VS028 MCO-LGW 19 MAY 14 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

After a very enjoyable (and hot) 3 weeks in Florida, it was time to make our way back to dear old Blighty

Once again, online checkin was done the previous day, and when we picked up our boarding cards at the bag drop at DTD, I discovered we had got seq 1 & 2 - YAY !!!
The only problem with DTD at present is lack of parking whilst the multi-storeys are being built. Having said that though, it's still much easier than having to keep cases in the car and drag them through the airport.

The fortuitousness of scanning etickets before we left the UK became even MORE apparent now as they would not take bags without seeing it eticket at DTD (If you didn't read previous TR, 1 eticket was left at hotel at LGW before leaving!)

All bags dropped, we parked at the other side of DTD and had a wander - Return day always seems to be such a wasted day as you can't really do anything. So, after a short while, we headed to the airport.

Car dropped at the garage, we headed up to security, which we cleared in about 10 mins - not bad really. I would assume it would get much busier though as you got closer to departure time.

We sat in the terminal for a while, and about 1530 went to the gate where our plane, Ladybird, had just arrived on VS75 from Manchester - Now for the fun.....

We were due to board at 1725. At 1700, a rep at the gate came onto the mic to inform us of a delay to our flight and that we would be updated on the situation at 1900!
With this, there was a mass exodus to the small shop by the gates. It must make quite a profit looking at the extortionate prices it was charging. Not much choice though unless you head away from the gates and it was also running low on stock.

By this time, the gate area was getting rather busy, because, as well as our flight (VS28), VS76 was there along with VS16, a Lufthansa flight and a BA flight.
1900 came, and they boarded us onto the plane. 19AC & 18AC were the requested seats this time.
at about 1930 the captain came over the pa and gave us some info. Apparently, Ladybird had arrived fully servicable from Manchester, but whist being catered, the catering truck had collided with the aircraft causing damage to, what i assume was the door, as the captain commented about possible problems with pressurisation. The Repair, he said, would take about 20 minutes, but the associated paperwork may take a little longer. (How right he was!)
So, in the meantime, he said, the IFE would be turned on (which it was) and the cabin crew would do a drinks service (which they DIDN'T!).
Doors were closed and we were pushed back at 2115!!

As soon as we got to our cruising altitude of 35000 feet the meal service was done. The majority of passengers had only just got their meal when the CC started to try and collect trays - . Tea/coffee/water was done at the same time as delivering the trays so everything was SO rushed!
Usual offerings once again, so nothing spectacular.

Lights were duly extinguised and the obligatory screaming brat woke up and stayed awake screaming most of the time the lights were out!

Not pleasant at all.....which also describes breakfast, which most people refused. It always puzzles me why it is always so bad.

Arrival at LGW was at 0950 following a slight detour over the Atlantic looking for the yacht that went missing.
Again the benefits of 19AC and 18AC proved their worth as we were into the airport without delay only to be confronted with escalators which i assume had been turned off as there were not normally any transatlantic arrivals so late in the morning.
Once we had done the trek from the gate, we were through immigration and customs in no time (my partner decided to use the epassport lane as the passport had the logo on the front but didn't get far ahead as the hall was empty!)
Luggage was waiting on the carousel for us, and we were out of the airport within 30 mins of arriving.
This is the fastest I have EVER done at Gatwick, so there is an advantage to arriving late

And that was it. Back home - well not quite, a 6 hr drive home ensued, but that's another story


Steve

Why are in-flight breakfasts usually bad? Because a typical English breakfast requires grilling or frying, neither of which can be done on a plane.

All they can do is reheat - and bacon, eggs and sausages don't reheat particularly well.

glad you had a great time in the sunshine state.

It's really unfortunate with what happened with the catering cart but I suppose getting the paperwork is vital.

I hate the screaming brat on a night flight it really irritates as everyone is tired already.

I know what you mean about the breakfasts but other than do what BA do on shorthall I am not sure what else they could do really but yeah it's not particularly nice and it makes me feel yuk eating it but yeah.

Glad you got the same experience we did when we arrived into Gatwick from Orlando earlier in the year it appears they have really got it sorted in the south terminal now, long let it continue :-D

I agree re breakfast, I would much rather have some cereal and fruit. Lately I've taken to nicking the minature cereal boxes from the breakfast buffet and eating them on the flight for breakfast.

Good TR - heading out GLA - MCO in July myself - not been for 2 years, and with the food not showing any sign of improvement, particularly eastbound, will certainly take own / fill up at Outback Steakhouse in terminal before boarding.

One thing though, and it is a pet peeve of mine, so bear with me.

We have gone many times with VS to MCO, both before & since having kids. Very little can be done by any parent to cope with a "screaming brat" - we have been transatlantic with our eldest at 10 weeks, up through again at 6 months, second son at 7 & 19 months and now third son will be 16 months - if they cry, they cry - believe me when I say, if YOU are getting stressed it is nothing to what we as parents are feeling. But it IS a holiday flight.....

Good TR - heading out GLA - MCO in July myself - not been for 2 years, and with the food not showing any sign of improvement, particularly eastbound, will certainly take own / fill up at Outback Steakhouse in terminal before boarding.

One thing though, and it is a pet peeve of mine, so bear with me.

We have gone many times with VS to MCO, both before & since having kids. Very little can be done by any parent to cope with a "screaming brat" - we have been transatlantic with our eldest at 10 weeks, up through again at 6 months, second son at 7 & 19 months and now third son will be 16 months - if they cry, they cry - believe me when I say, if YOU are getting stressed it is nothing to what we as parents are feeling. But it IS a holiday flight.....

I often wonder if the people who moan about screeming brats have ever had kids themselves , prob not is normally my conclusion because if they had they would surely know that the parents feel awkward when it is their child making the noise and really wish it would stop , also do these people who moan not stop to think they may have been that screeming brat once , makes my blood boil !!

[honey lamb]

ny times with VS to MCO, both before & since having God j kids. Very little can be done by any parent to cope with a "screaming brat" - we have been transatlantic with our eldest at 10 weeks, up through again at 6 months, second son at 7 & 19 months and now third son will be 16 months - if they cry, they cry - believe me when I say, if YOU are getting stressed it is nothing to what we as parents are feeling. But it IS a holiday flight.....

I once flew to MCO on a flight in UC where a child screamed all the way from LGW to MCO with about an hour's respite while it (and the rest of us) had a snooze! We were all aware of the parent's efforts to try and keep the child entertained and quiet and their embarrassment that the said child would not oblige. The entire cabin was entirely sympathetic to the parents' plight and, fortified by copious visits to the bar, tried to help. The cabin rapidly turned into one big creche - well apart from Aer John who was annoyed at being battered over the head by the said child! God help him when he has kids of his own - and the said kids