This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Anyhow, I was kept warm by the smug feeling of a couple of surprises in store for the Dearly Beloved and Less Favoured One; upgraded to PE and bought V-Room access. OK, not exactly the full monty of upgrade possibilities, but VH hadnt been offering any UC upgrades when I booked, and the Clubhouse booking engine had scanned me up and down months before and decided that no way was I going to be on the guest list. Seating pre-assignment had been more favourable disposed, however, and Id managed to secure 73H and 74H&K, which were still there when I did OLCI the day before.
Any inner warmth was dissipated on reaching the check in area where chaos seemed to be reigning supreme. Queues of VS and EZY passengers snaked across the floor, intertwining at odd points, at least in part the consequence of a now rectified baggage conveyor failure. I feared that a poor choice would lead to me inadvertently finding myself on an A319 bound for Edinburgh rather than a 747 bound for Havana, so instead decided S*d the surprise and headed for the PE check in. Called over to the adjacent UC desk, we were swiftly dealt with and despatched on our way with Fast Track marked on our boarding passes. Bizarrely when we turned around to start making our way the queues had vanished. Not quite where everyone had gone, but gone they had..
On arrival at Security my expectation of being able to loudly declaim no need to queue, lets head for Fast Track and exercise my inner, tousled but sophisticated, cool and attractive, experienced traveller was cruelly dashed as Fast Track wasnt in operation. Not that it was needed, as it was no more than a two minute wait anyhow, but dammit a perk is a perk
Next up, the V-Room. Slight diversion why does it take just as long to add anything to VH booking as to make the original booking? The helpful agent I had was most apologetic, but it still took a half hour phone call, as it seems the cost of the entire holiday was recalculated and discounts re-applied. At the end though I had my three passes for just over 40 (15 each less 10% FV discount). And the V-Room itself? A big thumbs up from the entire familypjh. Bright and airy, with family and adults onlysections. The family area has separate play areas for those who cannot / can walk upright, the former featuring lots of squidgy toys and the latter having table football, free internet access and a variety of computer games. Those sitting in the adults only portion have some of the papers (Sunday Times and Sunday Mail) and free internet access from 3 pcs.. Breakfast consisted of Innocent brand smoothies, juice, cereal, bacon, sausage, pastries, muffins and half decent coffee and tea. A pay bar is available, but no one was availing themselves of its services when we were there, perhaps not surprising as it was 7 a.m.. Screens are dotted around showing adverts for some of the top end Caribbean hotels, and there are a couple of VH staff to hand to answer questions and take your next holiday booking.or at least an order for a brochure. Theres a VS Only departure board, and boarding calls are broadcast. When we left at about 8.30, the numbers in the room had risen to about 30. If it can be kept in the state we found it, and overbooking isnt a feature, I think its a winner. Granted, alcohol isnt included in the price as I believe it is in the Servisair lounges, but who needs that at 7 a.m.?
As it turns out, the call to the gate was a tad premature and we have to wait about 30 minutes before boarding commences. When it does, UCS / PE / AU are called forward first, though theres no separate queue set up.
All else being equal, I hope to have a left turning experience next year, but for the moment going upstairs really is as good as it gets, to the extent that Id already rehearsed my yes they may be on honeymoon but no Im not going to move downstairs to allow them to sit together speech. I would be gracious, but the answer would still be no. In the end the window seat was occupied by a young gentleman of Cuban extraction about who would, so I am told by the DB and LFO, be variously regarded as toned and lush. Much like my good self.
Menus and water were all in place, and the seats and environs look clean, if a little worn. Orange juice, something fizzy and water were promptly offered around.
I had looked at which aircraft we were on, and promptly forgot which one it was (according to the Which Aircraft section on V-F it was Pretty Woman). Entertainment was provided by Nova with the non removable controls.
After a slight delay and a safety video played at a volume that suggested the 11 setting was being used, prompting comments from the crew looking after us we were rolling and then away.
From then on the service was well up to snuff and an excellent advert for the PE offering, to the extent that I think its accepted that now PE availability will be a key parameter in any future flight decisions. My rating of this flight is 'Good' for everything, save for 'Average' for the seat (due to it showing its age), as though we all really enjoyed the experience, perhaps 'Excellent' should be reserved for those times when things are better than you expect?
