V-Flyer

We had been due to fly on the 19th April back to LGW on VS28 but it was not to be. Rebooking (only 40 mintues on hold and at least on a 1-800 in the states) had offered use the start of May back to Gatwick or this flight back to Manchester. Notably the rebooking included some sensible seats picked but did not transfer our meal requests for the children which I did online later.

Meteor transferred our car to Manchester for about the same money as the train fares would have been for the five of us. We go on with enjoying ourselves and thanks to Searworld, Aquatica and WetnWild for letting us in gratis for a day each. We spent loads on ice cream to try to make it back to them!

Come the day OLCI didn't work as our oldest child had turned 12 whilst we were away. We knew this when we booked and sales had told us that the VS policy is age at the outward booking. OLCI doesn't know this.

Dropped the hire care off at MCO, which is quite an operation. Checked in at the desk. Short queue for this, speeded up by the passport autographer in the queue. Check in chap did not even mention the age of the children and seated us as sensibly as you can a party of five on a 747.

Looked around the terminal a bit and then through security with no real queuing. Quite an experience after four weeks of theme parks! Last of the dollars on duty free and a magazine and off to the gate. There really is not a lot airside at MCO but the gates are more pleasant than the "fish tanks" at LGW. There was a priority boarding line for those that like those things and my children loudly asked what upper class was just beside it. We just told them all the other things we could buy by flying Y!

Pushed back dead on time and up into the air flying out East over Kennedy although there was some low cloud at the coast which meant we did not get a great view. The map was on from before take-off and actually the children found that the whole system was running although there were limited windows where you could change channel.

Headphones given out and five minutes later the whole IFE restarted as it was pointed out that we were halfway through most of the programmes. Then restarted again after about five more minutes. I watched Legion which is vapid, violent fun! Even though we were on May's schedule for films I was a bit disappointed that the non film channels were showing exactly the same episodes as on the way out. Come on VS, would two episodes of Miranda really break the bank?

Children server spagetti and meatballs very fast and we later had a really pretty good Cottage Pie. Some sort of picked French beans in a pot were a bit weird but generally good.

After the film tried to get some sleep but with my children on both sides seemingly having more that the four elbows I had thought they did it did not get comfortable. The lady behind objected quite strongly to me reclining my seat fully and as I had to go home with her after the flight I though I had better leave it

Crew good and silent. I had my eyes shut a lot but did see a silent water run in the night. In truth the flight really dragged as could not sleep, read (too dark) and nothing much on IFE. Children all suddenly slept at about 2 hours before landing.

Breakfast was the infamous egg and cheese bagel. I ate two but not of the rest of my family would have one. Would a sealed croissant or pain au chocolat be any more difficult? It would certainly be more pleasant.

Noticed us climbing for the last hour or so, probably to get over the dust cloud. Youngest, who has a bit of a tendancy to travel sickness vomited during descent. Crew member brought vomit back and wipes and poly bag although she struggled a little with nails that looked like they would take stones out of horses' hooves. MrsJ managed a complete change of a six year old with seatbelt on!

Onto the ground, crew back to get the wipes as another child vomited. Bit of hanging around on the ground for five minutes and to the gate. Air bridge not working so single set of steps and really slow to empty the 'plane. Vomit bags passed around to other children accross the cabin and my boy vomited again in the aisle (a really big sorry to MAN cleaning teams)

Eventually off the steps, briefly locked out of the terminal but then swiftly through the terminal (stopped by an official with a questionairre though. Top tip - I am not good as answering money questions after an 8 hour night flight with no sleep)

Delighted to be back in the UK. As good a flight as can be expected, but I need some sleep.

Now, just to gather those receipts...

Gavin

Thanks for such an entertaining TR

There was a priority boarding line for those that like those things and my children loudly asked what upper class was just beside it. We just told them all the other things we could buy by flying Y!

LOL

Best you keep them away from the site, otherwise we have the prospect of a Junior V-Flyers Club being started up with Tizer at the helm and then everyone will be after those reward seats on the MCO route

Seriously, the extra 10 days out there must have been a strain on your family finances at the time - hopefully, this will all be resolved soon.

Sorry to hear about the little ones not being too well as you came into land - I am sure they will still want to go back to Orlando (and get that "extra" stay too )

buns

Thanks for the trip report especially from the point of view of someone affected by the ash cancellations. I was impressed that you managed to get your car transferred to MAN

Great TR, hopefully the extra days at the parks, made up for the hassle and immediate extra costs incurred. Hope you get sorted with all that side of things..

Your eldest turning 12...that may mean they qualified for Flying club enrollment for your return leg and any new flights into the future...

Thanks for a great TR.
Excellent service by Meteor - having Meet & Greet at all the main airports, I guess they would do quite a trade swapping cars around due to ash. I must admit I would not have thought of that as a solution. Hopefully insurance picks up the tab.

Thank you for the great TR.

GavinJ, very interesting TR.