VS015 LGW-MCO 8 JUL 12 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

This is going to be a short, functional TR – I’m saving my energy for what, undoubtedly, will be a marathon typing session – there’s so much to tell you all about that return flight, and some of the circumstances leading up to those events!!!

Without ability to select or change seats, I was dreading being dumped downstairs again (as I had been on my last two flights to MCO), but on checking in online, saw that we had been allocated 76H,K and 77H – so confirmed this on baggage drop at LGW.

Being a happy camper, we learnt of a short delay (about an hour), which didn’t bother us to much, and decanted to the no.1 lounge to wait.

The ground staff, crew, flight, food and everything were unremarkable, so I won’t dwell on detail here.

I will though give you the fact that Hot Lips was a bit care warn, but those PE seats in the bubble continue to be comfortable, and that there were 452 passengers on board.

One other interesting snippet – I got chatting to one of the crew on the upper deck, and brought up the subject of the refits.

He made two interesting comments – the first was that the refits were due to complete by November this year, only thing is, he said it with a smile and a definite belief that this would not happen.

More interestingly, he stated his view that the mixed config of PE and econ on the upper deck was a mistake, and that a number of other crew shared this opinion – this after I had expressed my disappointment with the config.

He further said he really didn’t understand the thinking, knowing that PE customers love the upper deck, and that the mixed config on other aircraft was problematic.

Just reporting the conversation here, but I fund it fascinating that some crew shared my own opinion of the change to the upper deck of the LGW/MAN fleet.

So, that said, I good flight and nothing much else to report – bags quickly out, and we were in the Loews Royal Pacific about an hour after leaving our seats.

Now, I’d better go do some warm up exercises on my fingers, ready for the return TR!

Thanks you for posting your self named 'skinny' TR Very interesting that the crews are more aware of what the customers want than the people who make decisions

Thanks for the TR -- very much looking forward to the return!

[buns]

Concorde

Knowing your ability to produce excellent TRs I know you will not have deliberately short changed V-flyers on this TR

This will not be the first time that the source of the perceived Corporate wisdom of VS has baffled staff and customer alike, but the sad fact is that VS have made that decision and irrespective of the mounting "told you so" we know it is too late to go back on it

Cannot wait for the return TR

buns

cant wait for the return 'saga'......as a regular 'PE in the bubble' pax on the MCO-LGW route its annoying that as has been noted the CC seem to have a better idea what the PAX what than corporate do...heres an idea, why not ASK THEM !!!!

anyway ---get typing !!!

Thanks for the TR, looking forward to the return!!

I can understand that crew dislike the mixed configs as do passengers, but ultimately there will be people in VS management who know how to get the most revenue per flight and what fits the different cabin zones and what does not, and that trumps all. As long as people still book, there's little incentive for the revenue team to change. Tweak I think they could, such as reverse the layout.

Interestingly, crew have mentioned to me on previous flights that they find the J/Y mix on the LHR fleet sometimes a bit of a challenge and on my last two LGW flights the crew have also expressed their concerns about the W/Y mix on the refurbished aircraft.

Let's hope the VS revenue team have this right...

Jon