VS043 LGW-LAS 2 May 09 (Econ)
Posted: 19 May 2009, 18:02This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
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As usual I travelled to Gatwick the night before to do Twilight check in and to pay for exit seats, these are a must for me in economy being 6ft3, and I am more than willing to pay the 75 extra. Check in was very quick as it was deserted, the only wait I had was when the girl disappeared to find the PDQ to take my card payment for the exit seat, managed to grab 25 JK which means only 1 seat had to be paid for. Row 25 is the best exit seats I think as your the first Y passenger off the plane and they are not located by toilets so you dont get a line of people waiting in your space.
The holiday was booked through virgin Holidays using Tesco Clubcard vouchers - and I booked the V-room rather than the clubhouse to give it a go, Its no Clubhouse thats true and it has a cash bar with not too outrageous prices. The lounge was not too busy and found the food choices rather limited, anything is better than the main waiting area in Gatwick though.
We were called by the lounge very early to go to the gate, we waited another 15 mins before leaving, but even then we arrived at the gate to find boarding had not started, being in row 25 means youre one of the last on the plane so we had a little wait.
We took off around 20 mins late and had a 10hr 15 flight time, so would land on time. The cabin crew all seemed friendly and happy to be there, drinks were served quickly, no Pretzels or vie wipe anymore followed by the food service.
It was very evident that the Y meal had been cut back, the tray is now smaller, more square than before, and even so looked empty, there is no wine glass and the napkin was thinner and smaller than before, the food seemed the same though minus the cheese which is normally like plastic anyway. Wine was served in the normal plastic glasses which means you get a bigger pour, I opted for the red and it had quite a bite to it.
The rest of the flight went by quite quickly, I did not bother with the movies, opted to read Piers Morgans diaries of living in America- quite a funny read, not sure how much of it is true mind!
A spinach and mustard wrap was served and the choc ice, then the afternoon tea was a very small roll that was tasteless and a very strong coffee in the paper cup.
We landed on time and were one of the first off after the front cabin was clered, PE upstairs had to fight with Y to get off. Immigration was a bit odd as they only asked for my right hands 4 fingers to be printed, I had all 10 done last year but thought I would have to give them all again.
All in all a good flight really, cant fault the crew and I suppose if you had not flown Virgin before your unlikely to notice the little cut backs of recent times.
Taxi ripped me off taking me to T.I I asked for no tunnel so he then decided to take me right up the strip from the MGM- costing $35 in the process, the taxi back took a back road and came to only $16. In fact the only negative I have of the whole trip is the Taxis, with another insisting he took me to a whore house for fun, he got the hint in the end thank god!