This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Universal which I would recommend to anyone as it was a most enjoyable place to stay.
I had hired a Chrysler 300C for the week after seeing them on the road here in the UK. First impressions were good but the interior is obviously made to a budget but features switches from the Mercedes Benz parts bin so it's a strange mix. I didn't appreciate how large, smooth and comfy it was until I got back into my 407!
We headed off the the airport around 1430 and checked in without fuss. Yet again I upgraded on the day to PE and have now figured that I'm not going economy unless I'm skint (which I now am!!!)[B)]
Priority boarding was very well set out with 3 individual lanes (Upper having the red carpet)
I've never seen it set out so well but it didn't quite work in reality as after a muffled announcement everyone barged forward. We stood in the PE line which was still taped off until the sole staff member who was boarding the economy line suggested to her colleagues they may be getting it wrong!! Some others rushed over and boarded the 3 of us in front of everyone else (Upper included!).
Boarding actually commenced about 10 mins early at 1715 and caught the duty free people by surprise! Mrs T & Ellie got seated in 80 H&K with me in 79H. We pushed back shortly after 1800 and I took a quick snap of another two VS 744's on the pier (there were actually four there at once with the LGW dep at 1720)
We took off at 1817 with a predicted flight time of 7h35m and I immediately sensed that the cabin crew were on better form than those on the outbound trip just by the way they made us feel welcome. IFE didn't come on for about 30 mins after takeoff and at that point we noticed that daughters screen didn't work so shuffled round with me moving to row 80.
Drinks rounds and dinner followed with the options of bangers n' mash, a chicken dish and a mushroom risotto. I chose the bangers and if you thought the old upper version was a bit ropey then you won't think much of these!
Watched some telly and found the V-Funny channels were the same as outbound (is that normal?) and tried to sleep but couldn't so that was that.
We touched the tarmac at Manchester a fraction after 0645 and with priority disembarking and priority bags working a treat we were sitting at home almost exactly 4 hours later - that's a record by quite a big margin! [8D]
A good flight to end a good holiday!
Regards
John
