crew report 17 Nov 07 (PE) LHR A340-600

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

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ok so here we go! A PE report! woke up very early 5am for a west coast USA trip out of LHR had to finish off packing a few bits, then headed into the cold to LGW to park the car. it was dark and raining, i hate winter LOL. got to the car park and walked over to the bus stop. Only had to wait a few minutes for the bus, so that was a bonus. got on and started chatting to the few crew on there, they were all going to the east coast so no one from my flight.

Once we got to LHR it was beggining to get light and had stapped raining. i went inside dumped my bags then off to the terminal for a coffee, as i had an hour and a half to go till the briefing. i met a few crew on my flight a few i had flown with before and one who was on her second flight. we were called into briefing and the FSM did the usual, he seemed a really nice guy and so did the 2 CSS's we had a full crew and i would be in PE with a female collegue. We were told by the FSM to ensure we did the full PE service as advertised and gave them everything they wanted any extra's or magic touches were cool.

we then went through security and out onto the bus and to our plane for the next 11hours and 20 mins. G-VOGE cover girl. on we got and straight in to my checks at the overwing exits. and then into our PE cabin and started on the water while my oppo did the amenity kits and headsets, i also went and got the munu's and put them out while she counted meals and prepped boarding drinks. i was boarding so grabbed a quick drink and some chocolate and put my jacket on. i would be boarding with the 'new girl' (dont like this term but obviously can't use her name!) i ensured she was clear on what an upper boarding card looks like and where to send the D's and K's. Also encouraged her to try and use names, when she could pronounce them! LOL

We started boarding with wheelchairs and those needing assistance, there were a few, so we took it in turns to escort them to their seats. boarding was uneventfull other then a few seat duplications and someone who had dropped her boarding pass. I asked her to double check her passport but she assured me she'd dropped it at the gate. i took her name and ran through the airbidge, which at LHR is very very long! when i got there they didn't have it, but checked her name against the manifest so was fine. When i got back to the aircraft she had found it in her passport!!! ah well lol!

Boarding done we were off. the FSM gave me the PE manifest i took it to my seat and went through it while we were queing to take off. we had a few red card holders and quite a few silver and one gold. i underlined her name and after take off went to say hello and gave her a glass of champagne from upper. then we started the service while my oppo got the landing card i did foot stools and hot towels. this is the first real chance i had to meet my passengers and we were full, but they all seemed lovely. we then started the drink service i went out on the left. drink service in PE is wicked as you have a little more time to speak to your passengers and get a feel for them. Also you get to have a bit of a laugh, after all i am uching a bar so it should feel like being at a bar. towards the back of premium i had two passengers chatting over the aisle. they weren't travelling together but had made friends on the flight, which seemed nice, more on them later. After the drinks we set up lunch then just before the meals finished cooking i went out and cleared in the glasses. the meal service went smoothly we had more than enough of everything, and everyone commented on how nice it all smelt! We did second wine, and then tea/coffee. Everyone had seemed to enjoy their meals, all the trays were pretty much empty, and comments were made on our pasta veggie dish. My two passengers that were chatting were still going and asked for another drink so i got them it. My collegue later served them and then they came into the galley and asked for another, we oblidged as they seemed fine and were having a nice time. once we were clear the Y CSS phoned us and asked for some help in the ecconomy cabin as they had a medical problem so i went straight through and assisted.

It appeared a gentleman was having chest pains ans was slumped in his seat always a bit scary if you've never had it before, luckily i have and knew exactly what to do for him. the other crew had already laid him down, and was getting the nearest oxygen. I've had a similar thing on a Vegas flight. His friends were saying he suffers with low blood pressure. so this imediately ment it wasn't too serious. All we had to do ws put him on oxygen and raise his legs and he should make a very quick recovery. Once he was better he could then take his blood pressure medication. Although we hadn't PA'd for a doctor yet one nearby came forward to offer his help. we got him the blood pressure pump and stephiscope (dont know how to spell it!) after a quick check he confirmed what we thought and told us we had done everything right and just to keep an eye on him. within half an hour he was fine and watching a film.

Back to premium we had asked for any duty free orders, and were about to do ice cream. we should have done brandy and bailies but because of the medical we had also had to help ecconomy catch up so now half of my passengers were asleep. Also while we were gone it would have apeared that our two passengers enjoying a drink and a chat had managed to get more drinks from the seniors. Also they were now getting louder. so once back in the galley we decided that if they asked for another drink we would politely refuse, using dehyfration and wanting them to arrive refreshed as an excuse. Once we agreed this we of course then told everyone in the forward galley and our CSS so no one else served them.

Icecreams were done i went on my break 2 hours! yay! i read my book and had a snooze then came back up early. My sidekick then told me that we had had a complaint that our two friends were being niosy, so she had asked them to be a little quieter apparently they had been a bit rude and hadn't really quietened down. so i went through and had a word explaining that we wanted them to enjoy their flight but they really needed to be considerate of the other passengers who were trying to sleep, some of them probably having to eithr drive or go to work when we landed. They apologised to me so i went back through to the bar and spent the rest of my break on the bar enjoying a very nice conversation with a lady who had flown this route for 30 odd years, originally on TWA! she was lovely, dressed all in red we kept telling her she should be helping us behind the bar as she looked like one of our crew. She was telling me what it was like in TWA upstairs in the lounge where she would jion in a game of bridge and bet quarters.

