This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Checking in online I was displeased to find our original booking of 61A and C and been changed to something in the 50's. There was no option to change seats which meant a full flight. At the JFK check in desk, however, changing to 63A and C was offered. Result! Having been in 63H and K on the previous flight there was a good chance these seats would also have the extra leg room. I turned out to be right.
Before boarding, we visited the JFK Clubhouse which was very crowded. Service was swift from a lovely mature lady wearing sunglasses. We only had time for a drink but made the most of the opportunity to relax in comfort before going through security.
Disaster 1 - Tom's belt broke at security so for the rest of the journey back to Durham Tees Valley he had to keep hoisting up his trousers. We didn't hear a boarding call so were nearly late for the flight but no problem - we weren't the last ones on.
Before push back we were warned that there were approximately 18 planes ahead of us in a queue and it took about 50 minutes to get airborne. The flight was almost totally full but everyone was in a good mood it seemed so it was pretty good.
Service and crew - boy this crew had to work hard! Not only was the plane full but the Captain said that they were 3 or 4 down (could be wrong about that - he might have said they only had 11 crew?). Anyway, we were asked to be patient but really they were efficient and quick. The main thing I noticed that was unlike on the VS045 the food and drink services started at the front of the cabin and worked their way back. We were nearly the last to be served but this wasn't a problem.
I noticed there was no drinks run early in the flight and they just went straight to the meal service. This may be usual on this flight, I don't know for sure.
Food - I had the beef stew (much nicer than on the way out) and Tom had the vegetarian pasta - which he didn't like but he said it was better than the chicken. The cheesecake was great. Later in the flight we were offered muffins which I declined.
Back to the crew - they never stopped working all night. Unusual mix - seemed to be mostly male FA's. In the middle of the flight I wanted a drink so went to the galley to find two or three crew dealing with a medical emergency; an old lady was lying flat on the galley floor with crew giving her oxygen. I felt emabarassed - said I was looking for water as on the 346 previously you could help yourself. I said I could wait or get one myself but one of the FA's got me a drink anyway.
Another thing about the crew - it seemed like UC FA's or senior FA's were helping out the Y crew as people with different uniforms were helping out with coffee and tea service during the flight. Anyway, they were all stars and did their best to treat everyone well.
On this flight V-Port was working OK until about an hour in when there had to be a full reboot. This coincided with the mealtime so it wasn't too bad. Interesting for me as an ameteur techie to see the various messages on the screen. Well, it wasn't as if there was anything more interesting out of the window!
ADDITION - nothing to do with the flight but Disaster 2 was at Heathrow - one of the cases came off the carousel with a wheel damaged, which meant taking it from T3 to T1 was like Homer Simpson dragging 'the stone of shame' in the Stonecutters episode, until we found a trolley about half way. T1 BMI check in was a joke; very officious staff at the bag check place and having to wait in line when it was very very quiet with people at the check in desks twiddling their thumbs. Next time I will to have the bags checked through for sure.
