This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Arrived at Manchester just before 8am - school holidays meant traffic on motorways a lot lighter than usual and quickly dealt with, just one couple just finishing off in front of us. Told to be at gate for 9.45am.
We had booked the Styal lounge and so relaxed in there - however very disapointed with lack of any sort of pastries etc given it was breakfast time - we usually use the Escape lounge at Manchester but we felt that had lost it's way at Christmas -so tried the Styal lounge instead.
Headed up to the gate for 9.45 - Beauty Queen sitting outside waiting for us. Staff were already busy - but did not seem to be getting anywhere fast, if it was the first time they had handled the flight you would not of said a word.
Started boarding wheelchairs at 10.20 and we were finally called at 10.30am - selected for random security check at the gate - they had a list of those to be checked and both of us where on it, but quickly on board.
Took our seats 20 A&C as had been booked since booking the flight in January.
The seats were lovely - airbag system on the seatbelt also - which looked quite uncomfortable - but was ok during the flight.
I can see what other people have said about the A330 - there does not appear to be the same amount of room as on the 747 and the narrow aisles makes it feel tight, on our last flight upstairs in the bubble we definatly had more leg room in our seats, as I could get out to go to the toilet without my wife moving - but not on the A330, and the 747 seats felt wider. Has anyone actually had a tape measure out to check the sizes ?
Drinks etc served and everyone on board quite quickly, only a couple of empty seats in premium.
Finally pushed back just before 11.15am and airbourne just after 11.20 with expected flight time of 8 hours 55 mins.
Front toilet could not be used - but my wife told the truth for once - dont like you to use it due to the proximity to flight deck, not a major problem to use the others only at certain times when they did get quite busy - but good time to stretch the legs and check out the rest of the cabin, felt economy looked like a charter flight - again not so sure on those seat widths and leg room compared to the 747, there also appears to be lots of wasted space on the plane.
First day of new Summer menu - I had the chicken, my wife asked for the Pasta but was told they did not have any - they had not loaded any at Manchester, so chicken also for her. bit too much sauce for my liking - but ok.
New panasonic ife system excellant - when they finally got it working - saw the intro / message from Richard 3 times - good choice of films - only a few of the new ones for June had been loaded which caused some confusion- as the magazine was still for May.
Ice cream mid flight and snack served 2 hours before landing - opted for the chease and pickle - bread was pretty stale - but wife's was the same also. Notice the company are suppliers to the Queen - maybe she likes her sandwiches like that!!!
Landed into Orlando just after 3.20 local with the wonderful site of the Gatwick Virgin 747 at the gate and the BA 777 in front of us. Off the plane pretty quick - but imigration looked like one of the theme parks on a busy day... 70 minutes later got our bags which were stacked by now at the side of the carousel - we did second bag drop - but only had a 10 minute wait once through to collect them and no queue at Alamo desk - but very little choice of cars in the car park - only the ones nobody else wanted.
