VS028 MCO-LGW 22 AUG 12 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Having just spent a nice two weeks in Orlando it was time to head back.

Having tried OLCI the night before and it failing to find my children on the booking it took another three attempts and 14 hours later before it finally decided to work. Having got one of the refitted 747's out I was amazed to see that we were going to be traveling back on one of the new 2 cabin A330's. Interesting times I thought.
Journey to MCO was very quick, only 20min to the car rental return. The short walk to the ticketing area was smooth. Once there it seemed busy, a quick turn on my heals revealed a very empty Upper Class check-in area, forward march.
Whilst dropping my bags I explained to the check-in staff that due to the OLCI errors we have been given a split party with my 12 year old son a row in front and that I wished that we could have a 2x2 seating arrangement so that both my children were with a parent. Her reply was very short, "There are no seats" at which point she turned the display to show my a full PE. Whilst I fully understand full is full I myself have been moved from the seat I have chosen due to people wanting to be together, more could have been done here I think. She then went on to ask me if I wanted $13 of food vouchers instead of lounge access - That, for me anyway, was a first. Not a great start from my favorite airline!!
A quick trip on the shuttle and we arrived at the Delta SkyClub Lounge. Fairly busy and this lounge always disappoints me. I think it could so much more. Food was nuts and chips with some processed cheese, the bar is full service though. Some of the cable TV's seems to be out and if I remember the last time I was there the same TV sets were out of service.

Flight was called and we were escorted to the aircraft by a member of the VS ground staff. The conversation led to her "new" shoes and how she would love to able to wear flats and that VS are very hot on the correct footwear.
Once on board we sat in our seats 26D, 26F and 26G. The first thing we noticed was the heat. It was boiling, this fact was hammered home when the CC greeting pax were complaining about how hot it was. After 20 mins of this the captain came over the tanoy to explain that they have issues with the A/C when the engines are not running. They are new aircraft right??? True to his word once we stated to taxi the temp started to drop to a much better level. Taxi time was short and we took off at the advertised time.
I am far from an expert but the new 330's seem to be a lot, or seem, a lot smaller than other VS aircraft. To me, it has a feeling of being cramped. The PE seats also seem hard. I had a numb backside after about 45 min and this is where, unfortunately, the flight started to became the worse flight I have ever had with VS.
In our assigned seats you can hear (loudly) the service buzzer and as the staff use this more than the pax's this was going off every 5 mins - doze off "bing, bing". No sleep for me, wife or two kids makes a very moody family!! On top of that noise we had the CC talking - On these 330's the crew seem to sit and chat (as well as discuss issues with other pax!!!) in area next to the galley. Not sure if the engines are loud but all their conversations were easily heard, word for word.
Meal service was of a standard PE fare, had better and had so much worse.It was also rushed on one side of the aircraft to the point where a member of CC tried to take my wife's meal from her before she had even started on her pudding. When I made a comment I was made to feel I was being a pain but on my side of the aircraft all was good.
I must also point out the good points though it couldn't save the flight in my eyes. I did get a "Welcome back" from the FSM, no champers but with no UC there may not have been any. The rest of the CC were very good. One guy made a point of checking on some very nervous flyers in PE every 30 min and when we had a few bumps - well done.
IFE - What a great system with the handset as well as the display in PE and UC. The ability to split the SkyMap on the handset display whilst playing a game / watching TV is very cool.
We Landed on time, immigration was easy. priority baggage seemed to be in effect apart from only two of our three bags came out quickly. The last one was one of the last ones off!!
I think all in all this shows a bad aircraft fit out and how a few bad members of CC can make a bad flight so much worse.
If I had been on a older style aircraft I think my mood on board would not have been so good!! A save for the new IFE!!

Oh - and avoid those seats!!!!!

Thanks for the TR. I agree about the PE cabin feeling cramped. I think they seem to have made a good product terrible.

We were one of the first to fly back in the 330 from MCO tO MAN last year and it doesn't just feel small & cramped - it is small and cramped. I have booked the late flights both ways on Wednesdays next month so that we get the 747 (with UC), otherwise we wouldn't be going at all.

Katie

Thanks for the TR.

I have to say we really enjoyed the A330 PE cabin last April.
Thought the seat comfy and whilst not as spacious as the bubble not cramped.

Thanks for the TR.

I have to say we really enjoyed the A330 PE cabin last April.
Thought the seat comfy and whilst not as spacious as the bubble not cramped.

When someone in front reclined their chair, it touched my knees, this doesn't happen on the 747.

Thanks for the TR

Yep the A330 def feels more cramped all around, might be a good plane for short hops around Europe though

I do wonder something, why only $13

Thank you for the TR, sorry to read it wasn't a great experience.

I also had the A330 last year on this route and fully agree that it felt small and tight. I wasn't a fan at all and if that was the only option, wouldn't spend the extra and would do with economy.

We thought we were travelling back on a 747 so I was a bit disappointed when I heard it was an A330. Had a delay at check-in because 'the PE seats had been over subscribed' but the check in staff did manage to give us 3 seats 'together' - well a single on the end of a 3 and then two across the aisle. Had the same problem with the A/C on our flight back on 23rd. Plane arrived almost an hour late which, we were told, was due to problems with the A/c running off the auxilliary power unit. Also went retro with the safety instructions as there was no sound with the video. Agree about the noise on this plane not only from the call button but from pax and CC walking up and down - could feel the vibrations in my seat. Food was OK but thought service going out when we were in economy was better as CC seemed to come around more with soft drinks. May just have been they didn't want to disturb us any more on the night flight home.

[buns]

Thanks for a great TR and the advice about Row 26 on the 330

Well, all told, VS ought not to be proud of thier delivery on your journey and had it been a GCSE they would have been way off an A*

Wonder what food you could buy for $13 in MCO That awful Landside food court needs to be avoided at all costs

What on earth is the MCO Ground Crew going to do about seat allocations after 1 November

buns

But can you compare the A330 Virgin plane against the B777 that BA use to MCO. Time for one on one reports please.

I second that, Lucydog ! Would love a comparison from someone in the know .

I have to say I am a big fan of the triple7 , its very quiet and always seems roomy. however not a huge fan of BA so rarely get to fly on one.

after that the 747 is defintely ahead of the 340 IF you can get the bubble.

the 330 for me currently has no appeal

Also went retro with the safety instructions as there was no sound with the video.

We also had the same scenario - Have they not fixed it yet I wonder??

?| But can you compare the A330 Virgin plane against the B777 that BA use to MCO. Time for one on one reports please.

The 777 is wider than the A330, so will likely feel more spacious. However, as is always the case, it's more to do with how the airlines fit them and they're never to the specs that Boeing or Airbus suggest. The 787, when it arrives, will feel a lot better I would imagine as its wider and comes with a bunch of new bells and whistles.

In my view, 777's are far noisier in the cabin than airbus 340-600s.