This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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G-VFAR Diana
Arrived at VS check-in approx. 06:30 where I found Upper check-in almost deserted with only 1 pax in front of me. I had a very nice friendly check-in agent today [:)] I was originally sat in PE seat 19G but asked if there where any seats available in row 18 (the bulk head row) I was in luck as 18DFG where all available so I opted for 18D. The only odd thing was that at check-in I was informed there where no window seats left but in fact it turned out I was the only pax sat in row 18? In no time at all I was heading back outside for a quick smoke before heading to fastrack security which at that time of the morning was very quick and I even ended up getting directed into the non-fastrack section as staff where stood waiting for pax. All pax where having to go through the shoe x-ray area even though most pax didnt actually know what it was they where supposed to do which is down to BAA not having adequate signage explaining what it is they want pax to do.
By the time I arrived at the CH, via a quick stop at the duty free shop, it was just about opening. As Id not had any breakfast first stop was the Brassiere for my usual scrambled egg breakfast.
After a very nice breakfast I mulled around the CH for some time before my shave appointment which was not until 9am. The observation/patio area was closed. I tried to use the WiFi but its still not working properly. Come on VS get this sorted please.
After a fantastic shave treatment I found a comfy area near the windows, ordered a rather nice pot of green tea and settled in until my flight was called.
The VS039 was called at approx. 10:30 so I said my goodbyes to the CH and made my way to gate 1 in the new departure area which is about a 5-10 minute walk. By the time I reached the gate area all the pax had already boarded so I walked straight onto the A/C. One thing I did note though was the announcements in the CH no longer mention priority lines at the gates but instruct pax to make there way to the front of the queues instead.
I made my way straight to seat 18D in the nice new PE cabin. The new PE seats are so much better than the older PE seats. Without a doubt, no more reservations about flying PE on the A343s. I was quickly offered the usual pre-flight drink selection of sparkling wine or orange juice.
Before long all the pax where onboard (the exact number was announced by the FSM along with the A/C reg and name too, which Ive never head before. We where also told there where 2 flight deck crew and 13 cabin crew working todays flight), the door was closed and we pulled back at 11:10. By 11:35 we where airborne. PE had about 5 empty seats. J was about 80% full and Y was about half full. Not sure where all the J pax had come from as Id checked ExpertFlyer the day before and it showed J as only having 8 seats taken? Todays flight time to ORD would be 9 hours exactly. I put my mobile phone into flight mode as instructed by the crew. One thing I did notice was that there are instructions in the IFE magazine stating that you can use Bluetooth once airborne. Anything with a WiFi or a mobile phone signal must be turned off/put in flight mode for the duration of the flight though.
After what I thought was a rather noisy takeoff, the seat belt sign was switched off and the cabin service started. PE menus where handed out just before the first drinks service was started. The FSM then came and introduced herself to me, thanking me for me continued custom and even invited me to the Upper Class bar at any time during the flight [y] The IFE (Odyssey) was soon started. Sitting in a bulk head row, the IFE controller is in the arm rest. My only minor complaint about the PE seat was that the table had not been wiped as there where several dodgy looking spill stains on it.
As my lap-top battery was flat, I charged it using my charger in the Empower socket which is not that easy to find on the new PE seats. In the bulk seats its below where the IFE screens are stored right next to the cabin floor where theres one for every seat. I now have a Targus 90W combination travel/air charger which is much easier than having to carry 2 chargers separately, you just change the power socket cable although it doesnt come with a US plug though (but you could buy one along with various mobile phone/PDA add-on charger cables too so it will then charge everything for you in one go). I seem to remember some people having concerns about this particular charger not working onboard due to it been 90W but I can confirm it does work perfectly. I had completely forgotten about having to remove your lap-top battery and so had left mine in but I wasnt challenged at any time so not sure now if that policy is still in effect or not. Other PE pax where also using lap-tops on batteries.
Dinner was served approx 1 hour into the flight. The PE menu consisted of the following:
Seasonal leaf salad.
Chicken korma served with basmati rice and vegetable jalfrezi.
Braised beef served with horseradish mashed potato, baby carrots, green beans and mustard sauce.
Penne pasta with Sicilian tomato sauce and parmesan cheese.
