This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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We got the van to T3 and, despite UC four desks being open, we had a bit of a wait. Ironically it would have been quicker using the PE desks where no one was waiting. Without any prompting, the agent asked if we would like to move to bulk head seats maybe he had noticed how tall Christopher is! Duly checked in we made our way in the lift up to the fast-track security check and again there was a short wait, as the staff seemed to be having a very thorough day! A couple of people were asked to take their shoes off but neither Christopher or I were. Despite the delays it was less than an hour from pulling into Purple Parking to Clubhouse menus in hand. More than happy with that!
We both ordered the compulsory Clubhouse burger, but Christopher was too hungry to wait and went for a plate of cold cuts from the deli as an aperitif. The burgers were both excellent. I went on a trawl for papers and found, to my dismay that there were no copies of USA Today! I immediately thought this was one of the many cutbacks VS are having to make.
While Christopher was having his haircut, I went to the terminal and bought a copy of USA Today, as my pre take-off ritual is to do the crossword as we are waiting to go. As we stocked up with sweets from the jars near the pool table and our flight was called, I saw a person I recognised as a TV actor from Little Britain, Doctor Who, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and (for older readers) a famous series of coffee adverts. He was on his way to get a Cowshed treatment! I always like to celeb spot in the Clubhouse.
As we left, I noticed that a large pile of USA Today had been put out on the display no cutbacks in the Clubhouse after all!
Our gate was 13, which is only a short walk the plane on the stand was G-VELD African Queen, which meant Odyssey instead of V-Port. We went straight on board as most people were already on. We are at the front of a reasonably full PE cabin in 18 A & C, there are about 10 spare seats. As soon as we sat down we were given a drink and there was a bottle of water on each seat. The captain said the flight time will be 6 hours 55 minutes and our routing will be along the M4 to Bristol, over Shannon and making land in New Foundland before dropping down the Atlantic coast into Boston. There are apparently 199 pax onboard and 14 crew.
Pushback was a little early at 1439 and we made our way to 27L where we had to wait for a line of landing planes before wheels up at 1458. While waiting, we watched a police helicopter hovering over the Bath Road hotels. I am sure that isnt the safest place for a helicopter to be, but equally, they must know what they are doing.
We had a drink as soon as we levelled out but Christophers sound on his IFE is broken, so he moved across to one of the other spare bulk heads. Menus / amenity kits were handed out and we have a main course choice of :-
Beef Goulash with herb polenta, roasted potatoes, broccoli and carrots
King Prawns in chilli sauce, Thai rice with egg and Chinese vegetables.
Vegetarian ravioli with creamy mushroom sauce and sage butter.
Dessert is a Gu chocolate 25th birthday dessert.
I had the prawns in chilli sauce- quite tasty and, if I had been more hungry, I am sure I would have appreciated it more. Christopher had the beef. After I had eaten I napped for a bit and then read the paper, finished the crossword and read my magazine for a while. I then found that the sound on my IFE was U/S as well. Fortunately my iPod is well stocked with videos, films and Stephen Fry and David Mitchell podcasts.
During the flight there were a couple of drinks rounds of water and OJ, also a Haagen Daaz (sp?) ice cream. The snack before landing consisted of a choice of brownie or biscuit with coffee, also some nice fresh fruit, which was quite nice. During the flight I also had a walk down the back of the plane and was pleased to see that economy was almost full.
We landed at exactly 5pm. Due to our seating, and the fact that the back section of the UC cabin was empty we made our way to the door and were second off the plane! When we got to Immigration it was EMPTY! We went straight up to a friendly agent who was even more chatty when we told him we were here to see the Red Sox!
In a couple of minutes we were down the stairs waiting for our bags. The conveyor started and the first batch were all economy bags. So much for priority baggage! Ours appeared soon enough, and we were outside waiting for the bus less than 30 minutes from landing.
I thought it would be a neat idea to catch a water taxi across to the Renaissance Waterfront hotel, so instead of getting the 33 T station bus, we waited a couple of minutes for a 66 bus that took a different circuit, past the rental car places and finishing up at the Logan Wharf. There, we got a boat across the water it is a flat fee of $10 each and stops at various waterfront places to order. I am pleased we did it, but wont bother again.
All in all a very satisfactory flight, apart from the broken IFE. I did ask one of the crew to make out a defect report, but am not convinced that they did it!
Thanks for reading.
Nick
