Security was a bit slow. The Upper Class check-in team need to make it clear what “Priority Lane” is. None of the signage at MAN has this on it. You have Fast Track – and you’ll get short-shrift if you try to use this, as it’s chargeable. You have Families & Assistance lane, but no Priority Lane. Either way, through in under 10mins including the shoe scanning machine.
The 1903 Lounge was busy, but managed to get a table near the window overlooking the apron. Breakfast fare was good and frequently replenished. The gate number flashed up (with an announcement in the lounge) so time to head to A12. Sadly, Pret a Manger did not have what I wanted in the fridge to take onboard, so the downward decline had started.
Boarding was the usual MAN shambles. One very vocal lady was having a right go at the gate agent saying the lounge had announced “your flight is boarding” [correct]. But when she got to the gate they were just starting pre-boarding [also correct]. Sort it out Virgin / Swissport! You’re pissing your premium passengers off before they even board.
Once onboard, all started off OK. The FSM did find me, presumably due to AG status. But even before push-back it was blatantly obvious we had an off-duty VS pilot & his wife/partner in 4G & 5G. Cue appropriate fawning from crew for most of the flight.
Took off only a minute or two late, with 8h35mins to MCO, so an early arrival. Was warned it would be a bit bumpy at times & it was.
1st drinks service was a shambles. Drink, then a good 10min+ later “oh would you like some crisps” for passengers on the A seats.
The Upper Menu was the one that cannot end soon enough. I mentioned to the FSM I was fed up with it and thought it was rubbish & the only reply he could muster was “we have had positive feedback, but it’s changing this month”.
The rest of the flight was fairly uneventful, bar the occasional good bit of turbulence. Nice to see the crew blatantly ignoring a “Cabin Crew take your seats” announcement from the flight-deck and continue standing up / walking round.
Now here is the good bit – the blatant “helping themselves” – or “theft”, if you prefer of items from the service carts by crew. From where I was sat I could see the overhead bin where the FSM had his carry-on bag, the bin over 1G, accessed from the A aisle. Particularly towards the end of the flight he frequently accessed his bag and was shoving items into it. Cans of mixers / non-alcoholic drinks / large bottles of water etc. Our off-duty pilot in 4G was given a carrier bag with at least two [full size] bottles of something in it. Other crew members were seen taking service items from the front galley towards the back as we neared approach to Orlando – I doubt these were for passengers.
Basically this was not, in my opinion, a good FSM. I have been advised by a V-flyer moderator that I can post a description of him. Tall, short dark hair, lots of tattoos on each arm and a very distinctive Apple watch. Any MAN based crew should know exactly who I am talking about.
Approach into Orlando was very windy and the pilot flying must have been having fun keeping the aircraft stable. This would explain the “somewhat” firm landing. But we got there in one piece.
Immigration was fast with Global Entry. Baggage was slow – when the VS ground-rep was frequently on her radio seeking updates.
Let’s see what the return flight brings in a few days – can’t be much worse than the outbound.
