This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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I checked in for my VX flight to SFO and was through security in 10 minutes or so which was lovely and painless. I headed over to the gate which had almost a party atmosphere. They were playing music (David Bowie) at a level loud enough to enjoy, but probably a bit too loud if you wanted to make a call. It was an interesting and certainly different approach. It made my wait at the gate much more pleasant, but then I am a big Bowie fan. A short while later the staff were giving away flights and drinks coupons in exchange for entering some sort of quiz at the gate, hosted by the staff. All very unique and totally Branson.
It was about 11.40am and I was waiting patiently to board (thinking, any minute now) and should have been savvy enough to twig when the VX crew disembarked from the aircraft with their overnight bags. Sure enough, we were facing a 2 hour delay due to fog in SFO and leaving at 14.20pm instead of 12.20pm. I was worried about missing my flight but obviously there wasnt anything anyone could do as the instructions came from ATC.
I tried to kill time inside the terminal though we were told to stay at the gate in case we could push back earlier, which made sense to me but obviously not all travellers. Knowing Id be sat there a while I had a wander around the bookstore across the way and picked up a copy of Che Guevara; A Revolutionary Life which was thicker than the Yellow pages. I thought that would keep me entertained as i headed back to the gate.
Around 1.30pm we were told we could board as ATC were opening some slots. I walked down the jetway and boarded into seat 3A onboard an airplane named desire (nice to see that VX's aircraft have amusing names too). I was grateful for the early pushback and glad of the $15 investment that i had made earlier at check-in to sit in the extra legroom row.
I was sat in my seat, reading my book, when it was announced by the captain that there was a security issue inside the airport and that SEA-TAC was now under lockdown by the TSA. I am not entirely sure of the circumstance but the crew were advising us that TSA were looking for an individual and that they had a photograph of them (so assumingly FBI profiled or on most wanted) and that SEA was to remain locked down until they were found. Armed TSA and Police crews boarded waiting aircraft (including mine) to search for the culprit and checked the toilets (they actually boarded our aircraft twice, with very large guns). We were told by the captain over the PA that all flights were now grounded and that security had been closed at the terminal (to stop the assailant escaping) but obviously this meant that a number of our passengers were stuck inside. The Captain further advised that he had a 14.40pm take off slot and to keep our fingers and toes crossed. Fortunately, the lockdown was lifted around 14.20pm and the remaining passengers found and boarded. We took off promptly after that little adventure.
I advised the crew of my connection and the Captain radioed to SFO to see if VS020 was delayed as there was heavy rain and fog surrounding SFO making landing difficult. Sadly (for me!), that wasnt the case, and the flight was scheduled to leave on time at 17.55pm.
The descent into SFO was amazing. My camera was stowed with my bag so i couldnt take a picture but we were inside cloud for a long time on descending, so much so that at one point on looking out the window you could see cloud above and below, so thick that you couldnt see through it, and a tiny thin strip of sky in the middle. That went on for a good while (almost until touchdown) and was quite amazing.
We arrived in a very wet and windy SFO at 5pm, nearly 3 hours behind schedule (and after 30 minutes of circling SFO). I was somewhat fortunate that the VS020 was operating with a later than usual departing time of 17.55. While it was clearly going to be a very, very tight connection I was going to try and do everything i could to get on the VS020, particularly as tomorrow (well, today!) is Richards birthday, and I was prepared to move heaven and hell to get home.
The VX crew were very good, the Captain asked to see me as i was disembarking and told me to go straight to gate A8 to advise them of my situation so they would know I was there. His Pilot instructor (who was onboard for some reason?) escorted me to gate A8 and the staff there looked hesitant that I would make the flight as it was due to leave on time but radioed to check-in that I was coming and said theyd wait for me as long as they could. I said goodbye to the VX pilot instructor and he gave me his card and said that if i missed my flight to give him a call and VX would put me on another flight, to LAX or NYC if that would help me get home. Considering the delay wasnt their fault at all I thought that was a fantastic gesture.
