I may be a provincial dullard but...

I too must be a dullard, because I am var, var jealous. Enjoy!

No its very good, really. you ll like it. what i suggest you do is half way through the flight, get up and take a peep throught he curtain into economy. thats when you ll most appreciate it ?

Oh I'll be appreciating it. On my previous two trips to america I've flown cattle class. The first time I was in the middle of 5 seats, which was grim, and there was no in-seat entertainment - they just showed congo on the big screen at the front of the cabin.

Yes, stick your head through the curtain and clink a real piece of metal cutlery against your champagne glass to really ram it home ?

You must make sure you use the executive lounge too, well worth getting there a bit early to fill your boots with free food and drink relax before your flight.

sorry to disappoint but you dont get metal cutlery anymore. 9/11 and all that. however, the cutlery is still far superior than cattle, even if it is plastic. but no clinking i m afraid.

But but but....I am cabin crew for BA and we use metal cutlery in ClubEurope, unless the ClubWorld product is different to shorthaul. Hell, what do I know ?

Last time I flew (cattle class) we got metal spoons and forks, but plastic knives. GOKs why they thought one wouldn't be able to do any damage with a metal fork, but there you go.

Well exactly...we have access to any number of implements onboard, but god forbid we should take our own nail scissors in our hand luggage.

O0o0o I'd be excited if I were going! I've been to America 3 times and each time in cattle class!

?

You'll enoy it - are you flying BA?

They are in the process of changing their club class seats. I recently flew out on the new product and back on the old (which was looking a bit tired but the new seats are great ).

If you are flying BA, be aware that half the seats in the cabin are rear facing (I made H fly backwards both times ?).

Sorry Nick but most airlines have metal cutlery now in the premium classes. Plastic has been kept in economy mainly for cost purposes as it's cheaper than having to wash and re-pack metal.

You do still get plastic in all classes in flights to/from Ireland as the law is different there.

Yup - flying BA in their 2-for-1 deal. I think both our flights have new club class cabins.

I think we have to go backwards if we want to sit togther, looking at the way the seats work, but that's OK. Though it means we won't get any view flying into new york, which is a shame.

You don't need to both fly backwards.

The window seats face backwards, the aisle seats next to the window face forwards so you are next to each other, sort of facing each other. That's the best seats if you can get them.

Then the 4 centre seats have the aisles facing forwards and the 2 centre seats backwards. If you take one aisle and one centre, it's the same as above, next to each other, sort of facing each other which is quite nice actually.

I think we were planning on two next to each other facing the same way, though haven't really thought it through that far yet ?

Another one who would also be very excited. I flew to Orlando in Upper Class (work - taking out an empty aircraft so no actual service, had to do it ourselves) but it was fantastic, didn't feel like an 8 hour flight at all.

As for flying backwards, I prefer flying backwards. I think I'm used to our crew seats facing that way so it doesn't seem odd to me. Just to be really boring make sure you read what the amended brace position is at it isn't the same as normal seats.

I'd be excited too. You do realise that you'll have to do a report for us now when you get back?!

We've just been checking out the lounges - both arrivals and departures. As we are flying into heathrow from geneva we have plenty of time to play in the lounges, and eat and drink. My excitement is just growing.

You realise we aren't going until the end of september. you have almost 5 months of me going on about this ?

Look what you get in the wash bag! LOOK! ?

· Club World Elemis Wash Bag - Navy Blue (Light Blue Stripes)

· Elemis TIME TO SPA Balancing Lavender Facial Mist (4ml)

· Elemis TIME TO SPA Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (5ml)

· Elemis TIME TO SPA Pro-Collagen Hand and Nail Cream (5ml)

· Elemis TIME TO SPA Lip Revive (5ml)

· Elemis Spa Offer

· Pair of Earplugs

· Eye mask - Navy Blue

· Socks - Navy Blue

· Toothbrush

· Colgate Toothpaste

I was given metal cutlery in business class between Istanbul and Beirut - not exactly innocuous in terms of terrorism! I hadn't realised that you get a little bus over to the plane from the VIP lounge rather than queuing up with everyone else, that was quite exciting.

Weird. last time i flew to hong kong in club (on BA) the cutlery was plastic, ditto to dubai and bangkok on emirates, and on etihad.

We have metal cutlery in Upper. Ruling changed a couple of years ago