V-Flyer

This is the second TR on behalf of my parents. I rated CC excellent and everything else Good, but these are loose ratings as it was based on word of mouth from my mom, and not nearly the level of detail as if it were my own TR.

Unlike the trip to London (TR here) my mom felt the CC were much more attentive on this trip.

They had done OLCI and printed boarding passes. Checking luggage and fast track security went smoothly and fairly quickly.

They ate breakfast in the CH and if I remember correctly my mom commented on some lovely pancakes. I had prebooked treatments for both of them. My Dad was pleased with his haircut and my mom enjoyed a manicure.

They went to the gate when the flight was called and my mom said they waited on a long line. I asked her if there were any signs for priority boarding and she said she did not remember seeing one. I can't say one way or the other if there was no priority boarding in place or my parents just didn't see the sign. In any event, it seems as though things at the gate could have been more clearly delineated.

My mom told me that she had originally ordered salmon for lunch, but overheard the CC asking a gentleman seated next to her if he would switch his choice as they didn't have enough salmon for everyone. He was not happy and so my mom volunteered to change her choice to the vegetable pie, and the CC thanked her. She said it was fine - not bad, not spectacular.

The other thing my mom mentioned was that the IFBT did come around and explained to her the procedure (how it is random, she doesn't always get to everyone, etc.). My mom signed up for a massage and she wound up getting the treatment near the end of the flight. The IFBT told her she had stopped by earlier but saw she was dozing, so thought she'd try her again later. My mom was pleased with the attention as the IFBT was non-existent on her outbound flight. I know there has been some discussion about people not receiving treatments in-flight if they received a treatment in the CH, so I was surprised my mom received a treatment. I mentioned this and my mom said the IFBT knew she had a treatment in the CH because mom told her she didn't want a hand treatment as she had just had a manicure in the CH. So I guess it comes down to how many people have requested treatments in-flight and how much time the IFBT has.

My dad didn't have much to say about the flight (which was expected) but the one thing he was not pleased about was that the cabin lights were dimmed and all of the shades were shut. His feeling was that this was a daytime flight so there was no need to dim lights and try to encourage people to sleep.

I have to assume everything else went smoothly as my mom would have mentioned to me any complaints.

I'm glad this was a better flight for them. It is only too bad that they signed up for FC (via Miles more Friends) in May 2006 and didn't take their first flight until July 2007. According to the small print, neither they nor I are eligible for bonus miles due to this timing. Too bad as I was looking forward to a one-way PE - UC upgrade courtesy of mom & dad!