VS005 LHR-MIA 26 Feb 07 (PE)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Checked in on-line, the day prior to departure. Arrived at LHR T3 and went to the bag drop. Quite a long queue there, caused partly by two passengers carrying four of the largest military type kitbags I've seen in my life and arguing that they couldn't possibly be excess baggage! The other reason being that only two of the the four check-ins were open. Eventually processed by the PE desk. Greeted professionally and my prior request for a wheelchair for my wife was recognised and arranged. She has had 80% of the musculature in her lower legs removed as a result of two accidents, is not badly disabled, but cannot stand for long periods and has trouble walking the potentially long distance from the check in desk to the aircraft. (See more of this issue on the return trip!!) The bags were taken, and my Paypal receipt checked to verify that I'd paid the extra APD tax. Boarding cards were issued, but I had to request my travel vouchers, as they weren't automatically forthcoming.

After passport control and security, we had to wait about 1 1/2 hours in the departure lounge (no Clubhouse for us - some of us have to pay for our own tickets!!.) The wheelchair assistant came back and got us to the aircraft (G-VROC 'Mustang Sally) quickly.

I had booked the trip some months ago, and the seats allocated were 71H&K upstairs, and excellent they were too. Despite their well discussed shortcomings with respect to the new PE seats, they were comfortable for both of us. A pre-flight drink was offered (but no newspaper)

We pushed back dead on time and took off to the West. Pre-prandial drinks were offered and the meal was surprisingly edible, my choice being the Chicken Tikka Masala. Some have comented that this dish is excessively salty, and I must admit that it was a bit too salty for me too, but didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the dish. I went to the loo after the meal was served, and missed the brandy. Neither was one offered when I returned to the seat. I'm sure that had I asked for one, then I could have had it.

All VPORT programmes were working OK with the exception of the interactive part of the map and two episodes of Green Wing. Ice-cream was served in late afternoon, and was followed an hour later by a prior to landing tea.

Disembarkation was quick and the wheelchair was waiting for us. One of the few advantages of being wheelchair bound at MIA, is that one can by-pass the queues, taking the crew/military lines at passport control and immigration. Our bags were retrieved quickly and we were out in 45 minutes.

Overall, just like the Honda advert - isn't it nice when things just work.

- Ian Hughes

Thanks for the TR [y] Glad you had a good flight.

Dominic

Welcome to V-Flyer, & thank you for a good TR. [y]

Good TR Ian and welcome to V-flyer - good to hear that everything went to plan - at least on the way out[y]