This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
05/07/07
Scheduled Departure time 11.30
Actual rotate 12.20 (50 minutes late)
Scheduled Arrival time 14.50
Actual wheels down 14.45 (5 minutes early)
Aircraft Airbus 340-600
G-VATL Miss Kitty
As there was to be no priority boarding for this flight we went to the gate, gate 1, earlier than we would normally have done. It is quite a long walk to gate 1, which is the furthest gate to the easterly side of the concourse.
There was the usual scrummage at the gate, I took a picture and promptly got told off by a Group 4 Security guy who gruffly said No pictures. We took our place in line with the hoi polloi. One couple ducked under the ropes and made their way to the desk claiming priority boarding only to be sent back to queue with the rest of us.
We missed the exit row (it turned out to be occupied by a boy friend of one of the stewardesses and he had both seats to himself!), so were seated in row 19 A and C one row back. I didnt mind as even with my height and build there was plenty of room. The new PE seats are a big improvement. The only gripe I had was that it was really difficult to pull my tray table out of the armrest, Birkins was okay so it was probably just mine and not a general problem.
The crew did everything that was expected of them, meal and drinks service went smoothly, we had our first choices without any problem. Water/OJ rounds completed. The FSM ran a pretty tight ship and they all seemed to know what was required of them and got on and did it. I introduced myself to the FSM and appraised him of V-Flyer and plied him with a bunch of our cards for distribution amongst the crew.
I have marked the crew down slightly due to one particular female member who was a PITA. She held our aisle, the port aisle, back to allow the UC pax to de-plane, fine, no problem with that whatsoever. However no one was holding back the starboard aisle so they were walking around the galley, where she was unsighted and exiting as if they had come from the front cabin. She continued to hold us back whilst they all trouped past as she thanked them for flying with Virgin and bid them farewell. When I tried to point this out to her she just snapped back that we should be patient and wait for the UC pax to leave I was in no mood to have a ruck so I just shut up and ignored her continued snipes.
I watched three movies, listened to some music and did a bit of work on the laptop, no issues with operating it with battery power, I didnt get to use the in-seat power simply because I had a full battery and had finished what I wanted to do with an hours worth of juice in hand.
The food was fine and wines equally acceptable, the crew came around the cabin with the usual choice of cognac or Baileys afterwards.
All in all a fairly uneventful flight that just went smoothly, nothing exceptional either way.
Lunch Menu:
Wines:
White: Marq_us de Caza Airen 2006
Red: Marqu_s de Caza Tempranillo 2006
Salad:
Greek pasta salad with cucumber, tomato, black olives and feta cheese
Mains:
Roast Pork served with roasted potatoes, sage and onion stuffing, baby carrots, broccoli, apple sauce and gravy
Mediterranean chicken served with orzo pasta, summer bean salad and marinara sauce
Mushroom Stroganoff served with Mississippi rice and red peppers
Warm Bread:
Wholemeal mini loaf and soft plaited roll
Dessert:
Fr_ flirty lemon shots
Cheese and Biscuits:
Butlers Secret mature cheddar served with crackers
