This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The Virgin area at T3 positively sparkles, it's a very welcoming sight on a cold November night!
Innit though?
Now, a few things - when I checked in, I wasn't shown a seat map or anything, nor was I asked to accept T&C about bringing on sharp objects etc. It just jumped from Check In to Check In Complete. Not knowing the seat number was a first for me, mind you, it was the fastest check-in ever!
At the empty bagdrop area I asked if I could use my miles for an upgrade, and was told a load of jargon by the check-in agent. At least, it would be jargon if I didn't know about fare classes etc. but she wasn't to know that. So despite lots of signs offering upgrades for cash, it wasn't to be. I wasn't too bothered - at the start of a holiday I can put up with a lot.
Security was reasonably quick given that it was 5pm on a Friday evening. Mind you, I've never flown from LHR at that time before so maybe that's normal.
I went to the dreary Servisair lounge at T3, my god they really are depressing places those Servisair lounges! The receptionist looked weary, the lounge was quite busy too and not really relaxing. There were self service drinks and snacks (the brand: "Executive Lounge Snacks, or something similarly functional.) This was my first use of my new Priority Pass card and I wished I'd just gone to Chez Gerard like in previous years.
Boarding of "Lady Penelope" commenced with two lines - one for UC and PE and the other for economy pax. I found my seat, and indeed there was extra leg room. I was also delighted to find that the two seats beside me were empty.
Less delightful was the cacophony of crying babies that commencing. They were everywhere! Totally drowned out the safety announcements.
I thought what have I done to deserve this? Thankfully, the parents were not the oblivious sort, and were quite chatty and apologetic which did make a difference, and and shortly after seatbelts off they babies did quieten fairly quickly.
TAKE OFF! "Comfortably" ensconced in my seat, a steward "asked" if I would mind sitting in the exit row seat, as they needed two passengers there. Nice to see Virgin charging for seats that by law need to be filled.
FIRST SHOCK!
The exit row seats are painfully narrow. I could not believe how uncomfortable they were. The six foot six bloke beside me was cursing Virgin as he'd been allocated the seat in front of the exit door, with its huge bulge! He also kept enquiring if I would like to stay in the exit row (while he eyed up Row 42), but I wasn't having it. There were 100 seats free on the plane but he decided to stay at the exit. I have no idea how he would have sat in a traditional seat.
Back to my row where I tried to stretch out but it really wasn't that comfortable. Nothing else for it really but to watch some entertainment. The usual (ha-ha, I'm such a seasoned Virgin now!) V:PORT selection, great to see 30ROCK, Arrested Development and Miranda there, I supplemented this with "THE OTHER GUYS" which was quite amusing, and TOY STORY 3 which was almost Shakespearean. It's an amazing movie with lots to say, and I had to choke back the tears at the end! Ahem.
Food was quite palatable.
Sausage and Mash, with a strange chicken salad starter and the regulation buy very yummy Gu desert for afters and a cuplet of water. I hate those cuplets. Anyway, the tray looked sparse compared to my last VS economy experience two years ago.
I tossed and turned all night long, drifting off to sleep every now and then, but for the most part I was just willing Johannesburg to be closer that it was. Even with the excitement of the start of a holiday, I would class this flight as uncomfortable.
A drinks run, and about an hour later I knocked on the wall at the galley for another drink. The cabin crew seemed very surprised at my manners - she said people never usually knock!
The lights were switched on for breakfast, which if I recall was a full English with a MOMA! Oatie breakfast, sure as hell beats those muffins!
As we approached Johannesburg, I was again "asked" to sit in the emergency row for the touchdown. I now know to avoid those seats like the plague.
Finally, the story of Amy, a little orphan girl, or something. Narrated in a monotone with a request for donations. Either the person was embarrassed to have to read out this charity request, or was so bored by it, or for whatever reason, it wasn't very inspiring and a little tacky.
So, your airline either has it or it hasn't. Based on this flight alone, I have no idea what Virgin "has", and the glamour of the recent advertising seemed a million miles away from Seat 42H.
Last edited by Sealink on 14 Dec 2010, 11:52, edited 1 time in total.
Hope you enjoy SA.
