VS076 MCO-MAN 11 Dec 06 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

It was lovely looking forward to the UC suite for our trip home after a great holiday - makes it easier going hame.[:)]

We had a few hours at Universal before changing and heading to MCO. Roads near the airport are not easy to navigate, but we managed without taking a wrong one, and soon had the car dropped off. Finding Virgin check in at the terminal was another matter though![?]

We spotted the UC line and joined behind three other folk and waited, and waited! Now, there was no-one on the desk, just one Virgin representative on the phone averting her eyes from us. The lady in charge of the UC and PE queue was getting annoyed and was trying to pull a check in person down, which eventually happened and we followed the others through and were checked in by a very pleasant man, given our Delta Crown Lounge invitations and told where to go and fortunately and more importantly how to get there![:D] Have you been to MCO?

The Lounge was large and comfy, but only offered nibbles and biscuits apart from any drinks of course. We settled down for a few hours - a much better place to be than the gate area! There were some cheese and crackers provided later which pleased us.

Wandered down to the gate and were first on this time before the wheelchairs, which surprised us. We were welcomed by some friendly crew and offered champagne. Now, we had at least 45 minutes before flight time, so it was wonderful to just relax and enjoy the suite and surroundings.

We were very well looked after and we have no complaints at all. Crew were lovely. [y] Suites, tables, entertainment systems all appeared in good order. I couldn't catch the name of the plane. Only 3 of the people in the cabin took the sleepsuits, but my trousers were so tight after the excesses of a holiday of good eating I was pleased to change as quickly as possible. I just worried I may have had to keep them on to travel home in the morning! Meal orders were soon taken and drinks offered.

Food - very good. We both chose the onion soup, which was slightly salty for my taste but very nice. Had a couple of different types of bread too. I chose the cod, mashed potato and veg and it was really very good fairly light meal. We both finished with the warm key lime cheesecake which was lovely. Peppermint tea and a chocolate ended my meal and I finished watching the film. We soon changed our seats and tried to settle down to what was left of the night. The lights had soon been turned down after the meal and was a good light for the night.

We had the same couple and baby in the front seats, but they were talking in subdued tones, so there was no problem there and the baby slept from a short time after take off!! They did liven up in the morning though and we heard all about their holiday and where the baby had been!!

Unfortunately I didn't sleep too well - the mattress is really not all that comfortable is it, but I was certainly better than I had been on previous trips home from the US!! It was so very warm too. My husband got up to put his air on him, then later woke to found the guy from 6K turning it off, which he stopped doing, saying sorry when he saw he had woken my husband. Later he woke again to find that the guy had been to the FA to ask her to turn it off! Ah well, you can't please everyone!

An hour or so before landing the gentle activity in the galley started to rouse us and I went to change,(wow the trousers were uncomfortable, I wish I could have worn the sleepsuit home[:I]), and put my bed back to a seat. Breakfast for me was OJ, the fresh fruit and yogurt and a croissant, with a couple of cups of coffee to make me feel better!

After a good landing we arrived at the carousel to find our cases already there - now that is a record for us!! We were back at the Radisson and on our way under the hour from landing!!

We would certainly love to travel this way again - we have been spoiled, but we will have to see. Perhaps the new PE will be good - I wait for some reports.

Good report, Maz I also chose the onion soup and thought it tasted like a bucket of salt had been added - I gave feedback to the FA, since it's still such a new menu. Be thankful you didn't have the 'rubber' chicken!

As for the air, I turn mine right up (have to or I wake up due to the heat on night flights) and would be really annoyed if someone tried to turn it off!! As long as it's not pointing at them, what's the problem?!

Kerry

A good TR there Maz. Like you, I also found the UC cabin opressively hot in the middle of the 'night' on the flight. I know they always joke that airlines give people food & a couple of drinks on a night flight to make then drowsy, then crank up the heat to send them to sleep - this was certainly the case on my flight. (Was nice / different having a coffee & bacon roll lying down in bed on a flight though).

With regard to the sleepsuits - it looked like most of the UC passengers on my return flight chose to 'liberate' their sleepsuit, judging by the collection of black draw-string bags waiting round the carousel for the first few bags off the flight. I can assure you, they seem to wash quite well...

The priority baggage at MAN also worked a treat for me - I was one of the first off the plane and within 10mins of leaving the aircraft I was in the T2 car park.

James

Hubby had the chicken but I couldn't see how much he left!! I know he didn't eat much of the bacon sandwich, neither did others in the cabin!
I actually miss the cheese and biscuits but would have felt greedy to ask for them as well as the dessert, but you usually have cheese and biscuits in economy don't you, why not in UC?

Nice report Maz


jj...

I had the dessert as well as the cheese & biscuits and this was not a problem - both plates were on my table within a minute or two of ordering. As they say, if you don't ask, you don't get.

It's also worth remembering that even on an overnight flight with a small J cabin like on a LGW/MAN 744, they still have to load on a bit more UC food than they think they will need. This, in theory, allows people a fairly good chance of getting the meal they want (I know, I have read TR's on here that state quite the opposite happened in flight).

I do know from a friend who is ex-VS Crew, that once the UC pax have eaten (& they know there are unlikely to be any requests for the 'Freedom Menu', i.e. the J cabin is sleeping) that the crew often eat what is left of the J food.

James

So pleased you enjoyed your flight Maz[^]