This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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As you might imagine, we watched all the past weeks VS flights to MCO with interest!!! Most had a 6 to 8 hour delay.
We now live nr Heathrow, and decided we would split the delays over 2 days.
The day before the flight, we would travel from home to LGW. Join the queues at LGW, and use the twilight check-in. The next day, we would arrive very early at LGW, and join the massive queues for security Mrs Danno, and the kids were not happy with this idea, but, I thought it would be for the best.
As you know, all the best made plans dont always go to plan! And, I for one, and happy for this!!!
So, to summarise
Tuesday after noon, 3pm Arrive @ LGW. Parked at the short stay car park. Unload, and make the way to departures. Follow the signs to the terminal, and walk thru the tunnel thingy. The moving walkways are moving, but have a barrier to stop people mounting them. So, without option, walk down beside them. Get only half way down, and come to a complete stop. After this, it takes about 20 mins to get into the actual terminal. Once we walk in, there is mayhem Not just a little mayhem, but massive mayhem Now, as I (and almost any normal person might think), got really worried. There was a really nice BAA chap, asking who we were flying with. I explained we were all flying VS, and he smiled, and said, all the MASSIVE (must have been 2+ hours) queues were for Thompson or Thomas Cook (Sorry, cant remember). To avoid the lines, we should go straight ahead, and turn left, and left again. He also reassured us that, VS did not have ANY queues at that time (Pheeeeewwwww). We followed the instructions, and found a VERY VERY VERY empty twilight check-in.
After 2 mins @ the ticket desk (another story for another time), we walked straight up to desk (no waiting because no-one else was using the check-in), spent, at most, 15 mins to check in all 5 pax and 3 bags. Got our boarding passes (seats as requested via on-line allocation (not DIY check-in)), and made for the exit! Had it not been for the 2 min delay @ the ticket desk, I would have only had to pay for 1 hour in the short stay! Who would have thought, that after the last week or MEGA delays, it would have been so very quick, and so very easy!
10 out of 10 for the twilight check-in!!! Anyone that can use it, really should Having used it, while the staff at the airport and VS staff must have felt the pressure, it must be even more of a breeze during normal travel times!
Wed morning, left home at a silly hour of the morning, expecting the worst on the M25. Even with the road works, breezed thru in under 40 mins Bit of a shame, because we could have squeezed in another hour sleep
Got to South Terminal, expecting another long delay to enter the terminal Nothing! Straight in, and up to security. To my SURPRISE, it took less than 10 mins to get thru. Given that I had a laptop, and the kids all had PSPs and ipods etc, I expected hours! What a happy surprise and result!!!
Gotta cut this short Will talk about the 6 hours delay for the flight, and complete the actual VS flight report tomorrow night.