Choice of warm breads (either pumpkin ciabatta or farmers roll).
Gu cheeky pot au chocolat.
Cheese and biscuits.
I opted for the pasta which was very good and tasty and my china dish was soon almost licked clean (OK so I didnt lick it). Several water and juice services where made during the flight as well as the usual ice cream service mid way though the flight. There were also announcements informing Y/W pax that water and juice was always available from the rear galley.
During the flight I did visit the bar briefly (well it would be rude not to take up the FSMs offer wouldnt it). I didnt hand around too long and had a quick chat to one of the senior crew there.
My only other bugbear about PE on the A343s is the lack of a dedicated washroom for PE, the nearest washroom been mid way along the Y cabin.
I had a few walks to the back of the A/C and noticed that the Y seats seemed to have new covers (although those nasty looking yellow seat covers are still in use) [?]
I watched Shrek 3 and started to watch Spiderman 3, but got board with that so fired up my laptop and started writing up my TR instead. On one of the channels theres a quite interesting program primarily aimed nervous flyers, but also interesting for A/C geeks too, explaining exactly what happens during a VS flight. Its narrated by a VS captain and goes though each stage of the flight from take off to landing, explaining what each noise is and what the flaps and other external bits of the A/C wings do. Being sat in a bulk head seat means theres plenty of room to use a laptop. Also with no-one sat next to me in the middle section of seats I could spread out all my junk.
At some stage between the dinner service and landing the crew came round the PE cabin with the fruit bowl (I cant remember exactly when this happened though)
Approx 90 mins before landing, the afternoon snack was served. This still needs some work I think to just refine the PE product as you just get a paper cup of tea or coffee and a very small snack. Im sure it wouldnt be too difficult to serve the drinks in a china mug? This would, in my opinion, finish of an already much improved PE service.
I freshened up and not long afterwards the captain came on and announced that we where approaching Chicago. The crew started securing the cabin which meant my foot cushion had to be put away.
Having now sat in the new PE cabin twice, once mid way into the cabin and now in a bulk head row, the foot cushions are much better than those silly pointless foot rest things as you can position the cushion exactly where you want it for added comfort.
The flight did pass remarkably fast considering it was a 9 hour flight and we soon touched down at ORD at exactly the advertised time of 14:15 local time. Its quite a long taxi to terminal 5 but I was pleased we had beat one of the BA flights from LHR as the BA B777 was directly behind us as we approached the terminal.
The crew held back the PE pax until the J pax had left the A/C and I was soon walking to immigration (which I wasnt looking forward to, as if you dont know my full name and DOB matches a name of 2 FBI lists so I always get pulled for secondary immigration checks).
I approached the immigration desk after a very short wait and handed over my Affidavit I now hold which states that I have no criminal record and I am not the person on the 2 lists. The immigration officer was polite but firm in his questions as he asked me exactly what I was going to be doing in Chicago and also wanted to know the names of the sites I would be seeing, what my job was in the UK, which company I work for, when and where my last visit to the US had been. I know he must have most of this info on his screen in front of him so I guess hes just checking what I say is accurate. Anyhow, stamp stamp and I was done. And so made my way to the luggage carrousel to wait and wait and wait. Eventually after about 20 mins the luggage started coming off. My bag finally came off forth to the last. So much for priority baggage handling, although Ive now come to expect VS not to prioritise my luggage. No J tag had been attached at LHR by the check-in staff.
By the looks of things my bag came of nearly last because the agent at LHR had said I was one of the first to physically check-in for the ORD flight that day, so it looks like the bags had just been loaded onto the A/C in the order they had been checked in rather than receiving any kind of priority.
The one thing that strikes me about the A343 A/C is that they appear to be quite difficult to work for the crew. For example there no break in seat rows in between the J galley and the back Y galley right at the rear of the A/C meaning if crew want to switch aisles they either have to walk three quarters of the way down the A/C and back or sneak through the bulk head row in PE or in Y.
All in all a very good VS flight, one of my best in fact as other than the luggage thing everything else was perfect [y]. The FSM ran a tight ship and all the crew where friendly, polite and hard working. I know it has been said before but a good FSM really does make a good VS flight. The PE service was exactly as advertised [y]
Regards
Regards
James Mitchell
James Mitchell
