This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Check-in at MCO was, as I usually find, excellent, with friendly and attentive staff. [y]
Progress through security was straightforward without any issues. [y]
The Delta Crown Room, for once, was very busy due to a number of delayed Delta flights. Finding seats was a problem, but that was no-ones fault. Seats were found, drinks were gathered and everything was calm. [:)]
It may of been a coincidence, but Delta were a little to early with their preferred boarding call for our flight. Walking to the gate, it was very crowded and obvious that boarding had not been called. In fact it was ten minutes later when the first call was made and the gate opened for preferred boarding. Problem then was getting through to the gate. [:(] On reflection, maybe the early call off Delta freed up more space in the Crown Room for the ever growing number of delayed Delta passengers. [}:)]
After a number of polite 'excuse me please' the gate was reached and onwards to the Boarding Bridge which was full of static passengers, who it became apparent were queuing for their duty free packs. Further polite 'excuse me please'to an empty Bridge Link and on-board with the normal smiley greeting. Maybe the ground staff could ask passengers waiting to collect their packs to queue on one side so others can pass by to board? [:(]
And so, into the Upper Class Suite.
Can't you often sense that a flight may not be the best you have had?
Miserly cardboard packaged flight packs just left on each seat and sleep suit bags stacked on the bar and stools - don't tell me we are now going 'self-service' [?]
Pre-flights drinks were served by the friendly cabin crew. [:)]
Probably best to list the issues thereafter:
1. The passenger in 6A, on entering the suite, was informed that his seat was broken, was static in the upright position and that he should not have been checked-in. A little too late when you are on board. [V]
2. Scheduled departure time came and went with no explaination and passengers clearly queuing on the Boarding Bridge Link to get on board. [?]
3. After asking what the problem was, a member of the cabin crew went back down the aircraft and returned with the explaination that it was a 'little lively back there' A number of seats, for whatever reason, had been taken out of use following inspection after landing from the previous journey. Despite the check-in staff being told this, they had still checked passengers into these seats (remember 6A) So now we had passengers on board without usable seats and passengers with seat allocation still queuing to the Bridge Link. Sympathy to all passengers. [n]
4. One hour later, the 'seatless' passengers were accommodated in jump seats and the doors were closed.
5. Dinner service faired no better. My table refused all persuasion to open correctly. I had to vacate my seat whilst the flight attendant, on his hands and knees, took over the task of extracting the table. Eventually, with the joint efforts of him using a 'credit card size' plastic card and me pushing when told to, the table gave in and opened up for use. [n]
6. A similar operation was undertaken on another table, but a third defeated all efforts and the lady passenger had dinner off her lap. [n]
7. Meanwhile, the disgruntled passenger in 6A was fortunate enough to be able to share his colleagues table for dinner. [:(!]
8. Enough for me! had my bed made up, no breakfast ordered and a request to be woken as late as possible. [|)]
9. My colleague, who never sleeps on this flight, confirmed that the Senior Flight Service Manager was notable by her complete absence of any visit(s) into the suite. [n]
I don't know which aircraft we were on, those who know can find out. The general condition of the suite was OK, but three failed tables, one seat out of commission, miserly flight packs - obviously just thrown down onto the seats, sleep suit bags stacked on the bar and stools - 'self service style' and an elusive Flight Service Manager....a Diamond without the sparkle, again S R B [n]
The obvious question to Virgin is, would such a series of situations experienced on VS076 be allowed to happen on any Heathrow Flights? I very much doubt it. Business or Social, there must be a single standard of service throughout the carrier. It seems that the expected Virgin standard continues to fall out of the Northern Base.
Living 20 minutes from BHX, I am seriously considering reverting back to Continental, Business First, via Newark.
