This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
) We stayed the night at the Mercure London Gatwick. This Hotel is very tired and in need of a serious update and re-decoration. We got a room for £49. Would not recommend it!
Still.... up early and arrived at bag drop. Very efficient checkin staff, all be it a bit cold. Went through fasttrack security - but to be fair there was no one at the general security area. Arrived in the Gatwick Clubhouse about 0745hrs.
The Holiday really began there. Very nice Reception staff, one of whom had been to Cuba and was really chatty.
Had just got our bum on the seat and we were approached for our order. I had the British Breakfast and a strong coffee - Needed after the horrible instant coffee at the Hotel.
Our main waitress was absolutely brilliant. Really made the visit. Made sure we always had a 'Virgin Red Head' on the go. She had been to Cuba and gave us some good tips and things to do on the trip.
As a general male of the species I tend to shy away from being 'bodily pampered' but I went for the maintenance facial.
However....I will leave this sort of indulgence to the clubhouse visit.
The time vortex that the clubhouse cocoons you in left us running for our plane.... got there with plenty of time to spare
We were on Ruby Tuesday and seats 70 H&K. The bubble is always good and I had not sat at the bulkhead before. I know it's mentioned lots but the seats are tired. On the upright it rocks like an arm chair. So much so I apologised to the person behind incase it affects their TV watching. The big draw back, in my opinion, of row 70 is the interruptions of the toilets, including the queue next to your seat as they wait and the -ahem- smells
. Interestingly SeatGuru gives the seats a green flag. I would be inclined to give it a yellow due to the toilet issues.
The main meal was a nice beef stew with a desert in a plastic pot. To be honest nothing exciting. The food later DID let itself down. The first snack was an overheated half a wrap in a plastic bag, the edges of which were hard. The second snack was a very limp, lack of filling, Coronation Chicken half a sandwich. This was almost ineddable... almost...!
The entertainment was all working as was the Sky Map. I watched Social Network and Megamind.
The flight was smooth and on time. the cabin crew were friendly, efficient and did a good job. There were (if I remember correctly) 354 pax with 15 cabin crew.
The cabin doors opened to the Heat of Cuba - - - - ahhhhhhh
