I had had an excellent time and my activities for the week mostly revolved around chilling out by the pool or on the golf course and laughing lots with my parents and their friends.
We left home at about 11.45 to head up to MCO via somewhere for lunch. After an excellent meal at Chef Jon's in the proper Kissimmee we headed up the back roads to Boggy Creak and into the airport. As you will know this flight was in two legs. The first to be on board a DL 753 up to ATL and then connecting onto DL64 from ATL to MAN.
We arrived at MCO in good time and I quickly located the DL desks which are next door to where the old VS desks used to be before they moved to Terminal A. At 2pm I was all checked in and ready to go. My first flight being domestic I did not have to lug my bag over to the TSA security checkpoint as seems to be standard on international flights from MCO. GIven the early hour of the afternoon I decided to give my usual watering hole of the McCoys bar a miss and we went to Starbucks. We sat watching everyone stare in amazement at the 'traveler contained within the box' piece of art which is located next-door to Starbucks. If you have never seen "him" do go by and have a look. It is very funny watching how many people at first glance think he is real!
After a quick coffee I decided to say goodbye to the parents (they had to be back home for a 4pm tee off!!) and make my way through security. Security was painless and within about ten minutes I was hearing the tones of the monorail pa man thanking me for visiting Central Florida! Whilst sat waiting for my flight to board I noticed that the skies had gone very dark but did not worry. After all during my ten day trip it had not rained once so why would it rain now!! Boarding was announced and I battled my way through the boarding scrum. Why on earth do people insist on blocking the gate area for everyone else when their boarding zone number has not been announced?
As I sat down in my seat once onboard an all mighty clap of thunder was heard and the heavens opened. Boarding continued and the DL equivalent of an FSM kept asking passengers to settle down fast so that we could make an onetime departure. As 3.30 and our push back arrived the rain had intensified and of course, it was no surprise that the announcement came that the airport had been shut. I was not really that worried as I had a two hour connection at ATL so even with an hour delay would make my flight with ease. At 4.15 the captain came back on to say MCO was reopened and we were on our way. With that the doors were shut and the engines fired up. Once both engines were in life the plane was lit up by a huge bolt of lightening. Not surprisingly barely 2 minutes after telling us we had the all clear the captain was back on to say the airfield was closed and we had to wait it out.
I did feel sorry for the passengers on the neighbouring 757 to us, it had landed just before the weather rolled in but before they could get onto the stand the airfield had been shut. As a result they were blocking us in and had to sit there looking at the terminal and unable to move the 50 meters onto stand! The crew came round with drinks and as the time ticked closer and closer to 7pm I was beginning to get a bit worried. The crew kept reminding passengers they could log onto Delta.com for free and make alternative arrangements. The issue for most was that without knowing what time we would be airborne there was little we could do.
At 4.50pm the airport was reopened. We waited for the said neighbouring 757 to stop blocking us in and then pushed back. As we pushed back I saw the BA 777 pulling onto stand but noted all of the VS planes were noticeably absent, presumably they had been diverted to either TPA or JAX. We taxied off to the runway and I was beginning to feel rather happy in the knowledge that even if we were airborne at 5 I would make my flight with ease only missing out on a pre flight drink at a bar at ATL. As we got to number two on the taxiway the captain was on again to advise that we were being held in this position for about 20 minutes. I am not joking when I say he must have heard all the groans and swearing in the cockpit from the cabin. It quickly became clear that we must have missed a slot or something as the later ATL flight took off before us and I sat and watched another company 320, B6 320 (presumably with Flabound on board) and a Southwest 737 take off. At 5.35 we finally moved onto the runway and we were off.
The flight was the usual DL quick drinks service. It was rather rough for the first twenty minutes which slowed the service and meant not everyone was served. Getting worried about changing terminals and making my connection in 25 minutes I logged onto delta.com to check alternatives. It was very strange surfing the internet at 30,000 feet- something felt kind of wrong about it! Delta were already telling me I had missed my connection, so I worked out I could get a later flight to CDG and then try and make my way back to Manchester from there.
At 6.37 we landed at ATL and started the long taxi. I was hoping lady luck would be shining down on me and we would park up at Terminal E meaning I only had to change gates rather than terminal. Sadly it was not to be and we rocked up onto stand at Terminal A about as far as possible from Terminal E. The FSM made an announcement asking all those who had connections in the next hour to put their hand up and asked other passengers to let us off first. As the doors opened, my fellow passengers did just that and I was number three of the plane.
Then the mad rush started. Most on here will not realise but as a youngster I competed with Mo Farah in athletics to a high standard, and it was now that I needed to remember my running days! To cut a long story short I arrived at the gate at 6.55 having changed terminals out of breath! THey had held the plane for me and I walked on and had them close the door behind me.
I quickly found my seat which was a bulkhead seat on the first row of Economy Comfort and introduced myself to my seat mate. We commenced push back and at 7.12 exactly we were into the Georgian air. I was feeling rather pleased with myself seeing as an hour earlier I had been some 100 miles away from Atlanta!
The crew then started with their duties. The usual free bar service (which remember as being in Economy Comfort meant free spirits) and pretzels (no peanuts due to an allergy on board!) followed by the meal. The meal was a choice of three, pasta, chicken or chicken salad. I went with the pasta which had pancetta in it and it was excellent. The best meal that I have had on a plane in economy! The meal was complimented with a Bombay and Tonic followed by a couple of Corona's.
I managed to get a bit of shut eye however it was a fairly bumpy night across the pond and as a result the seat belt sign was off and on throughout the evening. At around 2 hours out breakfast was served. Sadly it seems that DL must have purchased a bulk batch of those disgusting egg muffins they used to offer for breakfast in economy. One look at it and I decided to stick with the banana! As we reached Dublin we began our decent into MAN and at 8.05 am we touched down into a dank, rainy MAN. On stand, two in front of me at immigration and into the baggage hall. Surprise surprise my bag was the first out, guessing it was the last in! And by 8.22am I was sat in my car starting up the engine!
So all in all it was a good flight. The weather in MCO could not be helped but the crew were great at keeping us informed and the DL website was fantastic. Food on board was excellent and the crew did everything with a smile. Would I use DL again? You bet.
