VS028 MCO-LGW 24 MAY 11 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

I set off from the Gulf coast for MCO after a wonderful month in the sun. There wasn't a lot of traffic on the I75 or I4 which as it turned out for me was very fortunate. As I was overtaking a huge American truck or whatever you call those big beasts of the road......its tyre exploded and the force sent my hire car careering across the I4 with huge bits of tyres flying around me It was so scary my heart was still racing when I eventually arrived at MCO. Luckily my only injury was a bruised leg and dented confidence

The check in area was eerily empty for all classes and I went straight to a desk. I then had a quiet sit down on a bench......I wanted a drink so badly to recover but due to my past exploits I decided that I couldn't be trusted to just have one in the circumstances

Security was also empty and again I walked straight up to the passport guy......I was beginning to wonder if I had missed a major news alert on flying that day

This was my first time at the gate area with no Delta Crown room access but it was fine as there were lots of seats. Boarding on Beauty Queen started later than planned due to the late arrival of the incoming flight but was completed very quickly and efficiently.

This was my first venture into the new airbus and after reading a few TR's I wasn't looking forward to it. However my lucky day continued as there were only 127 passengers on the plane and PE was half empty. I had the row of 3 seats to myself One of the cabin crew asked me if I wanted to move to the front row with extra legroom but I declined as I was happy in the back row and had no one in front of me either

So I sat with glass of bubbles in hand surveying the new cabin.....

The cabin lacks the cosiness of the bubble and I can imagine when full it being chaotic because as others have stated there is the lack of overhead storage and narrow aisles. I also think my seat 26G would be a problem as there is nothing behind it to stop people waiting for the loos leaning on the back of the seat or knocking you as they went past or opening the wardrobes. I moved to the middle of row 26 so didn't have this problem but that only worked as the seat either side and in front of me was empty so I didn't feel trapped in as a single passenger.

I can understand the other TR's about the firmness of the new seats but I found them supportive and comfortable and liked the footrest.

The front toilets were available throughout the flight but I did notice that most passengers seemed to be walking to the back ones I felt like they didn't realise that they could go forward.

The FSM was very visible and the CC's all very cheery

Now the IFE. Fabulous Large clear screen, easy controls, great choice. I loved the skymap that you could have on your handset whilst watching a film. I also liked the news updates too. Shame it was a night flight as I could have played with it a lot more.

Drinks round was efficient...more bubbles. Then it was the meal I asked for the veggie option without reading what it was and when it arrived I had to look at the menu to decipher the gooey mess which was in front of me Vegetables and beans with a garlic crouton topping.....oh no it wasn't. There was no hint of a vegetable and a soggy mess of bread on top. I called the CC over and told him cheerfully that it had won the award for the worst airplane meal I have ever been served in all my years of flying He seemed quite chuffed and had to agree. He then reappeared with a yummy pasta dish from economy which I washed down with a few more glasses of bubbles.

I then settled down to a film and of course fell asleep as I was cozied up with 3 pillows and blankets][|)

I declined brekkie as always so cannot comment on that.

The flight was 8hours 10mins no turbulence and trouble free. The Captain assured us before take off that the volcanic ash was not going to effect us in anyway which must have reassured any nervous passengers on board

So in a very empty cabin all was good but I think on a full plane it would be a different story.

I was first off the plane, through passport control like a whippet and my bags were just coming onto the baggage reclaim as I arrived. What more could a girl want

Oh I know Roxy Popsy meeting me However my trusted V Flyer friend missed my grand entrance into the arrival hall and had walked straight past me and then once we found each other she couldn't find her car in the concrete jungle that is the LGW car park When are they going to sort it out???

Now it is back to reality after leaving Mr S and the misses S's for so long to manage without me

Sunshine

Thanks for the TR Sunshine. Glad to hear you had a good flight.

I rarely fly to MCO so it will be a while before I see the "missing" overhead storage in PE. I have flown many times on the 346s and they seem to have no trouble fitting in o/h storage above the middle 3 PE seats. With nothing in that space I would have imagined that the cabin would feel much airier than the 346, but the reports don't convey that.

Cheers

Martin

Thanks for the TR Sunshine. Hope you weren't too traumatised by the tyre episode!
To coin a most oft-used American phrase, isn't that IFE awesome?

Thank you for the great TR, Sunshine.

Welcome home Sunshine. Thank you for the TR. It must have been lovely to spend a month in the sunshine.Hope you have fully recovered from tyre incident.

I really like the vegetable cassolet on the PE menu.

glad you werent hurt, I4 can be a bit manic

That tyre incident sounds terrifying - sincerely glad it didn't cause more serious consequences.

Sounds like you had a great flgiht though, aprt from the (first) meal!

I really like the vegetable cassolet on the PE menu.

Are you joking Tinkerbelle....I couldn't even find piece of veg in mine and it had no taste except for some soggy garlic I am not usually fussy and enjoy my trays of plane food. Perhaps if you had cooked it for me with some magic fairy dust it would have been better

Sunshine

Nope definitely not joking. I haven't been to Orlando in ages though but out of LA the other week, it was very, very nice.

Many thanks for the TR Sunshine. Good to hear the observations about the A333 PE seating. From a safety perspective I do like the cupboards rather than overhead bins and can see why they did not fit them if they might be converted to UC later. They are very useful in PE & UC on the LGW fleet.

Bad news having people leaning on the back of the seat waiting for loos. That is just bad design IMHO.

Great TR Thanks.

xx