VS044 LAS-LGW 20 OCT 14 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

So after 6 days in Vegas it was time to return. Commitments given to return as a group again either in 2015 or 2016.

Quick taxi ride to the new terminal at LAS. Check in was very quick but the last seat in Upper was given to another person 1 hour before. Apparently it was only available at check in and the agent recommended getting to the airport early in the future to check and then leave and do something else coming back 90 minutes or so before your flight departs. (Have done this before and the Hard Rock is not too far from the airport). Security was also very quick but would highlight that I was a travelling with various different liquids for medical reasons and I normally highlight this before my bag is scanned and it normally flags up for an additional check. This time I decided I would wait for it to be flagged and surprisingly it went right through. The agents who were operating the machines appeared to be super distracted and were laughing and joking amongst themselves.

Went to Club Las and asked if there was any GF options. Was told that there was not a lot of anything and they were not sure if anything was GF so it would be best not to eat in there. Went outside to the GOLF PGE restaurant and ordered a GF Salmon salad. At least that is what it said on the menu. It was ready in about 10 minutes and I took it back into the lounge to eat at the bar. The bar man was friendly and served drinks straight away, however I have to say I felt some of the other staff were a bit weird. One in particular walked through the bar area at least 10 times given me an evil look each time. I guess it was because I was eating out of a box! Another lady came out after 20 minutes or so to say that I was the talk of the staff in the lounge and that they wanted to know what I was eating and where did I get it. I explained politely that as your lounge did not provide a GF option that I bought a carry out from next door to eat in there. Just felt that the staff in there were a bit strange and the lounge is not all that either (LAX, SFO miles better).

On to the flight, efficient boarding and took a lot of end of holiday pictures once we were all seated in the bubble. Took off to the East from LAS so no views of the strip but later on some nice Grand Canyon views. Food was served fairly quickly but as with the outbound flight the portions were small and to be honest it tasted horrible. If PF Changs in Vegas and M&S in England can get it right surely an Airline can?

It was at this stage that (probably due to the Salmon NOT being GF) that I begin to feel well. I spent the next hour or so with the paper bag getting sick. I then felt very cold despite sweaty and did a blood test which showed that my Blood Sugar Levels were crashing. I asked my friend to go back to the galley and get me a full fat coke, this was only a small can so at this stage I was starting to get a little concerned and I used the call button. I asked the flight attendant for an additional 2 Cans of full fat coke (small cans) as my bloods were falling. Some 10 minutes later I could not wait no more and had to wake my friend to ask him to get me supplies. He did speak to the FA who admitted that he had forgotten about my order. Once I recovered I felt angry about this but decided to get some sleep, I believe I probably slept for about 4 or 5 hours off and on. As I have said before I always seems to find it easier to sleep in PE than Upper or Economy.

The ratings for Below Avg only apply to one member of the Cabin Crew and the Female staff in the Lounge. The rest of the staff I encountered were Good to Excellent. However this experience left a sour taste in my mouth, especially as someone who loves to travel. I will ensure I am better prepared next time.

Doesn't sound very good - I hope you don't mind me asking, but did the cabin crew know that you are diabetic?

If they did, the lack of response is unforgivable...

I do have experience of this with a family member who's BM always rises at altitude and drops as the plane comes down again - do you find the same?

I did not tell the crew I was Diabetic. However when I asked for the 2 additional cans I said it was because my bloods were pretty low. At this stage I was becoming confused hence not using the option of going back to the galley myself.

Have travelled with Diabetes for a number of years as well as Ceoliac for the last few years and always considered myself well prepared. Regular blood tests, extra insulin due to lack of activity and spare food. Very hard to predict bloods on a plane, have suffered from both low and high levels as well as being able to keep them in target ranges. This time I did forget to buy a sugary drink due to a last minute request for a key ring of all things from a friend in the UK.

Have to admit the whole experience was unpleasant and lesson learned to always bring a full stock of food onboard.

I'm sorry to hear about your poor experience. Having told the CC about your bloods it is not acceptable for such a request to have been forgotten. Did they even check on you afterwards to make sure that you were ok? I think a complaint letter should go to crawley towers!

I'm sorry that you found the whole experience of that flight unpleasant as that's not what it should be like.

I get the impression the crew member didn't quite get the urgency of your situation as they didn't know you were diabetic.

In response to the last reply, I know a crew member wouldn't just forget if the urgency of the issue was known.

Even though you say the diabetes is well managed etc, it might be worth considering letting the airline's special assistance know about the condition as it always a nice to know about things like this, and crew are then better prepared to react.

Hope the experience hasn't put you off virgin.