This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
My firm sent me on a business trip and so PE was to be expected - I like to save UC for pleasure! After a slow trip around the M25, it was 9am and check in was great, no queues and additional desks were being opened as I arrived. I was glad to be told that I had a Club House pass (thank you to V-Flyer for this!) and went straight to security. The queue was short, with about 5 people in front of me. Laptops were to be kept in bags and I remembered to take off my belt to avoid the rub down that usually follows otherwise. I was waved passed the shoe security and headed to the Club House.[^]
The Club House was quite busy compared to the Saturdays and Sundays when I have been in there before. I chose scrambled egg and smoked salmon for breakfast, put my feet up and read the paper in the cinema area. I always enjoy the calm of the Club House.
Flight departure was due at 11:30am at Gate 3. I arrived at the gate at 10:50am and it was announced that the crew were still doing final checks. We started boarding at 11:00. This was my first time in the New PE. I thought the cabin looked good. The leg room is not as good as BA WT+ but the seats are better overall. I counted only 18 PAX in PE, with only 2 seated in the centre section. I was in 34A, chosen as there was nobody next to me - I like the space. 34A is a window seat at the mid-section of the wing but without a window, but fine for me on this occasion.
Push back was at 12:00 and the Captain announced that as usual we are now just waiting for Heathrow air traffic control and to expect some queuing. We left the ground at 12:25.
The flight was very smooth, no real turbulence and no seat belt signs to keep PAX in their seats.
Service was efficient and friendly throughout with two CC working the PE cabin.
Lunch
Premium Economy Lunch Menu for VS07/19/23/43 Spring 08:
Salad
Greek salad
Main Course
Barbeque chicken with bacon and cheese, potatoes and mixed peppers.
Beef in mustard sauce with mashed potato, carrots, broccoli and roasted onion.
Quattro formaggi tortellini in b_chamel sauce, with courgettes and tomato concasse.
Warm Bread
Parmesan pave and country apple roll
Dessert
Fru flirty lemon dessert
Cheese and Biscuits
Buttlers Secret mature cheddar served with crackers
I chose the beef in mustard sauce, this was OK, but the meat was a bit grey and overcooked.
Refreshments were frequent and were as follows:
Champagne,
Hot towels,
Water and Juice,
Lunch
Tea and Coffee
Brandy and Baileys
Water and Juice
Ice Cream
Fruit
Hot wrap (chicken and mustard sauce or vegetarian option)
Water and Juice
Finger sandwiches and chocolate chip cookie
Tea and Coffee
Service was fine and overall the flight was great but I feel the food could be improved. A more substantial afternoon meal should be provided. BA WT+ gives you access to the all day deli. The virgin finger sandwiches and the wrap were too small.
Another point I note in comparison with BA is the frantic urgency that VS CC have in tidying up the cabin, this started 1hr 50 minutes before arrival time. The PAX in front of me was in the bathroom and CC started unplugging his laptop and began putting his bags into the overhead locker much to his annoyance on returning to his seat.
Landing was extremely smooth, I hardly felt a thing. The usual trouble trying to open the door kept PAX standing for a few minutes but nothing more.
Immigration queues at LAX were short, so I was not expecting the nightmare that followed. I had just recently renewed my passport with a biometric one, I handed it to the agent. He began typing furiously for 5 minutes. At this point I knew something was wrong. I asked if there was a problem reading the new passport, he didnt acknowledge my question, he then signalled and had me escorted to an office at the side. I asked if something was wrong, I was just told not to move, I was to have a secondaryand I was a bit worried what this meant.[?][?]
I was asked the usual questions all over again, and then some interesting new ones including
What is your heritage?
What languages do you speak?
Is this a new passport?
Who will you be speaking to in the US?
I had to provide details of all the people I would be speaking to in the US
I gave all the business contacts I had (>20) and he proceeded to type in all the names.
I was then told I could go. Another guy from my flight was also in the waiting room.
This has put me off travelling to the US again for pleasure as I dont think I would have got through the secondary had I not had all my business contact details as proof and justification of my trip. Other than a brand new passport and a non-European family name, I dont know what else could have triggered my interrogation.
I will add the return trip report for VS26 JFK LHR next week.
Staying in SFO for the weekend and then Chicago, Boston and New York next week.
I look forward to exploring other destinations on VS.
