This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Out of bed, just about coping with the right order in which to put clothes on I make final checks of the hand luggage and passport location - the pixies may have stolen it in the night. And then a short walk to the Ealing South Piccadilly line station where I board my train bound for London's Heathrow Terminal 3.
I am supplementary Silver to Dean's Gold card, and it seems that there was some confusion in the system when Dean retained his Gold status; my account was at some point demoted to a Red account. This was easily rectified last week with a call to Flying Club but this meant that I didn't have a Silver card for using Premium Check-in, so just in case I printed out a copy of my FC Account from the website.
Economy check-in was starting to fill up, self-service and bag drop was quite busy and there was quite a queue for Upper Check-in but I was able to breeze straight to the desk of the Premium Check-in. The guy at the counter quickly processed my boarding and issued a Red boarding card, I requested a seat as near to the front of the cabin as possible so was allocated seat 38A. Being slightly optimistic I did ask about the chance of an exit row, there was availability but I wasn't prepared to pay an extra 50 for the privilege, not a perk of Silver unfortunately.
Non fast-track security was a breeze to get through, very quick queue. Infact looking across to Fast-Track I think I may have been through quicker! Fast-Track now only ever seem to have one scanner working were as us plebs have multiple lines to go through to spread the load. Once through I wasn't able to escape the shoe scanners - so shoes off and through the extra machine. Why can't they just do it with the rest of the security checks?
Normally when I fly I am travelling with Dean so can get access to the V-Flyer Award Winning Clubhouse as his guest, however this flight I was travelling alone to JFK to meet Dean there - he flew out last week on business to a trade show. With the announcement last week that the Heathrow Clubhouse is the V-Flyer Best Clubhouse Award winner for the second year running I had the honour and pleasure of being able to present the Clubhouse with the award on behalf of the site (thanks guys!).
And then I zipped through Departures on to the clubhouse to be greeted by ... a queue! I arrived at approximately 6:50, ten minutes before opening. There were only about two or three people waiting, and about another five arrived while we waited for opening. I let those before and after me go through and enter the lounge. I introduced myself, was checked off on the guest list and entrance granted. First stop - the showers - a nice long hot shower to freshen and awaken my dreary self up.
I wandered over to the Concierge desk to meet the Duty Manager who was very pleased to meet me and accept the lounge. Two of the excellent concierge staff, Mala and ???, agreed to once more pose for photos. The Duty Manager preferring to arrange a glass of Champers for me at 7:15am - when commenting on drinking at that hour his response was simply 'Well everyone else does.'
Photos taken, I then asked if it would be possible to be put on a waiting list of some form for an exit row seat if they don't sell them all. A quick phone call and I was offered seat 52A which I gratefully accepted. Then over to the restaurant for one of my fave pleasures of the clubhouse - their superb full breakfast with coffee and OJ.
Because the flight was at 9:30am time passed quite quickly in the lounge, but I was able to grab some cans of Coke, bottle of Water and several large handfuls of sweets for consumption on the flight.
I wandered down to the gate ready for boarding, and while I wasn't able to use Priority Boarding today I did notice that it didn't really seem to be in effect. The sign was up - but wasn't clearly available as an alternative line for quick and easy boarding. Indeed I told the gentleman in the queue behind me that he would be able to skip the queue as he was an Upper Class passenger, he didn't like to make a fuss or be seen to push his way to the front. Once again, something Virgin needs to seriously spend some time on rectifying.
Boarding was fairly easy and straight forward, down into the back of the plane - somewhere I must admit I haven't sat for a good few years. And actually something I was quite interested in experiencing again - to see after several flights in Premium and Upper, what it is like when you go back.
This was the new style Economy seating, and first impressions were good - it is a significant improvement on the old style Economy seats, the colour, the material finish, the split table, the location of the V:Port controller, adjustable headrest - it moves up and down and has wings (though most people didn't seem to realise). It also has adjustable lumber support with a nice inflating bit.
Now the advantages of an exit row seat - first off the plane in an emergency, you get to chat to the crew member in the jump seat opposite and of course lots and lots of leg room. The disadvantages - you get a seatbelt with an airbag - kinda cumbersome in such a small seat, a fold up from the arm and across table that you can't really squeeze past, the pull out monitor arm isn't great - the angle it comes up to isn't great and finally the headphone socket is in the arm rest next to you. But you get lots of leg room and get to be the first down the slide so shouldn't complain too much.
