This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
We had a free late check out at our hotel at Universal and left around 3pm. As we waited for a cab, a taxi-van came and some Americans asked if they could share the ride and the price....which we agreed to (and saved half the price). We were dropped at Terminal B, which wasn't a problem as we wanted to nip to the shops before check-in anyway. When we arrived, the check-in area was a bit of a shambles. Although there were separate queues, the barriers didn't go all the away and so between the end of these and the desks there were lots of people milling around and / or sitting on the floor. We were called over to PE and bags tagged and sent off (only tagged as PE this time, and unfortunately on arrival back in LGW they had been loaded into an Econ bin as they came off a long time after the UC/PE bags). Given a generic lounge pass with no airport name or details of the lounge on it, and headed off through a busy but efficient security.
After the short transit ride to the gate area, we looked at the shops and then went up to the Delta lounge. There were not enough seats in the gate area for everyone, so lots of people sitting on the airport floor. The lounge was a great place to get away from the hussle of the terminal. Free bar and some limited snacks, but free WiFi (actually this is a free airport service and not just in the lounge). Flight called and so we headed off to the gate - they were only just boarding PE/UC at that time. Settled into our seats upstairs and were offered the usual drinks options.
All boarded and left on time and off home we went. The entertainment started, only to have the outbound films playing. The flight was bumpy and so the seat belt signs were on for quiet a while, whilst the crew were working. Then it became very bumpy indeed, with some of the worse turbulence I have experienced......ever! The crew were told to take their seats, but unfortunately before they could, I head an OMG from behind, and turned around to see that one one of the upstairs CC had thrown onto the floor and one of the trolleys had been thrown over next to her (luckily it didn't land on her!). Finally the flight got smoother and the drinks service started, followed by the food.....meant that it was longer before we could try and get some sleep. The captain came on to explain about why we had had such bad turbulence (unexpected thunderstorm) and how safe it was and how well constructed the plane was etc (thinking back it was pretty bad turbulence with a big sudden drop at the start of it, so some people probably were quite scarred by it).
After food it was time to try and get some sleep. The LGW seats are quiet comfortable and easy to get some rest in. Unfortunately, some people don't realise that this is a night flight. Most people upstairs were watching TV on the flight home, rather than sleeping as would have happened on an LHR flight. The couple in front of us had a friend come and visit them who stood in the aisle and talked very loudly, waking both of us up. In the end, I actually asked them to be quieter so that we could sleep.
Pre-landing, lights on and we were offered some hot breakfast item - we weren't that hungry, so opted for the cereal bar instead. Arrived at a grey and chilly LGW, and time to head back to London (for me to get a flight to Lisbon and for the other half to head to work).
The crew on this flight were very professional even with the very bad turbulence - on arrival the pilot again apologised for the turbulence and explained that a couple of the CC had been slightly injured during this as it was unexpected.
