VS015 LGW-MCO 3 OCT 12 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Having waited patiently to submit our seat requests we were pleased when 2 days before our flight the seat map came up and we requested 17A-C. OLCI the night before but only managed Seq 5-6. Turned up at LGW just after 9am and no wait to check in and get rid of the bags. Check in agent very pleasant and smiley. On to the premier security check, again no wait, but it was my turn for the full pat down and bag search. Info board said gate details at 11.40 so plenty of time for a light breakfast. 11.40 came and went and finally at around 12 it's off to gate 13. Started boarding quite quickly and our first chance to see the refitted PE downstairs cabin. Quite impressed and although it's not the bubble it had quite a nice atmosphere. Welcome drink offered and accepted. Push back just before 13.00 and after the usual long taxi we were off. Drinks run followed the the meal. I had ordered a diabetic meal and it was really quite nice, grilled chicken with new pots and spinach and some tomatoes. Pudding was a sugar free apple crumble. Flight pretty standard no real issues. The CC were attentive and cheerful and the IFE had more than enough to keep us occupied. So much so I did not resort to my iPad at all. Reached the gate at MCO at 17.11 local and we were very quickly off the plane. No lines at all in the emigration hall and customs was quiet as well. Waited longer for the bags than both emigration and customs combined. Up the ecscalator with our bags and straight down to the Alamo garage. In the car and away just after 18.00 local. All in al a very pleasant trip. Just managed to submit seat requests for our return flight on the 17th, another refit so 17A-C requested again.

Thanks.
Good to hear a review from the downstairs PE cabin on this newly refurbished Gatwick fleet. I'm still undecided as to where to request our PE seats for the upcoming Cancun trip hmm...

Great TR, thank you.

As nkp85uk said, it's a great insight on the lower deck for PE on the refurb planes, gives people more choice when thinking about where they want to sit.

Only SEQ 5-6.....

Thanks for the TR - I have yet to fly on a LGW refurb and I must confess all these positive reports are encouraging me to start saving for an extra holiday

Cheers for posting

Thanks for the TR.

It seems the lower deck PE is a big improvement over the previous incarnation, and has the advantage over the bubble PE of earlier disembarkation.

and has the advantage over the bubble PE of earlier disembarkation.

Doesn't the bubble clear first? Even before UC..

Nop. front of the plane first, up to the doors then upstairs followed by everybody down the back

Only SEQ 5-6.....

Thanks for the TR - I have yet to fly on a LGW refurb and I must confess all these positive reports are encouraging me to start saving for an extra holiday

Cheers for posting

Seq 5-6 rubbish I know but managed 2-3 for the return flight so getting better

I don't know what it's like in Gatwick regarding your luggage collection.
It doesn't matter whether you're first off in Manchester as PE luggage is usually last on the conveyer. We've sat for an hour in the past watching economy luggage going round the carousel while waiting for the PE luggage arriving. I think I'll still be happy in the bubble & no rush to get off.

Katie