V-Flyer

Following our short Christmas break in St Petes Beach on the Gulf Coast, the regretful day had arrived for our return to dear old blighty[:(]. The usual two hour drive back to Orlando was interspersed with the obligatory stop off to do some last minute shopping and combined with some traffic delays, meant that we did not arrive at MCO until close to 3.30 (nearly an hour later than expected). I adopted the usual routine whereby I dropped Mrs Buns and the luggage at the upper departure level and returned the Dollar hire car to the garage below. I find this saves carting all the bags back up to the upper level to check in (as there are no trolleys available) and helps with reducing stress levels[y].

That said, we arrived inside the Terminal to find the VS check in area in absolute chaos[:(!][:(!]. We caught the remnants of VS28 checking in, together with the later LGW flight and the MAN flight. Fortunately, we were UC so there was no queue to get checked in and this process was conducted speedily and efficiently with boarding cards and the invitation to the Delta lounge issued . However, this is where the fun at MCO starts. After you have checked in, you then have to take your bags over to the TSA screeners behind you (UC have a porter do it for them BTW) drop them off and make your way airside. There was a sea of bags of all descriptions and it did seem (as we were to subsequently find out) that the number of bags simply overwhelmed the TSA personnel and machine[n][n]. My advice to anyone travelling from MCO would be to make use of the Downtown Disney Check in if at all possible.

By now it was close to 4.15 and the queues to get through the security procedures were enormous, so Mrs Buns and I retired to McCoys Restaurant in the Hyatt Hotel (which sits above the security screening area) and partook of our final American fare. Although there is an Outback Steakhouse airside, McCoys offers peace and tranquillity. About 45 minutes later we made our way down to join the queue to go through security screening. By this time the queue was considerably shorter than when we had gone to McCoys. One small point to mention is that unlike many other US airports, there are no priority lines for premium passengers. Anyway, after removing coats, shoes and belts and then putting all back on we were on our way to the Delta Lounge via the transit shuttle.

As others have reported, the Delta Lounge is no Clubhouse, yet it does offer comfortable seating, drinks and a place to collect ones thoughts before boarding. Delta offers facilities not only to its own passengers and those from VS, but also BA and other international airlines departing from the Satellite B Terminal. So Mrs Buns always like to play the game spot the BA pax[}:)][}:)]. One other thing to point out about the Terminal is this is where the Hooters Airline departs from; so next time I must get around to looking out for their flight attendants (preferably without Mrs Buns noticing[B)]).

Scheduled departure (6.15pm) was delayed by 30 minutes so around 6pm there was a pre-boarding announcement in the Delta Lounge and after thanking the staff there, Mrs Buns and I made our way to the Gate. As is always the case at MCO, a mass of adults and children were congregated around the gate area waiting for the flight to be called. However, the priority boarding sign and line were self evident[^][^] (a tip that Gatwick might like to latch on to perhaps) and at 6.15pm the flight was announced and Mrs Buns and I were one of the first to board with some envious looks as we descended to the jet way. On board Pretty Woman we made our way to 8& 9A; magazines, newspapers and drinks were soon offered. As a last acknowledgment that is was the festive season, the boarding music was Christmas tunes. As boarding progressed, the cabin crew made sure we were topped up with drinks and sleep suits and amenity kits were handed out (the kits had a small Chrimbo present of OB snowflake cufflinks). I made a quick change into my suit as the port side washroom was to be out of commission (blocked) and long queues were the order of the day for the only remaining washroom as it was also used by the PE and Y pax in the forward part of the aircraft.

The captain welcomed all the passengers on board with one of the best lines I have ever heard Virgin Atlantic is renowned for having the best cabin crew in the business unfortunately they are all at home spending time with their families so you will have to put up with this lot! The joke was greatly appreciated as he then went on to tell us of the cold weather that faced us back home (with the prospect of heavy snow) after the warmth of the winter Florida sunshine with the added line for those of you still in shorts and tee shirts[oo][oo]. This approach sums up why I continue to use VS the down to earth approach and not trying to suggest that passengers are not worthy of being on the aircraft (like some other UK carriers I can think of) makes me feel at home and therefore at ease when I board the aircraft.

