This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
A mediocre breakfast looked good but cold then off to checkin. A queue even for UC but soon away to security. Forgot my watch again so paid with a full search.
Up to the Lounges: Servisair was packed solid so into the Escape luckily the left hand side was still quiet it looks as if it is not part of the Escape: most go into the right hand room which was quite busy. Toilets are probably the dirtiest of any lounge Ive been in perhaps as a result of a number of lounges sharing.
Called for boarding on time, G-VROY Party Woman, but then the games began: 30 mins before Wheelchairs (8) were taken another 30 mins before priority boarding was called they did manage to get that working reasonably well but when we arrived they were still trying to get people out of the wheelchairs we then had to back up to get the empty chairs out.
Take off 50mins late. I feel sorry for the crew in this situation aircraft was not ready not their fault - but they obviously get the resulting pax frustration.
Meal was good , very tasty had the Butternut soup (quite peppery) and Chicken. Service was professional and as one would expect in UC. The cabin and suites were certainly clean no complaints there the ife was rather limited but I carry my own DVDs. I really cant understand why Virgin persists in just offering antiquated ife when personal units are available at a fraction of the price of the original built-in kit.
The better half had a Spooky Seat which caused some amusement but the CC came up with a fix: pull the TV slightly out of its mount and the seat movements stop! Why, I cant explain, as it is on the opposite side of the seat from the seat controls but it did work!
Fairly bumpy as we crossed the jet stream - did you know about the site that gives a jet stream forecast? http://virga.sfsu.edu/gif/jetstream_atl_h24_00.gif very useful to know when to get the head down!
Did not see the FSM in the cabin but had a chat in the galley while we both had a coffee. She prefers the MAN base small number of crew so everyone knows one another they dont get away with not pulling their weight and are rarely crew down. They get a different hotel in MCO from the LGW crew and are much happier with that route indeed prefer it.
Arrived in MCO not far from scheduled time but had to wait 15 for the tug into the jetway. No priority disembark! Luckily no other flights before us so not too many queuing for immigration we did our usual trick of going next to US citizens sure enough our line moved three times as fast.
Luggage was through in about 5 minutes quickly through customs and sending luggage back into the system for the tram to the terminal. We were staying at the Hyatt so went straight to checkin they collect the bags from the second belt and they were up to our room within 20 minutes.
Relax for a while on the balcony overlooking the airport then down to McCoys the best place to eat at MCO.
An easy and relaxing days travel so much better than our earlier trips across the pond when we drove to the airport on the morning of the flight then drove to the hotel after landing. That sort of hassle we have happily left behind!
Virgin perhaps not quite as good as it used to be but Ive no real complaints on this trip we have had much worse trips & service on the dark side!
Just hope Virgin are still flying for our return.
