This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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This trip across the pond, was to be a little treat after our January adventure, when we took my nephew (5) and niece (8) along with my sister and her husband for their Christmas present to see the mouse.
You can imagine, whilst enjoyable, it was not so much as a well needed break, but more of a tour guide Dave trip. With a stack of airmiles (real airmiles) unused since they devalued them a few years ago, I decided that they should be spent on a decent hotel and a solo trip for me. [}:)]
As usual, I messed about and missed all the cheap z's whilst trying to use the airmiles at the same time (stupidly forgetting it was Easter weekend), but eventually settled for 2 s's out of LGW to be able to get the benefits of the clubhouse, a night in the Hilton at Downtown and then onwards to the Dolphin Hotel.
This, although a bit messy is turning into a miles (Virgin miles) earning frenzy. The night in the Hilton at LGW earning 3000 VA miles plus bonus Hilton points, another 1000 VA miles form Dollar, although judging by some recent posts, this might take a while, double VA miles at the Hilton at Downtown, and of course another 1000 miles from SPG when I discovered the only way I could fit in the airmiles booking meant I had to pay cash for the first night. (thanks for the link to the spg/VA offer [;)])
So all in all, with the 17400 from the premium booking plus the above normal/bonus miles nearly 24400 miles will be captured [y]
Anyways, the trip started well, with an encounter from Ex-First Minister Jack McConnell in the lounge at Edinburgh. A short but cheap flight down to LGW with BA and onwards to the Hilton to get the pleasant surprise of an upgrade to an Executive room. (One of the reasons I was 'allowed' a solo trip was it had to be cheap, so only basic rooms booked) A nice meal in Amys (where the waitress mistakenly picked up my request for a glass of champagne as a bottle) helped with the sleep during the night.
Onwards to the clubhouse after finding out check-in had changed again. There was no pre-checker now, with everything being done by the actual check-in girl. Through a quick fasttrack and into the clubhouse for breakfast.
A check on expertflyer before hand, had my limited experience getting excited about an upgrade a check-in but not to be. Y full, W with 1 seat and 2 seats in J. However coming from Scotland and always being under the impression that if you don't ask, you wont get, I enquired at the desk if there was any chance of an upgrade with miles. The very helpful new face (there seemed to be a lot of new faces on that day) said that 'although she had managed to help a couple of Goldies last week, they weren't looking for uograde on that flight' - Bugger .
Never mind, the usual great service and a few glasses of champagne forced down me made a welcome morning at Gatwick. (after the previous night, I was determined to be good and not get dehydrated, but hey ...)
Suddenly ..... the call came .... come to the front desk - 'we have a nice comfy seat for you Sir' 10K - my favourite. Many thanks girls if you are reading this [:D]
The flight was all it should be. Addressed by name (but not by the FSM) waited on hand and foot, and they even had enough crisps loaded to give some out with the sandwiches for afternoon tea [}:)]
Upper turned out to be pretty empty, with 2 opups, 4 adults with 5 kids between them plus 1 other. The kids were reasonably well behaved, although after the Jan trip I have kind off mellowed - slightly - and even the food was ok. Had the soup, yes mdvipond, warm and gloopy, the chicken and potato salad which was nice and the raspberry ripple icecream, which, decker, did task cheap, but all in all pretty good.
The arrivals have changed at MCO, having been reported previously, but didn't seem to cause too many problems. Some of the immigration booths have the 10 fingerprint machines but not all, and there is now a new escalator that brings you uo between the two trains to the main terminal.
The carhire was booked through VA, so used the normal dollar desks, picked up a brand new Sebring convertable and was in the Hilton at downtown within the hour.
The last part of the upgrade challange happened the next day, when I was upgraded to a balcony room with a fireworks view [:D] at the Dolphin. It's very nice but has probably dashed any chance of a decent sleep on the way home [;)]
The weather here is fantastic. Quarter to 7 at the moment and still 78 degress and the parks are reasonably quiet after the Easter rush. Of to Epcot for dinner now and a choice of countries to eat in. What more do you want.
Thanks for reading
David [:)]