I sprinted to check-in downstairs and on arrival it was closed. The staff were issuing boarding passes to travelling crew and other standby passengers that had been waiting for the flight to close in order to guarantee their seats. I spoke to a staff member who was hideously rude, said she hadnt heard I was coming and that the flight was closed and that she could put me on tomorrows flight, nothing more. Another staffer overheard the conversation (and probably saw my jaw drop to the ground) and said to the first that hed get the supervisor as he may know more. The supervisor chap i then dealt with (whos name I wish i had taken) was a star. He said my seat had been reallocated but if i ran to get my bag from my VX flight he would try his best to get me on the flight. Failing that, he said hed be able to put me on the 2nd flight from LAX so all was not lost.
I ran like a madman to the escalator, which was taped off and not in operation so madly dashed to the elevators and did the typical hopping to and fro while waiting for eternity for it to arrive, jumped in, hit the button for baggage claim and ran like a crazed idiot to belt 9. My case, incidentally, was extremely heavy (after living in Bellevue for 2 weeks and buying Richard a few bits from A&F) and I could barely pull it to the cab when i left Seattle this morning. All that was a distant blur as i grabbed the case with both hands and practically lifted it into the air in an incredible hulk fashion and threw it off the belt whilst simultaneously popping out the handle and proceeded to run at an alarming pace with a case that weighed more than half what i do being pulled alongside me, back up the elevator and sprinted to area 6 to grab my boarding pass. Back home, I had taken up running in the evenings a few days a week, not far, just 2 miles or so, but enough to try and keep me fit. In those moments of running with all my hand luggage and my 60 pound case, I think i could have ran a marathon if VS020 was at the other end.
The supervisor at check-in gave me my boarding pass for a seat in PE (frankly, Id have taken a jumpseat at that stage, I was so sure i'd miss the flight) and i ran to security where typically there was a queue of about 8 or so people.
Security just didnt seem to move. When i got to the chap who checks your documents before sending you to the shoe carnival i did ask if there was an express lane or anywhere I could go as my flight was leaving in 25 minutes and there was only one lane open at security. He replied with a very laissez faire attitude, telling me i had plenty of time and proceeded to ask me multiple questions about my purpose for being in the US. I was panicking and perspiring so badly at this stage that I thought I had better control myself otherwise id probably be suspected of being a drugs mule.
Finally he lets me go and i get stuck in a queue for the security belts. A young couple infront of me seemed to take literally forever, unaware seemingly that they might have to take their laptop out of their bag or even the metal coins from their pockets. Then she lost her boarding pass and he was being very particular about laying down a suit carrier onto the belt as not to crush the contents. I stood there, barefoot, holding my very large and newly procured book on Che Guevara close to my chest and shouted oh, for Gods sake hurry up in a loud tone. Finally they grasped the concept of the security channel and went through, followed by me, and i grabbed my things from the belt while they stood there gormless. Admittedly I knocked their suit carrier (the one so precariously placed) onto the floor as i dived for my shoes, book and laptop and ran from there to gate A8 as fast as Hussein Bolt but with all the style and grace of a fat person running for the local bus. Gate A8 hadn't ever felt so far away.
Breathlessly I deposited myself at the feet of the chap i had spoken to at the gate about 20 minutes earlier and tried to read his face for the news. I was last to board but they hadnt given up hope on me and i felt so much relief as he tore my boarding card stub off, handed it to me, and wished me a safe journey. I ran down the jetway and onto the aircraft with 5 minutes to spare. As i was stowing my luggage the kindly supervisor at check-in appeared, having gone through the security channels to check that I was onboard as hed heard that they would be pushing back any moment. He told me that hed been in communication with the baggage team and that my bag was now onboard. The customer service he displayed was phenomenal, at least to me. To go that extra mile and check that I was there, never mind my bag, was amazing. I hope i can find out his name in order to send a thank-you note. I finally sat in my seat and relaxed.
