This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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The background was that we had friends from the US visiting the UK and Europe and would be returning on VS in PE - so it seemed like a good idea (and in the absence of any veto from Mrs Buns) to use the economy to PE upgrade voucher I had available from using my Virgin Credit Card, so the plan was to be on the same flight so that the US friends could sample the delights of the Clubhouse.
So plans were set, but as they say "Best laid plans…….."
The day before I had booked into the Hilton at Gatwick with the intention of meeting them on their return from Paris, have a quiet meal before getting into the Clubhouse the following morning. Now did i mention that they were travelling on Eurostar?? As many will recall that was the day the Tunnel was closed as a result of French Port strikers and what ensued in the following 18 hours was some of the most fraught travelling moments i have ever experienced.
They travelled by coach to Brussels and the following morning two flights to end up at London City Airport at 8am. These bits fell into place, but now it was the getting through Immigration at London City and round the M25 in the quickest time possible to stand any chance of not missing the flight. As many will know, the VS27 leaves at 11:15 and the M25 can be unforgiving at any time of the day, let alone in the morning!!
Miracle of miracles as they arrived at the South Terminal at Gatwick, just before 9:30 and it was just like a scene out of those Airport TV Programmes, where things are at the last minute - how thankful I was that the forthcoming VS TV Show had already been prepared, as I could have never shown my fact to V Flyers ever again
Driver thanked and bags loaded onto the trolley, we were at the UC Check In and completing the formalities - I hang my head in shame to say I was SEQ 401 (but later to find there was 425 passengers on board clearly we were not the last!) and soon we were on the way to the Clubhouse
Whilst the original intention had been to spend a considerable time in there, the fee for the second person was well spend i can tell you, as although it was very full in there with the Barbados flight, their ability to have a shower (their first in over 48 hours) was well worth the price!! As usual, the staff in there could not do enough for us and we were all fed and watered before making our way down to Gate 21 to board our flight.
They had come over in Economy, so as they ascended the stairs to the upper deck, they could not believe the spaciousness of the cabin and the PE Seats. I (and 3 other single passengers) were fortunate that we did not have anyone sitting next to us and this enhanced the ability to relax after the pressure of the preceding hours. Welcome drinks offered, and i have to say i now prefer the prosecco to the stuff they serve in UC.
Take off was a little later than scheduled, but the relief that we were all travelling, was palpable and after take off when the towels were distributed, we all started to smile. The Cabin Crew were very efficient and the drinks service and meal service all came like clockwork.
Menu
Beef in peppercorn sauce
Peri peri chicken
Vegetable lasagne
with Berry Cheesecake and cheese to follow.
I had the beef, which although very nice, just struck me as an upmarket description of cottage pie!! Nevertheless, it was still enjoyable and I ate it all.
Having travelled in May, the IFE had little to offer, and I ended up watching Kingsman again. The afternoon tea is now a wrap rather than a sandwich and there is the option of West Country Cheddar or 30,000 ft High Club Wrap which was chicken and bacon with sweet chilli mayo.
One thing to point out at this juncture is the US Customs forms have slightly changed, so make sure you fill in the current version.
Anyway, the flight soon came to an end and being the early flight I thought Immigration would not be too bad - How wrong I was! Fortunately, as there were so many people there, they asked for single travellers to come forward and us the automated gates - which meant i was only a short distance behind my US friends. As others have remarked, once you have used the automated kiosks, you still see the Immigration Officer.
One other thing is different, since I last travelled to Orlando in May:
No longer is there a separate carousel for PE and UC Bags - these are now removed and put to one side, just like the crew luggage
So fortunately, we were through in under 40 minutes and i bade farewell to my friends before making my was to my Orlando Hotel for the next four nights before returning home.
All in all, an experience i will never want to repeat (leaving things to the last minute that is) but the Clubhouse retained their stellar qualities and made up for an FSM who had not briefed the crew on what "009" means
Thanks for reading
buns
I really was afraid that the flight would be cancelled and there was no way I would make my SFO flight. There is so little you can do but leave it in the lap of the gods and hope that it will all work out. Fortunately for you, it did.
