V-Flyer

Another trip to the sunshine state and this one was again from LGW. Check in was marked down - but should probably be in a notch between good and excellent as there was only a slight wait in line after a large group travelling in P/E where checked in in front of me, the ticket checker at the entrance seemed more bothered about the wait than I did.

Fast track wasn't really, but I suspect some of the tensa barriers had been moved and there was people in the queue that probably shouldn't have been.

After a quick sprint round the duty free, it was onwards to the haven of the clubhouse, which was actually pretty quiet - the posters have all been removed on the corridor walls along the entrance and I heard talk of the desk or the entrance being moved, so I wonder if its maybe expanding a bit into the corridor [?] who knows, but looking through one of the doors, it would give an ideal opportunity for a private security channel ala Heathrow using a lane of the upstairs security. (you can but dream[:D])

Welcomed like a long lost friend again [:)] it was soon breakfast time and as I was offered a glass of champagne with the order, it seemed rude to refuse (even if it was only half eight [:I])

Breakfast was great, even if it seemed a little smaller than usual (as many have commented) but was put right shortly after with a 25th anniversary clubhouse sandwich.

All to soon the 4ish hours dissappeared and the ones that were left were personally told of boarding, which I thought was quite nice.

Priorty boarding was clearly marked and worked well. For our last few flights form LGW, they use the gates around 19 and not the satellite and with the announcements and the huge signs it seems to be working really well.

First in to a full upper class, although the loads down the back were very poor, and welcomed by name with another glass of perfectly chilled champagne.

It was very noticable that the FSM (who I am sure I have flown with before)and the rest if the staff addressed me by name throughout the whole flight and indeed as I was leaving [y]

Food was very good - had the pea and mint soup [y], the steak pie [y][y] and the strawberry roulade thingy [y] followed by a perfect - hot - cappaccino [y]

I have certainly noticed an improvement in the past year from stuff that was uneadable to now empty plates returning.

The rest of the flight was pretty much as it should have been - odysessy worked well with no bad pictures or sound although the film choice could have been more exciting - tried Star Trek and the Fast and the Furious which passed the time.

Landed into Orlando on the nearest runway which saved around 15 mins of taxing straight through a quiet immigration (forms have changed again from May and now have start/expiry dates of passports, telephone number when in Florida and email address which have probably filled up the lines which used to say visa issued in which town)and onwards to Dollar for the car.(maybe time to start looking elsewhere - this is the 3rd car in a row which has had over 40,000 miles and covered in scratches - although I suspct its more to do with the economy)

We were checked into HGV on IDrive less than 1 hour after the plane docked at the gate so a great start to a long weekend in the sunshine.

David

Thanks for taking time to write, have a great holiday

cheers

alex

Thanks for the TR, glad the flight was everything it should be.

Your comments about Dollar are a little concerning. We have booked with them for late October but I have read numerous bad things about them lately and our SUV in Feb, whilst it was an upgrade, was high mileage also.

Thanks,
Neil

Thank you for taking the time to write the TR.[y]

David

Thanks for the TR[y][y]

Looks like a pretty flawless performance to me - Gatwick will always remain my favourite Clubhouse and to hear of the personal greeting and the rest of the service there just make me realise what will to have to put into our memory banks during the much needed refit over the coming months.
quote:I heard talk of the desk or the entrance being moved, so I wonder if its maybe expanding a bit into the corridor who knows, but looking through one of the doors, it would give an ideal opportunity for a private security channel ala Heathrow using a lane of the upstairs security. (you can but dream)

The rumour i have heard is that the entrance will be moved to the other end of the Clubhouse giving direct access into the Terminal - that should make some fun watching as people try to blag their way in[}:)]

I too have had the same issues with Dollar recently and have to agree that it is the US economy that is resulting in Dollar keeping cars much longer than they would like[V] However, i suspect that many of the other companies are in the same boat

Have a great time in the sunshine State

buns

quote:Originally posted by buns

I too have had the same issues with Dollar recently and have to agree that it is the US economy that is resulting in Dollar keeping cars much longer than they would like[V] However, i suspect that many of the other companies are in the same boat
buns


quote:Originally posted by Neil


Your comments about Dollar are a little concerning. We have booked with them for late October but I have read numerous bad things about them lately and our SUV in Feb, whilst it was an upgrade, was high mileage also



Up to now, its never really bothered me because of the price paid. I think the May rental for a week for a mid SUV came in around 180 (a fantastic deal) and this one for a sebring conv for 5 days is around 220. If it got silly money, then yes a rethink is in order, but I agree, is there anyone better at the present.

thanks for all the comments

David

it might not just be Dollar though, I always rent through Hertz and my car this year was so scratched you'd have thought a 17 year old who'd just passed his test had been allowed in it. I've never had a car like that from them before. Was very careful about them making note of every mark on car when I picked it up. I assumed it was because I picked it up in a hotel in Orlando rather than a high volume place like the airport. Never thought about the economy!

Lynne

Thanks for the TR, glad to hear everything went well.

Dominic

Thanks for the TR, good to hear the food both in CH and flight didn't disappoint - Crew sounded first class too.