V-Flyer

This was only my second trip traveling solo, this time from Manchester so I knew I was going to miss the lounge, but it was also a reward flight which made up for it.

I took the Train from Leeds straight to the airport which was a new and rather pleasing experience.

Arrived at the station and just a short walk to the Radisson for my overnight stay. I booked an exec room and requested a airside view. I was directed upstairs to level 7 and very impressed to be greeted at the lift by name and invited to check in. The view in the room was perfect, I did kind of get the feel of "premier Inn" though with the decor, not so much the quality of furniture and fittings, the wood was real solid wood and the table tops/surfaces were real marble, but visually it was a bit like Lenny was going to pop out of the wardrobe.

Anyway I managed to check in before getting to the hotel which was good because the wifi was crap really ( why hotels advertise free wifi that seldom functions is beyond me ).

Nice relaxed stroll from the Rad to the check-in desk ( my app for the iphone boarding pass would not open, nice idea but not much use to me if it doesn't work ). I told the lady at check in and she just Mmmmmm'd. She was polite but seemed a bit suspicious looking, may be an old geezer off to disney seems odd. Very pleased to be directed to a priority lane not experienced that in Manchester before.

I actually loitered a little there, it was quite an eye opener seeing what the security staff put up with. Lots of oap's seemed to come through after me, one Miss Marple type got stopped because they detected scissors, the lady said oh yes a small pair, moments later the security guy pulls out the most massive pair of scissors I ever saw, followed by knitting needles. Whilst this was happening a grumpy old geezer went behind the security side of the desk trying to see inside the scanner looking for his bag, he got shouted at but continued to look for the bag saying he had waited too long.

Anyway I loitered enough and headed for the Escape lounge expecting very little, turned out it was ok and much quieter than downstairs, I would not pay to go in there though anymore.

Off I go to the gate, lots of people eagerly scrumming to get on, I usually hang off but on this occaision I wanted to actually take advantage of my priority boarding ( I didn't wave my ticket though ). Scans my boarding pass and "beep", this can't be an upgrade me thinks as I am already up front.
"Must be a seat change she says, hold on" They had moved me to the middle aisle because of a fault on my armrest ( thankfully no downgrade ). I asked her to check if I could still use 4a and as long as my IFE was functional I was not really bothered about an arm rest. She said I could use it if I wanted. Now I know this will likely sound silly but once I had a nightmare that I was sat in the middle of a plane and it went down, scared the crap out of me and I have never sat in the middle of a cabin since, so I was a little relieved.

Went down to the plane and was greeted by name, how nice is that. Got to my suite and what I would call a little shelf was all taped up with massive police type tape, they call it an armrest, as an armrest it actually is a breakage waiting to happen. Apart from the tape the suite looked nice visually, the build quality and design though seems flimsy to say the least, certainly not built to last. The tables look like they are built to break or eat your fingers. Suite is a little narrow too. The bed mode was more comfortable than I remember though and the IFE was just perfect.

I thought the food was pretty crap to be honest, I think the Chicken or beef of veggie routine is a scenario not best suited to Upper Class to be honest. Tiny portions decorated with a leaf does not constitute fine dining to me. If I had paid a J fare I think I would be a little 8issed off the the food offerings.

Outbound the service was what I would describe as pretty much "Hilton" ie, don't make eye contact with the clients and if you do just smile and shuffle off quick. They really had way too much to do and not enough people to do it, no doubt their best option is to just smile and move on to the next job bless them.

Anyway the flight was at least comfy and I was able to have a few very nice brandy's.

We landed and for the first time ever I was met by a massive queue of screechy kids and people who seemed all set to watch a football match, each to their own I suppose.

All in all an average experience, nothing really bad nor really good bar the entertainment. As I say it was a reward flight so beggars can't be choosers, if I were paying anything above a "Z" fare though I might be thinking "yea right VA big deal".
P.S the return trip was completely different in a good way.
Also excuse my spelling I get letters back to front, can't help it.

Thanks for the TR, EGG

I share your thoughts that mediocrity isn't acceptable in J, and you sum it up perfectly.

Glad to hear the return was better.


Nick

Thanks for the TR. The station at MAN is very convenient and I often travel to the airport from Leeds, Dewsbury or Huddersfield so related to your journey rather well.

I know you said you booked an exec room at the a Radisson, are you sure that is what you got as the business class rooms are on levels 8 and 9 and have all been recently refurbished with a new excellent executive lounge on floor 9 with breakfast, all day drinks and snacks and welcome alcoholic drinks in the evening......

The rooms are excellent too and huge improvement on the ones they replaced. I know the rest of the rooms will be refurbished over the next couple of years.

Certainly not a bells and whistles experience on board it seemed which is a real shame and though a reward ticket, think of the outlay to secure the miles. I recently returned from MCO to MAN on the A333 in UC and the crew were amazing and the service and food top notch. It sounds like your return trip was similar to that, look forward to the TR.

Thanks for sharing.

Jon

You are right it was level 9 not 7.
The lounge was nice.

easygoingeezer wrote:You are right it was level 9 not 7.
The lounge was nice.

Pleased it here it....

Egg,

Was really looking forward to this TR.

One of the 1st on a 3 class A330 to MCO.

And it didn't turn out great. It's a big disappointment when a trip in upper is just ok and a worry whether you had been spending miles or paying thousands of pounds for the privilege. Wonder if it's the A330 syndrome but good to hear your return trip was better.

Pity about the food as I had thought it was geting better after my last 3 or 4 trips.

Thanks again

David