VS043 LGW-LAS 25 APR 10 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

I flew to Las Vegas a week later than I should have because of the Ash cloud but was just releaved to be getting there. We stayed at the Marriott at Gatwick the night before - not as nice as the Sofitel but it did what it said on the tin.
We got the bus to the terminal and it was all pretty painless. The line at PE check in was short and we got checked in really quickly getting the seats we wanted in 'the bubble'
We did the usual airport stuff before we boarded only a few mins late and got settled into our seats. The seats were pretty good. It felt very spacious upstairs with a wide space between the seats and although it felt a little tired it was ok. We had our sparkling wine and were given our menu and settled back to take off. We took off around 20 mins late and i got already to watch the latest movies on the older IFE system only for an announcement to come over that none of the IFE was working and due to the flight issues the plane hadnt been where it needed to be to get repaired. The steward said she would reboot the system and see if that worked but that it hadnt on the way back from Vegas. Anyway after a short while the systems come to life and everyone in the bubble had movies....everyone else didnt!!
So we got settled into a movie and dinner was served mine was a vegetarian pasta dish - very nice and my husbands a chicken creation also not bad. After lunch we satbck and enjoyed the flight, watched the movies and was served regular drinks, ice cream, fruit and a bit later a warm sandwhich. It was a really smooth flight and the staff were really attentive. We landed in Las vegas early feeling pretty good.
All in all it was a good flight and my initial concerns were misguided. I think that helped massivly by being in 'the bubble' I am not sure I would have been writing such a positive review if we hadnt had any IFE.
I would fly to Vegas again using Virgin but only if I could afford PE and sit upstairs. It was certainly better than what I had been expecting having read lots of bad reviews

[Nottingham Nick]

Nice to read a positive report out of LGW, though I have to say - the IFE problems with the LGW/MAN fleet continue to hurt the Virgin Atlantic brand, and the sooner they are sorted the better.

Nick

glad you had a good flight!

always better to have your expectations exceeded.

Am not sure how the people downstairs coped for that long flight with no IFE Don't think I'd have been a happy bunny

Thanks for the TR very good to hear of a positive-ish flight which had no IFE for the duration again, oh well many thanks atleast yours worked upstairs.

cheers
alex

Good report - sounds like you were lucky with the IFE working though!
We are flying LGW-MCO at the end of the month - can you remember what the film choice was on the outbound trip please?

Thanks for the TR.

I note that you were flying on VTOP (Virginia Plain). The entertainment system actually broke down irretrievably (didn't work upstairs either) after about three hours into our flight on VTOP on the 22nd April. Obviously they hadn't fixed it by the 25th but, I am pleased to say, it was fully functioning on 6th May.

I think that Nova and Odyssey have had their day.