This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I was originally scheduled to return today (sat) but having cleared all my work I called up and spoke to the Swansea CC on Thursday and brought my flight earlier by one day. as mentioned elsewhere the new CC staff were superb. Efficient and friendly - i secured a ticket on 27 plus reserved exit rows seats for Ny for my son and I next month. The new CC gets stars towards the Ground staff excellent rating, however they would have got that on their own.
Arriving at :LGW around 830 to an empty set of desks, i had to visit the ticket counter to pay the £25 change fee. In between I had managed to cut a finger on my bag zip which proceeded to start bleeding everywhere. Enquiring of the CI agent if he had a plaster he immediately summoned a lovely lady supervisor and you would have thought I had amputated an arm.Unfortunately due to the UKs ridiculous elf and safety rules she couldnt get me a plaster in case i had an allergic reaction
however she offered me first aid, a guide to boots and I think at one stage an air ambulance 
. Jokingly i commented i was ok and wouldnt need the kiss of life, to which she replied 'oh what a shame' 
we had a great laugh and she really set the trip off on a good footing.
an hour or so spent in the number 1 lounge (highly recommended) devouring a bacon roll,some croissant and a cappucino, staff very attentive and then a stroll down to gate 17. yet again NO queue at all, the person on the desk having no sense of humour -as i enquired if the priority lane would be quicker, all i got was 'er no cos theres no-one here'. entered the holding area just as PE were called so straight onto the plane. I had bagged 28C which of course is immediately inside the door. one of the next PAX to board was a young guy who had secured 28A he was about to sit down when I recalled a fellow V-flyers TR and whispered to him to not only stand up but to get in the way as much as possible. he looked slightly quizzical but within a minute we were asked if we would like to sit at the bar ! not needing to be asked twice i ordered a glass of champagne whilst my neighbour asked for Orange Juice, 'pssst choolboy error' I muttered 'oh yea , can i swap that for champagne please' he cottoned on quick.
eventually all 222 PAX were boarded and we sat down. during our stay at the bar I had a good chat with the UC steward about the new 330s which he raved about- apparently the IFE is pretty good, the use of LHR planes (some Gatwick ones are undergoing repairs/refits )and the light loads recently.
Just before take off fellow V Flyer Jeff (jeffers555) stopped by to say hello, he was flying UC with his daughter so nice to be able to say hi.
anyway take off was at 11.15 with a projected FT of 9.03
first drinks run -with pretzels- was pretty quick and then food was served after little over an hour. Had the beef stew which was pretty good. the lad next to me had never flown VS before and was enjoying every minute. he usually flew BA to Tampa in EC so was blown away by the leg room, the grub and the frequency of the booze. he did confess to starting to feel a little tipsy
food was followed by brandy/baileys 3 water runs, ice creams and finally the manky sarnies which i declined . the 2 FAs covering our side were superb, friendly chatty and really on the ball. again an excellent rating for them and the seat.
good for the food (because of the poor sandwiches) and IFE only because by now I have seen most of the decent films.
landing was around 3.25 doors opened 3.32 and neighbour and I were first and second off. made it to immigration to be greeted by an empty hall, through the grumpy IO picked up bag and i was in my car and on the road home just after 4.
2 hours and 50 minutes later there i was beer in hand
so after all the recent negativity I am please to say a 5 star trip made so good by all the great Virgin staff
