familiar with normal practices.

I’d done my usual method of getting up very early on the morning of my flight to increase the chances of being tired and sleeping that night on the plane. Sure enough I boarded tired, refused the offer of dinner and breakfast saying “I’m just going to sleep in here thanks” and as soon as the seatbelt sign went off I laid my bed out flat, put some earplugs in and pretty quickly dropped off. What should have been a nice five hour sleep then turned into this …….

About 30 minutes later (I knew how long because I checked the time) I was woken up by a hand on my shoulder to be met by a member of cabin crew saying ‘would you like me to make your bed?’. The act of waking me up was a real shock and I felt like I jumped quite a bit. I said “no thanks” as politely as I could and laid back down. As much as I tried to get back to sleep I couldn’t and got no more than three hours dozing whilst tossing and turning for the rest of the flight.

Whilst sitting in the arrivals lounge drinking coffee I did begin to wonder if this is normal practice in First. Should I have been more clear that I didn’t want them to wake me for any reason? Do cabin crew usually wake people up to ask if they want their bed made?

tjcxx

"Wake up ! It's time for your sleeping pill."

KARFA

You perhaps should have been clear in your first interaction. They probably thought you had just nodded off.

as an example, my usual process on that flight which I did on Monday evening is:

CC: would you like to eat this evening?
Me: no, I am just going to sleep once we are up.
CC: would you like me to make your bed once we takeoff
Me: yes please, and a caol Ila as a night cap as well

everyone is clear what the plan is, and the role they have in executing it.

Remember the 5 Ps!

BerksFlyer

Even with my earplugs in? I’m surprised anyone would think someone laying flat with their eyes shut and earplugs in had simply nodded off whilst waiting for their bed to be made.

I guess I know for next time though!

KARFA

not east to spot in a dark cabin.

tbf I think you would be unusual in F in just wanting to sleep without changing and having a bed made up. I don’t think the crew were trying to do anything other than try and make your night comfortable.

BerksFlyer

I’m clearly way to used to Club and am totally out of place in First!

KARFA

I was going to make come comment about why did you pay for first, but decided to take it out

sorry I don’t wish to be harsh, but I think it’s a communication failure here. You had a very clean plan of what you wanted to do - I usually do too on a flight, especially a short one like JFK where sleep time is at a premium. But I think perhaps that plan wasn’t clearly communicated to the cc which meant they were a little unsure.

anyway, despite me sleeping up to 40 minutes on Monday night I am still falling asleep on trains and flights this week with the jet lag. Fortunately not falling asleep in the ccr tho - I did that a few weeks ago and woke up a few minutes later after dribbling on myself. I am only hoping no one took any photos

BerksFlyer

It was my first ever GUF so I didn’t pay in the traditional way for First.

I’ll be very clear with the CC when I use my next GUF. I don’t think you were harsh, but it was a harsh lesson for me for sure!!!

Can I help you

As crew I would have made a decision based on how comfortable you looked in the seat, were you fully reclined, did you have all the bedding to help you get the best from the seat, did you have your seatbelt on and how long has you been since you closed your eyes.

BA235

Quite possibly, if the idea is that in First you should be woken up to ascertain whether you are ready to go to sleep. I’ve never heard such bloody nonsense.

Swanhunter

Never, ever wake a sleeping passenger.

Beansprout

This reminds me of the time hotel housekeeping WhatsApp’d me and then - when I didn’t answer - phoned the room to say “sir your do not disturb is on, do you want housekeeping?”

It was 8am and I’d arrived at 6am….

Pilot37

Sorry to hear of your experience, I would take it as 100% the crew were trying to be helpful - but sadly it backfired. Those short East Coast to London flights aren’t easy for proper sleep in the best of circumstances, so I feel your pain in this instance.

I was on the late JFK departure a few weeks ago (11.25pm) and had a great crew in First. Pretty much all 8 pax in First had eaten in the lounge and just wanted to sleep as soon as the wheels had left the ground, and with a quiet Club cabin, the CSD proactively moved a few crew up to First to make up beds as soon as the seatbelt sign was off. I think I was tucked up within 15mins of wheels up, although Mother Nature did some of her own shoulder shaking during the flight via very strong turbulence!

At least you know for next time

Pilot37

itsmeitisss

OP, I don't think you're at fault in any way. If you are laid flat and sleeping, why would any FA with an ounce of common sense wake you?

Confus

Appreciate this makes zero difference to the thread and I’m probably being dim… but curiosity is getting the better of me. What did you mean by caol lla?