This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Returning the car to Alamo was a breeze – much quicker and friendlier than with Dollar in the past few years – and we were soon into the terminal at MCO. While not the best airport we have transited at least it is light and airy. English Rose awaited us at the gate, and that is where the worst PE experience we have ever encountered began.
Unlike previously at this location, boarding was a scrum, despite the Priority Boarding sign being very much in evidence. Elbowing our way past buggies, ankle bracelets and football shirts, we eventually passed through to the air bridge and attempted to pick up our duty free. Attempted, because it was not there and would need to be brought on board and delivered to our seat.
So off we trotted upstairs to 78A-C and instantly became very happy that we had not managed to snag our all-time favourite PE seats at 79A-C. The lady sitting in 79A loudly and continuously complained to anyone passing her seat (crew or passenger) that it was broken and felt like she was sitting in a rocking chair. How she would put up with it for such a long flight she did not know. Something really should be done about it. She didn’t pay good money to be rocking when she wanted to be sitting still, etc, etc,etc. Eventually the CC had an engineer come aboard and checked it out. His verdict was that there was a nut worn
and he did not have a replacement. The best he could do was to put it in his log. As previously stated, I’m really glad we couldn’t get 79A-C.I must say at the outset that the cabin crew in the bubble were absolutely fantastic and quite the best crew it has ever been my fortune to fly with. Permission was not given for me to use names, but you two Ks know who you are. In the same vein, the FSM – who I believe has been praised on these fora before – was magnificent. Always in evidence and even helped with the Brandy and Baileys post-dinner drinks round.
But there, dear reader is where the good stuff ends.
The food choices from what sounded quite a tasty menu ran out before the CC reached the emergency exit doors halfway down the cabin. The only choice left (Hobson’s?) was a chicken dish, but not the one on the menu. For any passengers who did not want the chicken offering, CC had to scavenge menu dishes from the downstairs Economy section. The meal I was offered (described to me as cannelloni) proved to be inedible lump of pasta covered by a fluorescent, congealed, cheese sauce.
The present Mrs Treelo could not eat her offering and had to be content with nibbling the small salad starter and the biscuits and cheese. To further exacerbate the situation, the crockery and glassware (both water and wine) were dirty, and the glasses even came complete with their own lipstick! Throughout this sorry escapade, the CC were terrific. Obviously embarrassed by the reception the meal was receiving; they were apologetic and, at my request, agreed to make an entry in the catering log for the flight. Indeed when she came to speak with me later in the flight, the FSM assured me that she had done so. She also alluded to my Ag status – nice touch – and seemed genuinely upset by the whole fiasco.
The actual flight was smooth and we landed into MAN 25 mins early. Priority baggage sort of worked and we were fairly quickly off to the Radisson to retrieve our car.
Shame about the rest of the experience though and I do hope that this is not another example of bean counting. I have written to VS concerning these issues – will let you know what transpires.
Thanks,
John.
John.