Safety video played, safety card locations pointed out and the cabin was checked and we're ready for take off. Crew take their seats, the one opposite us gets up to lean across to hear his colleague on the other side of the plane and promptly falls over when he goes to sit down again not realising the seat had folded up. Our safety was in his hands! The poor lamb was so embarrassed, he is still quite new to the job.
Take off done, seat-belt signs ding off and were ready to begin the cabin service. On this early flight those of us in cattle class get our first surprise, no drinks service! I expected, a nice post-take off drinky but alas this was not to be. Instead we were taken straight into the breakfast service. That is after the rush and queues for the toilets.
No choices here unless you had pre-ordered or special menu. Halalala, la laa la lala la, la lala, la lala, la la la lala la la.
The meal consisted of a cook breakfast (bacon, sausage, mushroom, hash brown, scrambled eggs), a fruit scone, a rumbles yogurty thing, a tub of fruit bits and something else, a tub of OJ with bits (eewww - don't want the bits) and a couple of cups of hot steaming coffee. Can't say I like that much of it - healthy and fruity things don't go down well with me. Strangely enough I quite liked the cooked breakfast - but then breakfast is the only thing I like in McDonalds.
We then had to wait what seemed like an age to have the trays cleared; hot drinks service wasn't too quick either. And of course this is when you want a wee - when youre stuck in your seat with the tray in front of you and not much chance of getting it out the way. When you start thinking well at least the seats are now wipe clean you need to panic, fortunately I didn't get to that stage.
Meal done, trays clear and then the couple in the four bulk head seats in the middle decide to set up the cr_che for the duration of the flight. Unfortunately it seems the boundaries of the cr_che include the side areas by either door, the aisle across to the doors and the walkway where the water fountains are. The child was about 2 or 3 and crawling everywhere and leaving a trail of toys in its wake. I nearly stood on him once and at least three other passengers nearly stood on him. Oh and the duty free trolley nearly crashed into him as he crawled into the aisle!! Many death stares were given by many passengers.
The water fountains are a great idea and very popular, a tray of OJ and soft drinks was left on the rear galley for people to help themselves to but this wasn't made clear. Several passengers didn't know whether or not to take a drink from there.
So I'm sat in my seat, Ive had something to eat, had a few drinks, watched some TV - the Madam De Pompadour Doctor Who episode is one of my faves. What else do I do? Staring at the jump seat and the intercom handset for several hours doesn't hold much excitement. On the flight I also watched Dreamgirls - better then expected and This Is England, very good! Great visuals and the kid is fantastic. Between getting up to visit the loo - one of which seems to be larger then most I have experienced in Upper there isn't very much going on. V:Port is a god send it must be said!!
I did have some excitement about two thirds of the way through the flight - I crashed my V:Port. I was looking at the i:Map and pressed the blue button for the menu - this crashed it with a rather handy error message that told me all I need to do is 'Press enter to continue'. Now this is where it gets exciting - find the Enter key on the V:Port controller. After about five minutes of making sure there isn't one - I didn't want to appear like one of those people who call the IT Helpdesk asking where the 'any' key is I gave in and pushed my call bell which remained working. The dinger dinged, the little blue light above me came on and I waited patiently. I know the crew have a lot of people to look after in Economy so I waited patiently, after about ten minutes I was looking up at the air vents and wondering if everyone on the plane closed theres would the pipes start to blow up like a balloon. It was definitely time to go and find a member of crew.
I'm afraid to say they get marked down for this, they were all to be found down in the rear galley, curtain drawn having a gossip about something. In the two minutes I waited three past me and none asked if I was ok. I made my presence known and requested my V:Port be reset - they said of course and scurried off to do it without checking if I really needed it resetting. And then the wait begins ... this system really does take its time loading!!
What else happened in the flight? We were given a frozen yogurt bar which wasn't very nice, we did have a drinks service with pretzels at one point. I do wish they'd bring back the sour cream and chive ones - they where the best!!!
And then we landed. Fairly quickly onto the gate and a mad dash through to the immigration hall, no big queues this time and through fairly quickly - quick enough to get through to the baggage carousal before the bags! Through customs and out to Arrivals where I met Dean!!
My view of Economy? Its a good product, an extra inch of legroom would make it a real winner and the service levels could do with looking at. As with all classes - consistency and maybe a bit more of a presence through the flight would be better. And to be really picky, something they have never done to my knowledge - a quick recognition of Silver and Gold FC members. A welcome aboard and thank you for flying with us again Mr O'Marah from the CSS would have worked a treat.
