VS075 MAN-MCO 2 JAN 12 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

After a fantastic Christmas and New Years in Yorkshire the 2nd of January had arrived and it was time to head to Manchester for my flight to Orlando.

Having done olci the day before we still arrived at the airport with plenty of time for a long security wait (just in case). I checked in at the PE desk, where the proper PE tags were placed on my bags this time, saw that I has sequence 2 and then I was saying goodbye to my friends and headed up the steps to Security.

The line was fairly long but thankfully they had every lane open so it went quickly. Soon I was putting my shoes back on (they got to go through the special secondary xray after I went through the body scan machine) and heading towards Duty Free. WIth my bags already full of great Christmas presents I didn’t buy anything (I know at lease one person who will be amazed at that!) but went for a quick bite and a cup of tea before my flight was called.

Gate 202 was all the way at the end of the terminal, we were soon called through the preliminary boarding to go to the secure seating area and from there I could look out the windows and see Mademoiselle Rouge waiting for me.

PE boarded first and quickly after that and I settled into my seat to await take-off. Waiting for me on the seat was my pillow and blanket and a bottle of water. After what seemed a very long time with most of the crew members standing at the front of the cabin having a chat, one of them finally came around with juice or sparkling wine. After the fantastic and friendly crew on my flight to the UK I felt a little let down by the lack of friendliness so far but I was willing to give them another chance. No refills were offered, despite sitting at the gate for what seemed like a very long time after this.

The safety video wasn’t working so they had to do a manual presentation, I thought okay maybe this was the reason for the lack of welcome and refills and why they were all stood at the front of the cabin chatting.

FInally we took off with the Captain coming on announcing a projected 10 hour 19 minute flight to Orlando!

The Crew came round with the usual amenity kits, then menus, followed by earphones and then hot towels. What seemed like a long time later the drinks cart was brought round followed very quickly by lunch. Of course I enjoyed a gin and tonic, Bombay please! And another one with my lunch.

I had the pasta dish but the cheese and dessert were the highlight of the meal. Refills were only offered the once as lunch was being served, however they did offer Bailey’s or Brandy after lunch. Everything was very brisk and straight to business no matter how many please and thank you’s offered there was not one smile or friendly word back from the Crew, this was very disappointing as I had high expectations for my PE experience!

The flight seemed to stretch on forever, and at 10 hours it was a long time, especially as the gentleman’s seat in front of mine seemed to have an issue and was reclined into my lap, not something you would expect in PE. The back of his seat was so close I literally had trouble seeing the screen on my Entertainment system, let alone trying to get out of my seat. Apparently there was an issue with the seat as it would only be either straight up or fully reclined and he wanted to sleep so he was choosing to recline despite what it was doing to my poor knees.

The Crew did come round a few times with water or juice, which was nice.

At one point when I went to the front toilet I had to ask the FSM to move out of the way as she was just stood there chatting to another crew member and completely ignoring the passenger, myself, stood next to her needing to get by. And I might also mention that the toilets were untidy with paper strewn on the floor throughout the flight, either I was with some very messy passengers or no one checked them, very different from my previous PE experience I must say!

Finally after 3 movies and countless tv episodes we were nearing Orlando. Afternoon tea was served, a sandwich, scone and clotted cream with jam. Tea was brought around once, no refills offered.

Then after 10 hours we landed and it was goodbye and welcome back to Sunny Florida (which was as cold as what I left in Yorkshire this week!). After the long flight it was good to be home, well almost home, again. Now just the ride down the long escalator and the drive to St Petersburg and it was time to be home in my own bed again to dream of my next adventure!

Thanks for the TR floridagirl. Shame about the crew's attitude, they can make or break a flight, especially such a long one . Guess there was a pretty strong headwind. The thorny issue of accessing the forward toilet raises its ugly head again (though there really is no excuse for the toilet being messy).

That's a very long flight for MCO, as Trevlo said, there must have been some strong headwinds that day.

For future reference, you usually have to ask for pre-take-off refills, it's extremely rare in my experience that they are offered freely.

Crew dis-interested and not engaging (not wishing to put words in your moth, just my interpretation of what you have said) -- hmmm, know what that's like!

Also, isn't that one of the new A330's? And a seat broken already?

I have to say, when the seat infront is fully reclined in PE, it feels like you have less romm than in Y....I'm not sure the PE seats in the bubble on the MAN/LGW fleet recline quite so far, at least they never feel as close to your face...

