This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Check in at Havana Airport was very good (online check is not available for this flight). The seats that we had pre booked were still there and boarding cards were printed - then off we went to immigration.
Note : Each passenger has to complete immigration checks seperately so make sure you both have what you need with you to complete this task as once the first person is through they cannot get back easily to help a partner.
Down to the gate - I am glad we did not leave the 'Duty Free' shopping until the airport as everything that I had bought at the hotel shops was half the price being charged in the airport. Specially important to note this as Virgin flights DO NOT carry duty free on the Havana run.
At the gate there were approx 10 people hovering around the check-in staff. I guessed that they were VS staff/partners on holiday looking for upgrades [;)]. They all seemed happy when new boarding cards were printed and I did note that a lot of them appeared in PE on the plane.
At the risk of being a party pooper..if they were indeed VS staff on holiday I do wonder if it might be more of a selling opportunity for VS to give upgrades to potential PE cutosmers from economy....?
We waited to close up and go when the captain started the announcements...good news we are all ready to go...bad news we have lost 70 meals somewhere (may not have been loaded in Gatwick..)[?] We could wait for more meals to be prepared...(yeah right!) or could stop on the way but both options would put the crew over hours so he had taken the decision to go without them. Lots of gasps, and 'how are they going to feed us all!'.
Crew fearing for thier lives were further distressed to hear that problems with the saftey video meant that they would have to do the saftey announcement manually. (Lots of laguhs from all crew on board.
Flight took off roughly on time. Entertainment was on for 10 mins before it had an extra reboot due to sound issues. (why does it take so long to re boot (15 mins)?)
Drinks service prompt. Having already snagged two champers before take off I opted for the G&T. Food came - interesting mix of menu, Chicken Vindaloo, Chicken Pasta or Veg Ravioli. Opted for the Vindaloo which raised an eyebrow from the Steward. Bless him he should not have worried it was great.
Settled down to sleep after watching a film (Good Night and Good Luck). Slept a bit only to wake up to a request for 'any one medically trained on board to provide assistance'. A nice man up with us on the top deck volunteered and was taken downstairs to assist. There was a lot of to and frowing during the night as people thundered past me in the aisle - quite a few of them were trips made to the cockpit but I did seem to drift off to sleep again as I did have a wierd dream about being on a plane! At least I think I was dreaming...
Landing fine, parking quick and as I had checked through to another fligth no bags to pick up. I did note that one lady in the 'know' made her journey a bit quicker by going down the ramp on the 'other passports' side in immigration and then joining the UK passports queue rather than going the full walk around to the UK side. Interesting - might use that one next time I am coming in on the south side. (She had waved at the flight crew before geting on the plane so I presume she was a spose or crew her self when not on holiday...
Well I hope this is not too long or boring as it is the first report I have made.