This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Although when I first wrote this it was on 5 days after I got home, so it has taken a little bit longer than I expected and it has been done over numerous days, so sorry if it doesn't make much sense (what's new with me!)The main reason I decided to write this TR is because it was on the new A330 and after some mixed initial reviews I thought I would try and give my opinions on it. With our op-up to PE on the way out, it gave me a really good chance to compare the two PE products now on offer ex MAN.
OLCI was playing up the night before, and after initially saying it could let our whole group check in except me (I was quite happy to stay another month or two if needed), but then failing at the last minute, and after about 5 different attempts and ways around the system, each getting me more and more frustrated, I managed to complete it, securing our 7 seats across row 22, but only SEQ45
So, after 14 VERY warm days in Florida, it came time to head back home. It hadn't been quite the holiday we had envisaged for various reasons but a great time was still had by all. Thankfully the villa we stay at, had not being booked out for a few days, and our ever growing relationship with the owners, we were able to spend most of the day just lounging about until we decided to head off at 3:30ish. After killing about 8 billion love bugs on route, 30mins or so we were dropping our car hire off at Dollar.
We arrived at a very chaotic looking Virgin check in area. Having 4 flights leave within two and a half hours is always going to make it busy, but the organisation was very poor. Straight over to the PE line, which wasn't very long and eventually we were called over by the free UC agent as there wasn't anyone in the queue. She was quite polite and friendly, but checking in took forever and she kept getting herself confused with the number of bags we had and who she had already done. Finally done, we headed straight through security without any issue and on to the monorail.
This was the first time we have had to wait in the general departure lounge at MCO, having always previously had access to the Delta lounge (we actually did have access for 4 of us due to our gold cards, but now priority pass no longer use that lounge we had no way of getting the other 3 in). We just waited down by the gate, which gave me good chance to have a look at both A330's parked up next to each other.. The wait wasn't that long, and I helped pass the time by laughing at some of the wonderful outfits my fellow passengers decided to wear, and soon enough priority boarding was called. It felt like half the people waiting jumped to their feet descended on the gate, and we were at the back of a quite large priority queue.
Boarding G-VSXY we turned left in to a very chaotic and full looking PE cabin. Found our seats 22A&C and straight away noticed the overhead locker was already full, as were pretty much all the lockers in the cabin. As reported there are no lockers over the middle 3 seats, so this means all those pax end up using the side lockers. Slightly annoying but not a real problem as we keep all the things we will actually use on the plane in one bag, and as there are three really big cupboards for bags, the crew stowed my bag in one, and we squeezed Luke's in the next overhead along.
Finally sat down and was more than happy with the legroom and seat width. Yes, the overall space is nowhere near that you get in the bubble, but even fully stretched out as someone who is nearly 6ft, the space was good. The seat still felt very new still though, I think they will become more comfortable once they have had a few thousand more pax and their holiday weight excess to wear them in. We have flown in the new leather PE seats only once prior to this flight (again only a few weeks after they were installed), and it was actually my worst VS flight ever, and I do think that personally I prefer the cloth PE seats, there is just something about these that I can't get comfortable in. Maybe it is the fact the both times the seats have been very new.
One thing I did notice was how small the seat back pocket was and one decent sized book and bottle of water, added to the already existing magazines and safety guides, really made it bulge. The chaos soon calmed down and the crew came around with the usual pre flight drinks.
We pushed back and took off pretty much on time and the usual flight routine started. After two runs through of the SRB welcome message, the IFE was started for us to use. I know a lot has already been mentioned about the IFE but the system really is very excellent. The screen size and simplicity of use make it fantastic, so much to choose from, I really can't think of any complaint about it, well only that it was a night flight so we didn't have long enough to play with it more. And for that reason, we didn't get chance to play with the other connections really for ipods etc, although it is slightly annoying, if not a whole lot surprising, that to get full use of what the system can offer for connecting your own device you need to buy a non standard connector (which they do sell on board!!)
