V-Flyer

Doing this TR now as I'm desperately trying to stay awake.

Decided to do OLCI and print off my boarding pass - just because I could and had never done it before. No problems at all.

Plan was that I would be driven to LGW Sunday lunchtime, unfortunately this didn't go quite to plan (long boring story) so Saturday afternoon looked at train times and due to the dreaded engineering works this wasn't feasible either.

I could have driven myself but as I am staying 28 days I couldn't justify the cost of parking against my other option which was National Express coach to London Victoria - a dreaded 2 and half hour trip but only 6 pounds. Pretty boring and uncomfortable as far as Golders Green but as most passenger got off there the rest of the journey was better and quite a pleasant sight seeing tour of London. Crossed over from the coach station and took the Gatwick Express. I sat in First Class, with my e-ticket and upgrade voucher in hand and realised I had picked up a HEX voucher by mistake. As the train was a reduced service and packed I offered to pay the difference but the nice man let me off.

Executive room secured at the Hilton(I've stayed in the same room the last 3 journeys) and a few G&Ts later I was suitably relaxed.

Left the Hilton at 8.30am and through Fastrack in around 5 minutes. Service in the Clubhouse was excellent but just had drinks as I wasn't feeling hungry, probably due to a slight hangover.

Flight was on time and priority boarding worked well - although I had to wait at the plane door as the wrong half of the pre-printed boarding pass had been returned to me but the crew apologised profusely.

Food was OK, enjoyed the Hot Salmon Starter, the sausages were just OK but the Ice Cream was so frozen I doubt it's melted now - however the chocolate button went down a treat. Really enjoyed the afternoon tea, lovely to get a warm scone again - something I really missed the last couple of journeys. I watched Dreamgirls, I loved it but definitely a chick flick. I also watched Will Smith in 'The Pursuit of Happiness' and thought it was even better.

I had met a couple of friends in the Clubhouse who were travelling in PE and during the flight I asked if they could join me at the bar - the FSM was very happy for them to do this and she came over herself and poured drinks for us. All the crew were excellent.

Landed around 10 minutes early, immigration was empty and I had no luggage to wait for. However, the Dollar queue was horrendous with only 2 staff on duty. I waited for over an hour and even had a proposal of marriage from a lovely Canadian [:I] (another long story). It was probably worth waiting though, as when I was eventually served I complained and asked for a free upgrade to a convertible as compensation. As I had only paid for a Compact car I wasn't hopeful but managed to get one for $140 ($5 per day) - I thought that was a pretty good deal.

With the top down driving down the 417 toll road with the sun shining and 29C I was glad I paid and it will be really nice for our drive to Marco Island next week and our stay at the Hilton for 4 days.


Jilly

The contrast of National Express and UCS, train conductors (aren't they known as 'revenue agents' or somesuch now) using their initiative, proposals of marriage and a negligible cost upgrade - a journey of contrasts and some excitement I think.

Thanks for posting and have an excellent time.

Paul

What a great TR Jilly, thanks [y]

Glad you had a good flight, and enjoy your hols!

Dominic

Excellent TR Jilly thank you and have a great holiday. [8D] [y]

Wow that was a seriously underutilised bar for a LGW flight then if they could make space for PE pax! How lovely for you all. It's always nice when they're flexible like that. I spent a memorable flight with a colleague from PE at the bar. Seem to recall he had MAJOR problems getting through immigration afterwards. Something about an entry requirement of being able to string a coherent sentence together. Thanks for the prompt TR - they're always better when fresh!

Ive never seen pax using the Bar on the LGW config. I wouldn't be comfortable sitting there in full display of all and sundry.

Mind you it doesn't seem to bother me at the pub.....

Quote: I could have driven myself but as I am staying 28 days I couldn't justify the cost of parking against

Can't wait for the sequel - '28 Days Later'....[}:)]

Enjoy your holiday Jilly and thanks for the trip report.

My if thats what happened on your journey outbound I await with anticipation your return report![:o)]

Originally posted by jilly
I waited for over an hour and even had a proposal of marriage from a lovely Canadian [:I] (another long story).

Jilly

Oh no you don't. Come on, spill the beans...... [^]

Excellent TR. Makes me want to visit Florida again next Feb. So many place, so little time and even less money [:(]

The food sounded awful. is that REALLY the UC menu???

I'd agree that the menu doesn't sound too appetising. I don't think sausages are the right choice for Upper - they are unnatural, processed and not fancy however fancy they try to be! Bring on the lobster!

On the subject of the bar, I have made good use of the LGW UC bar after dinner, and then conveniently fallen into bed afterwards. I may stick out in the small cabin, but it is I who has the last laugh as I watch the other folk avoiding it and sleeping in their clothes to boot, rather than a sleepsuit. Amateurs!

Great read, thanks jilly [^]

Did the printed UC boarding pass have a purple trim?

Originally posted by onionz
I'd agree that the menu doesn't sound too appetising. I don't think sausages are the right choice for Upper - they are unnatural, processed and not fancy however fancy they try to be! Bring on the lobster!

Rubbery lobster, of course... [;)]

As most will know, I'm a big critic of the UK to US food selections, and given the amount of times I've complained about the similarity (i.e. spuds all round) and the heavy starch content of most of the food, the paranoid bit of me actually takes this personally and feels quite insulted.

I've made my thoughts known to VS on more than one occasion in the past, but they seem to have been swept under the carpet, so I'm left feeling unappreciated as a customer, or with an impression that VS management doesn't care that a J cabin passenger should either go hungry or have to bring their own food.

I personally think the US-UK menu started to take a nosedive some time in '03, and has become progressively worse, with occasional redeeming high points.

Mike

Thanks everyone for your kind comments.

Decker - no-one used the bar except us. The cabin was full of lightweights, all seemed to be single travellers apart from an elderly couple in row 6. I was glad I had someone to invite as unusually the people were very antisocial - or maybe I need to change my perfume.

Chris - no purple trim on the BC but at least it beeped at security.

The menu was poor but knowing it already I made sure I had plenty of bread with the starter, I did eat the sausages but even though they were quite flavoursome I'm sure they'd been cooked the day before. Didn't touch the potatoes.

Darren - TBH I'm a bit embarrassed about the Canadian. He was lovely and I must be so naive I didn't even realise he was interested. He was in town for a conference and no doubt was married himself (I'm naive but not stupid). He asked to take me to dinner at the Marriott and when I explained I was married (I don't wear a wedding ring) he didn't believe me and offered to put a diamond on my finger!

All very flattering but I was glad to get away - having said all that he was pretty cute!

Jilly

As Zar Zar Gabor said, 'I never hated a man enough to give him diamonds back.'

Thanks for staying awake Jilly!!

Good TR