This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
We used the Silverline again, as we did on arrival - we had purchased a 7 Day Link ticket for US$15.00 which provided unlimited use on the T and possibly local trains? but we tended to walk. The Silverline is a bus service to the airport, but it's integrated with the subway system, so the stops are laid out like stations, with platforms, subway signage etc.
I love Terminal E - it's one of the nicest airports I have ever used - lots of light, heaps of space, and with a lovely sense of calm. There was a queue at check-in, lots of people with too much in their hand luggage so cases being opened and repacked etc. Again, just as it was our turn, a hand is lifted and we are asked to wait while another couple are checked in first, I'm not so bothered this time and we are seen to seconds later.
EDIT: I noticed that they were advertising upgrades from Y to PE for US$ 325.00 per person and extra leg room seats for US$88.00
A lovely check-in person assists us, and needs to be reminded to take out the US Border control docket from Matt's passport, and is very apologetic, but a potential disaster on a return trip averted and we are on our way to security.
This is my second time through Boston security, it's organised, fast moving and takes about five minutes. Who needs a private security channel? [8D]
The person in front of me is possibly a first time flyer, and cannot grasp the concept that everything has to be put into the plastic tray, and keeps on asking the (exasperated) security staff questions like 'even the coins?' 'even my shoes?' 'even my watch?' etc. Compared to that, I breeze through...!
Time for a bit of last minute gift buying for colleagues - mainly awful American brand sweets and soon we are off to gate E8A. We wait until as late as possible before boarding (read my trip report on our last VS flight for the reason why) and I am slightly annoyed that I couldn't see which aircraft we were on.
We are welcomed on board and directed to our seats, the overhead locker is empty and soon we are esconced in 19A and 19C, 'sparkling' wine in our hands, although most of the sparkle had definitely gone by this stage! I noticed that there were several glasses left over, but no second drink offered. (Not that I was expecting this).
I much preferred the PE seat to the UC seat, for sitting in. lots of lovely leg room, although I thought the middle arm rest was just a bit too wide for my liking, (fussy, eh?). A nice introductory announcement from the captain, followed by a welcome from who I assumed was the senior cabin steward, which was more informative than welcoming. I felt like he was just relaying rules, but perhaps could have done so in a warmer manner. The Premium Economy amenity kit seemed much nicer than the UC one - and I will return to this comparison later.
We had the V Port system, this worked from the very moment I switched it on and as we had our own headphones (I will return to this later) we were able to use it quite early on. It must have been about fifteen minutes later before the crew came round with headphones for everyone else. The picture was very sharp, it was fast and there was the usual superb collection of entertainment.
However, the passengers in front reclined in full, and as we weren't reclined, it meant that the bottom half of the screen was almost impossible to view from the limited tilt offered. I don't like reclining without asking the people behind, and I don't like asking in case they say no [:I] but reclined a little and that sorted out most of the screen.
Then it was time for dinner. For main course, I had 'Roasted Chicken Breast, in a mushroom sauce with red bliss mashed potato and pan-roasted carrots' served with pumpernickel bread, then cheese and crackers. I have to say that the main course tasted nicer than some of the places we ate in Boston (we made some poor choices!) but even without that comparison it was a nice meal. The other alternatives were baked salmon or cheese tortellini. The dessert was strawberry swirl cheesecake which was stodgey and best avoided. It had a rumour of strawberry in it. Wine was also provided.
And here it is:
Teas and coffees were served, the lights were dimmed and I was then offered a dram or a Baileys with ice. I had the Baileys. I tried to get some sleep. Impossible really, because I just can't switch off on flight, but I think I dozed off a bit. I was awoken with 'breakfast'. Tea and coffee in a paper cup, with a cookie and cake. In my role as a V-Flyer, I of course ate both, but wished I hadn't. Yuck. Some perfectly ripe fresh fruit was also provided which was much more welcome.
As I was watching Family Guy, the sound stopped working, and to my horror the socket in my iPhone headphones had wrenched free from the plug in the seat, rendering them useless. I asked for a pair from a lovely stewardess, thinking I would get a pair of the ones they hand out for use during the flight, but I actually got a lovely little pair of JVC Gummi headphones - they are cheap I know, but they worked perfectly, and this was a lovely gesture.
As for the crew - they were efficient and pleasant, not over the top friendly, but not distant either - perfect really. Nothing was too much trouble for them, they didn't engage in the normal 'banter' (I say 'normal' based on my three previous Virgin flights) - but perfectly professional, which added to the Virgin experience in their own way. I think given that it was an overnight flight, arriving 11 September, the tone of the flight was nicely balanced, but I could be reading more into it than necessary.
Our luggage was some of the first off the carousel, and we cleared customs in mere minutes (Iris was closed, they just opened a new queue next to us!)
Now, is it just me, or is the Premium Economy amenity kit better than the UC one? The UC one is a big shoe bag, which I don't think is entirely necessary and a bit cumbersome once the cardboard tag is removed.
So, UC or PE?
Here's the thing, I loved the PE seats. I felt that in UC that there was always something digging into me, and I never felt entirely comfortable. Matt did have a sleep in UC outbound and said it was very very comfortable and he felt like he had had a proper, deep sleep, so I think that UC on overnight flights is where it really comes into its own.
Everything in PE felt newer than UC (admittedly, we were on an old aircraft o/b) and it was very very nice.
But if only there was a product that combined PE and the Clubhouses. And the bar. And I don't mean a Gold card, as I will never get 40 Tier Points in 13 months, unless I win the lottery. [:D]
So there you have it - four amazing VS flights out of four. I have no hesitation in recommending VS to everyone, I have no desire to even sample BA just to see what they are like on long haul.
Another email or letter of praise will be on it's way to Virgin.
Oh, and Matt's trip reports are coming soon! [:0]
