This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Early start and drive around the M25 from Essex to Gatwick, only slight delay in the road works. The car was dropped off at Long Stay south which is my car park of choice as it is close to the airport, reasonably priced, and you get to keep your keys so no chance of it being driven around half of Surrey.
I was travelling with my parents and brother who have never flown in a premium cabin before, so new experiences all around for them. (My first was travelling in PE to NY and back last year which were both cash upgrades at the airport).
Into south terminal and the chance to use the nice Upper Class check in area - very nice in need! A short wait as a few people seemed to be having problems with their ESTA’s but the chatty staff more than made up for it. To some it may sound stupid, but I think little gestures like walking around the booth to hand you your boarding cards really makes check in that extra bit special. Dad was slightly confused when he saw a porter take our luggage – he’s more used to taking it himself.
Up to departures and through premium security that didn’t seem to be enforced at all. The people in front of me didn’t have those shiny ‘Premium Gatwick’ stickers on their boarding cards, but no one was around to check. Security was a quick as it can be when your brother leaves his mobile phone in his pocket!
Now usually we would head off to the Wetherspoons for breakfast and then just mill around the shopping centre/construction site that is departures, but no no, not this time! Wound our way through duty free and straight upstairs to the V-Room – what a breath of fresh air! It was busy but it didn’t feel it at all. It was very spacious and airy with an excellent selection of hot & cold food and drink. I used to work in a 4 star hotel so know all the tricks of breakfast such as small plates and pastries, but none of that here. I can only imagine how much nicer the Clubhouse is!
If my memory serves me correctly the VS43 was called just over an hour before departure. We had a slow walk down the gate, (21 I think? It was near the end of the long corridor). When we got there the holding pen was full, but as soon as walking in there announced boarding for PE – perfectly timed.
Picked up a magazine and newspaper from the rack and proceeded down the air bridge and directed upstairs. There is definitely something special about going upstairs on an aeroplane. Walked through the cramped economy section and into the spacious PE cabin – the wide aisle certainly makes a huge difference. Tonnes of extra space when compared to economy – my parents almost didn’t know what to do with all the extra space. A few people struggling trying to fit their luggage into the overhead bins, it was quite amusing to watch them try and force it shut when it clearly not going to happen! I had already deposited our roller case in the wardrobe at the back, but everything else fitted into the side bins and overhead bins. If only all planes had them side bins – they’re so handy for little bits and bobs. No water bottles at the seats, but I wasn’t sure if this was a cutback since my flight last year. Hostess came around with sparkling wine and orange juice. Nice start to the flight.
All onboard English Rose and an on time departure. I was hoping for a 747 with the new livery as I really love, but was not to be. A very full flight today, into the 460’s if my memory serves me correctly. I noticed a few people on the jump seats at the back of the bubble too. There was also what I assume to be an off duty pilot who just before departure went into the toilets and changed into his uniform for take-off. (He left the cockpit just after take-off, changed back into normal clothes and disappeared back downstairs, returning later for landing). Flight time of 10 hours announced but no routing information given.
One male and one female crew looking after upstairs. The girl was lovely and sweet, but I had more trouble working out what to score the guy. He was polite but it wasn’t very sincere. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t rude and done his job well doing frequent juice and water runs, but there was just something about his manner that I didn’t like. He also got shirty very quickly when securing the cabin, anyone that didn’t do exactly as he said straight away got a stern reminder. I’m not sure how much of this was due to it being a flight to Vegas so maybe he has learnt in the past that a more firm is needed? (He did however turn a blind eye to my Mum ‘borrowing’ the salt and pepper shakers so thumbs up there).
On the subject on this being the VS43, no noisy or disruptive in the bubble at all. I can’t speak for the whole plane but the bubble was peaceful for the whole flight. The baby/child in row 20 was also very well behaved, partly due to his doting parents who kept him entertained all flight.
Crew came around with hot towels, which I also used to wipe down the table and seat flyer in V-Flyer tradition. Drinks service in real glasses with pretzels then followed with my parents suitably impressed. Ginger Ale for me as I can’t drink too much on my travel sickness tablets else it knocks me right out!
