VS074 MCO-MAN 19 AUG 11 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Well we are back safe and sound to old Blighty, rain and all, with tales to tell of our return journey from Orlando.

Completed online check in Seq 97, 98, 99 and dropped our bags off at the bag drop. Very quick with a minimal queue only took a few minutes, cheerful check in staff, then off to McCoys for the ‘last supper’ before we boarded.

No queuing to get through security at 7:00pm, obviously all the other passengers had gone on ahead of us earlier, but as boarding wasn’t scheduled until 7:30 didn’t see any reason to rush.

We were to leave in heavy rain, somehow that was a comforting feeling, not leaving the lovely sunshine behind.

Boarded the aircraft by rows as usual, seated up in the bubble seats 79K, 80H and 80K just as we had requested. Must admit there did seem to be slight restriction on the recline in the row 80 seats, due to the wall behind, compared to the other seats but they were still very acceptable. We had lots of leg room and the use of three side cabinets as well as an overhead locker, so excellent storage.

Only comment I would put on storage was that the cabin baggage allowance size is 9 X 14 X 22 so decided I was fed up of lugging the flight bag around with me and invested in one of those small cabin approved pull alongs from Walmart instead but….. found to my dismay, that although I had got an 18” one, all the measurements well within those stated, it wouldn’t fit in the overhead locker because of the rigid wheel base. I did however think that the bubble overhead lockers were smaller than those in economy. The bag did fit perfectly as it happens into the side locker, thank goodness, as it was a tight fit to try and get it under the seat in front.

I found an old bottle of water in the seat back pocket, there also looked to be some manky old sweet wrappers down there too, and a couple of menus from I assume the outbound flight, but didn’t delve too deeply, good old cleaners not too fussy about doing a thorough job it seems. Got the IFE magazine out to check out the films and was slightly disappointed that we had a couple of films that we had seen on the outbound journey which was unusual.

As we started to push back at 8:20 we were shown the safety video courtesy of good old Vic Reeves.

A couple of the cabin crew during this time had noticed that I had been busily writing away and curiosity got the better of them and one came over to ask what I was writing, was it a report and who was it for?? I told them and no-one seemed to be familiar with V-Flyer surprisingly.

Anyway got stopped in my tracks for a short while when all the lights were turned off as we began to taxi to the runway at 8:30pm. Orlando Airport looks fabulous in the dark with all the different coloured lights on the tarmac and the rain had stopped, a nice clear night for takeoff, so……..pedal to the metal and whoosh we were up in the air with a very smooth take off indeed.

Hot towels were handed around and children’s meals were delivered to their respective seats. There was one spare meal which the cabin crew kindly offered to my daughter who nearly had a blue fit, she spent all holiday being mistaken for a much younger child but she’s 17!!!. Anyway I digress, films began so watched Rio with my ‘big kid’. How I hate the TV controls on this aircraft. They are fixed inside the side of the seat, which is very difficult to reach without actually getting out of the seat and bending down to have a look at what you need to press, not easy in a confined space in a sorted of contorted position, bum pressed up agains the seat in front well anyway, you get the picture

Dinner was served and although I wasn’t really bothered as I had already eaten prior to boarding, I decided to allow the food to be delivered anyway for the purposes of research so to speak.

I chose the braised lamb curry, which I think had by passed the curry powder as it was just braised lamb and mine had a great big lump of fatty skin stuff in there , the rest of the food was perfectly edible, not bad airline food. Alcoholic and soft drinks were offered at least three times during the meal and also extra cheese and crackers were offered which made up for the complete lack of those on the outbound journey!! Tea and Coffee were then offered.

Cabin crew embarked on the tray collection run next, these were cleared very quickly and efficiently, we were not left with them sitting there for long at all. The cabin crew member commented that I had not eaten my food and did I not like it and would I like something else? I held up for inspection the offending ‘skin thing’ to which a comment of ‘ooooh that’s disgusting I am so sorry’ was made. I was assured later that a report had been filed with regard to the unacceptable meal and would I like a steak dinner from Upper Class. I did actually decline this kind offer however.

A basket of fresh fruit was placed at the rear of the cabin together with water and juice.

Soon after, the lights went down and I put away my scribblings to you all and had a light snooze.

Ooooooh……I have just been woken up by someone touching my knee, now either this is a new benefit of Premium Economy or….. as I suspect it was something else…..

As I opened my eyes with a start, I caught a cabin crew member straightening back up and hurrying away down the cabin without a word……hmmmm, strange…… I sat with my eyes open for a while and I am sure I heard a whisper from behind ‘she knows’……so I waited, but the cabin crew member never came back up the cabin, I decided that if I shut my eyes and counted to five she would come polling back up and sure enough that’s exactly what happened.

