This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I know several other vflyers are regulars too and not a huge amount to talk about as usual on these LR flights due to the duration etc, but here goes.
I travelled by train from West Yorkshire to the airport in just over an hour. First TP express the only option here but in First class so managed to secure a drink and a biscuit....though I have a meeting coming up with their new Customer Service Director so was more careful to note what works and what doesn't....
Arrived into the airport a shade after 1215 and headed across to T3. Check in for LR flights doesn't open until 2hrs before but 1240 came and went and it was 1250 before things were up and running....all good though.
I do know most of the ground team at Manchester through my regular flying and we chatted a bit about who had heard what about the future of LR.....security was a breeze for once, though did notice the passengers in the regular queue were through slightly faster than me in the fast-lane but that's Manchester T3 for you!!
The escape lounge was as good as ever but I just can't eat another of those sandwiches....the selection has been the same since April 2013 now and it really does need a rotation putting in place. All the feedback I have given on that seems to have fallen on deaf ears. The plastic cheese also needs to go..
That aside, the staff are wonderful, the manned bar keeps everything in order and some salad items are available along with an ever changing soup option.
The aircraft had been delayed by three hours northbound so managed to see this arrive at 1330. I wandered down to Gate 18 at 1400 and it was only another 10mins before boarding commenced.
Welcomed warmly on board by name and took my seat in 27F which I personally like. I received a pre-take off drink (doesn't always happen for those wondering why he gets it and I don't...) and had a friendly chat with the CC at the back. I did see some other passengers also receiving a pre-take drink too!!
Someone high up from VS was also on the flight which made it a little different...
That aside a light load of 73 today and the lowest I have personally seen in a few months but I rarely take the VS3042 and it is well known this is the lighter of the three southbound flights.
Pushback was a couple of minutes early and take off after an EasyJet A319 and a Thomson B738 was at 1452.
Once airborne drinks were dispatched with crisps or cookies. Stocks were running slightly low on some items....but this is the last flight before the catering uplift happens at LHR for the next few flights.
No holding today and touched down at 1529. It took a few mins to reach the stand as we had to await a departing LR to EDI to move out of the way.
A cheery goodbye from the crew and I was on my way into T2 and I didn't have long to wait for my bag. All good.
Another great flight, a superb friendly crew and a seamless experience. I sincerely hope LR will keep flying but as we know since Delta came on board, everything and anything is up for review.....I just can't see why VS/DL would allow all the connection traffic onto its long-haul flights from LHR (and MAN is the number one for connection traffic from the LR destinations) to fly BA.....but it's not in our hands....
Jon
Last edited by horburyflyer on 27 Sep 2014, 16:32, edited 1 time in total.
certainly on the MAN flights everyone wants to sit at the front and often I can have a whole row to myself whilst everyone is sat on top of each other from Row 20 upwards!
