This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I was escorted to the PE desk having had the standard red "approved hand baggage" label applied to my carry on
The check in agent was friendly but failed to spot I needed a lounge invite and was then very sorry she had overlooked this when I asked for it...."not how things should be" she commented....indeed...
Security was a breeze and I found my way to the Club at LAS which was quite a walk from the security area. I was the third person in and it was now 1145am.
The lounge did get busier and it offered wifi, a wide selection of drinks including a manned bar and a snack table which changed by the hour.....whilst I was in there we had dips and veggies, cheese and crackers, sandwiches and just as I was leaving a soup option.....crisps, nuts, chocolate and fruit were also available.
As directed when I checked in I left the lounge at 1405 and walked down to gate E1 only to meet my check in agent friend from earlier who said I should go back into the lounge and wait as it will be another 10mins before boarding begins....I didn't choosing to check out the duty free shop to kill some time.
Boarding did begin at 1425 and what a disorganised mess it was. PE were called with Flying Club Gold members (I was the only one!) and then as we all queued up - they announced general boarding which turned into a mass scrum.
Made it down the jet way to be greeted by a man in a Virgin uniform chewing his nails who when asked told you where to go...
Down the first airbridge and met with "hiya love" from one of the crew and then told where to go or something like that.It was then a full on 15mins.....drinks offered, newspapers offered and then doors shut and pushing back at 1450.
A total of 190 passengers and 14 crew. The FSM was someone I remembered from my a previous flight and knew she was going to be unremarkable.....just hate it when I right too
It was clear after 3 days in Vegas the crew just wanted to get home and some people were clearly friends and family of the crew...19 free seats in PE and I did have a row of three to myself.
Menus handed out after take off, followed by headsets and hot towels. The FSM spent the entire time in the PE galley and the CSS was not much better either.....both great adverts to try another carrier IMO..
The two girls serving the drinks and then the food were sort of friendly and smiled in the right places but really lacked the warmth I was hoping for.
A G&T was requested and served along with a little bag of pretzels. Not 30mins later, the dinner was in the aisles and making its way.....this was my first flight in PE since the product changes and I do like the tray with the linen cloth, the linen napkin and the silver S&P also look good....
The starter was Balmoral Smoken salmon with cucumber, lemon and creme fraiche salad - a bit on the small side, well it was tiny in a round dish.....but it was ok.
The Braised beef and leek stew was tasty and I did enjoy it - other choices were stir-fried chicken or penne pasta.
Warm rolls, well they were warm when they left the oven I am guessing were served with a dessert of Strawberry and rhubarb crumble tart which needed some cream...it was rather dry but still ok.
I enjoyed a individual bottle of white wine which was nicely chilled and actually quite good.
The tray was then cleared and then hot chocolate or tea were served in paper cups......now that does take away the premium experience for me...but its a larger cup and actually worked well and the hot chocolate was delicious.
Brandy and baileys followed and then it was lights out just short of two hours after leaving Vegas. The flight deck crew of three did take it in their turns and come and use a seat in PE to sleep in waves of two hours each.....and as we know the A333s don't have any crew rest areas so I did see crew in door ways wrapper around in blankets.....
After having the lights out for just about one hour....they were switched on again for duty free sales...I was just starting to think that there has to be a better way to do that but as brisk business was had from those in PE....it seems the message is stuff those who don't want to buy anything...
The entertainment of Vera touch was superb as always...the real highlight of the flight.
The crew were regularly in the cabin with water and juice and I managed to get some sleep.....breakfast was served at 0700 and was a full english, though the menu listed scrambled eggs with bacon....the vegetarian option of caramelised onion and ricotta frittata did not go down well.... well with the amount that went back
The cabin was secured and lovehearts offered. I asked for the names of the CSS and FSM again from one of the crew. I have sent an email about inconsistency again to Crawley Towers...for what good it might do.
On final approach which was very wobbly we completed a "go-around" my second one within two weeks and well this one seemed far more dramactic than my first one - the engines did roar and you were thrown back into your seat....no reassuring words this time from the cabin crew like my last one two weeks ago....but we waited for the captain to come on and explain we were far too close to another aircraft.....though wind shear did get mentioned later on by a cabin crew member......
Taxied to gate 212 and disembarked - on leaving the FSM suddenly wished to engage in conversation with me....maybe she had been told I had asked for her name.....far too little too late...
I was through Border control and with case going round the belt and out into the arrivals hall within 10mins of leaving the aircraft.....fantastic result
So not the greatest flight with a totally underwhelming crew under the leadership of an CSS and FSM who were clearly not bothered... and I must say this inconsistent approach dependant on what crew you get is starting to get on my nerves.
This is my last planned flight of 2012 with VA and I will say having invested a huge amount of money, time and effort....often tweaking travel plans so I fly with them over other carriers I am starting to feel let down.....maybe time in 2013 to try someone else
, I assume that a certain percentage of crew must be alert and available at all times during the flight (read not asleep) so their rest breaks have to be spread out throughout the flight to allow for this. With fourteen crew on a ten hour flight this would mean some taking their rest early on in the flight and others much later.
