V-Flyer

Well I started early 24 hours before departure, managed to get seq 4,5,6,7 for my party myself as seq3. Unfortunately the seat map closed after choosing my seat, with me in 76H and my party split between 26/27/29 and 66!!!

I went to the airport for twilight check in and managed to back row 75 for two of us and row 27 for everyone else, annoying but couldn't be helped.

We boarded at the last possible minute but the crew were friendly enough and had thought to close the lockers above row 75/76 so that we had somewhere for us to stow our bags, there is no where near enough space for luggage in economy configuration in this rear section. I overheard the cabin crew discussing what the FSM had asked them to do service wise, and for once it sounded like the usual corners that are cut in economy were being left alone, it was going to be a great flight I've flown this route a few times in economy where we have had our meal 30minutes after take off, which for a 09:10 departure I was dreading sausage and mash at that ungodly hour.

However the crew were relaxed, taking their time setting up the carts, PE obviously served first and then us it was 10am when we got our first drink, which was fine. The meal followed at around 11:15, early for lunch but seeing as we'd been up since 5am, gladly received.

I want fussed what I ate so just asked for whatever they usually had left over to make their life a little easier as they got to the back of the cabin. I ended up with the chicken dish, fine for economy. This is the first time I've been in Y since they have amended the service to give the desert and coffee afterwards. I must say I'm not a fan, the service takes longer which from a service point it gives you more interaction with the crew instead of them hiding and gossiping in the galley as much but sometimes I just want to eat and relax, which I could before and only had to wait for the coffee pot to come round rather than desert too.

I ventured downstairs to speak to the rest of my party and the difference in service and atmosphere was amazing, it was like a cattle market, each door area full to bursting with people standing talking. No one could get by at all! The noise was deafening. I think the crew were, even more stressed than I was shocked, we noticed the FSM pick up the phone and within seconds the seatbelt signs came on. Hmm

Had to go back upstairs to my seat but when I returned I realized the seatbelt sign was being ignored by the upstairs cabin, my earlier suspicions were confirmed as to their use. To be honest I don't blame them, more people were out of their seats than in them. After a while the dreaded PA of "no alcohol left" came over, where where we going again? Did someone say Barbados or Vegas? Anyway sat down to enjoy the fantastic IFE, managed to watch Accused with a cross dressing Sean Bean, and TED hilarious but lots of things missing out the film. I will echo previous comments the touch screen is not a good thing in economy I got stuck in front of 3 year with heavier hands than a grownman with a sledgehammer.

She was obviously bored so at this time she started wondering up and down with her mom, fine I thought I maybe eating my words here (those of you that read my comments on children in the bubble) about 10 minutes later two more little darlings decided that looked more fun so started running between the cockpit door and galley, the crew were hot on this and within a few minutes they were back, sat down. The situation could of been a lot worse and was well managed by the crew. When it became apparent the alcohol w back on the menu upstairs that made the flight go a lot quicker again, unfortunately the rest of my party downstairs had to make do with juice or juice.

The 2nd meal/snack was fine, for the length of flight, any longer (7:47, which Was exceptionally quick, the return a very long and unusual 8:15) more would of been needed.

In summary, the flight was fine, for economy great, the new service is better the IFE top notch, one thing though I couldn't get my downloaded content not in iTunes/apple movie app to play on the movie screen, also the plugs for connectivity in exit rows are very badly placed, I am not small but the other person in my party is, and she couldn't connect without squashing/damaging the wire. I wouldn't travel economy virgin if I was downstairs, the £40ea we paid to sit at the bulkhead was worth every penny, if only for the fact the drinks carried on, we drank an extra £20-£30 worth of drinks (at ez's prices) upstairs having the bar open till seat belts for Barbados. If I could guarantee being upstairs in April when I go to Vegas, I would cancel my upper ticket I was that impressed with the cabin.

I travelled LGW-BGI on the VS035

Huh, interesting that the alcohol continued in some of the economy cabin but not in the other.... perhaps there was a problem with some drunk pax downstairs..

Good to see the CC were on form and not cutting corners, cudos to the FSM for that I would imagine.

Cheers for posting