Main food offering was the usual beef / chicken / vegetable option, with Gu puddings. Not sure whether it was by design or accident, but the vegetables attending the beef option I had were gratifyingly al dente. The supplementary sandwich and nut bar offering later in the flight was fine, though it feels a touch parsimonious.
Drinks were provided before and during dinner, and a brandy / Baileys run was made after dinner. Quite a few passengers spent the flight popping to the back of the cabin to refresh their supplies of beer, to the extent that at the end of the flight they were able to construct their own Angel Of The North, but no one got overly excitable on the basis of it. Water, juice and fruit were out at the rear of the cabin throughout the flight.
The crew were in evidence throughout and seemed to be helpful to all. They were a little stumped by the young Cuban gentleman during the food service, as he spoke no English and they spoke no Spanish (though there had been an announcement in Spanish at the start of the flight). I volunteered my assistance well, my phrasebook and a decision having been made he feasted so heartily that I felt compelled to offer him my spare cheese and crackers.
There was some confusion amongst the crew about the forms needed for entry in Cuba. The visa is a must, and has to be purchased in advance (VH offer it as a service), but there is also a white form for customs. I asked about this, and one of the crew said that shed spent some of time working a route from Canada to Cuba (Cuba, as we found out, being a favourite with Canadians) and had never needed to fill one in. Nonetheless they rustled some up, which we completed..and are still in our bags as I speak.
Time passed in starting my holiday reading program of non taxing detective fiction and watching 21 and In Bruges, excellent films both. The former takes a few liberties with the story as told in the original book. I stole a quick glance at Son of Rambow, and that looked pretty good too.
After an impressively smooth, on schedule, landing we were disembarked in UC / PE / Economy order and fairly swiftly through immigration into the baggage hall, where bags started coming offon several beltsbeing offloaded by airport staff and left at random points in the terminal. So we find bag one, bag two.but no bag three. Wait. Search. Wait. Search some more. Still no bag three. To make it worse, this is the LFOs bag. B*gger. Must remember tactical packing next time. Anyhow, in the end I find the appropriate baggage receipt, and am directed from the nearest, quiet, lost luggage window to one round the corner that really does fill me with dread. Many people, cross people, gesticulating, smoking heavily and attending the window in an apparently random fashion. DB and LFO go through to find the VH rep to say yes were there and hold any transport, and I am left wondering quite how I am going to achieve anything. I decide to put on my best Denholm Elliott Englishman abroad style and work my way to the front of the queue saying pardon me a lot, to be faced with one clerk dealing with four people, three cigarettes, two phone conversations and one recalcitrant computer terminal. After much misinterpretation, it seems the bag is still in Gatwick and will be sent on Wednesdaythe day we will be changing hotels, so further confusion follows as to where I want it delivered At this point I cut my losses, decide the VH rep can earn their keep and help, take the proffered lost bag receipt and head out into the terminal.
Once out, I find DB and LFO who have changed some cash and seen the (now departed) VH rep and been assured the coach will be waiting for us. Probably with some angry passengers, but Im sure theyll have been told why. And so to the coach parkthe empty coach park. At which point I almost give up. We could, I think, get a taxi but Im not sure of the etiquette was it blue plate or yellow plate? Is there a hailing system or do you have to go to some kind of despatcher? How much should it be into Havana? Do I have a big sign over my head reading Sucker!? Were hot, bothered, tired and have an upset teenager to hand. Luckily I had decided to bring my work phone and used it to call the VH rep and make my displeasure known. Were advised to get a blue plate taxi, given a guide price (yeah, right, its going to be that) and I march determinedly off thinking whats the worst they can do to me if I get the etiquette wrong? So, I raise my hand and a taxi draws up. A taxi with air conditioning. A taxi driver with enough English to give us a bit of a guided tour, pointing out Revolution Square, calling out the makes of the 1950s US cars. A taxi driver who drops us off at the Hotel Nacional and charges us exactly what the VH rep said they would. Is this man a Cuban hero? Youre damn right he is!
So after a great experience up to the point of landing were now at the right hotel. We have our room. We have a seat on the terrace. We have mojitos to hand. And we await the next days visit from the VH rep to see how we are to manage (a) the lost bag and (b) my displeasure at being left at the airport.
We can get better, because we're not dead yet
