VS401 DXB-LHR 9 SEP 14 (Premium Economy)

[honey lamb]

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

After a very enjoyable week in RAK it was time to go back to the grind

DXB T1 was incredibly quiet, but check in still took a very long time. The lady checking us in was very surly and checked everything at a snails pace. After enquiring about if there's any availability in UC she told us it was AED5500 each (around £920) she then sighed rather loudly when we politely passed on paying it and slammed the passports on the desk. Probably wasn't the best start to the flight.

Flight was called and had a good welcoming on board with the normal OJ/Fizz. The CSD was absolutely lovely but unfortunately the senior FA for PE was very grumpy and surly and set a very good example walking up and down the cabin when there were call bells and ignoring them.

Lunch was quite good- thai chicken curry and the passion fruit dessert. Not sure what is Virgin's obsession with that dessert but it always seems to feature on every flight I have with them! Lots of drinks runs were done during the flight, which was good but the crew really didn't seem to want to engage. On other routes especially on day flights the crew are usually excellent and are always cheerful and chatty, but not on this flight.

Vera was very good and after watching blackfish which sort of destroyed sea world for me, I had a quick snooze and woke up in time for afternoon tea which was vg except the rather bizarre still frozen fruit cake. Lots of traffic at LHR meant we landed slightly late. (Just to warn you all small rant is coming up

We landed at 15:55 and I left my parents to go through to customs while they waited for the wheelchair as per usual so I could get the bags. Customs was empty and apart from the scanner not recognising my face I got through to the baggage carousel at 16:15ish we were told number 1 and I had the trolley ready. All of the Y bags came off first and at 16:50 the only people waiting at the belt were people in PE and UC. At 17:00 I investigated the other carousels and found that all of our bags were sent to another carousel at the over end of the hall with no notice or announcement (I had to speak to a member of BAA for them to do the announcement).

Unfortunately, the baggage mishap left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth, but I was soon on the HEX and escaped! (Which turned out to be a bit of a waste of money considering we were sitting outside Paddington for about 10 minutes. All I can say is yay for the 16-25 railcard

Thanks for the TR. What a shame about the poor flight crew and the mix up with the bags. We are also going to RAK in January and have been there quite a few times. Where did you stay?

Thanks for the TR. Sounds like you had a bit of a mixed experience on this flight! I am familiar with the cc that go up and down ignoring call bells... But usually wouldn't expect that with VS!

Thanks for the TR, I found the outbound flight the issue this time and the inbound was perfect. The FSM is the sole contributor to a great or terrible flight.

Thanks for the TR, sounds like an okay experience rather than a really good one, which is a pity, and the baggage issue is unforgivable and downright stupid.

If anyone here has seen Pam Ann she has a very good description for the acronym CSD, which I can't write here because I'd get shot by the mods!