VS019 LHR-SFO 19 Mar 07 (PE)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Cosmic Girl

Checked in the UC line, and was able to get 70A. Was asked for the first time ever (with Virgin) if I could comply with the Exit Row seat regulations.

Only 3 people ahead of me in the FastTrack line, avoided the shoe line by walking on the side that was roped off.

VS19 was leaving from Gate 3, which is only a short walk from the Lounge, so I left around 10:15, and got held up at the gate, as there was a family ahead, who has some seating issues.

I then got stopped by the security search, and was asked to remove the batery and switch on every electrical device I had. There were no instructions given, or explaination, and the two security personnel had very poor english. Due to these delays I missed the priority boarding and sood in line on the air bridge.

I slept for a while, to be woken for lunch, and the inflight entertainment had been re-started, and re-booted during lunch. There is a new menu, and I chose the Beef and Ale option, which was ok, nothing special.

I settled down to watch De-ja Vu, and it stopped 20 mins in, the screen went white, but the sound continued, I could re-wind and fast forward and hear the sound, I could not regain the picture, even if I went back to the beginning.

The in flight entertainment on 70A could not be reset, it had no effect, so I had no VOD for the journey. I have had problems before in 70A with the IFE, and told the FSM that I reported a fault before in that seat on Cosmic Girl. I was loaned a DVD player and watched V for Vendetta.

We landed 10 minutes late at 3:15, and as I had a connecting flight, I got off the plane first at the forward door, and walked straight through to immigration, and was through in 5 minutes.

The bags came off pretty quickly and I made my connection with enough time for United to get my bag on the same flight as me !

Highlights : The crew were friendly and the service was good
Lowlights : IFE not working and average food

From what I saw the movie looked good, hope it's not Cosmic girl on my return.

Mark

Thanks for the TR.

How annoying that you have already reported the IFE problem, and it still hasn't been fixed! [V]

Well, it is fair to say it's a different problem, last time, it could n't play 2 new movies, as I think there was a problem with the file. As other movies could be played, this time it was a general IFE failure in the seat.

I did get a visit from the FSM as I had reported the problem in that seat before. They did offer me another seat in PE, but as I had an exit row, I did n't realy want to give it up.

It is frustrating that it appears so unreliable on Cosmic Girl. I have never had an IFE issue on any of VA's Airbus'.

Mark

Good TR,thanks Mark. [y]