V-Flyer

Now for the return leg of my Holiday in Orlando...

Although I flew out of Gatwick, I was flying back into Manchester so it would be easier for me to get back to Liverpool.

I arrived at Downtown Disney to check in at about 10am, noticing that there was a distinct lack of other passengers. While I was checking in I heard one of the other ground staff talking about bumping passengers. I was tempted to volunteer myself, as the friend I was there with was there another day anyway, but decided to keep my mouth shut....

Arrived at MCO at about 4.30pm for the 6.15 flight, walked through security and was soon in the Lounge (Delta I believe) having a quiet drink and reading my book.
I realised at about 5.50 I hadn't heard the flight called and thought it must have been delayed, so went over to the woman on the desk to see what the new time was. She apologised and said that the flight wasn't delayed, but confirmed she hadn't heard it called either.
Quick gather up and dash down the stairs and across the terminal and there is my gate, no-one else around except the ground crew who looked relieved to see me.

I was greeted on boarding by a V-Flyer member (Seats For Landing) who had emailed to tell me she was crew on the flight but was 'down the back' - she told me the flight was completely full but she would try to sneak along to say hello a bit later in the flight.

Take off happened pretty routinely, I was settled in my seat with a glass of bubbly and casually browsing the movies on offer - I can never sleep on flights - and then dinner was served.
Again, there was nothing on the menu I could actually eat (yes I am a fussy eater, but having three meals all with mushroom wasn't on - I'm allergic to them) I had intended grabbing a burger from the Burger King near the gate but the rush to the plane meant I missed out.
I was offered a plate of cheese and crackers and a glass of port, which I took (my table looked like a bar - beer, port, bubbly, coffee, water) and at that point I was so hungry I would have eaten the seatback magazine....

I settled down to watch Clash Of The Titans, noticing everyone else seemed to be getting their beds turned out. I scootched down into my seat, got comfortable and began watching the film.

'Seats' popped along for a minute to see how I was doing and asked about dinner - she said they were rushed off their feet (I had noticed a distinct lack of CC in UC - I'd been asked about an hour earlier if I wanted another drink and had a couple of beers brought to me and then no-one else appeared) 'Seats' told me she'd mention something about the food but I told her it was ok as I had some sweets in my bag. However, a few minutes after she had left, I was brought another plate of cheese and crackers and a coffee.

I got up for a stretch after the film and noticed that I was possibly the only one awake in UC - this was maybe 3 hours into the flight. How wrong I was...

I went for a stroll and got a coffee and a vodka & orange, then settled back down to watch Iron Man 2. That's when I noticed the little girl....
There was a family sitting in seats 6,7,8 A and 6,7K, I think they were South American, only one of them seemed to speak English. Anyway, it was the girls parents and grandparents. They had settled themselves into seats 6 and 7 on each side, and put the girl in seat 8, and all promptly fell asleep. She was now awake and walking around the cabin, peeping at people sleeping. She was then grabbing their feet and running back to her chair Of course, the people that woke up must have thought it was a turbulence bump or something and settled back down. I decided I was staying out of it and went back to Iron Man 2. She came to my seat and I gave her the frowniest glare I could muster and she ran back to her seat.

I went to stretch my legs again and get another coffee and when I came back there were a few people awake, so I settled back down to read for the rest of the flight. I then heard someone telling the little girl off - not her parents - and she began to have a little whinge - obviously she had been caught grabbing someone's feet. She sat crying for about 5 minutes before one of her parents woke up to see to her - waking the other family members up by talking a little louder than was needed. Then the lady that had told the child off told the mother in no uncertain terms that if she was going to sleep for the whole flight then she should have made sure the child was strapped into her chair and not bothering other passengers. At this point I was regretting not asking to be bumped...

The child was duly strapped into the chair (I did have a little smile watching this, the child was not happy...) and other people had woken up while the excitement was going on, then after about another 5 minutes the CC appeared and took a drinks order. At this point I had decided that I was tired of being good and seeing as other people were awake I may as well indulge in a few drinks.Yes I'd had a few I hear you say but by my standards I had been teetotal all flight.

'Seats' returned about 2 hours out to see how my flight had gone. I mentioned what had happened with the child to her and she said I should have gone and told the CC - I told her I hadn't wanted to get involved. She said she had been rushed off her feet all flight - I had noticed they were busy when I'd been stretching my legs.

