This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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Two hours of uneventful driving, and a quick trip on the airport car park bus, later the scene that greets us at check in does not inspire confidence. A great number of desks with agents in residence but no one is being attended to. Were told that theres slight reshuffling of aeroplanes going on for all the Caribbean destinations and asked to wait and please to be patient. So this we are.
Having used OLCI the night before, there was no need to go into the PE queue, but Id told the Less Favoured One that the one perk of my Silver card was that we could use the PE desk and this she wanted to do. This was a bit of a bluff as Id upgraded us to PE for this leg of the trip but neither my partner nor the LFO were aware and I wanted to keep it a secret as long as possible. Wed done PE a couple of times returning from the USA and this time I wanted to try it in daytime when I wouldnt be trying to sleep. (A deliberate use of I there)
In fairly short order word came down that the St Lucia passengers could begin checking in so up we went. According to the agent the shuffling was down to one of the Miami aeroplanes having gone tech the day before. Assigned the seats Id paid and asked for (never the ones I wanted) and then through security in into the shopping paradise that is the South terminal. For me a holiday begins with a full English so after some preliminary book and magazine browsing we eventually got a table in Est Est Est and whiled away a good few minutes. It took me some time to realize that I had forgotten the 15% discount voucher from the OLCI. Doh.
Soon enough the boarding time of 8:00 a.m. came around and the flight was shown as boarding. Then off to buy a newspaper (unsuccessfully) and by 8:10 the departure board was showing gate closing. This was a first for us so we moved off on the hurry up toward the gate. I had tried to book the LGW Clubhouse (failed) and Servisair lounge (dithered) but at this point was glad I hadnt as the minutes per pound ratio would have been very low.
At the gate row 40 65 boarding was in full flow and wed missed the call for UC/ PE passengers. Oh well my initial plan to reveal the upgrade at that point was blown out of the water so I opted for getting in the queue and letting partner and LFO down the bridge first. Now that bit worked a treat as the crew on the door looked at the boarding pass stubs and told them they were upstairs today. I love it when a plan works out.
(I think thats probably the last time Ill be able to use the element of PE surprise. Maybe turn left one day)
Id picked 73K for me and 74H and K for partner and LFO on the basis of reclinability; they had the exit door space behind them, and I would be reclining into them so would feel a smidgeon less guilty than normal. Id gone for the window seat as I like the view and the useful storage space and flat surface between the seat and the window (a suitable home for the food tray once youve eaten and want to get the table folded away).
No on board papers but champagne was offered and consumed (ok its before 9 in the morning but I am on holiday..). My rather selfish hope for a spare seat next to me was dashed by the late arrival of the young lady occupant along with her two friends taking the row in front. I guess the flight was pretty full I saw no signs out advertising upgrade to PE as I have seen previously at Gatwick (though I notice theres a huge banner about it high on the wall behind check in)
Ruby Tuesday G-VXLG was the aeroplane. Hot Lips G-VLIP was to port and a few minutes before we pushed back Barbarella G-VROM snuck in to starboard.
Push back was prompt and when taxiing past VLIP the still bare winglet was evident. We sat in the queue to get airborne; at this time I was resisting the temptation to shout Go on! Push in! Were bigger than they are. Once airborne I began to relax.
Service began promptly with a couple of drinks offered. Before the IFE was started the FSM explained that the aircraft had originally been Boston bound and therefore some of the channel choices would not be as advertised. Perhaps in deference to the passenger profile she substituted in a couple of childrens films (The Benchwarmers and Curious George I think) but the only loss as far as I could see was the The Smartest Guys In The Room would not be shown. In the end I settled for 16 Blocks (slick, efficient, vehicle for Bruce Willis and Mos Def) and Thank You For Smoking (very funny).
Lunch main course options were chicken / beef / mushroom risotto. My partner declared the risotto up to snuff and though the beef I had was a touch bland the accompanying vegetables were (by design or accident) attractively crisp. Dessert was the Gu chocolate offering.
It was after lunch that I had a moment that still makes me cringe. I decided to have coffee; in collecting the cup I managed to spill a good part of it over the young lady sat next to me. Oops. Actually I think she was less bothered by that than the fact that every time the crew offered anything to us they addressed us as you guys evidently thinking us a couple (not least as shed snaffled both the landing cards that were offered). I couldnt look her way for the rest of the flight
A little while and a Coy ice cream (in a box) later the final descent into St Lucia was announced. At this point the unlimited blue below began to be broken up by the islands. I know we passed over Martinique (as wed been told wed make a left turn there by the crew on the flight deck) but Im not sure what the others were.
At this point people began to ignore the seat belt sign and get up to go to the facilities and change clothes. One announcement was made asking people to stay put in their seats but I got the feeling that the crew then gave up as short of physical restraint it wasnt going to happen. Perhaps a spot of artificial turbulence may have been required
Smooth landing and then to the parking area to await the steps. Once they were attached I fully expected to be off the aeroplane sharpish. but I think passenger power overwhelmed the crew and Economy were not to be denied. When we finally did get down the staircase I heard one of the crew remarking that no one had been available to stand in one of the aisles.
Another Oh well. Not a problem as Caribbean airports (in my experience) are not places you expect to hurry through. Down the steps, adjust to the smack of the humidity and chill. Hewanorra proved different possibly because we were the only flight arriving with a relaxed wait for immigration and bags already offloaded and off the carousel by the time we had our passports stamped.
Then to the Virgin Holidays rep to find our ride to the hotel. Ill be posting about the hotel to the Hotels Forum and about the return flight here in the next couple of days.
We can get better, because we're not dead yet
