VS005 LHR-MIA 27 DEC 14 (Premium Economy)

[mitchja]

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

I flew down on the VS3042 from MAN the day before. My original plan was to just book an airport hotel, but after I received an email from IHG a few weeks ago, I booked a fantastic less-than-half-price pre-pay rate at the Intercontinental Park Lane. I also took the plunge and booked the guest list service with VS for my Premium Economy VS5 flight.

I wasn't sure if VS could add this onto a VH booked VS flight, but they can so I booked the car from the Intercontinental for the drive-thru check-in. I wouldn't get the opportunity to try drive-thru check-in so blow the expense (you now also get 5000 FC with every Guest List booking.

After a night at the Intercontinental, the VS car arrived a few minutes early and within 20mins, we where arriving at the VS drive-thru check-in area. Fantastic Just wish I could travel like this all the time!!

I was through the upper Class wing within minutes and heading up to the Clubhouse. It wasn't too busy, though the service was a little slow. Didn't bother with a treatment this time but I did enjoy my usual Eggs Benedict breakfast.

I didn't wait for the flight o be called so made my way to the gate at around 11:45. The flight info screens in the CH where not working for some reason. Had a slight panic when I arrived at the gate as I'd mis-read the flight departure screen in the terminal and ended up at the AA flight to MIA instead of the VS one....not to worry as the VS flight was departing from the gate next door (gate 21 I think it was)

Priority entry into the gate room was working quite well and before long we started boarding. I'd managed to grab the exit row seat 28C in Premium on the B744's. There's plenty of leg room in the A seat even with the slide container on the door. Boarding didn't take long as todays flight was full in all cabins as a couple of off-duty VS staffers where even sat in jump-seats.

We pushed back on time and had a short taxi to the runway.

The 744 was G-VROC and the 744's are stating to show their age now as they are starting to looked dated in the cabins (ROC is VS's newest 744 as well!!). My IFE controller was difficult to use and was pretty battered. Several other pax had similar issues as well during the flight.

The crew where excellent as usual. Having now seen the new uniforms in use on this flight for the first time, I have to say I don't like them. The FSM doesn't stand out as much now as the only difference now is that he was wearing a different coloured tie and the slightly different coloured waist-coat. Not sure what the female FSM's wear?

Dinner was chicken, beef and not pasta though, though the chicken meal loaded didn't match the menu for which the crew apologised. Being in the front row of Premium, you get served first.

Whilst I love flying, my stomach doesn't anymore for some reason so I didn't eat much again on this flight. The afternoon snack (sandwiches, crisps and caramel shortcake) was served about 2 hrs before we landed and it was tasty.

Watched a couple of films on VERA on-demand during the flight, after remembering that the IFE screen is not a touch one as well as dozing a bit. Not much traffic at that exit row so plenty of space to stretch out.

We landed a little ahead of schedule and the beauty of row 28 in Premium is that you can sneak off even before Upper It's been about 10 years since I last flew into MIA and boy, it's a walk and a half to immigration (though you can jump on the buggies if you want to)

Immigration was busy, though the line was moving quite quickly. I had intended on using the automatic entry machines as MIA has these now, but the staff where just sending everyone with an ESTA thou tho the standard immigration hall. No issues with immigration and I was reunited with my case after about 1 hour of landing.

It's then another fare old trek to the care hire garage. VH do get their own desk, though you still have to use the desks at MIA even if you have used the Alamo online check-in system (which I had).

Booked an economy car via VH/Alamo but ended up getting upgraded to a convertible without even asking for some reason, which barely fit my luggage in but hey this is Miami

Left the airport and drove the short distance to my hotel (Intercontinental at Doral). Here for 2 nights then down to Key Largo for 4 nights.

All in all another great VS flight with a great crew, but the LHR 744's are showing their age now.

[buns]

James

Thanks for your usual detailed TR

Stating at the Intercontinental on Park Lane and using the Guest Service - whatever next The VS Drive through is a great facility and your sense of enjoyment comes across loud and clear. Also good to know that Immigration have at last got themselves sorted

Sorry to hear that the 747s are now showing their age - I am sure there will be much debate on V Flyer in the coming months as they are retitred from the fleet and many, like me, have a fond affection for the original Jumbo Jet

Have a lovely time in \florida and hope the weather treats you kindly

bun

Thank you for the TR James. A great read and what a way to start the trip!

Well done on the convertible, too. Have a lovely time!

Thank you for the interesting TR. I feel very envious and would love to be driving down the Keys right now.
Please would you give me a bit more detail about the Car Hire ? You had done Online check in but still had to queue at the VH desk before going to get your car ? I ask because there were dreadful queues last time I went to pick up my car at MIA Alamo but I thought that by doing the online Alamo check in next time I would be able to bypass them ?! Have I got this wrong, please ?
Thank You.
Have a fantastic trip.
hiljil

[mitchja]

I specifically asked the question and and the member of staff said I still had to go to the desk first, where you sign the rental agreement etc.

No idea why this is though sorry?

As long as you have some paperwork with Virgin printed on it somewhere (the online check-in confirmation print-out will do), you should get pushed to the front of the queue.

It was pretty chaos down in the car collection garage as there seemed a real shortage of cars in all the groups, so maybe this was the reason? I suspect this was the reason why I also got an upgrade as well.

Hi, only just joined the V-Flyers (finally) but we flew into MIA on 26th. We checked in the car beforehand and when we arrived all you needed to do was go to the car place and go to Level 1 Alamo Quick Check, the lifts are near the Alamo desks. It's like The Pit Stop in Orlando airport, very helpful lady directed us to the row to pick up the car, met by another helpful lady who showed us what cars we could choose from and that was that...........although there were no cars to choose from on our row so got offered upgraded cars at no extra cost.
And I will write a trip report soon :-)

Thank you.
Have a great time.

[mitchja]

Hi, only just joined the V-Flyers (finally) but we flew into MIA on 26th. We checked in the car beforehand and when we arrived all you needed to do was go to the car place and go to Level 1 Alamo Quick Check, the lifts are near the Alamo desks. It's like The Pit Stop in Orlando airport, very helpful lady directed us to the row to pick up the car, met by another helpful lady who showed us what cars we could choose from and that was that...........although there were no cars to choose from on our row so got offered upgraded cars at no extra cost.
And I will write a trip report soon :-)

That's intresting, thanks and welcome to V-Flyer

Maybe it was down to the shortage of cars available yesterday? Several people seemed to be waiting quite some time down in the actual pick-up garage.

.........

Maybe it was down to the shortage of cars available yesterday? Several people seemed to be wairing quite some time down in the actual pick-up garage.

mitchja. That has actually happened to us so many times at MCO in the past, when VH had the contract with Dollar.

We'd book our flights direct but always used VH for car hire. Then we arrived at the airport only to find most of the passengers were also using Dollar We've then sat around waiting for other cars (vans in our case) to be returned before they finally release them again one by one.

Still use Dollar at MCO (booking direct) coz both Virgin and BA use Alamo

We flew on Mustang Sally back in June, she was dated and tired even then.
Thanks for the TR
Darren

I flew on Mustang Sally back in April in UC overall it looked very good, only the minor stuff like scratches and a couple of pen marks etc. Some pax had to manually change the seat to a bed as the function was abit tired though.