This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
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Cabin Crew
Self (Raj) and wife (Praveen) travelled by PE at short notice to Delhi. Checked in online from home which was painless. Travelled by car from Dorset, 2 hour journey, and parked at Pink Elephant car park. Very convenient location, with frequent coaches. Reached T3 at 6pm and the chaos started[B)]! Long queues everywhere. Asked for help re PE baggage drop off, and told to join a queue at any Economy counter (no special priviledge for PE then). Enviously watched UC passengers drop their bags and stroll off. After a long and exhausting wait, got to the counter, seemingly manned by a trainee (with her trainer staying in the background). Told off for having previous virgin stickers at the back of the passport! Maybe she thought she was being helpful in suggesting that while inflight, we should remove the old stickers (has anyone tried removing the extremely sticky stuff?) When she was asked if an upgrade was available, both of us having Ag, replied that the flight was chokka. Mildly suggested that there had been quite a few seats free in the morning, response in an unbelieving tone: how I could have gotten that info. I felt it embarassing to press the issue. Found that our single piece of hand luggage was 8.5kg, 0.5 kg over the limit, so had to take the camera out and give it to the wife to carry, only to put it back in when we reached the plane. Joined the usual queues for security checks. Finally out by 7pm; went off to the Servisair lounge. Maybe it was that time of the day when a lot of flights were departing, but there was no place to even sit in the lounge. Frightfully crowded and noisy, to the accompaniment oE 'Eastenders' which had quite an absorbed audience. Lots of light snacks, drinks and papers though, and the seating was much better than in T3. Suddenly at around 8.30pm, the crowds melted away and it became very peaceful. Would definitely recommend spending the 16, but it isn't a patch on Clubhouse. Finally boarded the flight and turned right [:(]
What an oasis of calm. The new PE cabin looks swanky. Was very clean too. The stewardess looking after us was very busy but always cheerful and helpful. The onflight entertainment system is excellent and very intuitive. Praveen, who hates gadgets, got the hang of it within minutes. Saw Harry Potter (no accounting for tastes, I know). For the first time on Virgin, the meal was a disaster[V]. Half the items on the menu card weren't there in our 'special' vegetarian trays, though I could see other passengers having them. it seems they ran out very quickly! The food did not taste authentic at all; seemed to have been prepared by someone who had no idea of what proper Indian food tastes like. It was the worst part of the flight (and the best part on the return trip: so they can get it right if they try).
Couldn't find a comfortable angle to sleep (8 hour overnight flight), and the knees were hurting by the time we disembarked. I know some of you will recommend that I should have paid for UC; couldn't agree more! Getting on a bit now, and need the extra comfort at night, so it will be UC only from now on, if it means selling the family silver!
Flight reached Delhi on schedule at 1130hrs local time. Lots of construction work going on due to massive expansion of the airport after privatisation. For the first time, cheap duty free liquor after baggage collection. You pay in $ what you would pay in at LHR. The limit is 2 litres per person, which is not rigidly enforced (we already had two bottles of Glenfiddich bought onboard).
Had a good stay in Delhi, and spent new year's eve with our parents. Returned on 1st January. More on that flight later!
Plan to make another trip in March: wondering whether to try Jet Airways. Any one with experience of their UC?
'Happy New Year' everybody
Raj
