Premier economy mix up...

[JulieHaydon]

My partner and I work very hard and we decided to treat ourselves to a holiday with seats in premier economy as we were flying long distance and my partner is tall.

Fine going out and we had a wonderful holiday.

Then coming back we were all sat down on the plane waiting to take off when parents got on with their young child. Again fine, if they've got the money to do that then good luck to them. A flight is public transport after all.

The problem was they boarded late and there was only two seats left. What the mix up was I don't know but as the child was four the flight crew would not allow him to be on one of his parents laps.

So they had the awful task of trying to get one or two people to swop down into economy to let them travel together in Premier - and no one would. We refused outright as did the other passengers. If it had been up to first class we and others would have gone like a shot but this was never on offer. Perhaps it was full.

It was the parents' attitude that amazed us. You'd think with a child they would have booked in early but they didn't they came late, and expected others to move to accommodate them. The woman was very large and said she needed a wide seat which was obviously true.

But as another passenger said "Why can't two people from economy be upgraded so that they can all sit together in cattle class? They were late after all so why should someone move when we've all paid so much more?" However they went on to refer to the mother as a "Fat lump with no manners, if you need a wide seat with your family then be on time boarding" which I don't respect - there's no need to be rude.

We were delayed for an hour because of them. I think they had to go down to economy to sit together as they wanted because two new people suddenly appeared and took their seats.

And I don't think this was unreasonable do you?

[AgaPanthers]

That depends on the airline tbh. Traditionally you would have got the same Economy food, but I think BA & Virgin have improved it now, but it does depend on the airline.

[Stinkle]

every did you book through a travel agent or anything? It says here you can check in online if you selected online check in when you booked, otherwise check in at the airport

[Nancy66]

Unless they've recently changed it PE Virgin was always same menu as economy but served on china with stainless steel and glass.

[Kewcumber]

no stainless steel in any class now I think Nancy.

I like Wittering.

Lovely beach.

[HazleNutt]

every, sure for most airlines you can still check in at the airport. But internet checkin saves you the hassle of standing in the check-in queue - if you have hand luggage only, can go straight through security. If you have luggage, there are separate luggage drop off counters, that usually take less time than full check-in.

They either email the boarding passes to print out or you can also download them to your smartphone, depending on the airline.

[everyusernameiwantistaken]

Thanks stinkle

The package deal part of the website says
"Do I have to check in on line?
With our package holidays you can check in online 28 days before departure or check in at the airport 2 hours before your scheduled departure. There will be no extra charge for either of these options.

Will I be charged for checking in at the airport?
For Jet2holidays customers there is no charge for customers checking in at the airport."

So it looks like I can do either for free, but I'm just wondering if there is any reason to choose online check in if I already have reserved seats. Is there any other reason to do so?

Thanks again!

[everyusernameiwantistaken]

Ah I see, thanks Hazle - it wass that bit that was confiusing me - I thought I would still need to queue up to check my bags in anyway but seemingly it's literally a drop off.

Thank you.

[WallyBantersJunkBox]

I've taken my DS on VA PE from Barbados to London, as we had a night flight and wanted room to get a good sleep. He was 3.

Food was different, slightly better. Complimentary Cava and Daily Mail. Slightly bigger luggage allowance. Slightly bigger seat. There was no upstairs, just Premium and Upper at the front, due to the airplane model?

Full of po faced DM readers (they know their target market! ) desperate for my son to utter a word so they could tut loudly about it.

VA forgot to order him a child's pack and meal. Stewardesses were more upset than DS was. He ended up in the galley of Upper choosing himself Upper Class sandwiches and a selection of cakes. He had a nice chat with a supermodel on the way past (Jodie Kidd possibly).

Then he slept for the remainder of the journey. Much to their disappointment.

I found the seats a bit uncomfortable. I can only sleep if I am flat (have flown Upper Class before and loved it) or can cram my knees up somewhere. My feet kept slipping off the footrest and waking me up in PE.

