This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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My V Hols pick-up time from my hotel was 06:30. With no other pick-ups it was about a 20min journey to the airport. Once there, I made my way to the VS check-in area, going through the pre-security check point first. There are 2 J check-in desks at DXB. PE and Y where already quite busy but no waiting at the Upper Class desk [:)]
Id once again already used OLCI and been given my pre-assigned PE seat 20A. Again I wanted to move to row 18. After a phone call this was done for me. What is it with row 18 on the Airbus A/C? I can understand VS blocking these seats if they all where bassinet seats, but the middle section of seats arent so they could be opened up as normal [:?]
I was now in 18G which is an aisle seat in the middle section. I had to ask for my lounge invite but this was soon handed over and I was off to immigration. I only had to wait about 10mins to get though immigration and security. It did feel strange not having to remove my lap-top from my bag!!
The usual Gulf Air lounge is still closed for renovation so VS (and Gulf Air) are using the lounge close by (sorry, I cant remember the lounge name) but its on a par with the Gulf Air lounge, although a bit bigger with the usual hot/cold snacks and refreshments etc. There are also several PCs with internet access.
The VS401 was called at 09:15 and we would be using buses to get to the A/C. G-VOGE was parked in the usual VS space and by 09:40 I was sat in my seat. Boarding seemed to take an age with small groups of pax turning up off busses every 10 mins or so. The 10:05 departure time came and went as pax where still boarding. The usual PE pre-departure drinks where offered along with re-fills.
Todays flight to London was full in Y and PE with only 1 seat available in J. There once again where seat issues with a 1 pax been upgraded from PE to J (not me this time). The flight time would be 7 hrs and 15 mins.
Not long after take-off the seat belt sign came off and V:Port was started. There was no drinks service until dinner. V:Port was working but had major problems. The iMap wasnt working at all and the IFE magazine was for January but Decembers programming was still loaded onto the system. The main problem was not one of the program titles matched the actual program that you selected i.e. you would select what you thought was one film, but when it started it was a totally different film. The only way you could find the film or program you wanted was to go in and start it. It took me about 20 mins just to find a suitable program. Apparently the A/C had arrived into DXB like that and even a full system re-boot whilst on the ground, failed to sort it out. It was bad enough for adults so I hate to think how parents went on finding suitable films for children. For example, I selected what I thought was Oceans 13 but the actual film that played (no sure what it was) was full of swearing and other adult content [V] All the programs loaded where Decembers line-up but where completely mixed up for some reason.
The FSM was the same one who had worked my recent VS201 flight, although I didnt really see him much during the flight. The PE/Economy CSS was working my side of the PE cabin the entire flight.
Dinner was served about 40 mins after departure, which was nothing spectacular and my chicken meal was not very warm. Other than the temperature it was OK. Drinks where offered with the meal.
There was only 1 other drinks service offered between dinner and the snack service. We did get 2 ice-cream services on todays flight for some reason. There was the Baileys and Brandy service after the meal but I didnt see the fruit bowl at all.
The snack service was not served until 50 mins before landing so had to be rushed somewhat, although it really doesnt take that long to drink coffee from a paper cup and eat a cerial bar. I've said it before, but this part of the PE service could and should be improved.
Arrived at LHR on time at 14:05 and by 14:25 I was outside T3 after using IRIS to get though immigration and collecting my bag which for the first time ever, came off first [y]. 20 mins from A/C to arrivals has to be a record for me [:D]
Not much else to say really, other than this flight was OK, not great, but I have had worse.
Regards
Regards
James Mitchell
James Mitchell
