V-Flyer

I know this is a bit late, but it's my first TR and so thought I'd share it before my next one in August (I say TR - the weather was so bloomin' cold we didn't actually do that much while we were there to report)
Also apologies if it's long-winded!

It hadn't started too great as the nutter decided to set his pants on fire on Christmas Day - meaning that the VA website then declared we should arrive at least a day or so early to get through security as pants may need to be shown , in addition to the snow that had been randomly falling - not the ideal countdown to a holiday.

Sunday arrives and the OLCI is done with little trouble - I had every intention of paying the 50 gold pieces to sit in the exit row anyway to stretch out my legs. I was actually travelling to meet up with friends, some of who were flying out of Gatwick the same time as I was leaving Manchester - they called me on the Sunday afternoon saying they had been to the Twilight Check-In at Gatwick and had been given the third degree and asked where their hand luggage was. They were told that there was to be no hand luggage and so I would need to make sure my laptop was packed away. Luckily I had booked the ticket when the allowance was still 2 pieces of hold luggage so stuck the entire backpack into a small case. At midnight, I had finally done everything I needed (work stuff needed finishing) and then started watching some 'Ghosts Caught On Camera' programme to drop off to. 1am and I wondered why I'd watched it for an hour...

I am rudely awoken at 3.45am by my lift to the airport. First time in 30+ years I'd slept through my alarm. Luckily, my ex Brother-in-law didn't mind and made a drink while I jumped a shower - a quick coffee later and we were off to the M62 and the 40 min drive to the airport.

Arrive at Terminal 2 at 4.50am with the ominous sight of small snowflakes starting to drift down and what seemed to be several hundred people packed into the terminal hall. Grabbed suitcases and was wished good luck as Driver headed back to Liverpool for another few hours sleep.

At this point, I will point out that this is the first time I had flown from Manchester in almost 13 years (usually go from Gatwick with the rest of the folks I travel with) and I'm not a 'hardened' traveller - usually 2 trips to Orlando and one to Spain a year.

I walked into the terminal and saw that the people were all queueing for some other flight - and I asked a passing GS for said airline where the VA check-in was. She pointed to the other part of the terminal and added 'there's no-one there yet though' So I wandered through past the escalators to a huge, empty check-in area. rows of VA desks lining the wall of a huge empty space. I plonked myself down in the middle of the floor and started to read my book - my only hand luggage - and a security man came from out behind the desks (I noticed a couple more watching) and asked what i was waiting for. (I resisted the temptation to say Christmas) - I told him I was there early as I wanted an exit seat and following the VA website instructions to add some time. He then informed me that they had not been told about an early start and so there would be no VA staff there until at least 6am. He told me to sit on a bench and kindly watched my cases as I got what I loosely term coffee from the vending machine.

The security started to set up the ticket check desk and partitions for the expected queue hoardes at about 5.45, and the Security man came over to me and told me that if I stand at the little desk at the front of the queue he'd tell the GS that I had been there for ages and that I wanted the exit seat.

Staff appeared at about 6.20am, milling about behind the desk, by which time a couple of families had arrived, one of them quite upset that they weren't first in the queue and quite loudly stating that 'he better not get the seat we want' I turned and smiled and prayed that they wanted the exit seats I was going to get. The GS started filing out, and the woman for the ticket check came over and asked if it was me that wanted the exit seat. I told her it was and she asked if I was a FC member. I told her I was and she asked if I knew if I had any miles. I told her that I had over 100k miles. She then asked me if rather than the exit seat would I be interested in paying the same amount and using 10,000 miles for an upgrade to PE - which of course I was. I was removed to the ticket desk where I paid for my upgrade and was then ushered to the front of the check-in queue, and could hear the loud family complaining that they wanted their brood of about 8 upgraded too.

Boarding pass collected, informed it was at gate 300 and listen for announcements and up through Security which was quick and painless due to my having no belts on my jeans and only carrying a book.

Then I'm airside. And wow, absolutely nothing to do. I didn't realise there was so little to do at Manchester, so although it was only just about 7am, I got a burger and coffee, then after that went and grabbed a magazine. I had now exhausted everything I could do so went and sat in the bar near the windows, looking out at the dark, now fog-shrouded runways. But at least it wasn't snowing. I got myself a beer (it felt about 3pm to me due to lack of sleep and lots of coffee) and called my friends who had just arrived at Gatwick to be told that their flight was already delayed at least 4 hours. The quickly cobbled plan was all information about any delays was going to my brother, who would then call the person that was meeting us at Orlando airport at a more reasonable time.

After beer I decided that unless I wanted to start feeding all my money into the fruit machines dotted about the area I could go to the gate and wait. Wasn't actually sure what time the 'second' security check would happen but thought it would be better to be there and reading than sitting in the bar drinking.

Finds Gate 300 in the bowels of the building - a big empty room, with a partitioned area 'the clean area' and took up a seat next to the entrance and waited - conversely reading and calling people to see what was going on (We found out the week before that BBC News seemed to know more about flight delays than the passengers when I was telling my friends at Gatwick what was going on because of the snow as they were being told nothing.) The lounge started to fill up so I trekked up to the bathroom before it got too busy. Upon returning there was a lot more people, as there had been an announcement made just as I went into the toilets. I went back to the seat I had been sitting on and waited for a further announcement.

I was then called to be told the VA website was saying our flight was delayed by 40 minutes, no big deal and I had expected as much as they hadn't started the secondary security at 9.45, when the flight was due to take off at 10.25.

