VS026 JFK-LHR 26 Jun 07 (PE)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

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So the alarm on my cackberry goes at 04:40 local time and the fuzzy memory of the last shot from the night before (some 5 hours earlier) comes back to haunt me, that and the fact I was completely unsuccessful in booking a car to JFK and so will have to hope there are yellow cabs kicking around at stupid o'clock, get every together, trundle out of the hotel to be greeted by a yellow cab all parked up and just waiting, so a good start.

Get to JFK and the check-in area is busy with the economy queue handily snaking past the entrances for PE and UC, barge through and bump (almost literally) into the check-in police who query the lack of presence of Jon Morgan who returned direct from SFO the day before, there is a short queue for each of the UC / PE check-in counters but they all working steadily and the wait isn't long, I'm checked in very efficiently (seat 23K, in the middle, next to the loo, great) and drag my case down to the large x-ray machines that have replaced the handy luggage conveyer system that most civilised airports use to make things easier, there is a bit of a backlog of luggage here but I stick around to ensure that my bag makes it at least as far as the x-ray before being lost and take a stroll over to the CH. The JFK CH really isn't that great but it is better than the alternative of strolling aimlessly around the dull hanger that is JFK.

Settled into the CH and it would seem I'd managed to put on my invisibility suit again as I impressively ignored pretty much for the duration of my visit only being asked if I wanted a drink / something to eat 5 meetings prior to the boarding announcement.... good job all I wanted was a brew. I'd also say that this mornings experience in the JFK CH isn't unique as even sitting right next to the bar I've been completed ignored until grabbing a member of staff as they zoomed by.

The boarding call came just after my tea arrived and so I set off down to join the fun that is JFK security, the checked of passes indicated me to join the snake rather than skipping down the outside, if only fast track extended to JFK for Gold members! In front of me was an American mum and her son complaining (already) that the man should've directed them to avoid the snake but didn't and they were in the wrong queue and blah blah blah moan moan etc. still they had red edged boarding cards so maybe they were down the back rather than PE (as it transpires no such luck, they are in the row in front and have already moaned, on the phone to the husband back at the airport, about the lack of recline on their seats that have a cupboard / loo behind them, and also their pillows and amenity packs were swiped by some economy pax and that seems to be a great crime - the smiley attendant working PE managed to find replacements with a quick hunt so things for now are quiet)

Boarding was a mess with just a general crush around the desk, and the sign for priority boarding was completed swarmed by people trying to board, even so I managed to get nearer the front, but priority boarding wasn't really being enforced, and even if it was the queue to actually board once though was back out of the airbridge anyway...

Settled into my new home for the next 7 hours or so and took the offered glass of something cold and bubbling, after all the sun is over the yardarm somewhere.... and in fact there was enough time for a backup glass just to check the quality (I'm pleased to report that both glssess were suitably chilled and adequately filled with bubbles)

The self loading freight seemed to take a long time loading, I didn't notice what time we pushed back (sorry about that) but take off was 08:30...

Shortly after off the crew went around with the hot towels and I noticed that I'm last to get served, just have to hope they'll have my choice of breakfast when it comes to it.

V Port was kicked into life and just about the same time they announced the failure of the loos on the right hand side of the aircraft, so on the bright side I'm not going to be disturbed by people going in and out of the loo next to me, on the downside I need to hike down the back of the plane... (no pleasing some people) also seat power appears to be dead as I type this (avoiding the inevitable work)

My breakfast was finally served, opted for the English and it was ok, nothing special, I do like the extra touches now with the new PE service though it does feel more than Economy++ and the new seats are a lot better, although I'm not convinced by the location of the in seat power if there is a problem (mine was fixed by a member of crew flicking some switches elsewhere in the aircraft)

With three hours to go of the flight the first drinks run was completed by the crew (one virgin mary / bloody embarrassment ordered), coinciding with the ice cream run - would've been nice if the tasty chocolate coated vanilla ice cream sticks weren't quite so defrosted making the chocolate coating fragile and liable to result in a 'what the hell is that on your shirt' incident.

