This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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G-VELD African Queen
Well after a fantastic weekend in Chicago it ways sadly time to say my goodbyes to the W Lake Shore hotel and made my way back to ORD using the Airport Express shuttle service. Pick-up had been been arranged for 13:50 and right on time the shuttle bus arrived. No other picks to make so it was straight to ORD. Even at that time of day it took almost an hour. Soon arrived at terminal 5 and the VS check-in area.
There where 2 pax in front of me checking in (1 for Upper and 1 for PE) as there's no real distinction between J and W check-in at ORD. It did take longer than normal to check pax in (as I was about to find out first hand). I was soon called to the desk and so handed over my e-ticket, passport and Au FC card. The agent started the check-in process by the usual passport swiping and then handed me my passport back. Just as well I had noticed that the agent did not remove my green visa slip so I handed my passport back. A PE tag was then attached to my bag and despite me asking for a J tag been Au, they wouldn't swap it. I had already selected seat 20K in PE but wanted to move forward to row 18 again so asked if I could move. An outright answer 'No' was given to me with no effort to see if this could have been done or even if any seats where actually available, not even a glance at the computer screen. The agent then instructed me to drop off my checked bag at the TSA station next to VS check-in. This was not actually to TSA station VS bags needed to be given to so I was directed to another TSA station by a nice friendly TSA agent.
The whole VS check-in process was a total disaster and was by far the worst out-sourched VS check-in I've ever experienced and I thought MIA was bad!!!
After dropping off my checked bag I joined one of the rather long security lines all of which had reached the terminal entrance. They did move quite quickly actually and I was only in the line for about 10 minutes. It was the usual lap-tops out, shoes/belt/watch off process (I've realised that if I take my belt and watch off I don't beep but I think they did ask for belts to be taken off anyway)
A word of warning about ORD - there's very little indeed after security other than a tiny duty free cart selling sweets. All of the airline lounges are air side after security with shops and food/drink outlets land side before security.
Found the JAL lounge which VS use. It's a typical basic US lounge with a few small snacks in the form of biscuits and cold drinks so remember to eat before you go though security (although there are exits to go back landside if you need to). VS agents man the front desk as I guess JAL flight(s) dont overlap with the VS one so you get the lounge to yourselves.
There are broadband/LAN connections available but you have to pay for it (~$7.00) and you will need you own RJ45 patch cable too.
I had a quick word about check-in before I left the lounge (which obviously did have some impact as I'll explain later). Before long the flight was called (oddly though it was at the specified boarding time rather than been 15-20mins later as normal) so I made the short walk to gate M9.
Priority boarding was in operation but it's not that clear as it's not very well signposted and hidden behind a row of seats near the window. I reached the gate and the agent taking boarding cards was the same agent who had checked me in. If looks could kill I would be have been well and trully dead and buried. Somebody must have said something to them after I'd mentioned it in the lounge.
No queues on the jetway and straight onto G-VELD and though into the PE cabin to my assigned seat of 20K next to the window. The usual pre-flight drinks where offered by a very nice friendly cheerful crew member [y]. Re-fills where also offered too. I'd recogized the FSM from a previous flight. Loads where about the same as the out-bound with what turned out to be a completely empty row 18 again in PE. I asked a crew member if I could move after take-off and I was told that was fine.
After a short time the door was closed and the safety vid shown. I think we pushed back on time but can't really remember. It was again quite a long taxi to the runway. At one point we where holding for a few mintues on a bridge over a busy road which was quite an odd feeling actually [:w]
Todays flight time to London would be 7 hours and 45 minutes. Before long we where airborne and making quite a steep bank as we asended not longer after rotating, which again was an odd feeling.
Seat belt sign was turned off so I made a run for it to row 18 before anyone else did (excpet no-one else did [:w]), settled in and made myself comfy. Changed into a VS sleep suit I'd broight with me. The J CSS then appeared at my seat with my Retail Therapy pre-order. A few minutes later see again re-appeared and asked me if I would like a glass of champers 'to welcome me on-board' [y] Well again it would be rude to say no wouldn't it.
PE menus where handed out and consisted of the following:
Roast chicken served with mashed red bliss potatoes, mixed veg, sauteed mushrooms and red onion gravy.
Beef and Guinness stew with rosemary roasted potatoes, broccoli and carrots.
Cheese cannelloni with sorrel sauce served with sauteed wild mushrooms and grilled veg.
Carrot cake witrh caramel saauce for desert.
Dinner was served about 90 mins after take-off but tea & coffee was delayed due to turbalence.
One thing I dind't mention in my previous TR where the wine selection (both flights offered the same):
2006 Marques de Caza Airen
2006 Marques de Caza Tempranillo
I watched Silver Surfer, finished my meal and then tried to sleep for a while. I woke as they where serving the breakfast snack meal about 1 hour before landing, so I'd managed at least 3 hours sleep which I thought was very impressive as I've had less than that in J before now.
The films shown where different to the outbound flight but the TV channels where all exactly the same both ways. I can't remember if this is standard for Odyssey [:?]
Breakfast consisted of a muffin and tea/coffee follwed by the fruit bowl service. Before long the crew where starting to secure the cabin ready for our arrival into LHR. The captiain came on and warned us it would probably get bumpy due to the poor weather over London and he wasn't wrong, it was like a rollercoaster at one point!!!
A few of the usual mery-go-rounds before our final approach into LHR with what was one of the shortest taxi's I've ever experienced, as from touch down to gate was well under 2 minutes!! We where at one of the new gates. The only problem being that the jetway to door L2 wasn't working so was had to use door L1 instead.
Headed to IRIS and then down to baggage collection which didn't take too long.
Overall another great VS PE flight but let down by the poor check-in at ORD.
G-VELD does have the new Y seat covers (red and brown) so the seat covers on FAR are still the old ones. I'd also noticed FAR doesn't have the new slide out tables in yet J either.
Regards
Regards
James Mitchell
James Mitchell
