VS030 BGI-LGW 9 DEC 11 (Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

We decided not to use the check in and chill out service, as VS were charging $10 US to do so, and it made more sense to put out bags in the luggage facility at our hotel and use the courtesy room. Consequently we got to the airport in very good time expecting a queue at check in. There wasn’t one. We were checked into economy in no time (no upgrade on the way back as I got engaged whilst we were in Barbados and spent too much on rings etc.!!!) and through security relatively quickly too. We then went and got plenty of duty free and found the Gate Zero bar which kept us occupied until flight time. We left it until as late as possible to board the plane as we didn’t really want to go home!
Once on board we were directed to our seats (62 H&K) right at the back. This suited us fine as we wanted a two together rather than having another random person sat with you which can get awkward on night flights with people trying to sleep. The most annoying thing though was the fact that the cabin crew put all their amenity kits in the overhead lockers used by the rearmost passengers…so you end up moving all their stuff in order to get yours in, with no offer of assistance!
We pushed back on time and were told that the jet stream was too far north that day and it was unlikely that they’d be able to benefit from it; consequently the flight time would be 8 hours 30. This was bad news as I already hated my seat. It was good as it had space to the right between my seat and the window for more storage – however, it also meant there was nowhere to lean your head on a night flight!!! As we taxied to the end of the runway a woman around 6 rows in front stood up (and got a verbal bashing from the cabin crew!) as condensation from the air conditioning system was dripping on her. I thought this was all quite amusing (I had been in the Gate Zero bar a while…). Until the pilot engaged full take-off thrust and that water came straight back and I got soaked for the next 10 minutes!! I turned around and said to the member of cabin crew that I knew she couldn’t get up yet, but once she could a paper towel would be appreciated! She was very apologetic but I told her it was no big deal as I’d have been more upset if there was no air conditioning whilst we were on the tarmac in Bridgetown! The other lady got VERY mardy, which gave me some moral high ground for a change!
The new economy menu came round (I decided on Chicken) and advertised the new service of a pre-dinner drink follow by the food service itself. This was as close to that scenario as I got. In fact, the food came round followed by a drinks trolley in the most rushed service ever. I appreciate it was a night flight, but it was only 7pm local time by the time they’d served the food! It would have been a lot nicer if they’d taken some more time to do two services rather than making you feel like cattle. When they got to us with the food though, they’d run out of chicken. However, this was substituted for a beef hotpot from PE, which was really really good!!!
My seat is the next thing I’d like to talk about. It was tiny, so narrow! Legroom was fine and the additional storage was a bonus. But there was no window to rest my head on and the headrest was too short for me and once I pushed it up it would keep slipping down, so not a great start. However, the single most annoying thing is that they give you a very narrow seat, and then insist on putting the control for the V:Port system in the right armrest. As a result, should you shift your weight at all; you will rewind, fast forward or reset your movie, or find yourself trying to send a text message. It just doesn’t work. Whoever designed this cabin has clearly never sat in economy on a night flight. Because they’d then know, that when you shift your weight whilst trying to sleep you end up in a position where you keep turning the screen back on!!! Just put a “hold” or “lock” function on the control. It’s just so obvious!
The next annoyance was the chap in front of me reclining straight away. This was thankfully mitigated by the fact that I could recline freely as there was nobody behind me. Sadly, he wouldn’t move forwards for dinner, which meant I had to lean forwards to get my head over my tray, which given the position of his seat was impossible. And I had to get my head that far forward as it was very turbulent at that point in the flight. As a result of this turbulence and the chap sat in front of my fiancée being such a fidget I ended up with red wine over my beige shorts. Thankfully it came out in the wash; otherwise I’d have been annoyed. I don’t know if some airplane etiquette should be circulated around all people before they fly, but the behaviour of some people in economy (compared to my PE flight a week earlier) really shocks me at how they can have so little regard for people they’re so close to for 8+ hours. The same goes for the people who congregated at the back of the plane using the back of my seat as a leaning point / grab rail. They stood there having a lovely chat even after all of the lights were off, why? Because they couldn’t sleep where they were sat and couldn’t chat there as other people were sleeping. I was by this point really unhappy and told all 6 of them in no uncertain terms where to take their chat. The US airlines don’t allow congregation in these areas due to anti-terrorism rules, VS should consider something similar.
I’m sounding like a grumpy old man now I think (and I’m only 24!!) so I’ll move on! The next thing that annoyed me was that they turned the lights on for breakfast around 2 hours before landing, which is just too soon. So the lights were on at 4am local time. I believe in Barbados time, I was expected to have slept from 7pm to midnight - bizarre. I was still quite sleep at this point, but it did stop me from nodding back off. The breakfast I declined though, as the smell alone nearly turned me inside out. We eventually landed on time though, and I was back in the car within 45 minutes of landing, surely a record for LGW?!
My flight overall was okay, but I am now making a rule that I will not be flying economy if it’s over a 4 hour flight. I know it’s expensive, but I saw PE on the outbound flight and it was just so much nicer and worth the money in my opinion. VS need to think about their economy service and cabin a little harder.
That was really long….again, any queries on the above – feel free to contact me.
Cheers,
Alex

I am now making a rule that I will not be flying economy if it’s over a 4 hour flight.