The crew came round with hot towels and then started a drink run which is where the tightness of the aisle is more noticeable. Sat in the C seat I didn't get knocked by the cart of the crew as such, but you really are aware of how tight and close everything is. With family in the middle three seats, I could easily have a conversation across the aisle without any need to raise my voice even slightly. It is a shame that they weren't able to make it a 2-2-2 config but obviously that would result in a lot of dead space and would never be practical for the airline. Food was served (and was actually VERY good), although the tray tables in the armrests are a bit small and flimsy in my opinion, but having the extra PE armrest helped with the lack of table space issue.
One thing I will comment on is that when I popped to go to the toilets, the front PE toilets weren't working so we had to go back to the back of PE through the curtain and use the toilets which are Y toilets. The only problem with this was that it resulted in two different sets of pax queueing from 2 different sides to use the same toilet and it was confusing as to who was next etc. Anyway, back to the point I was going to make, at the front of the PE cabin, the gap between the bulkhead and row 18 is HUGE, and I mean stupidly HUGE. You couldn't get another row in there or anything, but it just doesn't make sense why the gap is so big. If they had moved row 18 forward a lot more, and spread the rest of the rows out a bit more, it could well have given the cabin a much greater feeling of space, countering the narrow feeling it does have.
Trays cleared away, time to try and sleep. The people in front decided to recline (no problem with that, although they were told to wait until we had our dinner trays cleared first), now this is where lack of space becomes an issue. If you don't recline, then your space becomes zero, knees right on the reclined seat, no way of getting access to the seat back pocket, and as for trying to get out of the window seat, nooooooooo, not going to happen unless you are Victoria Beckham thin and even then it would be a struggle. Recline your own seat and everything is hunky dory once again. I do like the folding head rests on the PE seats, they do make sleeping and getting comfy much easier, even if one side kept go back to the flat position very slowly when you lent against it. I slept for a few hours on and off before the cabins lights were switched on and breakfast was served. It was the new hot breakfast but I have to say it looked very unappetising and I could only manage a couple of mouthfuls before I had to go hunt out some orange juice from the crew to help take the taste away. To be fair, it might have just been me, as I had a very upset stomach for the first few days back home and I might just have been off my food (well, there has to be a first time for everything).
Rest of the flight was uneventful, although they turned the whole IFE about 45mins before landing, so not even the skymap to watch like we had going in to MCO.
Landed at MAN on schedule, straight off and through the automatic immigration devices, and we were the first in the baggage hall. Priority baggage really didn't work that well, but after about 20mins we were on our way to collect the car from the excellent Manchester Valet Parking. I really can't recommend this enough, it is like parking at the short stay car park, but quicker and easier and cost less than £50 for two weeks over Easter.
So, how do I compare the two PE products Virgin are currently offering, well it is difficult. I personally love the 747's and the bubble is a great place to fly, but they are looking very tired and the IFE is very dated now. The A330 is new, has the latest seat offering and the IFE is fantastic. Which would I choose to fly on?....
Well it isn't even close, without doubt I would always choose to fly on the 747 still, even in it's current internal condition and with the less preferred time slots to MCO from MAN. The main reason is the feeling of space, even in economy, the sense of space on the 747 is so much better than that on the A330 in PE. I've already mentioned my own personal issues with the seats, and whilst the IFE is excellent, it just isn't that important to me personally, I have my iPad and just put what I want to read, watch and listen to on that, so I am well covered there. Maybe it is just the geek in me that likes flying on a 747, maybe I am being to picky, but the A330 just didn't do it for me.
Thanks for reading.
Neil
. The 'double queues' for the toilet(s)at the rear of the PE cabin were very confusing and it does seem rather strange that the 'not working' forward toilet on 3 May was still 'not working' on 16 May 
Perhaps a VS staffer would like to comment ?
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