This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Started planning our October trip to Las Vegas back in July. Wanted to fly to LAS in PE but without having to fly on one of the LGW 747s. The Virgin website only offered direct flights from LGW, after trawling various other websites managed to get a flight from LHR to LAX with a conection with United to LAS at what I considered a reasonable price and with Airbus 340-600.
Checked in online the previous day, so arrived at LHR about 0830 to drop bags. Being a Saturday morning the Check-in area was very busy, but it did not take too long to drop the bags and collect the Boarding Cards. As is usual at T3, seemed to take an age to get through security and passport checks. We had booked the Servisair Lounge which was very good compared to sitting in the crowded departure lounge at T3.
At about 1030 we headed to the departure gate. Very quick and efficient and after only a few minutes we were ready to board 'Lady Bird'.
Once on board it was not long before we were offered a drink of sparkling wine while we settled in to our seats. We found that the PE Seats on the Airbus 340-600 are very comfortable for a long flight and better than those on the LGW 747s.
Just as we were due to leave, the Captain announced that there were air traffic problems and we could expect a delay. Luckily the dealy was not too bad and we left the gate about 1140. We took off from the North runway at 1205. Due to the earlier air traffic problems, we were routed via Glasgow, Iceland and Canada before heading south to LAX. The flight time was given to us as 10 hours and 55 minutes.
Not too long after take off the first service of drinks came round and we were given the menu. There was a good choice of 3 different meals. When the food arrived there was a choice of red or white wine. Compared to other airlines that I've used I found the food on Virgin to be very good. After tea & coffee we were offered a choice of a Brandy or a Baileys.
It was then time to make full use of the V:Port inflight entertainment system. In my opinion, when it works it's the best inflight entertainment system.
Throughout the flight there was plentyful supply of water or orange juice from the cabin crew. We also had an ice cream and a choice of fruits. A couple of hours before we were due to land we were served a hot wrap and tea or coffee.
Soon after the cabin was prepared for landing and the approach to LAX. We touched down just under 11 hours after the take off from LHR.
Despite it being a long flight we arrived relaxed.
This was our first visit to LAX and it did not take very long to get through Imigration compred to what we normally put up with at JFK or LAS.
We collected the bags and then caught the airport bus to the United Terminal for our connection to LAS. This was fine and when we arrived at LAS we simply collected the bags and jumped into a taxi to our hotel.
In summary, PE was well worth the money. The Cabin Crew were superb and really looked after us well, nothing was too much trouble. The LHR aircraft are far better than the LGW aircraft.