Now…. I can’t be absolutely sure, but I am pretty suspicious that the crew had decided whilst I was asleep that they would get a look at what I had been writing. I had clipped the report to the front of a magazine with my pen in the seat pocket and I pulled it out to find the report was no longer fastened to the front just popped in the pocket….hmmmmm how odd…. Actually if they had wanted a look I would have let them they only needed to have asked.

Two minutes after taking it out of the pocket and writing these suspicions down for you all, the FSM fronted up at my seat asking about the report I was writing and we went through all the is it for Virgin Atlantic, is it an official report for them, who is it for etc etc, would I mind completing a questionnaire please….. arrrrrrgh it’s the middle of the night I was sleeping for goodness sake.

Are the cabin crew really so insecure and worried about what people write about them. As it happens, I was more than satisfied with the whole experience from check in to disembarking so come on ‘chill’ crew.

Breakfast was served a short while before landing, I’m never fond of this meal but thought I should give it a go too. Scrambled eggs, one herby sausage, one rasher of bacon, mushrooms and a hash brown were served together with a two lovely cups of tea, a much more welcome breakfast than that horrid warm ham and cheese sandwich thing we have had served up on previous flights!!

Touched down at 08:55, earlier than scheduled, then a short taxi to the stand. Jetway was quickly put into place and we were one of the first to alight the aircraft.

Very quiet at Manchester, quickly through passport control, then a short wait for our cases and back on the road home in 61 degrees cold, a slight change in the weather temperatures we have been used to.

So ends thelaceys U.S. Tour 2011. Looking for flights for the next adventure already.

Thanks for the TR - I do love those seats at the back of the 747 PE bubble.

If your suspicions are correct, not such a nice 'wake up call' from the crew. D'you think there was a touch of paranoia?

thanks again for the TR

If your suspicions are correct, not such a nice 'wake up call' from the crew. D'you think there was a touch of paranoia?

i agree the crew may have been a little paranoid, some interest from them asking who you are writing for yes but there is no need to go through your seat pocket whilst you are asleep .

I enjoyed reading your trip report but I do think that I would have asked for a complementary bottle of something from Duty Free before I allowed the FSM to read your report
I have booked 80 H&K for my upcoming flight too - they are the best for us, even though there is never a choice of food which doesn't really bother me!!

Katie

Great TR - not impressed (or necessarily) suprised to hear the MCO cleaners hadn't been very thorough - such a shame as it would only have taken them seconds to remove the old bottle of water and wrappers.

A very odd sequence of events with the crew - I would not have been happy with the crew if they had gone through personal notes - it could have been anything. I did giggle when you said the FSM turned up, obviously a little paranoid!

Thank you for posting.

Cal

Excellent and thoroughly enjoyable TR which has inspired me to make notes on my next flight!! Maybe I'll get that extra 'benefit' . Love the bubble also as the cabin feels cosy and find it easier to sleep. Lamb sounded gross but great service to offer you an UC meal in replacement.

All-in-all a super read, thanks

Thanks for the entertaining TR. I cannot get over how the crew quizzed you about your notes. I always keep a holiday diary but I shall be very careful about where I write it in future !!!

[buns]

Thanks for an excellent TR - which has powerd up the memory bank

Mrs Buns & I too enjoy McCoys before leaving the Orlando region - something that has come to be a part of our ritual Likewise the opting for the rear seats in the bubble and we too cannot abide the inset controls. Whilst we all know that the planes are overdue a makeover, I think that some of the things we are all used to will be lost.

I too am concerned about the possible crew action - they ought to be more worried if they were crewing a 330

Thanks once again

buns

Great TR thank you!

That's extraordinary behaviour by the crew - curiosity you can understand, but not outright espionage in trying to read your notes without your knowledge!

I think we're all agreed that the bubble PE is superb, regardless tattiness, IFE etc - and I've a feeling that it will never be as good again once the refits are completed.

Many thanks for your TR - a really enjoyable read. What strange antics from the crew and not knowing about V-flyer is pretty criminal to start with!!!

But how odd that they were so desperate to read your report that they attempted to read whilst you were sleeping

Jon

Many thanks for your TR - a really enjoyable read. What strange antics from the crew and not knowing about V-flyer is pretty criminal to start with!!!

But how odd that they were so desperate to read your report that they attempted to read whilst you were sleeping

Jon

I must admit, I only, for the record, 'suspect that's what they did as I didn't actually 'see' the notes removed or replaced, but I reckon I'm not a mile away from being correct

thelaceys

Indeed probably so........

Thank you for the TR. Are CCs that worried about what people write about them?