V-Flyer

After two fabulous weeks on the Riviera Maya it was time to come home……

We booked a private transfer because I don’t like coaches and I don’t like being late to the airport.

Again I did OLCI at T-24 but the seat map was unavailable so I couldn’t see if any ‘better’ seats were available although I could see from our seat numbers that we were on another refurb

On arrival to the airport the queue for economy check in (sorry can’t remember which letter is used) was hideous. There was one ahead of us at the PE desk and UC was free so we were waved forward which was nice Quickly and painlessly checked in and off upstairs to duty free. After a few purchases, a change of clothes (out of shorts and vest and into comfy’s ((not a pink all in one sleep suit ))), we found a seat near our gate and could see Hot Lips in all her glory.

It doesn’t matter how often I fly or on what, something about a VS 747 just does it for me

So, the crew turn up and get on and then the desk is swamped with people. I tried to get a bit closer to hear what was going on but couldn’t work it out. Everyone walked away shaking their heads and complaining to their families. I wonder if they had been asking to change seats but surely you would do that at CI?

Anyway we boarded quickly after fighting our way through all the economy travellers – why do people insist on gathering round the gate? The plane is going to take off at the same time whether you are first in your seat first or last – I just don’t get it.

Anyway, safely ensconced in our lovely purple seats, 18 D, E and F. I would have preferred to be further up the cabin but I wasn’t that bothered really. Argued with my husband about getting the aisle seat this time as he had it outbound, he said we would swap later…. We didn’t! It’s annoying as he and my son sleep the flight away whilst I am stuck next to a stranger who is also asleep so I can’t get out for the loo.

Female pilot – hurrah! (Cue sexist remarks from pax across the way – don’t worry, karma bites him later ), she announces a flight time of 8hrs 13 mins (double hurrah!) with 459 on board. We pushed back at 1815, we had a long taxi to the runway (A12R) and finally took off at 1830.

The pilot had explained that because she was going to put her foot down the flight may get a bit bumpy, it did, it wasn’t awful but it was certainly the worst turbulence I have experienced in a long time

We had the usual drinks, hot towels, amenity kits, etc etc. Dinner was:

Starter: Tabbouleh salad with tomatoes and olives.
Main: Beef stroganoff or grilled chicken valentine or vegetarian lasagne.
Bread roll (which never materialised?!)
Dessert: Apple crumble with crème anglaise.

Now the food, again, was good, however, apple crumble and custard should NEVER EVER in my opinion be served chilled. If they don’t have the ability to heat it which I’m sure they don’t as there is limited space then why oh why choose a dessert that should be hot and serve it cold? Not good.

Shortly after dinner (post dinner liqueurs not offered) the lights went off and the world and his wife went to sleep, including my darling husband on the aisle and my little lad. I was very pleased for them (honest)…… I have never been able to sleep on a plane. I watched several films and the turbulence continued off and on. The new IFE system allows you to watch a film and keep the sky map on the handset which is really great. We flew at 38,000 ft and upwards of 615 mph for the majority of the flight, at one point I noticed we were doing 626mph.

Around 2 hours before we were due to land breakfast came round, as we were sat at the back of the cabin the full English breakfast had run out so just the veggie option was left.

FYI the menu read:

Full English breakfast; tomato omelette with grilled pork sausage, back bacon and baked beans; or
Full vegetarian breakfast with rataoullie.
Tea & Coffee

This is where ‘Mr I’d-rather-have-women-in-the-kitchen-instead-of-flying-a-plane’ got his comeuppance! He wanted the full English, there were none left. Dear God, anyone would think the CC had slaughtered his first born! ‘I’ve paid extra for this seat, you should carry enough meals, I don’t want a veggie option’……. The CC tried to calm him, his travelling partner tried to calm him, the FSM tried to calm him. He was not having any of it. At the end of the day we were 90 minutes from landing, you missed out on a sausage and a bit of bacon, get over it.

I didn’t eat any breakfast as I was feeling nauseous by this point, I think it was motion sickness and tiredness combined. We started our decent and then unfortunately were held circling for around 20 minutes which didn’t help the light headedness and nausea Usually I can sort myself out by looking out of the window but I was just a bit too far away to see out properly. Not sure what the delay was, probably just waiting for the runway to become clear. We eventually landed at 0852. Once we were down and I got some fresh air I was fine.

I didn’t enjoy the flight back but this was down to my issues rather than VS. The flight time was excellent, the food wasn’t as good as the outbound, the CC and FSM were good .

Great TR

Yep some pax can become difficult on board with the denial of food. It was a fair complaint though - why doesn't VS carry enough full english breakfast on board for the cabin?? Not the crew's fault and so I'm glad he must have realised that to calm down, eventually..

Thanks for posting

I don't think they should have any veggie options unless you specify. They do ask at booking stage if you have a special meal request so you have the opportunity to ask for veggie then.

He totally went over the top though, I'm not kidding he complained for over ten minutes!

PE regularly runs out of food options on the inbound flights - its nothing to go over the top about, but not good enough in my opinion. I've been sat mid-cabin before and its run out - poor.

Another great TR, thx.

RachelCox wrote:So, the crew turn up and get on and then the desk is swamped with people. I tried to get a bit closer to hear what was going on but couldn’t work it out. Everyone walked away shaking their heads and complaining to their families. I wonder if they had been asking to change seats but surely you would do that at CI?

Given the length of the Economy queue at check in perhaps they'd been fobbed off with "they'll sort it out at the gate" if asking to change seats.

RachelCox wrote:This is where ‘Mr I’d-rather-have-women-in-the-kitchen-instead-of-flying-a-plane’ got his comeuppance! He wanted the full English, there were none left. Dear God, anyone would think the CC had slaughtered his first born! ! ‘I’ve paid extra for this seat, you should carry enough meals, I don’t want a veggie option’…….

I thought you were going to add that he hadn't paid extra to be flown by a woman.

RachelCox wrote:I didn’t enjoy the flight back but this was down to my issues rather than VS.

Excellent distinction...

Thank you for the great TR.

Another great TR Rachel

Another good TR Rachel

So wish that arrogant jerk had continued to rant, coz then the pilot could have instructed the crew to strap him into the seat and tape his mouth shut too

Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the flight back, being a 3 in a 4-across seat row couldn't have helped. You should have bagged the aisle. Personally I think the new PE breakfast is horrible, bring back the days (in the 90's) when they gave you a pot with cornflakes and milk

Also agree about that crowding around the gate. At MCO this year we really had to push our way through once PE boarding was announced.

Now back home, time to plan the next trip