This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
).I'd been staying at The Essex Inn on Michigan Avenue. I'd booked this via VS as they where offering a very good deal. Having stayed here before with VHols, I knew what to expect. It's a nice hotel offering all the usual facilities including a pool. Rooms are nice and well maintained. Free basic (256K) WiFi, though premium 3Mbit is chargeable. The bathrooms are a bit small but it's not like you live in your bathroom is it! Reasonable location not far from Millennium Park and the Shed Aquarium. They do offer free shuttle buses to/from Magnificent Mile although it's within walking distance anyway (about 25 minute walk)
Having checked out at 11:00, I'd stored my bags and headed into the city to waste a couple of hours before heading to ORD. I'd used the blue line to get to/from ORD which is reasonably straight forward and certainly much cheaper than either cabs or shared minibuses.
By the time I'd got to T5 at ORD around 15:30, VS check-in was in full swing (once I'd found check-in that is). The curb-side airline signs are well out of date here as there's still signs for BMI and no signs for VS!!
PE check-in was very efficient with no waiting. One thing I did not was that under every VS check-in desk where posters asking reminding you to not check-in your chainsaw - so there you go, don't forget
Security was reasonably quick and pretty straight forward. Once through I headed straight to gate 19 but passed G-VGBR already on stand at gate 16. Not long after though she was tugged back from gate 16 and then moved onto gate 19? Seems a bit pointless but who am I to argue
Pre-boarding started at 17:10 and priority boarding was in use for AU's, Upper and Premium. I was greeted by name and wished a pleasant flight by the ground staff as they checked my boarding card
A short walk down the single jetway and I was welcomed on-board. I was in 20H this time. Pre-flight drinks where soon offered and been consumed along with PE menus been handed out.
Before long everyone was on-baord and the door was closed. I think there where something like 170 pax on this evenings flight. As a couple of the bulk head seats where un-occupied again, my seat-mate asked if she could move. As there was only 1 person in the row front of me and 1 behind me, I was happy to stay where I was knowing there would be no issues with reclining seats.
We pushed back around17:55 and where airborne around 18:20. Tonights flight time would be 7hrs and 6mins which seemed pretty quick.
Once the seat belt signs where turned off the cabin service soon started. Dinner and the combined drink service where dished out not long after. Opted for the chilli chicken (which seemed very popular as that what everyone else also seemed to be asking for, hope it didn't run out before they served the back of the PE cabin! Again the meal was tasty and very well presented
During and after the meal service, I watched a film on Jam before settling in and grabbing a few hours sleep. I was woken up by breakfast been served which again was quite tasty although could have done with a bit more.
Before too long the cabin was cleared and been secured for landing into LHR.
We landed approx. 30 minutes early. I wasn't looking forward to immigration now IRIS has apparently ceased and I don't have a chipped passport. As it tuned out, the e-passport channels lines where huge and reaching the steps down to the immigration area compared to manual processing line which was moving pretty quickly. All 3 e-gates did also actually crash whilst I was in the manual queue meaning all three of those lines where having to be processed manually by 1 single agent. I was through and down by the luggage carousels in around 10 minutes.
Bags took about 20 minutes to appear but before long i was on way way through the green channel.
All in all another great VS flight
Bonus miles and TP's credited for both flights already too
Yet another TSA card in my luggage when I got home with everything left a mess in my case...and they say they don't single out people hmmmmmm that's 4 trips in a row from the US with 4 cards in my luggage.
DHS TRIP complaint made about this and the way I was treated on arrival into ORD so we shall what (if anything) comes of that.
Regards
James Mitchell
James Mitchell
who says the UK is too relaxed on immigration issues..
