VS017 LHR-EWR 29 Nov 07 (PE)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

First time travelling with the other half plus 2 guests, so they got to experience the true VS Clubhouse Experience. Checked in at the Upper Class desks - relatively quick and the check-in agent was very friendly and helpful. Ensured that we knew how to find the new Upper security area. Went up in the lift and then down to the door, and scanned the boarding pass. Entered into the complete tranquility of the upper class security - what a difference to the old fast track. Very quick and efficient friendly staff. All in all it took only a few minutes to get all 4 of us through the security, with only one of asked to screen shoes!

Wandered through to the lounge, and the 2 friends were amazed that this was all free!! Had a nice late afternoon lunch, the chicken tikka massala made up for the missing burger! This was accompanied by several cocktails and chance to have a good chat and catch up with our friends. A very relaxing way to start our short trip to NY. Unfortunately wasn't able to upgrade our friend travelling in Economy, since PE was overbooked!

Went off to board, with no signs of priority boarding, all only a few people left. Straight on board and then waited for quite a while to get our boarding drinks. Delayed take-off as the air bridge then failed - not good for the nervous flyer with us!!

After take-off vPORT started quite quickly, but then the service seemed very slow. There was NO drinks round at all, but straight into the meal service. However we did notice that all the crew were friendly with everyone, our cabin crew server was very friendly with me and the better half, probably since we were Gold and every time she went past she stopped for a chat and ensured that we had plenty of wine with dinner. The pasta (veggie) choice was very good, and the meal came with the chocolate Gu pot, which is really really good. After dinner, it seemed that only the 3 of us wanted the post-dinner brandy or baileys service!

The rest of the flight was relatively quiet, with good film choices and drinks if requested served directly from the Upper Class bar. However similar to the drinks service, there was no ice cream service!

Second meal service....well calling it a meal is rather OTT, since it was a choice of chocolate, cookies or chocolate brownie with coffee, tea or juice!

Overall a really pleasant flight, and the friends really appreciated access to the clubhouse and the upper class security. However was diasspointed to see that the idea of a drinks service seems to be a little variable, along with the ice cream service - is this typical of the service of the VS17 flight. Was a little disappointed since I had sold these bits to our friend travelling in Premium Economy with us!

Great TR! Thanks for posting! Bummer about the drinks service -- I don't even tell people about VS anymore because I can never be certain they'll receive what I go on about... [:(]

GJ

No ice cream service on night flights, so that is the norm for the VS17. There is an ice cream service on the VS18 inbound to London.

No drinks service on the VS17 in Y or W as per the service flow for this flight. You had an economy/premium CSS (Cabin Sercvie Supervisor) who was simply following the service flow, and doing what was required, nothing more, nothing less.

The lack of continuity occurs here when a jobsworth CSS instructs the crew in Y/W to do a drinks service prior to the meal being served, which is against the service flow. The passengers who experience that then expect it the next time they fly the same flight. Upon not getting a drinks service they then deem the crew that are actually doing things the way they should be done as being a bad crew! (I hope you follow...)

Hope that helps a little