VS033 LGW-ANU 25 May 07 (PE)
Posted: 26 May 2007, 21:27This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The VS33 goes out at 0930 so we decided to stay at the Hilton attached to the South Terminal the night before. We use a drive to take our car down to Gatwick and then he leaves the car back at our house while we are away and the same for the return this really does save all the messing around with parking or having to leave at some Godforsaken hour in the morning. Got upgraded to a deluxe room in the new section which was pleasant, albeit these rooms are miles from the restaurants and the reception area. Had a bite to eat and a couple of pints to relax into the holiday mood.[:D]
Got up at 6 ish and left the room at 0700. Couldnt be bothered wit breakfast as there would be plenty of food during the day. Check out was easy no queue and we used the link bridge to stroll across to the terminal and into section A the home of VS check in at Gatwick. The UC check in is still on the left with the PE next to it but Bag drop had moved from the far right of the section next to the was a reasonable queue for economy but nothing too horrendous.
Did OLCI the night before to ensure we kept our seats 79A/C but could not print the boarding pass as the system jammed. There was no queue at all at PE or UC check in so were up to the desk immediately. Couple of slight changes since last time we flew in September there was actually a beauty therapist checking tickets ahead of the desk but she was not putting the security sticker on the back of our passports along with all the other stickers!
Check in was really smooth bags checked in and boarding passes issued along with Fast track sticker so it seems this is the norm at LGW now. Security sticker was put on the passport at this point. Walked up to the security check point to be honest the queue in the standard area was not too bad and Fast track was about 10 deep. Shoes off, lap top out of case, little plastic bag for liquid. Bizarrely as you leave security there is a big poster advertising that you can now but any liquid products you want but try to carry a coffee through security and you will be put in prison ( well not quite but you get the idea).[V]
So from hotel room to departures I guess it took about 30 minutes pretty good.
Didnt opt for the clubhouse as there wasnt a great deal of time to use it so popped upstairs to the 1st floor and had cappuccino, latte and an apple danish from Upper Crust. I have to say it was really warm in the departures area and even hotter on the 1st floor aircon broke LGW?? After the coffee we did a bit of shopping (Paul Smith aftershave, as always, for me GJ!). Huge queue at WH Smith not enough tills madness.[:(!]
The flight was due to be board at 0830 so we walked though at about 0820. There wasnt too much of a crowd and the VS31 to St Lucia was boarding. Boarding Commenced with people who had any difficulties and then families with young children. Then UC , PE and Gold were invited to board this was unusual. And then they started with rows 65- 55 so the queue got quite heavy as people arrived at the gate. Deb had gone off for a look at the duty free in the satellite area but just as she got back they turned round the priority boarding sign and another boarding area so we walked straight onto the plane excellent and perfect planning by VS ground staff. [y]
The aircraft was Barbarella with Nova IFE.
Upstairs to the PE section in the bubble still think that this cabin area is the best there is. The seats are the old style but had been re-covered with a nice bright red cover they looked new. 79 A/C are at the rear of the cabin with no-one behind so reclining is no problem and yes, for those who ask they do recline the same as the others. In my opinion they are the best seats in PE you have the aforementioned recline, there is an extra side table to the right of seat C, the toilets are at the front of the cabin so you are not disturbed and the galley is far enough away not to be disturbing but close enough to pop up to get another Stella![:I]
There were two FSAs, both very attentive as usual. Offered a glass of orange juice, water or sparkling wine. There was a bottle of water on the seat table and the new PE amenity pack. The pack has socks in a VS purple colour, toothpaste, toothbrush, pen, eye covers and the charity envelope. The pack is a nice purple colour oh and the pen is purple with Premium Economy on it. Just right for PE. The FSM did the usual announcements to welcome everyone on board and it was mentioned that electrical items with flight mode could be used and that now was the time to ensure that flight mode was active.
Pushed back at 0930 a.m. and were in the air by 0945 with very little traffic on the taxiways. The captain advised us of a flying time of 7 hours 45 minutes and that the first officer would be doing the flying. He welcomed us all on board and told us that the weather on route would be clear and the flight should be smooth with the temperature in Antigua at 30 degrees.
