This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
BFS/EI032/LHR/VS007/LAX
EI 032
Belfast-International (BFS) - London-Heathrow (LHR) T1
Aircraft: Airbus A320-200
Seat: 1D
STD: 07:40
STA: 09:10
Gate: 16
The night before, I had try to check in on my flights from BFS-LHR-LAX, however I quickly found a problem. My 1st segment is Aer Lingus flight: EI 032 and I found that because of this, I was not able to use the OLCI facility with either airlines. So I knew I was in deep trouble. Originally I did book 37H for the VS 007 flight but I know that seat allocation is never guaranteed, I use to have to explain this to passengers when I was working for Aer Lingus in LAX TBIT.
Upon checking in, in BFS the same problem with the OLCI found its butt ugly head at the SSK, so I had to use the desks. They tagged the bag all the way to LAX and it was kinda great to see the letters "LAX" printed on a bag tag with the EI logo again (it's a nostalgia thing, especially more so when EI closed their LAX station), but as figures, they wouldn't be able to check me in on the VS flight, I explained the situation to the contracted ground staff (contracted with Menzies), they assigned 1D for me.
Off I went, security was well arranged. They had been doing some major renovation work and had actually expanded the security area by at least 40%, so security was a breeze.
I went to Gate 16, in what felt like the basement. It was creamy white pastel coloured walls and it was kinda depressing to be honest.
Boarding was uneventful, I just wanted to get in the air asap, lol. I think the flight was covered by a small team of females attendants managed by a male Cabin Manager. They unfortunately all look the same to me. The Irish lads being a bit too orange for my liking and the female ones I don't attract to, but they were nice and courteous.
We arrived at T1 at one of those god awful gates that looks like, they were made from scrap metals in WW2. But I ran, boy did I ran like hell to get to T3. I apologised to the elderly couple making their slow sweet way out of T1, they must have thought, "Those young ones these days, always running here and there!"
I left T1 after passing through immigration, caught one of those terminal connection buses and headed to T3.
VS 007
London-Heathrow (LHR) T3 - Los Angeles (LAX) T2
Aircraft: Airbus A340-600
Seat: 55G
STD: 11:15
STA: 14:35
Gate: 16
I arrived and ran up the stairs and headed to flight connections desk for VS. A bored and sad-looking security lady of Indian descent checked my passport and my reservations and placed one of those labels at the back of my passport and pointed which transfer desk I had to use.
The guy there was alright, it was nice but no va-va-voom. He told me that my requested seat 37H was reassigned and I was allocated 55G instead. Bummer, middle section, but at least an aisle. He told me to use OLCI which I told him my story, which he replied with an "Oh. ... Well have a good flight anyway!" Cheers.
So I made my way through security, some passengers from other flights were confused on what they need to do, but none of the security personnels were willing to explain what needs to be done. I suppose, it's better than TSA barking orders at passengers.
I checked the FDS and saw that it was boarding and again I begun my running thing once again, I have one thing to say about T3. I hope they knock it down asap! What a stupid design! Hell I ran faster than those transit buggy cart things in the terminal, and when I arrive at Gate 16, what do I find? They had not started boarding at all.
Then I realised, I am at a "Gate 16" again, what is this? Fate? I saw two ground staff at the podium so I was about to ask them regarding the status of my bag. Whenever I transit, I find that if I'm told the status of my transit bag, it makes the flight more at ease. The male ground staff totally ignored me and the famale one started shouting,
"Get back, we are not opened, get back!"
Then I thought to myself, how can you not be opened? You are at the podium, the doors to the holding pen are open, you are reps for an airline and you are customer service agents, how dare you talk to me that way?
I think back to my time working for Aer Lingus and how we never turn away any passengers when we are at a podium; we answer any questions and help passengers and here is a she bitch telling me they are not opened, therefore they are not going to even attempt to talk to me. Bitch.
Do they know customer service? Evidently not.
20 minutes later, when they are finally ready, they opened the flight for boarding. I went to her, thrusted my BP and totally ignored her. There at the holding pen, I did find another agent at the back with a radio (walkie-talkie). Fantastic.
I approached her and excused myself and explained my situation. She was far nicer, she checked my booking and at an ease, she stated she will do her best and once she finds out anything, she will tell me, so off she went calling for dispatcher and ramp. So I hung about and not long she came back and said my bag is onboard the aircraft.
So I thanked her. See, was that too much to do?
Flight was very good, seat pitch was comfortable, legroom was spacious unlike BA's (which is a total killer). I sat beside this fair haired, quite muscular Australian who was wearing this grey sleeveless muscle shirt, navy shorts and flip-flops. He was ok to look at lol, I laughed at bit when a cabin crew asked if we were travelling together, mwuahahahaha, if only!
Gosh I'm terrible, anyway, the IFE selection was very excellent. The food was fantastic and totally spoilt with choice and amount. I felt the cabin crew were truly excellent, sure they talked amongst themselves a lot but they were more than ready to assist passengers. At one point my IFE froze and wouldn't restart on its own, if only there was a reset switch, so I went to the back (I hate using the call buttons) and spoke to one of the cabin crew and she said,
"Oh no problem honey, I will get it reset for ya right away."
After 5 minutes, my IFE went to restart mode and sure enough was working again. So I definitely cannot doubt this cabin crew, they genuinely are helpful. Reading TRs featuring VS cabin crew, it does appear to be a hit and a miss sometimes, unlike BA imo, but here's to hope and thankfully this time, they were nice.
I recall napping for an hour and descent was sweet passing the Hollywood sign and it felt like returning home. We arrived at LAX T2 and upon disembarking, I bumped into a friend, found out that not only does she work for ANA & EVA Air but she also works for VS Arrivals Ground Staff now too, what a versatile girl. I chatted to her for a bit and then made my way down to CBP.
That day's CBP officer was engaging (in a good way) which was cool, sometimes you get a rough fella, the next a sweet one; but I stayed positive and answered his obligatory questions and I asked him about his day. Found out that he never worked in TBIT's CBP. I congratulated him to which he just laughed.
Got my bag from Carousel 2 and headed out to meet up with my friend.
SO all in all, it was a very good flight, sure VS Ground Staff in LHR could do with some discipline for poor customer service but the cabin crew were totally amazing. Young, endearing and yes beautiful.
This year, 09 OCT 2010, I will be flying with VS again on flight VS200 to HKG. So let's hope VS Ground Staff have improved their customer service skills for I will be watching very closely.
Thanks for reading.
I can barely remember what I did yesterday.... 
It was priceless, MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
