This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
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Cabin Crew
Arrived at the terminal and entered the econ bag drop queue. When I was called up I was asked 'are you part of the party?' I thought it was an odd question as there was no large party in the check in desk and I wasn't wearing a t shirt or anything which would suggest I was in a large group. The agent seemed to be having difficulty finding me on the system but after a while did and I was handed my boarding card. I was then told that I had to take my bag myself to an x-ray machine and leave it with a TSA agent. I don't know why. The couple in front of me put their bags into the queue only to be told that they'd placed them the wrong way round and they had to turn them around. I followed suit and didn't get told off!
I was very early to JFK so had a walk around the terminal shops and got some food from McDonalds (a guilty pleasure). Then through security, it was obvious that I was going to require more than one tray with my laptop, coat, bag and boots but the British couple behind started putting things in the stack of trays the second I'd just placed my bag down to start packing my trays. So a quick 'excuse me' sorted them out.
Through to the gate and the plane was there, G-VSHY 'Madam Butterfly'. Read my newspaper until boarding was called at about 7pm for a 7:50 depature. Priority boarding in place, followed by those in rows 55-65 which included me so in the queue I went. Boarding the plane there were loads of people on my side of the plane taking along time to get things in the overhead locker, so I went over to the other side to use the aise and avoided waiting.
Settled and pushed back. At this point it was 7:45 and we were told that we just needed to deice the plane but we'd still make our slot. At 8:30 (40 mins after our slot) we were told that the second fluid of the process just needs to be applied then we'll take off! So an hour delay, most of it with the aircon off due to the fluids outside the plane. Found that the guy sat next to me was quite a nervous flyer so we got talking.
After take off the seat belt sign was on for a very long time, which made my neighbour concerned but I think that whenever they do that it's just the captain has forgotten, like when you hit mid-flight turbulance and it's left on for a lot longer than seemingly necessary. As soon as it was taken off a woman sprinted to the toilets which made me chuckle as I'd been in her situation during the previous flight I'd taken!
Took off and V:Port on and dinner service started. Chicken or Shepard's Pie. I went for the chicken. Almost identical food to that which I was served in PE on the VS009, just different bread roll and a pasta salad instead of a green salad. Obviously completely different packaging but ultimately the same. Found out that the person I was sat next to has the same affection for gin and tonics, he advised me that the measures were very generous and as I hadn't had one on the outward bound flight, I had one this time around. The bar service followed the dinner service which was fine but I'd have preferred to wait a little longer for dinner and have a drink first. I think that some of the crew were to be rested during the flight so they probably wanted to get things done and out of the way before the crew numbers were reduced. Also got a Diet Coke at the same time from the bar service, very happy that they weren't funny about me asking for two drinks at once. If they had been I would have only called one a bit later in the flight anyway.
I tried watching District 9 during the flight, however the person infront of me went into full recline as soon they could, which meant even at full tilt the V:Port screen couldn't be properly seen without slouching down in the seat. He was travelling with a toddler who slept most of the flight, but his seat was fully reclined the whole way through as well, which my new travel buddy and I commented on it being unnecessary. I didn't like District 9 too much, found it a bit gruesome to have dinner with, so instead swapped to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince as I hadn't seen it yet.
Meal service cleared and I grew tired so tried to get some sleep, which never came. I find it extremely difficult to get comfortable, in the end I ended up with my pillow between my head and the seat in front which was the best I could do. In the end I gave up and summoned some Diet Coke from the crew. Watched some family guy then Modern Family which I enjoyed.
We did hit a bit of turbulance which doesn't bother me, but the person sat next to me found it very disconcerting so we talked about anything to help him take his mind off it.
About 1 and a half hours before landing the breakfast service came round, coffee, juice or water. I got Coffee and water and the option of a cereal bar or muffin. I asked for a surprise because I wasn't that bothered, but the crew member said 'to be honest they're both pretty crap really but we do have these cookies which some people like' so I had one of those and they were nice.
I think we had to circle for a while as we were in the cloud layer for a long time but as the cloud was so low today we may not have.
Eventually touched down an hour late in to LHR. I assume priority disembarkation was in place, as I was at the back of the bus I was to be one of the last few off anyway. Walked quickly through to immigration and overtook quite a few pax. Arrived and the immigration hall wasn't that busy, still took about 15 mins before through however.
Baggage was already going round the carousel, it seemed to be priority baggage as most of them had either PE or UC tags on. Bit of a wait for my econ bag but came through eventually. Through the green channel and onto the Tube to Kings Cross for my train home.
