This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Goat Tavern....time to go.
A quick, efficient and $35 cab ride out to the airport (after the bag guy at the hotel had tried to sell me a limo trip) found us at a busy check in. Almost immediately we were approached by a VS agent telling us the flight was oversold in PE (perhaps because this was a consolidated flight) and would we like to upgrade for a mere $900 each? He didn't do a very good job as his final word on the matter was 'it's a bit expensive isn't it?'. And no, we didn't take it. I saw people negotiating at the desk, and I thought I'd heard someone shake on $500 each, but then I saw them seated in PE so presumably the deal fell through somewhere. Check in itself was friendly and efficient and took only a few minutes.
Though the fact that the never ending retail opportunities at UK airports can be wearing, I have to admit that they are preferable to the rather minimalist offerings in the US. I find the book and magazine shops particularly poor, and give thanks for WH Smiths. After a swift purchase of various comestibles to serve as gambling chips, we indulge in a few rounds of cards. I'm told 'the bank can't lose', but I still manage a Fred Goodwin when it's my turn, costing many, many M&Ms.; huh. Same story as when I was in the securitisation market...
When the desk agents arrive, they are given very strict instructions by team leader to check and double check. Unfortunately (a) this doesn't include anything about checking you're not chewing gum when providing service but (b) does mean that when Priority Boarding is called we're sent back because The Favoured One's passport doesn't have a security sticker attached. Well, neither does mine and that isn't picked up on; and when we return to the desk the agent gives a sigh and simply slaps one on there without a second glance. We have to wait little while for one of those stand offs to resolve itself; a party split up at check in, not happy, 'wouldn't happen on BA.' This at least provokes a wry smile from a lady stood nearby who had arrived earlier with BA pilot partner.
We'd chosen 19 & 20 A and C on this leg, and per another thread that's about at the moment, I felt that this side of the aircraft had more foot traffic going to the read than we'd experienced on the H and K side on the way out - though that may simply be down to the fact that this leg was full and the outbound leg hadn't been. As it's an A340-300 - Maiden Tokyo - I do at least have a window close by this time....
.... though it does mean Odyssey as the entertainment system. Hey ho, I don't plan to watch much anyway...
Once we're seated MrsPJH comments that if she were in the rear part of the UC she'd be feeling a bit shortchanged as it seemed to her cramped (and the hoi polloi were tramping through). This is perhaps a coded message to me for when we use our FF miles. She had commented favourably on the UC section of the A340-600 on the way out.
Also once seated the crew begin service and, as on the way out, service is foremost, the crew talking to the passengers, asking had we had a good time, what newspapers did we want. The Favoured One was pleased as Punch to get his hands on some decent football pages and immediately entered into an animated conversation with a neighbour. Curiously enough for a night flight the atmosphere is quite animated; one american couple are particularly excited to be heading to London for the first time.
We head out from the stand for an early departure. Whilst taxiing there are a number of loud, mechanical sounding, bangs, crashes and thuds that lead me to think we're going to be heading back to the terminal minus the rudder or an engine. Whatever it was, it wasn't important enough to keep us from the sky so up and away ahead of schedule.
Settle down to watch 'Pride and Glory', accompanied by a very tasty cajun dish. She must have sat down when MrsPJH stood up. (arf arf). I think the food choices were a beef dish, said cajun chicken and a noodles with pad tai sauce. There's been one drinks run before dinner; I'm not sure whether there was a brandy / Baileys run after the meal as I dozed off. Savoury muffins were offered for breakfast later in the flight, but I wasn't tempted.
One highlight of the flight was a view of Niagara Falls. I'd been browsing the SkyMap and seen it noted and then an announcement was made over the p.a. apologising for disturbing people but saying it was a sight worth seeing.
Sleep came and went fitfully, not helped by a series of crying babies who were evidently acting in some form of devilish relay.
Unfortunately any benefit from the early departure was negated by air traffic control delays and we stooged around Woking for about a half hour. This wait was enlivened only by a call for a russian speaker and a child in UC being copiously sick all over their suite.
Once landed and through immigration three of the four bags were off in short order, but the final one took about a further 15 minutes. Not that it particularly upset any timings (as we didn't have any). Then to the long stay car park bus and home about an hour and a half later.
A good flight with which to end the trip.
We can get better, because we're not dead yet
