This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
It's basically a complete hole and an utter dump. VS still use concourse F at MIA. The whole concourse is scruffy, old battered and not a nice place to be or wait for a flight.
Car dropped off at Alamo and you had back to the main terminal area using the same mono-rail and moving walkway you used on arrival.
VS check-in for the VS6 opens at 17:15, whilst the desks are open earlier for the VS118, they will not accept bags for the VS6 before 17:15. MIA is another one of those US airports where you have to take you tagged bag to the nearest TSA check point.
Check-in was all done very efficiently with a smile using 1 of the 2 Premium Economy desks.
Don't go through security until you absolutely have to. There is practically nothing after security other than 1 small pokey duty-free shop, a news-agent type shop, 3 or 4 food concession stands, seats and bathroom (which is at the opposite end of the waiting area.) That is it there is nothing else what so ever airside.
Security didn't take long, though I was stuck behind some tourists flying back to Amsterdam who had no idea at all what they where doing. They didn't remove lap-tops, shoes or belts, didn't empty everything out of their pockets before going through the full body scanner......sigh. I have it down to a T now. My watch and belt off in bag, pockets empty including handkerchief, shoes and coat off (if required), MacBook and iPad out ready. That works every time, straight through with no messing and no hassle
The VS6 would be departing from gate 19 at 21:15. The flight was called around 20:35. Even though I was sat close the the gate and a desks, you could not make out what the agent was saying so on the second announcement after people with limited mobility I headed to the gate as that's usually the priority section for Upper, AU's and Premium etc. Not many people coming forward but lots just stood around the gate entrance. The gate agent let me though regardless of if I should have done or not.
I've also learned not to faff about at boarding gates. Just got on that aircraft as quickly as you can.
The aircraft was G-VHOT (Tinker Belle). This would probably be my final time on a LHR config B744. No lose for me as I've never been a fan of the LHR B744's anyway with their well-used and dated looking cabin interiors. VERA on demand has never seen the same since VS changed it from V:Port as well
Warmly welcoming at the aircraft door by 2 VS cabin crew. As I was in 28C, the Premium Economy exit row, I didn't have far to go. Another crew member still managed to serve me pre-departure drinks even whilst pax where still streaming on.
I think we had a full aircraft this evening with the FSM announcing we had something like 356 + 2 (I presume the +2 where staff sat on jump-seats?)
We pushed back pretty mush on time around 21:15 and rotated around 21:30. This evenings flight time would be a very speedy 7hrs and 5mins....that's almost 3 hours quicker then the outboard flight It's all down to the very active Jet Stream apparently.
Watched Spy in VERA. My IFE screen was pretty battered and the screen got worse during the flight, by the end of the flight, you would not watch the screen and so the crew lent me an iPad which was pre-loaded with the same films.
Drinks soon offered after take-off and dinner was served about an hour later. Again I cannot remember the selection but it was something like beef, white fish in sauce or a veggie curry. The menu didn't say fish though and gave it some name I'd never heard off so I did have to ask what it was. I did have the fish which was ver nice actually.
After dinner, duty-free was offered (I always pre-order mine now) so that was delivered to my seat for me. I did notice the crew going round the cabin offered a selection of snacks during the night. This basket was also left in the Premium Economy galley as well.
I did manage to sleep as I was woken up by the crew offering breakfast. I've never a fan of VS breakfasts as every thing usually contains some form of egg component which I don't like.
No stacking coming into LHR. We where an hour ahead of schedule. Said my goodbyes to the crew and managed to get off first. Not much of a queue at immigration, though several people where having issues with the automatic barriers. I did notice this seems to be because they where ignoring the 'stand here' yellow foot marks on the floor and so where stood in the wrong place!!
Bags took ages to come off, clearly no priority for Premium bags as usual with VS. My case looked like it had been dropped as it had a large dent in the top corner (I have a Samsonite 4 wheel Spinner case now). I did report this to the VS baggage agent, though once I got home and found no damage on the inside and the dent did just push back out, I won't be taking the claim any further.
All in all another good solid VS flight with a great crew, just a shame about MIA
Regards
James Mitchell
James Mitchell