The FSM came over to my seat just as I had buckled in and welcomed me back as a valued FC Gold and asked if everything was okay as she was aware that I was going to be late to board. That was a nice touch. I notice that she introduced herself to another PE passenger and welcomed them back so it seems that she was seeking out the Aus. I certainly do hope so.
We pushed back on time and had a rather bumpy ascent. The cabin service started promptly (though the seatbelt signs stayed on for some time) and I ordered a spicy tomato juice. I was still trying to catch my breath for a long while and decided to relax now that I was onboard and started up V.PORT to watch a few Red Dwarf and Only Fools episodes. Some passengers had their IFE reset and I assume it didnt work as they were all handed DVD players by the FSM.
The dinner service started very quickly and the menu was as follows:
- Chicken Breast with Mushroom Ragout, red bliss mashed potato, roasted carrots, asparagus and caramelised onions.
- Salmon fillet with dill and mustard crust, green beans, sea salt roasted new potatoes and beurre blanc.
- Vegetable cannelloni with red pepper and mornay sauce with parmesan and parsley.
Breads were rosemary olive rolls or multigrain sticks. The salad was a Greek salad with Herb vinigarette and the cheese was cheddar. Pudding was a Blueberry oat crumble.
The food was quite good actually (I had the cannelloni), although I hadnt eaten all day so I was rather hungry (plus I cant see how you can muck up pasta that badly!). Still, the presentation was good, there was a lot on the tray and the warmed breads and metal cutlery were most welcome. About 30 minutes after the dinner trays were cleared away the crew came around with the Brandy and Baileys. I opted for a Baileys for a night cap and tried, unsuccessfully, to get some sleep. I noticed that the FSM was present in the cabin throughout much of the flight.
I found it very difficult to get comfortable in my seat, but had to constantly remind myself that I was greatful to have gotten onboard (connecting domestic to international, with luggage in 45 mins was a real feat!). The new PE seats have a legrest on the seat infront. Id found a semi comfortable position by poking my feet through the rectangular gap in the foot rest so that i could stretch out completely, albeit with both legs firmly trapped in a rectangular footrest not much bigger than a mailslot. Id probably lose both feet in a sudden drop, but at least for now I was reasonably comfortable.
The rest of the flight was largely uneventful. I became frustrated as while i was (and will be) eternally greatful that I made the flight, I was given a window seat. I am one of those annoying people that need the toilet quite a lot, and when you need to climb over a stranger to do so it becomes a real pain. My seatmate fell asleep during the flight and with the person infront of him reclining i simply couldnt get out of my seat.
I couldnt sleep so watched the new X-Files movie, which was much like the episodes from the TV series except for that Billy Connolly takes a starring role. I felt tired but just couldnt sleep so a last attempt was made by switching to audio and selecting some Stevie Wonder. By this stage we only had around three hours left of the flight. The return from SFO is actually a pretty short flight.
The next few hours disappeared in a haze of music, restless legs and me trying to pretend I didnt have a full bladder. Damn that Baileys nightcap.
Breakfast came round about 90 minutes before landing. I went for the egg and cheese bagel and it was actually pretty nice and vastly improved from the egg and cheese things that used to be offered in PE. The bagel came with tea, fruit and a sugar laden cereal bar. It was certainly enough for me if i had to skip revivals and go straight to work though i think the shorter east coast flights would benefit more from this.
We made our descent into London on time and went straight to the gate. I was picking my bag up ten minutes later, IRIS only had a queue of two and the airport was rather quiet, as i guess is normal for a Sunday.
I headed to Revivals where a nice hot shower and a smoothie was the order of the day. Richard arrived to pick me up and by that stage I was the only one in Revivals.
Im totally shattered by the last tiring and exciting chapter of my travels but very glad to be home. [:D]
Thanks for reading if you kept up this far!
