This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Seat 28C
Note - Tinker Belle is now Config 4, as the seats are now new PE. And Sat 24th was the first flight in the new config.
Warning, this is long. [:D]
Checked in at 7:25am, following a 25 minute run to LHR from Reading, where the temperature was -2 Degrees C during the journey in.
I decided to check in at the PE desk as the queue was shorter, asked for 28C which was released to me with the minimum of fuss. I then decided to head down to the United Desk to check in for my Denver flight, as I had been tempted by their $130 offer to upgrade to First.
Started at the Ticket desk, but the line was n't moving, so I went to the Self Checkin, but that would not allow me to proceed, so went to the First Class Desk, they could n't help and sent me back to the Ticket Agent who said they could not check me in for a US domestic flight from LHR, so that was 15 minutes wasted.
Headed back to the Lift next to the Upper Class desk, to try the new security line, and found it empty, and very quick. Once out, I headed to the shoe scanner and was asked to join the line, but escaped it when I told the greeter that I had already had my shoes scanned.
The terminal was pretty busy, and the new VA Security channel is much quicker than the regular Fast Track.
Checked in Dixons for a DS Lite, they were out of stock, so went next door and grabbed one from HMV for a friend, they did not have any Nintendo Wii's in stock :-(
The lounge was quiet, and i settled into my usual area, to find the WiFi still not working for me in Windows or Mac OSX. Spoke to the concierge to find that they did have a problem with another wifi base station for T-Mobile being picked up outside of the lounge , which did not have the Virgin Account details. They believed this has now been fixed, I could n't be bothered to troubleshoot it further this trip.
Resorted to a Lan cable, and had my usual Bacon roll and some fruit, washed down with an Apple juice and a glass of champagne.
I had a shave at 9am, and was surprised I had to get my kit off, and had a completely different shaving experience to last month. Very relaxing and good.
The flight was called at 10:40, and only a short walk to Gate 7, I joined the long line, forgetting that there was a PE and UC line. I boarded at 10:50 to find my seat occupied by a gentlemen who wanted a little extra leg room, as 28A was a concern to him. Funnily enough, we recognised each other, as we work for the same company.
The plane pushed back 10 minutes late and we were airborne by 11:40.
The seats were were in were brand spanking new, as there were no marks of any kind or dirt on the trays, no scuffs on the edges, and we had to peel the protective layer off the TV screens.
The following experience will be sent to Virgin, as feedback on how in flight service should be carried out.
Shortly after the inflight service started, the Senior Cabin Crew member came up to myself and my colleague with a list, saying, as Gold and Silver members, would we like a glass of champagne with dinner, to thank us for flying with Virgin, and hoped we would continue to fly with them.
This is the first time this has happened in PE to me, and since qualifying for gold last December, I've had 28 flights with VA.
The service was very professional, we were called by name, there were many juice/water runs. They even brought round the fruit bowl, which I have n't seen in PE since they introduced it earlier in the year.
The food choice was unchanged, and I went for the Beef again, which was better prepared than last month's trip to SFO and quite good. Later in the flight the Ice Cream, Chicken Curry wrap and sandwiches were were pretty tasty too.
I watched the Simpsons and I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry, as well as 2 episodes of Firefly on the iPhone.
With about an hour to go before landing, I stopped the FSM to give him some feedback, because I really felt the flight went much better than any other recent PE flight, and I wanted him to know that. He thought I had stopped to give him a hard time !
We landed at 14:30, 40 minutes behind schedule and were off out of L2 and into the empty Immigration hall, and waited only 5 minutes for the bags to come off.[:D] While there were a lot of Economy bags coming off, mine was fairly quick.
Overall, the best PE flight I have ever been on. Hoping the return is as good.
Now in Denver, looking at the snow in the mountains, wishing it had snowed a bit more.
Now, where are those Thanksgiving Weekend sales .....