[WallyBantersJunkBox]

Was that enough wittering for entry to Chavdom?

[sparechange]

every
If you pre-book your seats, when you check in (either online or at the airport), your seats will be there waiting for you, all together or with a bassinet or whatever it is you've booked.

If you don't prebook, you can still check in online or in the airport, but your seats will come from whatever is left so there is no guarantee they'll be together

[Stinkle]

every have you got any checked bags or are you flying with just hand luggage.

If just hand luggage I'd check in online and print our your own boarding cards, saves you the whole queuing palaver and you can just whizz straight through to security.

If you've got checked luggage, you've got to queue anyway so check in at the airport - it's all done at the same desk isn't it?

If you've pre-booked your seats you don't have to worry about early check in - we flew with Ryan Air, and didn't check in online until really late as I was waiting for passport details

[Stinkle]

Sorry, took ages to type so crossed loads of posts, didn't mean to repeat everyone else

[CiderwithBuda]

Premium economy definitely varies airline to airline. I've done it twice recently. To New York with KLM which was really nice. Food good althgh no idea if same as economy. Then BA to Sydney. Service was fine. Reasonably comfortable although obv not as comfortable as business or first. The food on the other hand was horrendous. You can def see they are cutting costs there. Disgusting 'breakfast' on the Singapore Sydney leg which consisted of a lurid synthetic strawberry yoghurt and a horrible muffin. Then on return ot of Sydney into Singapore the main meal wasn't too bad. Then a stale bread roll filled with some kind of meat and something else. Main meal out of Singapore was disgusting. Keep meaning to complain to BA actually.

Talk of horror at children in business reminds me on the time DH was waiting in business class lounge to board a flight from Europe to Asia. Large noisy extended family group with children arrive in and he realised they are on his flight. So he decided to use airmiles to upgrade to first. Guess where family were? Yes - first! How I laughed!

I would have loved to fly Concorde too. Used to see it fly past our office in Tolworth in Surrey - around 11 am I think. We have new neighbours and he was a Concorde pilot. He has lots of memorabilia around the house and sells signed photos on eBay!

[bubalou]

When I flew London to Las Vegas on PE with Virgin we got given a menu to choose from with a main and a dessert list with 4 choices on each.

I loved PE with virgin and had a very good experience with very comfy seats, free champagne, the flight attendants came round with huge platters of fresh fruit and mini tubs of
Hagen Daz ice cream during the flight.

Looking forward to doing it again

[BIWI]

PE to Barbados with Virgin is definitely a different menu from Economy - much better and not just about china/cutlery.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

I thought there was a separate bag check in. I am sure I have used it.

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

Lots of you have reported this thread, so just to let you know; we've suspended the OP's ability to post for now, but as this thread seems to be turning out to be rather useful for other people we'll leave it for now.

Thanks
MNHQ

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Hello Rowan.

[ChoosandChipsandSealingWax]

Ah no, don't revoke her ability - she is far too entertaining! Hilarious read, and I now love being a withering /wittering chav (or Chavez, as my autocorrect would have it!)

[WallyBantersJunkBox]

I think Chuntering Chavs has a better ring to it.

This is one of those threads where the OP goes away confirmed in her belief that she is right and we are rightly so the Vipers nest, isn't it?

[WanttogotoDisney]

Premium economy...nothing worth getting excited about. My four year olds find it outrageous if they don't get a fully flat bed for a long haul flight and a glass of champers before take off. But then they have flown business or first class since birth. Helps us to avoid wittering chavs like Julie Haydon not suggesting that other PE travellers are wittering chavs.

And we board when it suits us. First, last or anytime we fancy pulling the class 'card'.

[Kewcumber]

Goodness can you be suspended just for being a bit of an arse?

[WanttogotoDisney]

This is DD2 last month.

[BIWI]

Apparent first-time poster, lots of goading - think he/she deserves to be banned Kew

[vindscreenviper]

Did you miss the OP's thread were a 'breeder' tried to bully her/him out of their seat on an unspecified mode of public transport Kew?