VS016 MCO-LGW 25 Aug 09 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

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I was trying to think of a title for this report and hovered on 'where the f*** are the premium economy toilets' or 'a joggly night over the atlantic' - more later.

Check-in was, as per usual at Downtown Disney. I know some of you have mixed views, but its now part of the routine for our last day. I have marked it down slightly, but as in my last TR, it probably deserves a mark between good and excellent. It was very busy when arriving and there was a family infront which seemed to be using their full allocation of baggage allowance.

This, along with a plane change caused a slight wait - I cant quite fathom why a change from a config 1 to a config 2 or vice versa is able to cause so much hastle with seat allocation, given that the only difference is with the small economy cabin at the front. Why are all seat allocations cancelled causing chaos at checkin when surely only the small rows that are now changed need to be re-allocated [?]

Anyway checkin was looking like it was going to be a long concern, until I was plucked from the queue and dragged to the front, much to the annoyance of a few of those waiting - this was dealt with a quick responce of 'he is travelling upper and is a gold card customer' by the agent, which seemed to quieten the baying crowd [;)]

I have 2 mobile numbers in my contact details with virgin, my UK mobile which I only turn on once daily to clear answer machine messages and my US mobile which is on all day - unfortunately virgin picked the UK one to leave a nice message on mid morning, informing me of a delay and saying that I might want to make my way to the airport later - this was only picked up when I switched my UK phone at the airport - nice thought though...

A hour delay, which then turned into a twoish hour delay meant we were all pretty grumpy by the time boarding was announced - priorty boarding was inforced and worked well.

I was welcomed by name at the door and thought we were in for another A+ flight, drinks were given and sleep suits handed out and thats when it kinda started to go a little wrong. Now I have assumed, maybe wrongly, that the toilets at the front are for Upper passengers.

Don't get me wrong, I have no concerns about others using them if they are not being used, but while I was waiting to get changed the dribble (maybe wrong choice of word[:D])of interloupers became a stream (probably the wrong choice again[:D]) and I couldn't get into them for premium passengers pushing in from the small cabin behind the galley - it was getting a bit stupid - it was made worse when the stewardess made no attempt to stop this, even when she was making up drink orders by the exit door. She could see I was waiting paitently.

I gave up and went back to my seat for a while. Now this is where it got better as the crew in upper where fantatsic - welcomed back again and thanked for my continued support and dinner and breakfast orders taken.

I opted just for the soup, as by this time it was around half nine and I was past eating (probably the thought of the 'steak' option was enough to confirm that decision[:$])

Dinner was served and when I returned from eventually getting changed into a new sleep suit, my bed had been converted [y].

The temperature was actually pretty pleasant for a change - maybe the furness was broken - but the rest of the flight was probably the worst I have experienced in over 50 trips across the pond for turbulance - at one point the crew where even asked to be seated and this very extreme shaking continued for over two hours. I was surprised to find I must have dossed for a good few hours however after being woken by the smell of breakfast around an hour and a half from London.Even the stewardess commented on how rough the flight had been.

Anyway, after returning from changing back, my seat had been remade and breakfast, as ordered, when ready and waiting - excellent [y]

Into Gatwick and for once, the bags where on the carousel when we reached it [y]

Another good flight which could have been excellent if the toilet issue had been addressed before it got out of hand - crew where good but if they had dealt with the toilet issue promtly, would have excellent - its probably begining to sound a little petty, but it was one of these things that just started to annoy me and got a little silly - thats what some of the extra cost of the fare is for - extra facilitys.

Onwards to the next one, in a little more than 5 weeks and from Glasgow, that should be interesting [:)]

David

[buns]

David

Thanks for an excellent TR[y][y]

I can empathise with you around 'routine' on your last day in MCO - I have never tried Check In at Downtown Disney, preferring to get to the Airport nice and early[:w][:w]

I continue to reman in awe of the Check in team at MCO - to deal on a daily basis with huge numbers of passengers in such a short space of time with a professionalism always amazes me[;)]

Greeted by name at the door - whilst a little thing - is a touch that can retain custom. Overall it does seem that the crew was on the ball

Thanks

buns

Thanks for the TR - must say I have never noticed a problem with 'dribbles' yet alone 'streams' of people using UC facilities but will definately look out next time. Glad the rest of the flight went well.

Thanks for the TR, bits of it bought back memories of some of my UC flights from MCO.

On the PE toilet issue, yep, I have been kept waiting in the vicinity of the UC galley whilst people from behind the curtain were using both of the toilets. I've even had a PE pax knocking on the toilet door when they clearly felt that I was taking too long in there (changing out of sleepsuit, cleaning teeth + using the toilet). I agree with the OP that this is something that Virgin should address - it's not difficult to do either, as the UC galley is always manned throughout the flight (and no, I don't expect the crew to interrupt meal service to do this. Just when it is quiet, ensure that the pax from up front are not kept waiting).

