This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Checked in using the app the previous day. As I'd already posted elsewhere, if you have TSA-Pre status, that isn't showing up on the VS iOS Wallet boarding passes so you either need to use the in-app one or get a paper one from the airport.
I was staying at the InterContinental New York Barclay on 48th/Lexington Avenue. I usually stay in the area when I'm in New York. The flight to MAN departs JFK at 21:30. My IHG status gives me late check-out so made full use of that and headed back to JFK using the E line subway/AirTrain again.
All 4 Premium Economy desks where all in use, virtually no waiting where I was checked in by a very friendly and polite check-in agent. Didn't take too long to get though the TSA-Pre security line.
The VS128 was departing from gate B26 using G-VKSS (Mademoiselle Rouge) this evening. Decided to eat in the terminal before the flight. Plenty of choices for that. The flight was called around 20:30.
Looking at the seat map via the VS app, I could see this evening's flight was not going to be busy. Originally I was sat in 19A so enquired at the gate if anything was available in row 18; the bulk-head row and there was so my boarding pass was replaced and I was soon moved to 18A. Priority boarding was in use and working well.
I was actually pretty much first on where I was again warmly welcomed on-board. Headed to 18A, actually forgot just how much leg room those window Premium Economy bulk-head seats actually have on the A333's!!
Pre-departure drinks offered. Amenity kit already on seat (never got one on the outbound?). It really didn't take long for everyone to board as it turned out there where only 124 pax on this evening's flight (+ 11 crew). The door was closed and we pushed back 10 minutes early round 21:20.
At this point my pre-ordered Retail Therapy duty-free order was delivered to my seat.
This evenings flight would be 6hrs 4mins.
There where only about 12 pax in Premium Economy so there was lots of space to spread out. Once the seat belt sign was turned off the bar service soon commenced and the IFE was switched on.
I lasted about 20minutes after this point I think as then I was out for the count for the rest of the flight. Next thing I knew was been woken up by the announcement that we where soon arriving at Manchester. I'd completely skipped the dinner service so cannot comment on that (I'd had already planned to skip the hot part of it anyway as looking at the menu nothing really appealed to me anyway).
The crew had actually left me a breakfast tray on the next seat which was a nice touch Fresh fruit, yogurt and granola which was all very tasty followed by a mug of tea. Just what I needed.
The cabin was soon secured and we touched down at MAN around 8:30 and where at the gate by 08:50. Said goodbyes to the crew and headed to immigration. We just got there before another flight so very little waiting at the e-gates. Looks like more e-gates are currently being installed. There's 4 or 5 at the minute.
Headed down to the carousel and bags where soon coming off and I was outside by 09:20.
All in all another great VS flight.
The DL flights are crediting to my Flying Club account before the VS flights are!! DL seem to take around 24 hours where as VS flights take about 48 hours.
Regards
James Mitchell
James Mitchell