This sounds awfully familiar!

I am now making a rule that I will not be flying economy if it’s over a 4 hour flight.

This sounds awfully familiar!

I'm going to stick to it! Cape Town in the autumn is strictly a PE minimum!

Thank you for the TR, sorry to read it wasn't a good experience but congratulations on your engagement.

I am now making a rule that I will not be flying economy if it’s over a 4 hour flight.

This sounds awfully familiar!

I'm going to stick to it! Cape Town in the autumn is strictly a PE minimum!

Hear hear!!!
I'll 2nd that.....I tend to say only Y on a internal flight in the uk and ireland.....
Any thing else is PE or Business / First...

Thanks for the TR!

Mike

And I will third that - congrats to you both. An option might be to consider the exit row seats, although you do pay and they do suffer from being a little tighter due to the table being stowed in the armrest too.

When I fly I take a very good eye mask and permanently place my headphones on, that way I manage to mostly ignore the habit VS has of turning the lights on really early. Two hours is really too much, I wonder if the CC just get bored?

And I will third that - congrats to you both. An option might be to consider the exit row seats, although you do pay and they do suffer from being a little tighter due to the table being stowed in the armrest too.

When I fly I take a very good eye mask and permanently place my headphones on, that way I manage to mostly ignore the habit VS has of turning the lights on really early. Two hours is really too much, I wonder if the CC just get bored?

Thanks! I have tried the exit rows on Delta - again its the width of the seat I found the issue, the VS legroom was adequate!

Thankfully I had kept the amenity kit I got on my PE flight outbound which had a really good pair of earplugs included, they helped a lot! Eyemask might be the solution for next time! I think part of the issue may come from the scheduling of the flights too - the light come on right in the middle of when you would be asleep. The best transatlantic flights (Delta economy) I've been on are those that leave the USA at 10ish at night - so when you're ready for bed!

I guess VS are trying to cater for the holiday market more and it works more for those with kids if they leave earlier. But is this the right approach on the Caribbean routes which is a more adult holiday destination? No idea myself - just putting ideas out there!

I don't know if the CC get bored or whether they just want to make sure everything is done and dusted so they're not hanging around after we arrive back? A bit like those people at work who you know are just watching the clock for the last hour until 5:30!!!

Spot-on review!

So many familar experiences...

Like others have said before; its about your fellow passengers - not just the seat/food/entertainment.

I'd like to see CC be more proactive with the reclining during dinner thing - my advice, keep knocking into the chair in front - they'll get the message.

Hanging around at the back - it's an issue on the 744s - had a similar issue going to Vegas a few years back - some kind of stag party - brilliant.

It may be worth trying the econ option to places like NYC, Boston or Washington. The airbuses are 2-4-2 config so easy to get a pair. And in my experience people are more civilised on these flights than trips from LGW - no guarantees though!

And you do sound like an Old Man - get a badge and wear it with pride!

Thanks again.

Craig.

I'd like to see CC be more proactive with the reclining during dinner thing

I hope the approach Cathay Pacific are taking will catch on in the airline industry. They now fit fixed shell seats in economy, so when you recline you lose some leg room rather than taking space from the person behind. I think this would solve a lot of problems/arguments that occur over reclining!!

I'd like to see CC be more proactive with the reclining during dinner thing

I hope the approach Cathay Pacific are taking will catch on in the airline industry. They now fit fixed shell seats in economy, so when you recline you lose some leg room rather than taking space from the person behind. I think this would solve a lot of problems/arguments that occur over reclining!!

Those seats are being removed because they were hugely unpopular, and attracted complaints about being uncomfortable.

I think the principle itself certainly has mileage though.

Great TR - selfish pax can be found throughout the plane but throw in a night flight with a cramped uncomfortable seat and I would definitely have a serious sense of humour failure.

Thanks for the TR.

Sounds very familiar much of what you have written, my experience of economy is very similar. I always try and opt for the exit row seats, although the problem of people 'using' your space can be annoying.

We have also decided its always PE or higher now, the Virgin economy offering in my view is poor, even with the new service, which quite frankly, is much the same as before.

Thanks for the TR.

Sounds very familiar much of what you have written, my experience of economy is very similar. I always try and opt for the exit row seats, although the problem of people 'using' your space can be annoying.

We have also decided its always PE or higher now, the Virgin economy offering in my view is poor, even with the new service, which quite frankly, is much the same as before.

The problem for me with economy, is that the seats are just so small. I can understand they need to cram folk in to make money, but it just makes for an uncomfortable and unpleasant experience.