This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Aircraft Reg: G-VHOT
You know, once it's done, that big pedestrianised space they're developing in front of T3 might actually look halfway presentable.
I'd left the office at 7am and found myself in the worst M4 Spur Road traffic I've ever encountered. Colleague and fellow V-Flyer Dave was in the same queue slightly ahead of me, having come from home heading for a T1 flight to Madrid, and we were keeping each other appraised of our respective (lack of) progress.
Expecting the worst after that, once my cab had dropped me off I was pleasantly surprised to find that check-in was quieter than I can remember ever seeing it on a Monday morning. I'd checked-in online, but hadn't been connected to print my boarding card so I hit Upper Class check-in, where there was no queue, and the helpful man who dealt with me quickly and efficiently made a point of letting me know my bag was 'upgraded' before asking me if I'd used the new security route yet. As I hadn't, he gave me directions, and within about three minutes I was in the Departure Lounge. Oh my god but I'm loving that little feature. Never mind into the Clubhouse in ten minutes, if I hadn't stopped to take a phone call I think I'd have been there in five.
I had a lot of work to do before boarding, but I also needed to make a point of getting to Borders before boarding, as this is a two and half week trip and all my own books are still in boxes from moving house recently. So I settled in as quickly as possible, and ordered tea, apple juice, and the fastest and easiest thing for breakfast, the sausage sandwich. It helps that I also really like the sausage sandwich :-)
I'd requested a treatment but as the trip was booked pretty late there were no slots left, and actually, I'd have needed to cancel anyway. So I spent a solid couple of hours writing a report and taking phone calls, during which the ebb and flow of the Clubhouse carried on around me. I'd had some trouble with the service the last couple of times I'd been in there, but I really can't complain today, as the staff were friendly and attentive throughought. I knew exactly what I wanted from the bookshop, so I left it til the second boarding call before packing up, and then did a very quick run. Boarding was at Gate 27 so I knew it wasn't a major trek anyway.
When I got there Priority Boarding was working, though there was a line on the jetty so it all equalised in the end... At the door I was greeted by a crew member who clearly clocked the 900 number on my boarding card and welcomed me 'back on board' by name.
When I'd checked in to 33G, the four seats across the middle of 33 were all available, so I thought I might get lucky (not like that, you dirty-minded buggers), and in the end 33F next to me was in fact empty. The couple in D and E seemed to be friends or family of one of the crew working in the Economy cabin, as he stopped by regularly, but apart from nodding hello the spare seat made a useful firebreak. I know that sounds rude, but I had a lot of work to do, and was hoping not to have to do it with too many interruptions. The glass of something sparkling before take off was an allowed interruption of course.
This was my first time travelling in PE on an all main deck PE flight, and the cabin does feel very big after the few rows there used to be.
Flying time of 9 hours 52 and a clear crossing to good weather in SF was announced, along with the total load of 329 passengers and 21 crew (yes, I'm one of the sad geeks who likes to know these details). One of the crew (coming in off Standby, I assume) had actually had to come past us down the jetty with her bag, and she ended up being the primary crew member looking after my side of the cabin.
We pushed back almost bang on time, taxied what felt quite minimally for Heathrow on a Monday morning, and had wheels up by around 11.20/11.25. Amenity kits and bottles of water were out on the seats on boarding, and the crew came round with menus and headphones as soon as they were up and about in the air.
V:Port was on pretty quickly, though the first run was the much discussed dreadful SRB welcome message and then what felt like loads of adverts. I had the screen on burbling in the background as I got the laptop out and it felt like every time I glanced up for ages there were still ads running. The FSM had announced what to me was a new innovation, the Sky News channel, which updates every hour in-flight. Being text-based, it was perfect for the news junkie in me, as I could just leave it on and cast a look over it from time to time.
First (and only) drink round was handled quickly, and then lunch was served not too long after. Menu options were Chicken Korma, Beef Casserole, and Vegtarian Pasta, and the very pleasant red wine (a Tempranillo) was topped up twice. I ate very quickly and shoved my tray onto the spare seat's table so I could get back to the work. The crew spotted it and cleared it ahead of the regular clear up round 'to give you a bit more space', which I thought was a nice touch.
Generally, I think the service was about right for PE - the crew were all in evidence regularly, including the FSM who did several what I'd call practical (actually delivering things to people or clearing up items) runs through, and when people did call them they were prompt in responding. They did three rounds with water and juice that I can remember, plus one with ice cream and one with the hot wraps, then a round with the fruit bowl about an hour before afternoon tea.
I was done with my work about three and a half hours before landing, so I fired up V:Port and checked out the options, but nothing was really appealling, so I got out my new toy - a shiny iPod Touch, and watched a couple of episodes of Doctor Who I'd loaded onto it (Human Nature and The Family of Blood if you're interested - you know who you are:-) ). Can I just digress to say I'm *loving* the Touch - the picture quality is fantastic, and I love the interface.
Afternoon tea was a choice of sandwiches and an actually very nice indeed toffee cookie, but the cup of tea was so tepid as to really be called cold.
Landed impressively early at 1.20 local time, and on stand by 1.30, just ahead of one of the BA arrivals. I thought this was a good sign for getting through immigration quickly, but they were on a nearer stand to the immigration hall, so a few of them got in ahead of us, but nevertheless I was through pretty quickly. My Priority Bag was actually delivered as part of Priority Baggage, and I was dropping off my stuff at my hotel before heading to the office well inside an hour of landing.
All in all, a spot-on delivery of the new PE product, and quite an auspicious start to this protracted stay in SF.
