VS003 LHR-JFK 15 SEP 12 (Economy)
Posted: 21 Sep 2012, 11:59This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
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VS003
LHR-JFK
15 September 2012
A330-313 - G-VNYC Uptown Girl
Off Stand: 09:31
On Stand: 12:12
Boarding started at 08:45, although nobody could actually understand the PA - maybe that's VS' way of stopping the mass stampede?
Once on board, I actually found the legroom pretty decent.
Flight time was given as 7hours 24 minutes. Shortly before pushback, the crew confirmed there were 266 passengers on board.
This new A330 was certainly much better than the older LGW based 747's, although these are currently being brought up to a similar standard.
Departure was made from 27L at just after 09:45.
Take Off Video
Around 10 minutes later the crew started their service, first handing out headsets shortly followed by menus.
One thing I did notice was that the legroom seemed a little bit more generous in these last few rows. And also that the A330 was very quiet compared to the 747-400 that I'm used to flying across the Atlantic.
It was then time to check out the Jam AVOD IFE. Interesting that the LHR 3 cabin A330's don't have any remotes in economy where as the 2 LGW based ones do.
Then the drinks service started. It took a while to reach me and by time it reached the row I was in, they had run out of the welcome cocktail. So I went with lemonade instead.
As soon as the drinks run had finished the meal service began. Although it was still a bit early for lunch I'm my opinion - only just 11:00AM in London. The choices were the usual chicken, beef or pasta.
It was around this time a few bumps began although it was nothing too major.
Once the meal service had reached the row I was in, I was informed by a slightly embarrassed stewardess that the only meal option left was the chicken - this didn't bother me though as that's what I was after anyway!
Then around 50 minutes later the dessert was served, along with some pretty poor tea...
After this I decided to settle down and watch a movie
After the film finished, I headed to the rear galley and made an attempt at having a conversation with the crew. They seemed more interested in chatting amongst themselves on this occasion though - oh well!
By this time we weren't too far from the coast of Canada and the afternoon tea service had started.
The sandwiches were pretty average really... in fact they didn't really taste of anything but bread! A bit more filling would of been a bit better. Although as they were the only choice I guess they couldn't do anything too fancy.
The remaining hour or so was spent watching the minutes count down on the sky map. The seatbelt sign was turned on for around 15 minutes or so although I suspect that was more to do with the crew wanting the parents of the screaming child that decided to run from the rear of economy to upper class to get it to sit down rather than any issues from the pretty minor turbulence we had hit.
Approximately 50 minutes prior to arrival, the cabin crew informed everybody that the seatbelt sign would be turned on in 25 minutes - and suddenly everybody on board decided they needed the toilet! I figured there would probably be more than a couple at JFK so didn't bother, and instead carried on watching the skymap.
Descent started at 11:30 local. It was quite a noisy descent too as the previously mentioned screaming child continued to scream at full volume, with it's parents continuing to not be bothered...
Landing video – if you can put up with a screaming kid!
We touched down at just after 12:00 local and made a fairly quick taxi over to terminal 4E. This was unusual as i thought VS normally used 4W.
Then it was through to a very busy immigration hall.
Almost an hour later I was welcomed to the USA by an unusually friendly immigration officer. He continually used my first name, made conversation about the hotel I was staying in and generally easy going - something id not experienced at immigration in the US before where they generally take the guilty until proven innocent stance. It was off to find the Air Train to Jamaica station.
Not sure you were in the right seat, they seemed to run out of everything before they got to you! 