PE menus were given out havent seen these for ages as were headphones. The PE menu is as follows:
Starter
Penne Pasta salad with mozzarella and pesto
Main Course
Roast chicken breast served with potato & leek gratin and green beans (409 cals)
Or
Beef & ale stew served with mashed potatoes, broccoli and carrots (255 cals)
Or
Grilled vegetable lasagne (260 cals)
Warm Bread
Soft oatmeal cob roll
Dessert
Gu chocolate and raspberry pudding
Cheese & biscuits
Butlers secret mature cheddar served with crackers
Tea and Coffee
Snacks and refreshments
Available throughout your flight and prior to landing. (This is how its written in the menu and I think is a touch ambiguous as it does not mean a selection of items available at all time but the ice cream and sandwich service that come later in the flight!)
Wines selected by our master of wine at Berry Bros. & Rudd
The IFE is Nova so plenty of choice. There is a preview video of the flight and the services on board first and then the main entertainment began. Watched Blood Diamonds first bit long but thought it was good. Then about 20 mins into the film lunch was served. There was drinks run first, so had a Stella, Deb had a tomato juice. Then the food was served. The trolley was playing up and unfortunately some of the trays decided to fall out but the girls did a great job keeping the whole thing together.[oo]
Enjoyed the meal, the pasta was tasty, chose the beef and that was tender and tasty and we all know that Gu desserts are yummy. Someone commented on these pages that fruit and chocolate do not mix sorry, but the mix great only wish the dessert was bigger!!! Had some more Stella and it all went down well.[:w]
Baileys and Brandy run after dinner and then settled down to watch the second film For your consideration a comedy by Christopher Guest who did Spinal Tap mildly funny!!
Dont know if anyone has watched the fear of flying video but it really is very good with some great shots of the aircraft, cockpit and crew. If you are worried about flying then it is a really good way of understanding what is happening with the aircraft and what the noises are. Also some good info on take off, cruise and landing. The bit about go around was very good and should put anyone at ease. They said that flying is safer than driving round the M25 and having been on that too recently I agree!! Is this available anywhere as something that can be bought?[:?]
Had a good chat with some of the crew including the FSM. I dont think I have very had a bad flight or a crew that I did not think were attentive and these were really good and a credit to Virgin Atlantic.
About a couple of hours out we are offered a vanilla ice-cream which slips down nicely and about an hour out the choice of a cram cheese or chicken caesar salad sandwich and some fresh fruit. Again the sandwiches are good quality and go down with a good cup of tea.
The only problem I have with the IFE is that I am watching Happy Feet and there is about 15 minutes of the film to go and they turn it off as we are 40 minutes from landing so if anyone knows the ending - help??.[?]
The crew come round and tidy up clearing away rubbish and making the cabin ready for landing. Seats are put upright, footrests pushed back, the headphones collected and the window blinds put up.
The approach to ANU is really wonderful with the aircraft flying westwards parallel to the north coast, so we get a great view of Dickinson Bay and Sandals and the capital city of St John. We then turn south and then east to head back to the airport to land in an easterly direction. For those of you who have never been in ANU it is a small airport, the terminal is dwarfed by the 747 as it pulls up outside. We are an hour ahead of schedule and are on the ground at 1230.
With our choice of seats we are down the stairs and off the plane first ( a good tip for all Caribbean airports) as it gets you to immigration first too! Bizarrely we have to walk a really circuitous route to enter the terminal why walk 100 yards when you can walk 500?? But hey ho I guess they have their reasons. As mentioned first into immigration, this takes 5 minutes then through to the bag carrousel and again this aint big a small regional airport in the UK has a bigger collection area. However the VS system works and our bags are out about number 20 -30 in with a group of other PE bags the UC bags having (rightly) come through first.
At ANU you get a bit pestered by the porters to take your bags but having been here before we knew that the walk from the bag collection area to the Sandals tour desk is about 100 yards so passed on their help.
Outside into the warm Antiguan sunshine and then a 5 minute wait to get our minibus to Sandals where I am now sending this sat in the lovely entrance lobby with a Banana sip sop!!
As ever with Virgin PE - everything from check-in through to bag coolection was excellent!! [y][y][y]