Breakfast was then served and it was breakfast - by now my body clock was completely up the wall and by this point I was extremely hungry and would have happily eaten everyone else's too.
Landing was the usual straightforward landing, I had a taxi ordered but had to call to confirm it so made sure I was off the plane pretty sharpish so I could put my phone on to call, then it would be on the way while I waited for my cases. Taxi arrived 45 minutes after I called and when I got in the driver was instructed that before we got onto the motorway to Liverpool we had to go to McDonalds for me to get a breakfast. And because I was so glad he agreed I got him one too! He chatted about my holiday driving back and said that he was just about to take his family to Orlando on VS so we were discussing the flight and what's onboard.

All in all, my first UC trip was fantastic, the outbound journey was the better of the two, I put the lack of CC on the return was due to the fact I was the only person awake and was quite happy to get up and go to get a drink rather than calling CC to bring me one. The only down part of both flights was the food - as I said earlier, something plain but tasty wouldn't hurt, but I have told everyone I know that it is something that has to be tried even if it is once.

I'm saving my pennies for my next trip to Orlando, probably won't be until the end of the year now as I'm just about to go back to work, but think it'll be UC from now on!

parents who dont control their kids make my blood boil. to be honest i would ban them from UC and stick them downstairs in PE. if i had shelled out a few bob for Uc and some little brat had woken me i would also be giving the parent a hard time

Thanks for another great TR!

Good on the lady who told the child off, completely unacceptable for the parents to go to sleep and leave their child to disturb others! Unacceptable in any class, let alone UC! I would definitely have complained!

Also nice to see the drinks flowing nicely!!

It's one thing having a child screaming virtually all the way across the Atlantic as happened to me a few years ago fortunately on the outbound, where the parents tied themselves into knots trying to settle the gone-past-sleep child as opposed to a family who bed themselves down in the expectation that dotey-pet will do the same.

Thank you for the great TR.

honey lamb wrote:It's one thing having a child screaming virtually all the way across the Atlantic as happened to me a few years ago fortunately on the outbound, where the parents tied themselves into knots trying to settle the gone-past-sleep child as opposed to a family who bed themselves down in the expectation that dotey-pet will do the same.

Without going to the old Children in UC debate, HL, you're right, there is a distinction between family who is trying everything to keep their child/children settled and a family who thinks that as soon as they are on a plane they hand responsibility of their offspring to the unofficial childminders that are the CC.

DarkAuror wrote:Thank you for the great TR.

honey lamb wrote:It's one thing having a child screaming virtually all the way across the Atlantic as happened to me a few years ago fortunately on the outbound, where the parents tied themselves into knots trying to settle the gone-past-sleep child as opposed to a family who bed themselves down in the expectation that dotey-pet will do the same.

Without going to the old Children in UC debate, HL, you're right, there is a distinction between family who is trying everything to keep their child/children settled and a family who thinks that as soon as they are on a plane they hand responsibility of their offspring to the unofficial childminders that are the CC.

Agree DA...Often the parents and not the child..although "old" children in UC
Nice TR
However do seem to recall a recent thread about bringing Burger Kings onboard

northernhenry wrote:Nice TR
However do seem to recall a recent thread about bringing Burger Kings onboard

I am 100% with you on this one. Not into young children with badly behaved parents on any flight however much rather have a child next to me (even one playing games) than someone eating a burger king meal as the smell they generate is guaranteed to make me vomit

I was never going to take the burger on board, the intention was to grab a burger as it's right there next to the gate, have a quick look around duty free then board the plane.
Even though I'm not a huge fan of Burger King, it was infinitely better for me than what was on the UC menu and I knew I'd need to eat something. I more than made up for it when I arrived back, think I spent the whole day eating (not sleeping for over 24 hours didn't help either)

Wasn't the first time I've seen parents sleeping while the kids played up, but it was the first time in many years. I suppose I've been lucky that way.

Thanks for the interesting TR.....
I'd definitely have had a quiet word with the CC about that child though, that sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable in any cabin class .
I wouldn't have said anything direct to the family though as it soon would have very probably descended into a Victor Meldrew-style rant .

Thanks for the TR. It does seem surprising that this child was allowed to misbehave for so long without the CC noticing, I usually see CC checking from time to time throughout the flight. I love the idea of downgrading parents who fail to control their children, however it's equally annoying in Economy - would they fit in the overhead lockers?!