VS004 JFK-LHR 5 JUN 11 (Premium Economy)
Posted: 06 Jun 2011, 16:15This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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Trying to check in online the night before I was told I couldn't so a quick call to the Premier team and it quickly became apparant something was wrong with my booking which they tried to sort - it had been cancelled by someone (still not sure who)
Was told to get to the airport tomorrow as they would need to reissue the e-ticket - I was told about ten different things why no-one else could do this in advance but I just went with it.They also could not allocate seats for me so was dreading with what I might end up with
Arriving at 1400 to find the ticket desk does not open until 1430 - walked around for a bit, it felt like a year 
A little after 1430 the desk opened and what a cheery member of the Virgin team welcomed me (most certainly not)
She could not understand what had happened either but said it was Virgin'as fault and she would sort it - e-ticket issued and a sort of apology she confirmed she had moved me into PE as Economy was oversold - thought that was nice of her but because this was their fault I might have been expecting it 
I have worked in Customer services for far too long clearly knowing what buttons to press!! The check in agent was not much better, putting me in the final row by the toilets which I said what about Row 18 - a reply of "yeah it's there" - so moved to 18C (Remember that it's key) and boarding pass issued.
I was into the Clubhouse which was very quiet but it was now only 1500 so a bit of time to pass. I enjoyed a couple of Virgin Redhead's and the Clubhosue burger - all very good.
The team in the JFK clubhouse are always friendly and welcoming IMHO.
Boarding was called at 1710 which was 15mins earlier than advised but I did go down on the first call and it's a good job I did - the line's for security were horrendous but with a little organisation things kept moving and I was through by 1745. I was straight onto the plane - Cover Girl on this trip.
I was welcomed at the door (not by name) and directed to my seat - the one crew member who was running around in PE was clearly on her own as she dealt with getting the pre-take off drinks out, sorting bags out and generally trying to smile through the pressure - she did a great job actually and the team were one down on the flight.
Now 18A remained empty until the last moment until a mother with a baby came around the corner, I just knew it - this was not going to be my night
She did sit down in 18A for about 30secs protesting loudly and strongly to the cabin crew member that she asked for an aisle and she wanted one - now PE was full as was UC and Economy so with not another seat spare on the plane, I am not sure what she really wanted anyone to do other than for me to move...Oh yes, that's it so I did and actually 18A worked ok for me.
She was still stood up in the aisle as we pushed back, she was going to be trouble with a capital T. The cabin crew asked her several times in the taxi to sit down and strap the baby in, this as the baby pulled everything out of a bag and threw it into the aisle - she then turned to me and said her daughter is a realy good traveller and she won't cause me any problems! Yeah right
The FSM was jolly announcing a blonde hair piece had been found in the air-bridge if anyone had lost it and so on... (more of this life saver later) but then the lady next to me started to breast-feed - right at the side of me (now I know this could start a whole new debate) but it was just not right, no discretion - nothing. The guy opposite just could not believe it.
A flight time of 6hrs31mins was promised with some heavy bumps later in the flight. Hot towels were provided after take-off - no seperate drinks run on this flight but dinner served 45mins in as the breast-feeding went on
Dinner was actually very good - a salad (ok this was nothing special) it was just ice-berg lettuce with tomato and a grilled piece of courgette, no dressing which was needed. I had the Lamb curry which was very good and I would get again. The warm bread rolls were offered a couple of times. Wine is now served in little plastic bottles, not sure if this is new but the crew said it was working well??
Dessert was a peach crumble but needed some cream, perhaps that's a Yorkshire thing!?
Cheese and Biscuits rounded things off nicely. Tea/Coffee was delayed a bit because of some bumps but it came about 15mins later, closely followed by baileys and brandy. I think at this point the cabin crew started to take pity on me as I was served a very large glass of baileys
Lights out and I settled down to watch a film until v-port decided to pack in and I had to ask for it to be reset. Whilst I waited wondering what else could go wrong, the CSS for PE and Economy came through the curtain and said the FSM would like to invite me to the bar for a drink
I was out of the seat like grease lighting - he had clearly spotted my nieghbour was demanding and causing all sorts of fuss and clearly took pity on me - a lovely gesture actually.
I sat chatting with him and some of the UC passengers for about an hour, enjoying two very large G&Ts, chewing the fat on a number of issues about the new menu and so on....He mentioned we had a unique passenger on in UC, never got to the bottom of that. I was offered some cheese but as I was full turned it down. I decided I wanted to try and get some sleep and went back to my seat with another G&T - I was out like a light when I got back to my seat
Woken up as breakfast was been served just over an hour out from LHR - the full English went down a treat - Juice, tea/coffee also offered with the fruit basket also doing the rounds.
The FSM came to say cherrio before we landed, what a nice man and he made the flight for me - a generous email already sent to CR.
Landed at 0615 in the pouring rain and quickly into Revivals for a shower, shave and a little more to eat before my journey back to Yorkshire.
And the baby, it did not cry, was no bother - shame the same cannot be said about the mother. She ended up having two meals, one was Vegetarian that was ordered by her and then she wanted more.....we didn't talk after my trip to the bar.
Could have been worse, saved only by a great caring crew.
until I read further down the report and realised the FSM was male 
Good to read that the CC were excellent.