V-Flyer

So, after 10 (very short feeling) days on the glorious gulf coast of Florida it was time to return back to blighty.

I knew the plane was light as I checked the seat map a few days before to see if our seat requests were to be honoured (my dad worries about those things), but it's been a while since I've been on one with so many empty seats!

Having flown out in PE and not done an economy run on the return route for a few years I was keen to see how it would compare, and if it would affect my opinion on flying PE.

When it came to the online check in process, we were on two separate bookings, mine and that of my folks, and so had to do each individually. This was when we discovered that our seat requests had been moved, to all over the plane, my folks were near to their original seats and I was right at the back in amongst the middle four seats. I quickly moved us back to as near as our original requests, in fact the seats behind, and thought I would see about getting our seats back at the airport as we'd obviously been moved because of the light load.

The lady at check in was very helpful and explained that she couldn't move us back because they were keeping those rows empty, something not strictly true though, as when we boarded there were people in the seats we had originally requested. But none of that mattered as the cabin was very very empty. Pretty much everything up until row 41 was empty, and there were loads empty at the back too. The cabin crew said we could move about after we'd taken off, and that's what we did.

I ended up on a row of 4 seats to myself, jackpot! So, I made it into a bed ready to go to sleep, and I noted that a lot of other folks seemed to do the same. If I'd been in PE on this flight, I think I'd have been looking jealously at the economy cabin!!

The drinks run started, then dinner, which was the usual beef, chicken or pasta dish. I chose pasta, it was vile. The bread roll was so cold it was almost frozen and rock solid, the caesar salad was ok. I didn't take pudding, which was tiramisu, but I'm told it was ok. Now, this business of not serving coffee on night flights is ridiculous. I can't see the logic behind it, because there are people who don't drink tea and can't drink hot chocolate (my mum for example, who is diabetic). I hardly think that one cup of coffee is going to have people running up and down the aisles all night.

Anyway, I went and changed into my lounging trousers and brush my teeth and then settled down for some sleep. I always listen to my ipod when trying to sleep on planes because I find that one noise is better than loads of noises, and there were one or two babies crying on and off all night. I managed a couple of hours, before the turbulence started, we had numerous seatbelt signs on and off incidents throughout the night, and there were a couple of times were the cabin crew were told to take their seats as well. I would say it was pretty bad, but not the worst I've had on that route.

After the last bout, I fell nicely back to sleep and was woken by all the lights coming on and breakfast coming round. I didn't partake as I can never really eat on night flights, but I believe that it was the good old muffin top thing. I used this chance to freshen up a bit and change back into my travelling clothes.

About 40 minutes later we landed into Manchester early, and then went onwards to home in a snow shower, not what you want after leaving the Florida temperatures!!

Now, I had a good flight, but I think that was down to being able to sleep across four seats, I think I prefer the PE experience on a night flight though. Still to try Upper, I guess now I've done this route every other way on Virgin, this has to be the next doesn't it?!

A very nice Tr, thanks for posting

It's always great when you get an emptyish flight - we had one last year LGW-MCO return where both legs we had 4 seats each to stretch out and sleep

Be careful turning left at the door.....very hard to go back to turning right

Thank you for the great TR.

Miss G wrote: If I'd been in PE on this flight, I think I'd have been looking jealously at the economy cabin!!

I had this on my return flight from MCO recently - quite a few disgruntled looks from the other side of the curtain!

Excellent TR Glad to hear you had a nice flight - an empty cabin is always a bonus!!

Thanks for the TR - I know what you mean about listening to music, I can sleep very happily with the Gareth Emery podcast nice and loud!

I see you had a similar experience to us with the MCO to MAN flights with regards to the American sourced food on board. It's all awful quality in this direction.
Also sounds like you had some disturbances in your flight too from other passnegers (albeit, much younger than the distrubing PX on my flight).

Shame about the turbulence though. We had a bit on the way back, with 3 seatbelt signs if I recall, however I think the pilot was playing on the safe side with us as there was hardly a bump. Yours sounds a bit bumpier? Just another annoyance when trying to get some sleep eh? lol

Thanks everyone!