Departure was delayed even further and the APU gave up plunging the aircraft into emergency lighting. Eventually we pushed back at 7.15pm and I noticed that the later Gatwick flight had yet to arrive at MCO. After a long trek across the airport, the aircraft eventually took of at around 7.45.

The cabin service commenced shortly after take off and in the absence of any Bellini mixture, I opted to remain on the Laurent Perrier champagne. Dinner choices were

Starters

Leaf Salad with sliced beef
Cream of sweet onion and leek soup
Herb marinated Mozzarella

Mains

Baked cod fillet with potato wedges and broccoli (with tomato sauce)
Saut_ed chicken breast
Butternut squash ravioli

Cheeses

Camembert; Gorgonzola; Double Diamond Irish style Darby

Desserts

Chocolate pyramid with raspberry coulis and fresh berries; vanilla ice cream with or without strawberry, black pepper and mint compote.

I just opted for the Cod followed by the plain ice cream washed down with the LP fizz. I watched the excellent Mrs Henderson Presents and at the conclusion of the film, it was time to convert my suite to a bed, have a glass of port and let the worst of the transatlantic turbulence pass me by.

Some four hours later, I was being awoken for breakfast of bacon roll and with the helpful cabin crew (who let me use the disabled washroom to change) I was back into my day clothes. Throughout the flight, the cabin crew had been excellent, making sure my pre ordered duty free was delivered and taking the time to have a chat to make sure all was well with both me and Mrs Buns (a nice touch i always feel)

We landed at a snow encrusted Gatwick an hour later than scheduled at 7.40am and after trekking back through the labyrinth of corridors to immigration and then the carousel, we arrived just in time to see the bags emerging and two of our bags came off very quickly. Regretfully, we then spent the next 40 minutes watching every other conceivable bags than ours go round with the increasing dread that our final bag had been mislaid. With final resignation we made our way across to the Groundstar desk and filed our report to be told that because of security delays our final bag would be on the later flight that day.

..To be continued..

Another absorbing read, Buns. [^][^]

Lost bags are frustrating (ask Nick [:p]) but looking on the bright side, it saves you carrying it! I look forward to the Postscipt and hopefully hearing that the errrant bag turned up safe and sound?

Dave

Sorry to learn of the bag problem, but intrigued, as the famed commentator Paul Harvey used to say, to learn 'the rest of the story'.

Welcome home and thanks for your always excellent TR. BTW how did you find the food? Cod offering sounds like comfort food.

Chuck-

Buns

An excellent TR, well written, enjoyable and informative! Many thanks.

We'll be flying INTO MCO in a few months... (hmm must update my Sig) then out of MIA

Nice TR Buns, I always prefer the Downtown Disney check-in for the same reasons, although on my next jaunt there is no way I can do this on the return, so not looking forward to the hussle at the airport along with the thought of not getting all my bags at the end of it.

I'm intrigued about the disabled restroom, do you mean disabled as in the one you mentioned was out of action?

Paul

Dave

Many thanks - the bag turned up (eventually) safe and sound

Chuck

The tale will be continued once I have resolved the bag issue[;)][;)]

As far as the food goes, without the tomato sauce, (we are not talking the 57 variety here) the meal would have lacked any descernable taste.

Decker

Many thanks - you can be assured of a warm welcome at the Gatwick clubhouse when you fly out to MCO[y][y]

p17blo

I think for those who cannot get to use Disney to check in, the moral of the story must be to check in early an hope for the best.

Apologies about any confusion about the washroom. To clarify, the Starboard UC washroom was placed out of use because it was blocked at the start of the flight. As I merely wanted to change into my sleeper suit and subsequently day gear, the crew kindly allowed me to use it[^][^]

Always a pleasure to read a Buns TR [:)][y]
Shame about the bag delay, sounds like a good flight though [:)]

Cheers

Michael

Mcuth

Many thanks

sounds like a good flight though

It certainly was[y] Had a good sleep and was suitably refreshed to make my way to London (using a GEX voucher)and spend the full day at work