V-Flyer

I'll not drone on with this my return TR, as I'm sure my boss can see me typing

As I promised my better half that I would try my hardest to get us onto the upper deck on the flight home, I bypassed having our last al la carte meal of our holiday just so I could get olci done asap.
Damn it, only managed SEQ 3&4 again

Seats 24A&C secured, trip the the airport went smoothly, was very sad to say goodbye to Mexico, such a beautiful country with lovely people

Boading went as scheduled, this time we were due to fly on V-ROS.
My first impression of the bubble, was that it seemed much more like a Premium cabin to me, with the seats 2 & 2, I think it looks much nicer, even with the Economy seats behind you; I hardly noticed them all flight tobe honest (more on that later )

Like I said earlier, I won't drone on.....

Take off was on time, service seemed to be going ok. The was a slight issue with my earphone socket, I had to twist and push the jack around to get sound out of both ears, not great for a newly refurbished plane hey

Unfortunately again, it was the meal service (s) where I felt let down again.

Once again any semblance of choice soon disappeared before the trolley got to us, but this time we wasn't even given a waring, we just had the trays shoved in front of us with a monotone apology "all other options have run out, sorry" This time I must admit that I did say something regarding my disappointment with the lack of Premium Service, but I kept my cool, it was hardly the cabin crews fault.
Well...
Come breakfast, I started to have a sinking feeling in my stomach, I replayed the earlier events in my head and wished I had said something like "well I hope we get some choice at breakfast!"

You've guessed it......
Yep all full english had run out, with only the veggy option of ratatouille with omelette left. I declined....by this time I was too p*******d off to eat anything. The crew did come back about 20 minutes later to offer us a muffin, but couldn't have eaten it if I was paid to!
I know some people will think that I am over reacting, as I have seen posts regarding the meal service recently. but in my opinion, if it had happened once, I wouldn't have minded so much, but for us to get a sub-standard and imo poor food service 3 times on one return flight is beyond a joke. I am awaiting VS customer service response and let's see what they have to say.
I feel I could have saved £1000 and just maybe paid for extra leg room seats for the level of Premium experience I received over the 2 flights to be honest.

My partner and I both agreed that we actually preferred the upper deck, we hardly noticed the Economy seats behind us and we were on the back PE row. The cabin is much, much quieter.

If we fly VS again and especially in PE, I would definately have to think long and hard about where we sat if was wanted any form of choice with the meal service.

Were the seats worth £1000 - NO, we both felt very let down by the meal (lack of) service. The meal maybe only a small part of the flight, but IMO it was something we paid for, so should have expected better. If you walked in a restaurant, where you had booked seats and they told you that although they could seat you where you requested, your food was going to be up to scratch, you'd walk out, but at 35000 ft, you don't get that choice hey

That's unfortunate and you have every right to feel let down, it happens, but consistently tells me that VS hasn't got this right in PE, either balancing servings of the options or even the meal itself.

Makes me glad i opt to order a low fat meal flying in PE other than once this year it "didn't get loaded" and I ended up with a UC meal having declined the offer of being made a cheese salad. Not quite sure how that would of been achieved tbh.

That is a shame Ian, happening twice on the same flight is just not good enough.

American Airlines have a very simple and good way of managing the risk of people not getting their choices consistently in their business cabin. On even numbered (or odd, or the other way around ) flights they take preferences from the front of the cabin to the back, on odd (or, oh you get it) number flights they start at the back and work to the front. It's not foolproof, but I think it is an excellent idea.

As an aside In first on AA the crew take meal orders by FF status, so AA ExecPlats are asked first, through to no-status on a redemption ticket last. I'm not sure I agree with this one, but there you go.

I agree wholeheartedly with your comments on the upstairs cabin, having had the back row from Las Vegas. Bit of an issue with the luggage bins though, bags have to be stowed in a wardrobe behind economy!
Any 'service provider' ,worth it's salt (and pepper) , offering a premium product must make it memorable and worth the premium price. Virgin seem to have got some things right, it's memorable! I too have not managed to get my choice of meal, even in Upper Class, and on occasion have had to re read the menu as the food didn't always match the description.
However they must be getting something right, I keep on going back for more!

Lack of meal choice happens from time to time but they should have made sure you were prioritised for brekkie

I'm sure if you told your boss the importance of what you were doing he/she would've been fine!

As for you flight, I feel there is nothing worse when you have that feeling of being let down and/or wasting money Must have been extremely disappointing to have both meal choices taken away...poor show VS

Good luck with Crawley Towers