Shortly after dinner followed with another drinks service. Menu was as follows:
Starter
Smoked Halibut on a chopped Tomato Salad
Main Course
Beef Stroganoff with herb mashed potatoes and broccoli
Roasted vegetable and pesto pasta (V)
Bread
Your choice of oven-baked break rolls
Dessert
Forest fruit mousse
It was presented nicely on the tray, although without the cup, crackers and cheese the trays do look somewhat sparse now. Didn’t touch the starter as it was a bit too fishy for me, but the main of Beef Stroganoff was surprising tasty and not bland at all. Dessert was ok but the bread rolls were dry and hard. It’s a shame they removed the cheese and crackers as they finished the meal off nicely.
Trays cleared away and tea & coffee offered in the new paper cups. I don’t actually mind this change as the old ceramic cups were tiny. I was then expecting the after-dinner liqueurs but they never came. I didn’t want to ask as I wasn’t sure whether this has also been removed. After about hour the male crew member came around with water and juice and I took the opportunity to ask about the after dinner Baileys. He informed me that the stem glasses they serve the liquers in hadn’t been loaded so they couldn’t do a service, but he could get me one in plastic cup if I wanted one. He then went on to say that they no longer serve Bailey’s but some other brand (a knock off brand that you would find in Aldi/Lidl). I had one anyway and it was nice. Not sure why they didn’t just do a round in plastic cups in the first place.
Next few hours spent napping and watching the new entertainment system. It’s great and a huge improvement over both VERA Reel and VERA on demand. The bigger screen in PE is also nice and the touchscreen handset is good for displaying the map whilst watching a film. It’s not ground breaking or revolutionary though, Emirates have definitely taken that crown with the next generation IFE it is installing in its aircraft (12.1” screen with HD content in economy, and 20” in business class!).
Skinny cow ice cream and a hot sausage or cheese roll were also distributed during the flight. Shame they removed the Haagan-Daz as that was a real treat. The seat belt signed was also turned on once during the flight but there was no turbulence at all, perhaps it was used to seat people downstairs or maybe just a precaution.
The seat and space is most definitely 5 star: really comfortable and made the 10 hour flight fly by. My parents both agreed that the small premium you pay for PE over Economy is definitely worth it, especially for a flight of this length. Walking back through economy section at the rear of the bubble reminded you how cramped it is. We all know that once the person in front reclines it does eat into your space, but I don’t think it is as dramatic as some people make out (I’m 6ft tall and it wasn’t really an issue). I still think people should be considerate though. A couple to the left of us reclined straight back as soon as the seat belt sign was turned off and stayed that way the whole flight, much to the annoyance of the couple behind them who I noticed repeatedly bashed, knocking and punching the chair in front to show their disgust. I understand that everyone has paid for premium, but it’s far politer to gently recline after take-off, and save the full recline for after the meal when everyone is resting and watching movies. The loss of personal space is also far less sudden this way.
Afternoon tea was served about 90minutes before landing from what I can remember. Cheese and pickle sandwiches and a banana toffee cupcake. We all know the sandwiches are bite-sized, but the cheese and pickle was far less offensive than the cheese and onion I was served last year. We had bought sandwiches and crisps in M&S before the flight anyway. The cupcake was nice, but it small - more fairy cake than cupcake. It’s shame they removed the scone and clotted cream as I really liked them.
Cabin secured for landing but no love hearts were distributed. The flight landed ahead of schedule and into an empty immigration hall, although this quickly filled with a full jumbo jet so I wouldn’t have wanted to have been sitting at the back of the plane! An air bridge was attached to door L1 first and economy was held back. As we reached the bottom of the stairs L2 had opened and they released everyone. 3 of the suitcases were quickly off, with just a slight delay for the last one. Out to the Virgin Holidays desk for our transfer to the Bellagio and an excellent week in Vegas!
All in all, a great flight in Premium Economy which we all felt was worth the money. Virgin have a great hard product and the V-Room beforehand made for a great start to the trip. It’s a shame they have removed some of the extra little touches when British Airways seems to be adding to their WT+ offering. Cabin crew only rated as 3 star for reasons discussed previously, would have been a 3.5 if possible.