As if by magic, the secondary security opened. I was straight through and took up a seat near the desk at the exit doors. As people started filing in a staff member was wandering round telling no-one in particular that the flight was delayed an hour and new take off would be 11.30, boarding to start at 10.45. Then I heard a couple of GS talking about getting coffee and sandwiches brought down for us as we might be there a while - luckily just after the same two staff were talking about it being 'sorted'

Meanwhile I was surrounded by large families with Manchester City/United shirts and shorts on (it was -4 at this point, and felt it down in the bowels of the building) And they didn't seem to like my Scouse accent making several calls if the dirty looks were anything to go by - either that or the fact that I was dressed like a sane human being

We were finally told at 10.35 that we would be departing at 12.00, and that we would start boarding shortly - and as this was announced the little buses began to pull up. UC and PE passengers were called and queue all the 'why do they get on first' comments (mostly from kids/teenagers but not all)

I was in line for the first bus, calling everyone to say I would be boarding and to call Orlando with my new arrival time, telling the peeps at Gatwick I was about to get on the plane while they had another 3 hours to wait!

Then the most surreal part - the little bus was jam-packed and off we headed - into the fog - you could see nothing until you were really close to it and then it was a dark shape looming out of the fog, seeing the plane appear like this was pretty Twilight- Zone-ish (If anyone has ever played the game Silent Hill - it was just like that!)

Then it's up the steps (it was FREEZING out on the tarmac) gets to my seat, first time I have ever been downstairs in PE so was a bit different. Took the offered sparkly stuff and makes a last call. Seems to me that boarding was done really quickly as they were soon closing the doors, - maybe the fog was lifting or snow coming - and seatbelt signs were on in what I estimate was 20 minutes after I boarded.

In-flight entertainment time. - First up was The Hurt Locker, which I had been wanting to see - and luckily my screen and headphone socket worked - food and drinks came round during this - I had some chicken concotion but had to leave it when realised it had mushrooms - I'm allergic. The salad, bread and dessert did me as I'd had the burger, and I got a beer. Then the Baileys was offered (and accepted).

I was cleaning up after the film when the seatbelt sign came on and the Captain announced that there may be some turbulence. I Settled myself to watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and spent the entire film with my seatbelt on as we went through nearly 3 hours of turbulence!!!

The staff were conspicuous by their absence before the light went on, so when it was off and I could stretch my legs I went and got myself another drink and a cola too - that would be me for the rest of the flight. They came around with the ice-cream and announced that they couldn't tell us how long we had left of the flight but that the in-flight map would be switching off and the seat belt sign would come on an hour before we landed - then kindly added that if we wanted to know where we were, to look out of the right side of the plane!

Last movie time, and I judged that we had enough time for me to watch Up(and hoped that the waterworks wouldn't come on this time like they did in the cinema) About half way through they announced that as the seat belt sign would soon be on to take the chance to use the toilets - so we were about an hour away.

Fairly straightforward landing, which was great after the bumpy ride - and as I only had a book, I decided to squash my way through to get off the plane ASAP.

Border Control was great, only 2 other people in there when I got down and I got a rather chatty officer - I told her the rest of the party were arriving from Gatwick and she told me that 'those guys are real late today' - straight through and then cases off in 15 minutes. Through customs and up the stairs, opting to take the cases on the monorail.

Off the monorail to be met by my best mate who informed me that we had time to go to the villa and unpack as the Gatwick flight was at least 4 hours away. Then he added that it wasn't as warm as usual - this would be the understatement of the trip..

Great first TR, sorry the weather wasn't good - we had a number of v-flyers complaining at the time!

I'm hoping the 24 days in August/September will make up for the cold on the last trip!

I was still checking in VS at this point in time and I really wish all the passengers I dealt with were as understanding about hand luggage as you were; prepared and accepting rather than screaming in my face as if it was my fault some guy tried to blow up his trousers!!

For a first TR, you have done a terrific job

I was out in St. petes in Florida at the same time (went on the 30th) and the cold was unbelievable.

Nice one on the upgrade and getting a better seat that the one "they" wanted

buns

Lizz - I really don't understand how people could have had a problem with hand luggage at that point. I was lucky that I had an extra case but apparently they were allowing everyone a piece of hold luggage over the allowance to compensate for the lack of hand luggage. To me, it meant I was off the plane quicker in Orlando.

@Buns. I swear I couldn't believe the sheer cheek of the family. They were complaining to each other that I was in the queue first even though I was there about 2 hours before them, then they were complaining I was getting an upgrade even though I quite obviously went to pay extra and used miles.
I'm just glad I wasn't sitting near them on the flight.

Don't take it personally Ian.

You would have been blamed whatever it was they wanted even if it wasn't your fault. You could have even been on a totally different flight and airline yet still get the blame for whatever sleight it was.

Henceforth, you will now be known as 'that ffing awful man who ruined our holiday'.

To be honest Tonty, I'm glad it was so cold as I'm sure we would have bumped into them in one of the parks otherwise (we only did Seaworld for New Year, Busch Gardens on 3rd Jan and Universal on 7th Jan - but had been to buy jumpers and hoodies before we attempted this - normally there would have been Disney and water parks too) I was glad I flew back to Gatwick though.
I should mention that the year before I flew to and from Gatwick and got a free upgrade at the gate due to a family wanting to all sit together (but they weren't complaining like the ones at Manchester) _ I was again flying alone and so was easier to upgrade me than a family.

Thank you for the great first TR.

I wouldn't worry about the family either, they're probably the type that have to moan about everything. If they wanted to be in the queue first then they should have got earlier than you.