This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Having flown out for a quick visit to Delhi on the 28th Dec, this was the return leg on 1st January 2008 ('HAPPY NEW YEAR' BTW).
Checked in online, after a few false starts and PC crashes. Unable to print the boarding cards for some reason. Have decided not to print these in future, prefer the ones handed out at the counter.
Got to the IGI airport at Delhi 3 hours before the flight. Long snaking queues to get into the airport (at least in LHR the queues are Inside the terminal!).Only one guy at the entrance checking documents. Then in to the baggage scanner, which found my camera flash. Asked to open the suitcase, carefully packed clothes unceremoniously scattered around for all and sundry to appreciate, till the offending article was found and displayed triumphantly. Wish I had taken out the batteries. After some tut-tutting, told to repack the case; not a task to be undertaken lightly while your cheeks are going red with embarassment [:I](one has done nothing wrong...but it feels that way). The case is then sealed with metal tape, and the chap waits expectantly for a tip; none forthcoming.
Off to the Virgin counter, cleverly positioned out of sight at the far end. PE counter empty, plonked the cases, answered the standard questions (one day I'll say I have no idea if my bag could have been tampered with; just to see the response[}:)]. Filled the emigration form, identical questions to the immigration form filled on the way in (why the info cannot be entered once and stored I fail to understand). Then off the the bodyscanner. Had to get the hand luggage stamped, which is then checked prior to boarding. I have seen passengers turned back if there is no stamp!
Sat at the embarcation gate till it was time to board. No shopping malls to distract ones attention, so whiled the time away guessing which were the likely PE and UC passengers, depending on their 'strut factor'.
The usual melee to get on board ensued[B)], no matter how hard the ground staff tried to streamline boarding by row numbers. Maybe people feel that the aircraft will leave without them if they do not push and shove to get on first. Delhiites are used to this on their buses and trains.
As always, the PE cabin was a calm and orderly place. Settled down with the champagne (are the glasses getting smaller, or am I spoilt in UC?). No second round of drinks. I asked for a hot towel to clean the window (the only bit in the cabin that had any smudges) as I planned to shoot some photos while there was still some light. A raised eyebrow, but it was provided, and permission taken to shoot my photos, some of which have been posted. Amazing twilight scenes of snow covering Russia, and I got a view of the distant lights of Moscow (I believe)[8D].
Saw Shrek 3; by now the storylines are a bit repetitive, and Donkey is getting on my nerves. I liked the first two films better.
Had a delicious Indian vegetarian meal[^], what a difference from the outward leg. Wish Virgin would look into the patchy standards of their special meals.
Landed on time at LHR, and proceeded to the immigration and baggage retreival, all went off smoothly. Collected the car and onto the 2 hour journey home via the M3.
Great to be back in the UK, and to drive one's own car. Reached home late, dog to be collected from helpful colleague next morning, fell exhausted into bed[xx(].
Till the next time then. Already making plans for March!!! [y]
Raj
