Quote:
Originally Posted by turtlemichael
Is anyone able to advise on the different experience in VS Upper Deck compared with Business Premium on NZ? I've flown HKG-SYD on VS and will shortly being doing SFO-AKL on NZ. I'm assuming a step up from QF J in terms of food etc. 
On preferred seating, according to EF, most seats appeared to be blocked for elites towards the front of the cabin, a 777. Is the SFO lounge still the UA one? |
I can now answer my own questions having flown SFO-AKL last week.
First, the lounge is the UA Red Carpet lounge. It is a large, depressing, cacky painted place with limited facilities. There were loads of work carousels but I couldn't find a PC in any. No wifi free access except to limited flyer categories. Very limited food and dirty plate-cluttered seating areas. When we were there it was near empty with just some Aussies and Kiwis waiting for the NZ flight. I guess that is why the barmen was so grumpy knowing that most of us had drink vouchers and most of us wouldn't tip (self excluded of course)!
The experience on the NZ flight was the contrary. Clearly the best business class flight I have had and well ahead, imho, of QF, BA, CX and VS.
Why? The seat to start with. We scored row 2. Comfortable in seat mode and excellent in fully flat bed mode - well padded and spacious. IFE worked well with I think a bigger screen than I had seen. Food was better than any other experience I have had, apart from First on QF107, and there was a good variety of quality kiwi wines. The cabin layout appears more spacious than VS. Also a view out the window from the herringbone seats over your shoulder was less of a neck breaker than on VS.
The major difference over all the others I mentioned was the service aspect. Friendly, efficient, responsive, professional and timely. No tired attitude here. To me it is a business class product, rather than a hybrid business-first, but nevertheless a very good business product. All up, I hope I can do it again.
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