Break over i went back to PE and our friends hadn't quietened down and when i looked through the curtain another passenger was telling them to be quiet. So enough was enough i went through and told them that if they didn't settle down i would put them both into ecconomy! This seemed to work as they quickly decided to watch a film. job done the passenger who was asking them to be quiet cam through to the galley to say thank you i appologised and took him to the upper bar for a drink. FSM was informed and fine with all i had done. Well time passed a few juice and waters and also the fruit went out. we were almost at second service. The second break was still gong on so i did it on my own looping round PE. Doesn't take long anyway. I did my usual cheery 'chicken or cheese and you get a supprise sandwich' informed everyone we had an hour and a half to go. Always make everyone smile when you cheery for this service. that done did tea and then coffee, by the time i had prepped a second run, sidekick was back. So out we went together, then cleared in. I got a cup cake laft over from upper and gave it to a little boy, the only child in PE and he had been very good.

OH! i almost forgot to mention my majic momnent!! Always one on every flight. i had a couple in the front of PE and the gentleman was celibrating his 70th they were off on a hawian cruise. So he got a glass of bubbly and a happy birthday from me and the FSM, we also told him that as we were travelling west it would be the longest birthday he's ever had! Later in the flight i got him a lovely glass of the upper champagne conyac. (it smells lovely if you've not had the chance to try it yet!)

well all that done the seatbelt signs came on and we had th usual messy cabin to sort out, and a few people who needed reminding to put there seatbelts on etc. it happens alot with long haul people go to sleep and are diorientated when they wake up. its not an everyday occurence to go flying unless you work abroad or are crew, but it keeps us busy till it's time to land.

once we landed straight in and all off in under half an hour. we then made our way to the comfort of our hotel room. I joined the crew for a few drinks in a really nice wine bar we know then bed by 11pm. I was knackered and glad to be in a cosy bed.

if i get the chance i'll do the return trip tomorrow. Thnks for reading [:D]

Great TR, John V. Screw! Thanks for posting!

GJ

Great stuff John!

Keep em coming and I hope I fly with you one day!

Regards

John

Really felt as though I were seeing this through your eyes - thanks John. What nice touches - the champagne to the 70 year old and the cupcake to the little boy.
[y]

I'm really enjoying this series of reviews and a look from the crew eyes.

I have to say though - in rather a lot of flights this year and some in PE only once has a crew member (FSM or other) recognised my gold status - I'm beginning to think this is an urban myth [:p] - and never when in PE has that resulted in any noticeable services extras over and above the normal PE.

John another fantastic TR.

Am I right in presuming that the loud couple were fine for the rest of the flight? Felt your handling of the situation was fantastic.

Originally posted by slinky09

I have to say though - in rather a lot of flights this year and some in PE only once has a crew member (FSM or other) recognised my gold status - I'm beginning to think this is an urban myth [:p] - and never when in PE has that resulted in any noticeable services extras over and above the normal PE.

In the 7 years I have been flying VS, (& been Au for 5 of them) this has happened to me 3 times, all of which when flying in Y. One time I was greeted by name by the FSM & dragged screaming & kicking to a UCS. [:D] another time I was given some bubbly after boarding, and most recently I got the bubbly on boarding followed by what was more or less the PE service minus the china, and mid flight an invite to the UC bar. It is always a pleasant surprise when this kind of thing happens, but it is rare.

Thanks for another entertaining read[y]

yeah the whole gold card member thing should be more regular for you guys, sometime the FSM mentions things like this in the brief and other times it can be overlooked i must admit at first i never even gave it a thought but this was because i was new and trying so hard to get everything else right, also on some flight it can be so hectic you just dont get the chance, maybe it should be the CSS's who do this or perhaps a better way would be to make it the duties of one specific crew posistion, for example, crew member 11 does boarding, PE service and looks after any gold card holders not in J. but i think we're getting better, im sure im not alone in recognising gold cards. Perhaps a little promt would be better recieved when you aren't recognised, although one shouldn't have to! I never know the gold card holders in PE untill i get the manifest just before take off and in Y only the CSS would know.

On my last flight in UC i asked why i had not been recognised as a gold card holder and was told i has a 005 code by my name which ment i had indicated at some time that i did not want to be recognised as a goldie!

just gone back to silver so hey ho[:(!]

anyway fab report.

Another great TR! A really great read, really funny about the loud couple! Sounds like me on a flight!! [y]

DMB

Originally posted by DMetters-Bone
really funny about the loud couple! Sounds like me on a flight!!

As you are Aussie, this goes without saying.

GJ

I think it really echoes what we thought already. Even if there are great crew members working the flight, a first class FSM makes it a brilliant flight.

It seems from what you say John, that the pre-flight brief you get from the FSM really sets the tone for the whole thing - for example, the FSM making a point of saying that you should feel okay doing the magic touches and niceties, and making sure that the PE pax felt a bit spoiled and special, made you feel in a position to do these things yourself, and secure making your own decisions about doing them, knowing that you would have the backup of your FSM.

If only it was always that way!

Funny to hear the story of the noisy pax. I especially like the threat to go and send them to sit with in 'steerage', though maybe a place in the bulk hold would be even better, then at least even the Y pax won't have to put up with them! Even better though that they were contrite and apologetic after it had been explained that they were being very loud and causing a disturbance for other pax.

I find that when people are shouting unnecessarily (especially kids), that pointing out they are only sat a couple of feet away from the person they are speaking to usually works.

Great to hear your side of the coin, as ever.

Mike

yeah always difficult situation to deal with, we always try to be nice first, then if that doesn't work try 'other' methods as long as your covered by the FSM its cool. But to look at the other side of the argument they could have argued that they had paid alot of money and if they wanted to chat then they could. will start an interesting post on here just to see how you guys would deal with a similar but much more difficult situation, one that i hate and try to avoid lol

Wow Gold Cards being given recognition..... now there is something I have not had in a long while :-), great TR nice handling of the noisy passenger !