Now, for two days there had been snow forecast to arrive on Sunday night, and it duly did. This was to cause some problems later.
We left the CH and were through security in a few minutes, went down to the gate and onto the plane, to seats 38A&C.
Having been sat on the plane for fully 30+ minutes, the captain finally announces that we were delayed because of the snow - and the plane was going to need de-icing. Fair enough.
After another 30 minute wait, with no announcements, the de-icing truck finally arrives and de-ices the plane. Well, part of the plane to be precise, because incredibly, the de-icing truck runs out of de-icing fluid! Of course, we're not told that the de-icing hasn't been completed so we all sit there expecting that we're about to leave at any minute. Which we don't.
So, off the truck goes for a top up and we continue to sit in absolute ignorance until the captain finally tells us what's happened. It takes so long that apparently we have to be inspected for ice again - this we only find out later, after another 45 mins or so of silence from the flight deck. Eventually the captain tells us this is the most inept de-icing he's ever experienced etc etc. , the cabin-crews silence throughout most of this was also inept; they should have told us what was going on, even if only to say they were 'on the case' and they had nothing to tell us yet. They need to set expectations correctly.
This all amounted to the plane leaving nearly 3 hours late eventually, and in that time there were a total of 3-4 announcements, the last of which was 'we're going'. Not good enough. Sitting in a Virgin economy seat for 3 hours waiting to leave is no joke. The cc were almost invisible for the flight, there was one water/OJ round, and that was pretty well that. I went to the galley to ask for a drink, and stood fully 3-4 minutes while the crew chatted amongst themselves, ignored a couple of other pax etc. I was REALLY made to feel as if I was inconveniencing them by having the temerity to go and ask for a drink - the call button having been totally ignored - their behaviour bordered on outright rudeness.
So, we arrive late into UK airspace and of course end up getting stacked for 20 minutes, then when we DO land there's no stand of course so we have to wait another 15 mins for one to become available.
A great weekend in NY, somewhat soured at the end by the return flight; whilst it wasn't the crews fault that the de-icing was such a shambles, the management of the passengers during the episode was particularly poor - almost 'Ryanesque'.
It saddens me to say that the further back in the plane you sit (UCS -> PE -> Y ->) the less care and respect you appear to be given, this is based on my VAA flight-experiences over the last couple of months, when I've travelled a number of times in each of the 3 classes, including LHR-SYD-LHR in Y. I appreciate that there are good crew in Y at VAA, however I've seen consistenly poorer service levels at the back of the plane.
Guess I will have to review carrier choice for anything in Y.[:(]