Most people's anser to this is that you need to recline yourself inorder to get some space, but I personally find those leather seats very uncomforable when reclined, and can only get comfortable by strategic placement of the pillow and blanket at points behind my back and neck/head...

At least your home now!

Thank you for the TR.

I have to say, when the seat infront is fully reclined in PE, it feels like you have less romm than in Y....I'm not sure the PE seats in the bubble on the MAN/LGW fleet recline quite so far, at least they never feel as close to your face...

Most people's anser to this is that you need to recline yourself inorder to get some space, but I personally find those leather seats very uncomforable when reclined, and can only get comfortable by strategic placement of the pillow and blanket at points behind my back and neck/head...

I have to say that on my flight over the seat in front of me was reclined and not nearly as close to me as this, literally resting on my knees and I'm not a particularly tall person. I agree that fully reclined it wasn't as comfortable as sightly reclined with the right placement of pillows.
Julie

How disappointing for you, sounds like an off day, but then off days are supposed to be rare, and they don't seem to be.

Tks for the trip report. Flight times to MCO have been hideous lately and regularly over 10 hours

Thanks for the TR;

Interesting reading someone referring to the trip to MCO as the "trip home".

At this stage of the UK winter, I wish I could call Florida home!

(Although, if I lived there I'd probably moan about the heat and humidity!)

Thanks for posting your TR.

That's a very long flight for MCO! A little disappointing by the sounds of it.

Enjoy the warmth!

Thanks for the TR, sorry to hear you had such a poor flight.

[buns]

Floridagirl

Firstly, thanks for the TR

A shame to hear of such a disappointing experience Whilst the seat issue could be said to be outside the ability of the crew to rectify, the indifference shown is just unacceptable.

VS should not be surprised to learn they have probably lost your custom

buns

Interesting reading someone referring to the trip to MCO as the "trip home".

At this stage of the UK winter, I wish I could call Florida home!

(Although, if I lived there I'd probably moan about the heat and humidity!)

In July the heat/humidity can be a bit unbearable but you get used to it and air con makes all the difference. Looking out my window right now there is a blue sky without a cloud in it so calling Florida home is worth it!

as another florida 'resident' I can cheer you all up by saying most of this week has been somewhat chilly (freeeezin according to many real lcoals :-P) we even had a slight frost wednesday evening.

now though normal service has resumed and we are promised mid to high 70s all weekend :-) And our boys have a soccer tournament down in Naples so outdoors here I come

[honey lamb]

I remember travelling to Jacksonville on St Stephen's Day/Boxing Day in 2002. I left home at 5am to go to Cork Airport and the temperature was 5C. When I arrived in JAX at about 7:30pm EST the temperature was 0C!

as another florida 'resident' I can cheer you all up by saying most of this week has been somewhat chilly (freeeezin according to many real lcoals :-P) we even had a slight frost wednesday evening.

now though normal service has resumed and we are promised mid to high 70s all weekend :-) And our boys have a soccer tournament down in Naples so outdoors here I come

And thankfully our "cold snaps" as the weather reports call them are usually pretty short and it's back to the normal sunny Florida quickly!

Thanks for the trip report -- shame about the broken seat.

Thanks for the TR FFG - what a poor state of affairs with the seat and the rather dull crew. I hope you have brought your experience to the attention of VS Customer Services.

What a flight time too

Hope this flight has not put you off VS altogether and do come and see us again in the UK. Hope your time in the UK was a good one.

J

Thanks for the TR

As everyone has reflected, this must have been a massive disappointment for you as the expectation of PE brings wonderful thoughts! I have had a recent experience on BA where the CC did their job but with absolutely no smiles or thrills!

10 hours to MCO.......my wife would've been uncontrollably bored!

Glad it's warming up for you over there!

Hope this flight has not put you off VS altogether and do come and see us again in the UK. Hope your time in the UK was a good one.

J

It hasn't put me off VS at all, I still hope that I can try UC someday and the Heathrow Clubhouse.
My time in the UK was fantastic, and I hope to make it back very soon!

Shame about the seat issue, worrying on a new fit-out a/c... will be interesting to know how long this takes to get fixed..

When I first read, confused as dodgy seat and secret front loo's..a combination of two evils from old and new.....

NH

Can somebody please tell me driving distance how long from Orlando Airport to St Petersburg please flying over on VS15 on Saturday October 27th.
Many thanks

110 miles or so; 2hours 15 mins on the I4

Thanks for the info Steve.

It's just a little over 2 hours from Orlando airport to St Pete, the weather is great here right now! I hope it stays good for your trip.

Julie