This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I am grateful to those members who have taken the time to reply to my 1st trip report on the outward journey. I am very conscious that the trip reports of others include lots of interesting technical stuff.
Me? What I want to write is....Check-in, bum on seat, bubbly, take-off, bubbly, meal, movies, doze, no turbulance, land, get off pronto, get bags,bye. Oh if only! I think I have yet to have one of those type of flights.
I must have a sign around my head that is invisible to me but VA can see it & it says 'what shall we do to this passenger this time'. Often my mishaps, landings in the wrong country or state, arrogant passengers behind me, defective equipment is no one individual's fault but all seem to seek me out.
A word of advice, don't ever travel with me or even make yourself known to me would be best for you.
Sorry I digressed.
We did OLCI the morning of the flight without any probs. Got to the airport in plenty of time & went straight to a vacant desk. No probs & got boarding of immigration/customs had queued up behind me. So naturally I took longer to put my things away than was strictly necessary. The officer was checking in a passenger with an e-ticket who had been denied entry. I don't know the reason although I hung around. The VA staff member didn't blink an eye & treated the check in as though it was an every day occurrence. The passenger wasn't with the officers & I know no more.
We went thru to the departure lounge & although the flight had been 45mins late in they turned it around very quickly & we were called a few minutes later than normal. The 'baby-boarding' & priority was enforced & we got to our seats without any problems. I was hoping that the plane wasn't Cosmic Girl that we had flown out on because I had had a defective seat. It wasn't but I can't remember the name because incidents overtook me.
After settling in & a glass of bubbly I went to the toilet, I don't live in the toilet honest! There wasn't any Virgin Vie hand & body lotion in the toilet so when I came out & saw a crew member in the galley I asked him if there was a bottle that could be put in the cubicle. He was a darhling & although would have been busy doing important things went off to find a bottle. He returned moments later saying that there weren't any more bottles on board but he gave me a small paper cup with lots in just for me. I so appreciated his thoughtfulness. He said anything I wanted then to ask.
We took off from a runway, helps doesn't it but I've no idea what direction etc. We trundled along the runway for so long that I thought I was going back to Fort Lauderdale by road ( one of my fiascos last year).
Drinks were served & I asked for bubbly from my new friend & he was happy to oblige (I was in love with him by this time) & then I had another glass.
The IFE was defective for all passengers & had been so on the way out apparently. The FSM gave several annoucements that they were re-booting & kicking it & don't fiddle! Eventually the system came on after dinner. Well, everyone else's seemed to & I had a picture but screechy sound which couldn't be understood. I tried another pair of headphones & then another supplied by a crew member. No joy.
I gave up & listened to the discussion going on very nearby. I won't say where because it might identify them. They had family members downstairs & had paid exta for bulkhead seating. Apparently, the seat of a particular family member was still very cramped. They went to look & agreed between themselves that they shouldn't have been charged extra. A crew member was called & they told the crew member what they thought. The crew member inferred that perhaps they shouldn't have been charged extra for this seat (I don't think they provided evidence).The people were not happy & got angry. The crew member said that perhaps they would wish him/her to make a report & they could write to VA too. They wanted more than that. The staff member started to walk away as the people were raising their voices more & more & he/she said that they wouldn't be spoken to in such a manner (no manner at all as far as I was concerned) One of the people shouted 'don't you walk away from me, I pay your wages'[V].
The FSM arrived & suggested that they filled out one of VA's in flight 'what do you think of it so far' cards. The FSM did very well & had a chat with them, making various suggestions.
It was all so unfortunate.
We had some turbulence which was ok for a while & then the captain came over the PA system & said 'all cabin crew be seated immediately'......aaaaaarrrrgggghhhhhh.[:$][:$] I have never heard them say that before. It could have been worse I suppose. I did my yoga breathing excercises & several glasses of bubbly that I had consumed helped. After a while all calmed down & normality resumed.
The darhling crew member came back to me & asked if my IFE was now working. I said not & that it wasn't his fault. He was most apologetic though. He returned a while later with the FSM & I was told that compensatory miles would be added to my a/c. How kind.
I dozed for a while until lights went on for breakfast. I didn't eat or drink anything but that was my choice.
I went to the toilet (why do things happen before or after a visit there?) The same dear crew member was in the galley & again said how unfortunate it was that my IFE had functioned properly. He gave me a bottle of champayne & a lovely smile[y][:X][^]. He also said he would give me a bottle of Virgin Vie hand & body lotion as I use it at home & really like it but to wait until the flight had landed.
The descent was beautiful flying over London on a bright sunny morning & seeing various famous landmarks sparkling in the sunshine. We landed smoothly & direct to a gate. As I disembarked the darhling crew member gave me a bottle of lotion.[:X][:X][:X]
I waffled on forever, sorry[|)]
A flight that was eventful (again) but the crew were excellent & will keep me loyal to VA for the forseeable future. I hope that my darhling men on the way out & back are asked to present at training sessions for VA as they are what it is all about.
