This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Arrived at airport around 2.30pm. Quick check in by efficient staff.
Fortunately we were allocated again the bassinet seats which was great as our previously reserved seats were 2 of the centre 3 which is not ideal with a baby, but was all available.
Today the Air Canada lounge was being used - which was the old Air New Zealand lounge, whilst the new Virgin lounge is being built. I hadn't been in there for 5-6 years since travelling on Air New Zealand but it looked exactly the same as I remembered it. Plenty of room, ven thought quite busy We sat in quiet area near the window with airfield view. I noted quite a few babies in there too.
Left to gate at about 4pm and joined the priority boarding queue. Quite a few babies here also. Boarded quickly and sat in the same seats as the outward journey.
Flight time of 9 hours 18 mins. Quick time. Always nice to hear a message of quick flight time on a return journey particularly. The many babies (at least 7-8) seemed spread amongst Upper and Economy. I could hear some crying babies from front of Economy. When travelling with a baby this is not a bad things as can help dilute any noise from your own! Given the cabin was full, there seemed to be quite a few split couples who then spent time before leaving trying to swop seats, understandably. It seemed everyone was accomodating.
Captain informed us of a slightly later departure as LAX had decided to switch runway last minute. Actually only delayed us by about 20 minutes. With the quick flight time also we were in for an early arrival.
Drink and then dinner was served. At this stage baby was sleeping again - off to good start! My wife declined the dinner - not hungry. I went for the Pepper Sauce beef. For some reason, I never particularly enjoy the return beef option from US in Economy/Premium.
Baby awoke after dinner and stayed awake for rest of journey and was in a fairly unsettled mood. I took her for walk to the galley at back of Economy on a couple of occasions where we stayed for around 30 minutes each time. Cabin crew there were very happy to see her and really entertained her our time there, smiling, talking to her, giving treats and playing with her. I guess it helped overcome their boredom during the middle of the night flight, but two members of crew were particularly great and I intend to write a glowing report to HQ as they deserve some praise for this. It made such a difference to my baby and me. One of the crew came to see me later in the flight to tell me how much fun they had and how they enjoyed it also.
Aside from this, the crew were exceptional on this flight, really on top of their game. Again filling milk for our baby bottle, friendly chat and even friendly smiles and hello to our baby make a big difference.
Flight went very quickly even though baby was more unsettled than normal at our seats. Seatbelt sign was on for a prolonged spell with 2-3 hours to go, which made it tricky with our baby being a little unsettled at this time meaning was a both a challenge to keep her seated and also not allowing us to walk her elsewhere to calm her.
American breakfast was served. Again, not great. Breakfast seemed to served quite late, maybe the seatbelt sign being on for prolonged spell had caused delay in preparation. We were still eating with about 50 minutes to go but tray collection and tidying up was swift.
Not too much circling over Heathrow and we arrived about 50 minutes early after a slight delay parking the plane, due to the departing plane from our spot requiring de-icing.
Quickly off boarded. There was some confusion over where the pushchairs would arrive. I noted some of the parents travelling in Upper with babies has been allowed to take pushchairs on board which I have not seen before. Apart from not having to wait for pushchair at the end of the journey, I couldn't see any special reason for this.
However the wait at the end of they jetty for the pushchair allowed me to thank again the two extra special members of crew as they left the flight, who had been so good to us on the journey thru the night in the Economy galley. It really was appreciated.
Heathrow was deserted. As we were a little delayed waiting the pushchair at the jetty, the passport hall was empty and baggage already underway. Straight out on the bus back to car park home.
Overall two great flight capping a great holiday. The return flight flight was exceptional due to cabin crew being on top of their game and also the extraordinary service and kindness shown by the two crew members in the Economy galley.