James

The bumps will have been from the remants of Hurricane Bill crossing the Atlantic, now continuing as the low pressure system which is over the UK.

Looks like high pressure will be back in control from late weekend, as the remnants of Bill move off into the Norwegian Sea and harrass Norway and Sweden.

Mike

quote:Originally posted by mike-smashing
The bumps will have been from the remants of Hurricane Bill crossing the Atlantic, now continuing as the low pressure system which is over the UK.

Looks like high pressure will be back in control from late weekend, as the remnants of Bill move off into the Norwegian Sea and harrass Norway and Sweden.

Mike


ahh, thanks Mike, so it looks like I might have brought some good weather back with me [y]

If you were a nervous flier, it must have been a nightmare

David

quote:Originally posted by David

Another good flight which could have been excellent if the toilet issue had been addressed before it got out of hand - crew where good but if they had dealt with the toilet issue promtly, would have excellent - its probably begining to sound a little petty, but it was one of these things that just started to annoy me and got a little silly - thats what some of the extra cost of the fare is for - extra facilitys.


I don't think that's petty at all. I was impressed on our recent flight back from BGI that the UC facilities were being zealously guarded by the cc and interlopers from our PE section being turned back. (Mind you they were attempting to use them simply because they were closer and not because the PE facilities were occupied).

I have yet to have the chance to use one, but I assume that UC toilets are of the standard of the First Class facilities that Father Ted Crilly stumbles across in 'Flight Into Terror' ?[:w]

Great TR many thanks for writing it up, a real shame the crew didnt have either courage nor will to stop the other pax using the J tiolets - very annoying, i witnessed this on a 340-300 where PE pax were using the J toilets rather than there own which which ended up in constant traffic back and forth, hardly premium service there and one reason why i would fly anyone else but VS if it were to be another 340-300.

cheers

alex

quote:Originally posted by Alex V
Great TR many thanks for writing it up, a real shame the crew didnt have either courage nor will to stop the other pax using the J tiolets - very annoying, i witnessed this on a 340-300 where PE pax were using the J toilets rather than there own which which ended up in constant traffic back and forth, hardly premium service there and one reason why i would fly anyone else but VS if it were to be another 340-300.


Yep, I can't help feeling that some other airlines do a better job than VS with their internal configurations - things like toilet, galley, bulkhead and cross-aisle positioning. I've hinted at that in previous trip reports.

Right now, many VS configs do little to discourage 'interloping' between cabins, especially on the Airbus, there aren't enough crossover aisles, and the lavs are often on the outside of the aircraft - basically reducing the number of window seats, giving rise to those dreadful seats (like the back row of PE in the 346) which have a toilet door open onto them.

That said, I was on a BOS flight in PE a couple of years ago on a 343 where the J load was very light. The crew didn't have a problem with us using the J lavs, but did mention that it was only because the flight was quiet and the back half of the J cabin was empty, but on a full flight, we would be expected to head back to the main cabin loos.

Mike

fun read, thanks.

I am firm believer that the toilets should be better guarded - perhaps crew could be issued with mace to spray back the unwanted lower class passengers if they attempt to use what isn't theirs?!!

Thanks for a great TR.


quote:Originally posted by barnstaple
fun read, thanks.

I am firm believer that the toilets should be better guarded - perhaps crew could be issued with mace to spray back the unwanted lower class passengers if they attempt to use what isn't theirs?!!



We find that cattle prods and rottweilers deal extremely satisfactorily with poachers on my river, worth a go on the UC/PE border perhaps?

[y]

quote:Originally posted by barnstaple
fun read, thanks.

I am firm believer that the toilets should be better guarded - perhaps crew could be issued with mace to spray back the unwanted lower class passengers if they attempt to use what isn't theirs?!!


Maybe scope to contact Mvipond's Bar & Entrail shack, a sub contract for the LRoM 'lady'-bouncers - I'm sure GJ could arrange supervision....[:D]

[honey lamb]

quote:Originally posted by mike-smashing
and the lavs are often on the outside of the aircraft -

[:0][:0]

Do you have to go wing-walking to get to them? [:w]

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
Do you have to go wing-walking to get to them? [:w]


Well, I suppose that's one way of keeping the masses away... [}:)]

Mike

I sympathise with the UC toilet issue, it's so frustrating at times [ii] however the last few MCO UC flights have been brilliant with the crew clearly directing PE passengers to use the upstairs loos or the loos in economy - my last 2 flights there has been an announcement by the FSM over the speaker at the commencement of the flight reminding passengers to use the loos for their own cabin. Worked a treat [y]

Thanks for the great TR! shame about the interlopers.[n]

Thanks for a great read! I find a lock door between cabins would work a treat, keep the great unwashed at bay! [:I]

Dominic