VS064 HAV-LGW 30 JAN 11 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

...............The Return

I could spend all this report about Cuban Ground Crew - anyhoo,

Arrived early on a taxi to beat the soon to be bus arrivals. We were PE, no staff at PE desk. Went to the empty Upper desk when two people arrived behind us. Clerk refused to check us in 'cos we were PE, showed him that no PE clerk, he told us to go to Economy or wait

A PE clerk arrived but now there was a queue of about 10 in front, Economy was even longer...now here is the killer... as we got to next in queue, Upper was empty and the bloody clerk called us over... I did get exasperated to which he replied -- "I can use my discretion and those that were behind you were Upper ". aaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

Got 70 H&K again, as per my inbound flight thought about changing due to toilet issues and it being an overnight flight, but I just wanted away from that check-in man.

In Cuba you have to pay an 25 peso exit fee, which works out to an hefty £20. Then we moved to the security debacle.

At security there are about 5 lanes which we were directed to. A guard ushered us to the Flight Crew and Diplomat lane. I queried this twice to which I was told "No Flight Crew due, so it's ok". Mrs Harps ahead of me. You guessed it.... refused as we were in wrong lane. Original security guard shrugged their shoulders and we were moved to a very long queue with a long wait. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarg!

Enough ranting....

Aircraft, Virginia Plain on time. Seated and a very nice cabin crew said "Champagne?" I queried but was told that no sparkling wine on board. Nice result.

Meal served as the return flight only 7.5hrs and lights out followed. In relation to the meal starter was in a china plate, nice cutlery but main meal served in a lovely bent aluminium container. Pah!

Lights out, watched Inception, what a complex dream of a dream tale. It made my head hurt and got about 2hrs of snoozing. Even with earplugs the toilet issue was an annoyance. More smells, toilet doors banging,etc...

Lights on about 2hrs from LGW. The morning snack was another half a warm wrap (ham and egg), not that appetising, served together with a chocolate muffin. Mrs Harps chose the egg & mushroom. This tasted horrid and we both left it. The insides of the wrap had run out into the bag so the bread was crispy on the outside and mushy in the middle.... eeurgh!

Cabin Crew were lovely. They worked hard and there was always fruit and soft drinks on the shelf at rear of bubble. From memory there were about 405 pax, 15 cabin crew and a very cheery female captain

We keep repeating it hoping someone will take heed - The brand is strong and has my continued loyalty. Cabin Crew were a credit to the airline. Seats, cabin and IFE really have passed their best. Main meal always tasty it's the snacks after that were a huge let down. Inconsistent product that generally hits the spot and keeps me coming back.

The cabin doors opened - Brrrrrrrrrrrrr, 2 degrees and no jacket

Navigating airports in third world or developing countries is always a shock compared even to LGW or LHR! Glad to hear the crew were marked up, but yet another report that praises the crew who must be battling their own wars against a fading product ... and I still do not understand why VS wants to wake everyone up so early before landing a night flight!

Sounds like Havana ground crew were trained at Delhi airport ! Exasperating experience for you ....

Inception hurt my head too - in fact I didn't/couldn't watch it to the end - glad I am not the only one that had this experience with it lol

Thanks for another TR and posting so soon after the flight makes it even more relevant and interesting to me.

Re your experience over desk opening. I've experienced it too somewhere (can't remember!). UC and Economy opened with the PE desk empty. The UC assistant calls from the Upper line, the Economy from the Economy line, we just got left standing in no mans land. Don't think it's just Cuba!

we had exactly the same complaint about the second 'meal' the sandwiches and breakfast things are bad beyond belief. surely someone at VS will wake up and smell the coffee that silly things like this will one day lose them pax ??

Great TR, thanks for posting.

Sounds very similar to my last visit to Punta Cana (dominican) I was sent in 3 different directions to queue for security and each time got told I was in the wrong place, no one cared, lots of shugs of shoulders etc lol

great TR, just to piont out the cuban ground staff dont directly work for us they work for the cuban goverment! hence the experience.

On all flight we generally wake pax up 1 and a half hours before landing, or normally on LGW config 2 hours, this is because of how long it takes to do the second service, and we have to clear it in before landing. also give everyone the chance to freshen up and use the loo's!

the food in havana airport doesnt meet our standards so we place the return flights food in the hold frozen, hence the alluminium tray you had! i agree with the wrap things though not great!

Thanks for an bit of an incite. Cheers John