This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
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Cabin Crew
We, along with many others, had lost our previously requested PE seats in the bubble. Thanks to v-flyer
, I was aware that the seat maps would be restored by mid-June. I contacted Virgin Atlantic before we left the UK regarding this, and the helpful woman politely informed me that we would have to reselect our seats. This didn’t really bother me, to be honest, as I knew we would be in PE, it was just a case of upstairs or downstairs.Throughout the holiday, I checked the Manage My Section of the VS website to see if the seat-map had returned. I had no luck until about 4 days before we were due to leave. Luckily our seats which we had previously selected (76AC/77A) were available - along with every other PE seat in fact. Result!
At least I could enjoy the last few days of my holidays - yes I know this makes me sound like a sad git, but I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to flights and seating!
The day before we left (Saturday 4th); I was ready to do OLCI at T-24. I should mention that for my outbound flight I got SEQ13 - despite hitting OLCI at T-24 - thus meaning that 12 swines checked in before me (how the hell did they manage it?!?). Anyway, I checked in at EXACTLY T-24, however I couldn't print the boarding pass due to a lack of a printer in our villa (a minor detail me thinks). I spent the next 18 or so hours going slightly mad - wandering if I got SEQ1. For this I blame V-Flyer and all you V-Flyers who’ve got me obsessed with getting SEQ1!!!
On the Sunday morning, we dropped off our cases (cases which seemed to have expanded a great deal over 14 days in Florida - can’t think why…) at the Virgin Downtown Disney check-in. I highly recommend this facility, as it sure beats waiting in line at the airport - an element of torture which I absolutely detest. And yes, it is a bit strange: someone who hates queuing, yet goes to Orlando in Summer!
As I “lifted” my cases onto the scales (a fork-lift truck wouldn't have gone a miss
), I began to feel the usual dread which I’m sure most people feel when they are checking-in their luggage after 2 weeks in Orlando!! Thankfully I was well within the limits. Albeit by half a kilo, but that’s irrelevant!And then the time came - the woman (who shared an uncanny resemblance to Precious Little from the BBC series “Come Fly With Me”) issued me my boarding pass. V-flyers, I am positively ecstatic to announce that I secured SEQ1!!!!!!!!!!!
I tried (and totally failed) to explain to Precious the significance of this magnificent feat; however she just looked at me as though I ought to be sectioned (many people would agree).It was off to the airport - although I’m not sure if you can refer to MCO as an “airport”. I’m not sure if there are many airports which have a hotel actually in the terminal! The much dreaded security was cleared within 10 minutes, and it was a fairly long trek, down to gate 83. Although after spending 2 weeks in Orlando, I was grateful of the long walk!
The gate area was quite busy, with the VS27 and VS75 boarding at the same time as ours. The flight was called, and passengers for Upper Class began boarding first. It was this point which was one of the highlights of my 2 weeks - the legend that is Walter Smith (former manager of Glasgow Rangers FC, who retired at the end of last season) breezed by, along with his wife. As you can imagine with a Glasgow flight, he drew looks of joy and respect from Rangers fans, and daggers from Celtic fans!
Soon after, the boarding for PE began, and I was quite sad to hand over my SEQ1 boarding pass (yes I sound even more of a sad git!). This was my first time on a jumbo, so I was like a little kid again. Even more so when we were directed upstairs! First impressions of the bubble were excellent. I couldn’t quite get my head around the space! It kind of felt a little like a private jet.
Being 6ft5, the space alone was well worth the money. The seat was comfortable - although not as much as the A330 EY one. Granted, they could do with fitting new head-rests and leg-rests, however this will come in time I’m sure. There was nobody sitting in the seats behind me, and the seat beside was also empty - so there wasn’t going to be anyone to scare the living hell out of!!! Infact there was only 16 pax in total in the bubble. My parents were sat in front of me - about 40 odd inches away (it was bliss!!). The captain soon came on and informed us that all 244 pax were onboard, and that we were ready to go.
The cabin crew soon came round to collect in the empty glasses from the pre-take off drinks - there goes any chance of getting a top-up! I should reiterate at this point, that I’m not a raging alcoholic, however I spent the previous fortnight without a single drop of alcohol passing my lips. The minimum age to drink alcohol in Florida is, of course, 21. Just so happens that I turn 21 in 4 weeks.
As we were taxiing out to the runway, we passed a VS A346 (VSHY), along side both A330s and a 744. You could be forgiven for mistaking the MCO ramp for LHR/LGW. A few minutes later, and we were thundering down the runway, and up into the storm clouds above. It felt strange being on the upper deck of a jumbo. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I couldn’t feel the full effects of turbulence, the way you would do in any other aircraft. Even when flying through the thunderstorm, and a few points during the flight, when the seat-belt signs came on. Maybe it was because I was upstairs. I would highly recommend the upstairs PE cabin for any nervous flyers.
The flight itself was relatively uneventful - the IFE worked (managed to watch a few movies), the food was delicious (chicken stew for dinner, and scrambled egg for breakfast - with proper British bacon!) and the cabin crew were highly professional and attentive. I arrived at GLA feeling relaxed and wide-awake - a first for me when crossing the Atlantic!
To conclude my inbound trip-report (perhaps “novel” would be a better word), these two flights with VS, were the best flights I have ever had. I found VS to be totally flawless - however I do appreciate the fact that I’ve only flown with them twice, compared to other folk, and therefore, there was a small chance of anything going wrong. I have actually written a letter to VS, to express the thoughts/opinions, which I have on this forum. I personally feel that many people (myself included) do not focus on the good aspects of a flight/airline, instead it’s more often than not the negative aspects which people hear about. I’m sure that, the more flights I take with VS, the more balanced my views will become.
I hope you all enjoyed reading my trippys, and sorry if it was too long!!
Best Regards,
GB
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(Really, I do drink very little...) I have a little longer to 21, 11 months, so I still have a few dry trips to the US.
