VS400 LHR-DXB 16 FEB 11 (Premium Economy)
Posted: 16 Mar 2011, 20:43This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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Anyway very quick check in and up to the private security channel, scanned tickets and door didn’t open, tried several times both boarding cards but nothing. Pressed the intercom and had to hold boarding cards and AU card up to the camera to prove we were entitled to use it. “Back a bit, up a bit, I can’t read it properly” said the person on the other end, “down a bit, up a bit” I felt like I was Bernie the bolt! (See how many can remember that!) Eventually the door opened and we went through, bit of a queue at the security arch but through and straight to the CH. I later learned that this had happened as we were travelling on reward flights and as such our FC numbers whilst they are in the booking they don’t appear on the boarding card, so the bar code didn’t transpose showing an AU FC PAX, that’s why the reader on the door didn’t work.
Details of the CH experience i have already posted here
Flight was called nice and early, and off we trekked, boarding was underway with priority access in place and so went straight on. We were greeted at the door by the FSM, good start I thought. Everyone was on board and we looked ready to go about 30 mins early, until the dreaded announcement “would Mr so and so please make himself known to the crew” 3 announcements later and still no Mr. so and so, which meant missing pax. Our early get away looked like it wasn’t going to happen. Eventually Mr. and Mrs. so and so arrived 5 minutes before scheduled departure time, to a small round of applause from some of the pax.
This caused us to have a 45 minute delay to take off, although CC brought several rounds of drinks and towels whilst we waited which was nice.
Eventually we took off and I settled in to watch a film. The seats we had which were supposed to be exit weren’t; and are bulkhead, For Mrs Chumba they were fine but for me I wasn’t able to stretch my legs out fully, whereas normally I can by putting them under the seat in front. Nice to have no one in front however but for me I think next time will be happy with a normal PE seat. Also the close proximity to the galley meant a lot of noise whilst CC worked, again would rather have been a bit further back.
Meal was served very quickly due to the late take off, but we had eaten in the CH so didn’t bother, although I did have the pudding!
Having been at work for the day before flying I was quite tired and so thought I would settle down for a little snooze. However my little snooze ended up with me being woken with 30 mins to landing! I have never spent that amount of time asleep on a plane, so can’t comment on any other part of the flight. Although Mrs Chumba did say the crew were great with the service so thumbs up for that. Although she did say that the FSM was nowhere to be seen during the flight, and didn’t come and say hello.
We landed on time so had made up the delay. As we taxied the pilot announced that as we were aware we had had a medical emergency on board during the flight (I was obviously so deep in the land of nod I had even missed that) and so he said that when we arrived at the gate he was going to leave the seat belt sign on and asked if everyone could stay seated whilst the passengers were handed over to medical staff. YEAH RIGHT! I though there is no way a full plane of PAX will stay seated with belts on, it just won’t happen. There will be someone who will want to get up and off.
We arrived at the gate and the sign stayed on and there it was - ABSOLUTE SILENCE, the usual click, click click sounds were not to be heard. Without exception everyone stayed seated, very impressed with everyone’s attitude. The PAX and family who were subject to the medical emergency were off first and then the seat belt sign goes out, then the usual mêlée occurs.
Being close to the door we were off first and on the trek to Immigration, arriving there we were straight through with no queues, bags were waiting for us on the carousel, so priority baggage had worked and we were straight outside into a taxi and off to our hotel.
All in all from getting off the plane to being in our hotel room took a total of 45 minutes
