VS009 LHR-JFK 07 Jan 10 (PE)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

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Ok so I thought I'd file my first, rather brief trip report. Arrived at the airport fairly early after making remarkably good time on the roads considering the weather, however my traveling companion was meeting me from London so I hung around for half an hour downstairs. There was one person checking in in front of us at UC, we were asked if we wanted to check in upstairs just as she became available.

UC security line was empty, so we were quickly through, the only interesting thing was that they actually tested (somehow) the liquids in my ziploc - I read somewhere about a DHS call for machines that can perform these tests through bottles maybe LHR already has them? Nobody at passport control which made me think that we were going to have some fun later!

Went through to the lounge very quickly. Next stop cowshed, another person approached a couple of seconds before me (he was on a flight that had been canceled the day before) and managed to get the last haircut slot. However both my companion and I managed to get a treatment so no real complaints.

The lounge was the busiest I've ever seen it, however managed to get the attention of one of the waiters who supplied me with the required champagne and made sure it was kept topped up as the afternoon wore on. Had my usual burger which was up to par, and took some pork pie halves to munch on during the flight. The made my trip over to the sweetie bar which is coming back after an abysmal couple of months (at one point all they seemed to have were the little mints they give you on the plane). I saw **** there who I normally see over in revivals so that was a pleasant surprise and it was good to spend a few minutes catching up with her.

The flight was delayed by an hour or so which was no real trauma and they had the sense to keep us in the lounge. We arrived just as they were completing the secondary screening for the majority of pax. That screening also seemed pretty random as neither I nor my companion were selected for secondary although the passport check was done here... Straight on to the plane and someone sitting in my seat soon solved, he said sorry he thought everyone had got on.

The pilot apologized for the delay explaining that the immigration officers were very overstretched (On this note I'm not really sure how having them go from gate to gate patting people down and doing a secondary search is different from them doing a pat down check before entry into the secure area but I'm sure someone can explain the logic). He then said we'd have to wait half an hour for the de-icer. With that I went to the bathroom to wash up and brush my teeth. Seems we jumped the de-icing line and as I returned to my seat the pilot said we would be pushing back in a few minutes. With that I pretty much went to sleep.

Watched a film everything worked fine but for the life of me I can't remember what the film was. Didn't really eat on the flight apart from the pork pies which were very good. The flight was pretty smooth as far as I recall with no additional security measures. The cabin crew were very competent, attentive when they needed to be and left me alone to sleep.

A tip that I find useful for duty free is to just jot your passport number and the product code onto the back of your boarding pass and give it to whoever is running the duty free (sometimes they'll take your credit card sometimes they don't want the responsibility) that way if you're asleep they can run it through and you can sign it when you wake up.

Landed in to JFK an hour or so late which meant that we hit my worst nightmare a plane from somewhere in the Caribbean (possibly from St Lucia) that always seems to land around 8pm. Passport control took about an hour. (US line) and the bags had been lifted off the carousel and were waiting, judging by the number of bags left not many people had made it out (a klm flight had also deplaned about the same time as us so the non us line was much worse). Out, straight into a car and back to Manhattan in about 40 minutes or so.

All in all a good flight considering the conditions both security and weather.

[buns]

Thanks for the TR[y][y]

Given all the travel difficulties we have experienced in the UK over recent weeks (you must be laughing at how the UK fails to cope) your flight was not that badly affected.

quote:Straight on to the plane and someone sitting in my seat soon solved, he said sorry he thought everyone had got on. [:0][:0]

What a cheek!!

Thanks once again

buns

Great TR - I don't understand why someone would just assume your seat was free?

Thank you for the TR! Same thing happened to me but a few years ago, we were first on after special assistance/family pax and went to the back of the plane to find a gentleman sitting in my seat! He couldn't the excuse he thought everyone had boarded.[V]

[honey lamb]

I once arrived on board to find someone sitting in my suite in the K seats. She had decided that she would be nearer her husband there rather than across the aisle and expected me to change with her to the centre. After years of sitting in a middle or aisle seat from travelling with Aer John I wasn't giving up my window seat but was made to feel a real heel about it.

The bizarre thing was that he was directly behind in a window seat and it's not as if you can lift the arm rest in PE anyway. He was a bit strange very fidgety all flight probably a nervous flyer... I actually quite like it one someones in my seat but only if the plane is full normally means someones getting an upgrade[:w]

How were the PE seats? I'm flying in March, LHR-JFK, and upgraded to PE after seeing the new leather seats and other benefits were available when flying out of Heathrow.

The best way to describe them is kind of old old business class seats or USA first class domestic. They have lumbar support which is good. I would suggest getting to the airport a bit on the early side and asking for 18A with which (if the crew are on the ball) you will get a natty little footrest! I've actually asked for and been given these back in Y when I noticed they weren't being used!

I'd say it does make it that bit easier to work or sleep.

[Neil]

Thanks for the TR, I still can't believe the cheek of some people.

quote:How were the PE seats? I'm flying in March, LHR-JFK, and upgraded to PE after seeing the new leather seats and other benefits were available when flying out of Heathrow.

The PE seats are good on the LHR route, although on the 747's the cabin is now quite large and the experience isn't as good as when the PE was in the bubble (the A346 cabin is still quite small) It is still much better than Y, and on a short route like JFK and for the cost, probably the overall best way to fly when you consider cost/comfort/time spent on the a/c etc.

Neil

Thanks for the replies. Looking forward to checking them out in March, only heading over for a long weekend so UC was a no-go.

do ask for the footrests-they tend to get overlooked, and I too, am always delighted to see someone in my PE seat. We argue for a bit about who should move, I say no worries, you're all settled, allow me, they say oh no really, my fault, allow me, but I take the high road and allow myself to be led to a bar stool until all boarded--and eventually me new seat... [;)]

[ChuckC]

An easily read, simple TR. Thanks very much and I was glad to hear the flight went well for you.

Chuck-