Had a quick doze as the late night / early morning took hold and missed any other drink / food rounds (assuming they happened) and woke just before the 10 minute warning so managed to get to one of the remaining serviceable loo's before the rest of the aircraft started queuing.

It was pretty weird being sat where I was as I couldn't see a window at all and so had no reference as to where we were with the approach into London and was even more confused when we did aborted the approach (due to an Air France aircraft that hadn't cleared the runway fast enough) and got to go around again, second time around was pretty uneventful with a taxi around to our stand followed by unloading... managed to dodge all queues in arrivals by using Iris and then just had to wait for my bags (about 20 minutes) and pick up my car for the journey home, all in a all a good flight, the lack of loo's was a pain but not really a show stopper and once my seat power was sorted all was good in my world (I'm all right jack) new PE is certainly an improvement and I felt I was getting more of a premium service than an economy one, not sure how well the dedicated loo works as with half of them out of action it was a bit of a free for all.

[Neil]

Thanks for the TR[y]

I set off down to join the fun that is JFK security, the checked of passes indicated me to join the snake rather than skipping down the outside, if only fast track extended to JFK for Gold members!

On our PE flight(s) out of JFK last week, on both occasions we went to the right snake side and on both occasions we were told after our boarding cards had been checked we could use the quicker left side[:?]

Thanks for an interesting TR David, I will be on the VS26 in August, no doubt half asleep!

After the LHR CH, the JFK CH is my favourite. I've always found the service to be efficient and the food very good. I normally head for the tables on the left hand side and get served quickly, but maybe its because I'm ordering food?

Glad you had a good flight in PE, despite the lack of toilet facilities [V]

Great TR. I feel your pain with row 23 - I recently had 23D from HKG to LHR... Right next to the toilet with the door that kept sticking so I spent the night being woken up by either people slamming the door shut with all their might or leaving it open after they were done, giving me the delights of both flushing sounds and general loo smells...

I too found it really strange not being able to see a thing at take off or landing - its still amusing when I can spot my house out the window whilst circling London!

Originally posted by RJDI feel your pain with row 23 - I recently had 23D from HKG to LHR... Right next to the toilet with the door that kept sticking so I spent the night being woken up by either people slamming the door shut with all their might or leaving it open after they were done, giving me the delights of both flushing sounds and general loo smells...

The way the VS A340s are internally configured leaves a lot to be desired, IMHO.

Whoever designed that seating layout where a toilet opens onto a pax seat (and an expensive one at that) had absolutely no regard for passenger comfort, probably doesn't fly a lot, and there's a lot of these on the VS A340.

Toilets along the outside walls of the aircraft are crazy too, as window seats are really popular.

Lavs are generally better in the middle of the cabin with their doors facing each other (or a bulkhead) on a cross-passage - which would also fix a problem on the VS A340 config, where there aren't enough cross-over passages in the cabin.

Mike

Originally posted by MrsG
After the LHR CH, the JFK CH is my favourite. I've always found the service to be efficient and the food very good. I normally head for the tables on the left hand side and get served quickly, but maybe its because I'm ordering food?

The JFK Clubhouse must just be incredibly inconsistent - the three or four times I've been there I've always had terrible service, to the point where I've had to force myself to the attention of the staff in order to get them to take an order on every occasion.

Originally posted by Jon Morgan
The JFK Clubhouse must just be incredibly inconsistent - the three or four times I've been there I've always had terrible service, to the point where I've had to force myself to the attention of the staff in order to get them to take an order on every occasion.

Yep, I seldom fly out of JFK these days, but when I have done, I agree with both comments - It's true you often get served quicker when you sit at a 'dining table', but otherwise you often feel like you're wearing an invisibility cloak.

Mike

Thanks for the TR Dave. I read the following on http://www.Airlinequality.com regrding the new PE.

Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy is a very nice product if you are a standard size. Unfortunately for those of us over 1m90 for comfort BA WT+ is now much better. The bells and whistles that have been added to the seat have impacted hugely on the comfort and usability for the taller passenger. If the person in the front reclines their seat I am unable to sit with my knees straight forward - and this has the much vaunted more room than economy.

Do you think this view is valid?
Thanks,
Paul

[buns]

Dave

Thanks for the TR[y][y]

I'll make sure I avoid 23K then

I presume mum and child 'complainer' did not cause any further problems??

Thanks once again

buns

[Neil]

Originally posted by Paul H
Thanks for the TR Dave. I read the following on http://www.Airlinequality.com regrding the new PE.

Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy is a very nice product if you are a standard size. Unfortunately for those of us over 1m90 for comfort BA WT+ is now much better. The bells and whistles that have been added to the seat have impacted hugely on the comfort and usability for the taller passenger. If the person in the front reclines their seat I am unable to sit with my knees straight forward - and this has the much vaunted more room than economy.

Do you think this view is valid?
Thanks,
Paul

Its each to their own I guess, I actually tend to agree with the above statement, I'm only 5ft 11' but after a couple of hours found the seat uncomfortable, where as t'other half who is the same height but carries less weight said he found it ultra comfy.

Originally posted by Paul H
Thanks for the TR Dave. I read the following on http://www.Airlinequality.com regrding the new PE.

Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy is a very nice product if you are a standard size. Unfortunately for those of us over 1m90 for comfort BA WT+ is now much better. The bells and whistles that have been added to the seat have impacted hugely on the comfort and usability for the taller passenger. If the person in the front reclines their seat I am unable to sit with my knees straight forward - and this has the much vaunted more room than economy.

Do you think this view is valid?
Thanks,
Paul

I think it is pretty fair comment actually, my flight was great as the person in front hadn't reclined his seat, however when they did I suddenly had a lot less space, and it almost felt like being back down back... I couldn't find a good position to work with the laptop on my lap with the seat reclined in front.

Not sure I'd try BA again, I flew on it to HK last year and it wasn't a patch on PE.

BTW - I'm standard height / size....

Thanks Dave, we have some miles to use and I was thinking of PE.

Originally posted by mike-smashing
The way the VS A340s are internally configured leaves a lot to be desired, IMHO.

Whoever designed that seating layout where a toilet opens onto a pax seat (and an expensive one at that) had absolutely no regard for passenger comfort, probably doesn't fly a lot, and there's a lot of these on the VS A340.

Toilets along the outside walls of the aircraft are crazy too, as window seats are really popular.

Lavs are generally better in the middle of the cabin with their doors facing each other (or a bulkhead) on a cross-passage - which would also fix a problem on the VS A340 config, where there aren't enough cross-over passages in the cabin.

Mike

Mike

I cannot echo your thoughts loudly enough having just endured 23F from LHR to JFK on the VS003. I only booked on Saturday and 23F was the only seat option presented (and Upper was full as per tale below). For sixteen hundred pounds to be sandwiched between two loos, and I found strangely disorientated because there is no view of the outside at all, this must be the poorest value for money seat on a 346.

Added to that I checked in online to find the seat selection not working again so arrived at the airport very early to try to bag a front of PE seat, only to be told that UC was overfull and they were holding those seats back to downgrade [:0] pax. Then when on board the guy next to me got upgraded to UC after take off ... so what gives I thought. Then the FSM, who I'd asked if could at least move to the aisle seat said 'no' there was a pax in econ in the wrong seat ... when he sat down I noticed his ticket clearly said economy so I was left thinking why fib!

Further, there was a child in the front of econ who screamed, and I mean 'screamed' during take-off, mid flight and landing (poor kid suffered from the change in pressure) and unusually a large number of pax who after visiting the loo left the door open (barn and gate came to mind).

Flight from hell. At least the crew were pleasant and efficient so great marks to them (apart from the FSM).