This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
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Cabin Crew
My return flight from the land of sun and fog!
After a wonderful 4 days in the sunny warm city, meeting great people, having great food and even better beverages it was time to say a farewell and head back to Blighty!
The hotel I stayed at was hotel Whitcomb, on 7th and Market Street. It has a bar and a Starbucks attached to it, so it is great if you don’t want to leave the hotel! Also free wifi in the room and a business centre if you wanted to print something out.
day of departure
Anyway come the day of departure. The good thing is that check out was at midday! So I woke up, finish packing and head down to reception to check out. When I got there, there was a small queue but it moved quickly….until it came to me. A good 10 minutes I had to wait before I was seen.
A few groups had arrived early so the check in staff were trying to sort out rooms, check ID’s, make photocopies etc. When it did get to my turn the interaction lasted about a few minutes. Ok I noticed a key drop off box to the left of reception but I appreciate the interaction plus I want to make sure they aren’t going to try and charge me for anything I didn’t use or ask for!! I left my luggage at the hotel and I quickly popped down to the farmers market that happens every Saturday outside the Ferry Plaza building. Such a great atmosphere, lots to buy and I’m sure you could buy your weeks shopping in one place! While I was there, found a great Californian cheese that had mushrooms in it! This I had to try. 
Also went into the building a bought a lovely bottle of red wine (Zinfadel) to take home to share with my family. (Spending the last of my cash!) I then headed back to the hotel to repack my luggage and head to the airport.
Got back to the hotel at 1.30pm sorted out the luggage and made my way to the station, which is right outside the hotel. So I was walking down in a happy mood, got my ticket and got to the platform. That’s when my happy face went upside down. Stupid me. It’s a Saturday. Of course there will be delays!
So instead of waiting for 5-10 minutes for the next SFO airport train I had to wait 20 minutes. This always happens to me. Anyway the train turns up and I get to the check in desks at about 3 PM. Seat was confirmed at check in, but I asked if any seats in row 32 (DEFG) would be free. The smiling check in lady said she would make a note and I would be paged at the check in desks if anything changes!
So I said thanks, had my last two cigarettes before I headed through security. Now like a few airports in America they still have the nude-o-scopes. To me this isn’t a problem I’m not too fused by it. I know some people kick up a fuss and I did see someone being searched the ‘old fashioned’ way but either or processes were quick and I was through security with no problems at all.
Now one thing that did shock me abit about this terminal is that the duty free shop seemed quite small. They only sell booze and fags and one or two perfumes. Now don’t get me wrong having multiple shops selling the same thing isn’t wise but at least make the duty free shop a tad bigger! They did have a few newsagents selling papers and sweets and stuff so basically you got want you wanted.
Had a quick snack and a drink at the bar/café and headed down to the gate at 4.40pm only to find out that boarding wouldn’t commence until 5pm due to the plane arriving abit later than usual. Fine by me. Heard a page for my name. Went to the desk, confirmed who I was and low behold, she gave me a BP for Row 32 D !!! YEY!!
Legroom galore, not being disturbed and space. I was a happy bunny. I was going to have a comfortable flight back home. Boarding commenced about 510 for premium economy passengers. By this time there was quite a queue so I quickly used the loo and when I came out I joined the back of it. There were two doors one for upper class and the other from Premium and economy people. As I was approaching the desk the line manager (as in the person managing the long line) asked if I was travelling by myself. Since I was, I was told to use the upper class line! (which was empty!) Oo I thought would I have to walk through upper class??
BP was scanned and just like at Heathrow the whole BP was given back to me. Obviously this is a new Virgin thing! Unfortunately it didn’t matter as there were two jet ways in place and boarded through L2. Signs were in place and the way to go was clearly marked. As I settled down, sparkling wine was offered and I was like a smiling Cheshire cat!
It was the perfect end to such a great trip. Anyway as I looked around the cabin was full!! Doors were closed and took off quite quickly. Now I know everyone has a love or hate for the 747 and I love the fact it is a double decker (of sorts! Even though I have never flown in the bubble!) but I think the premium economy cabin is too big! It doesn’t have the same special feel that the PE does on an A340-600. On the 600 I know it is a lot smaller but it feels more intimate. After being in that cabin it’s a good compromise if you cant afford upper! Anyway drink service, dinner (had beef), tea and baileys all given out by smiling and warm cabin crew. Then lights out for everyone else but not me. See when I fly its my only time to catch up on movies which I wouldn’t have watched generally. On the way back it was only 8 hours so I think of it like flying back from New York (6 hours) but a few extra hours to watch more movies! Cabin crew came round during the flight offering OJ, water 3 or 4 times which was nice and when I went to the galley to get some red wine always served with a smile and was always given a small bottle.
Next thing I smell breakfast being cooked and about 2 hours before landing, lights came on and the crew came round offering breakfast, juice, tea and coffee.
As always with Heathrow we were in a small holding pattern to which I felt abit sleepy so had a bit of shuteye and woke just as we were landing. Used the new E-gates which were easy to use and got down to the luggage belt just as my bag was coming out. So far it had been 10 minutes since I had left the plane and I was walking out of Heathrow! Well almost. I was stopped by the immigration for a “random’ search. This did not please me.
I have flown many times and have never seen any officers let alone been stopped. Now if you remember just before I left I bought some cheese. Yes the guy found it and waggled his finger at me but let me have it! Apart from that I was through the airport in about 45 minutes. All in all a great trip by a great airline and planning my trip to somewhere with my mum. Maybe Hong Kong??!!!
