V-Flyer

All too soon, our 3 weeks in the Land of Mouse were up. So one last trip to Downtown Disney to get rid of the 8 bags our party of 4 had accumulated. With the new weight limits, this was done without the normal hernia inducing grunts across the carpark.

FC Gold card brought up new alternative to shared Delta lounge - a $30 meal voucher good anywhere inside airport - as alternative was to stump up $60 to get my 2 kids into the lounge - we went with the voucher.

Seat reservations had us down as seats 22 & 23 A&C, but OLCI the previous evening brought up 18 & 19 A&C - a result, or so I thought, with bulkhead seats and the new aircraft - double win.

Up to the airport in a torrential downpour, glad to have rid ourselves of the cases hours earlier. Queue for security huge, as usual, so decide to forego the trip to McCoys (HIGHLY recommended place, but allow time!) and through the 35 minute wait.

Normal duty free, last minute shopping pit stops, biggest burger king shop ever with our meal voucher (which I would be glad of later), and on to gate 82 to see Beauty Queen.

25 minutes late in boarding we get on and at first sight the new PE cabin looks good, but with the previously mentioned by others, problems of lack of storage overhead due to no lockers above centre seats - advice, get on board quick!

Pushback 18.43 and takeoff 18.56 from runway 35L, 30 minutes late. Advised of 7hr 43min flight time (almost identical to outbound, strangely), and of a "smooth trip all the way home" according to Captain.

And that was when things started going wrong.

Very bumpy all the way up the east coast of USA.

Drinks service, well we got ours, not so sure about those further back.

Then, being too busy playing around with the new IFE system (which is pretty good), had not explored the seat properly, so a little confused when asked it I want a leg rest. Saying yes brought a weird triangular shaped leatherette thing. Let me just say to Virgin - this ain't going to work. They do not sit still, meaning you cannot really rest your legs, you trip up over them due to them shooting all over the cabin, and in short are a waste of space. I understand that due to fold up screens under seats, these are needed for bulkhead, but get a better alternative, please.

Another hotly discussed item on the new aircraft has been the forward toilet in PE. Well after we actually found it, I can see why. Who designed this layout anyway? Absolutely crazy - only access from right side of cabin is through the galley - not practical nor safe, I would say. Even a couple of crew I spoke with were already exasperated with it.

Dinner was poor - chicken or a lamb curry - curry, really? with spinach? Was glad of the aforementioned Burger King. Probably the poorest meal I have ever had on VS, and it did not get any better later.

So settle down to enjoy some movies - seat back - ooopppsss. Cannot do that as I would amputate my wife's legs behind. And this a REAL complaint. The seat pitch is NOT the same as the 747 PE cabin. With the seat back, and it does not go the same distance back as 747 PE, there is NO WAY for anyone to sit behind with knees in the seat pocket. Indeed my 6 year old put his seat back on his 2 year old brother behind him, even then the 2 year old could kick the seat in front.

Outbound, my 2 year old has been on the floor in front of his seat playing with his trains & a playmat, with the seat in front fully reclined - no problems. Return, and it would be difficult for him to stand up on the floor, never mind actually play on it. No I know that is not what the design spec calls for, but nobody can persuade me that the seats are the same in the new A330 as they are in the old 747 PE cabins. I did not have a tape measure, but personal experience tells me we are being sold a lemon here. I pay for PE for more space - the fizz on boarding is an extra. If this new seat is what will be fitted across the rest of the seat, I'll be switching airline. I am 6'2", 15 stone, and my wife is 5'11" so we look for a wee bit more space.

I can only imagine what the EC cabin seats are like if they have been squeezed to the same extent as the PE.

Another complaint to add, is the lack of cleaning of aircraft by MCO groundcrew - seats were marked, centre armrest stained.

So, 2 movies later, and a restless doze, full english breakfast arrives, and is promptly rejected. Plastic sausage, rubber scrambled eggs and bacon you could fix your boots with.

SO overall, the crew - pretty good as always, pleased to help when they can, and a credit to the airline.

New IFE - yeah, pretty good - finally catching up on other airlines with movies on demand - but reckon the touchscreen & remote cables won't last long.

Food - terrible - really bad.

Seats - again, not good enough.

A330 experience - nope, I'll stick to the 747s thanks.

Now, put leather on the existing 747 PE seats, ass the new IFE & sort to toilet / galley layout, and you have a winner.

Touchdown 07.32, 28 mins early, and cases off in record time (due to airport being quiet).

hmmm another no for the 330. it is starting to be one to avoid methinks

Thank you for the TR and your views on the 330.

Doesn't look good for the A330 - wonder how it will change when / if Upper is fitted to these 2 planes - might sort out a few of the issues.

If it is being done, you'd think that VS might say something to counter all the negative feedback.

David

Thanks for the TR.

Re: the seat pitch I found the same on the 343 when fully reclined, although not so much on the 346.

I'm looking forward to trying to the bubble in January before it is undoubtly replaced!

Just FYI McCoys do accept the food and beverage vouchers that are given out. Not many people realise this. Slightly better than BK.

Thanks - knew that, but one glance at the security line, and remembering hour long visits to McCoys in the past, meant needs must & it was BK or the steakhouse place.

Tks for the TR, yep I'm a 744 devotee too

Good T/R, just shows you how experiences differ, i loved the PE on the A333 and didn'y enjoy the 744!