V-Flyer

So the morning arrived for my flight VS049 back to sunny Florida.

A nice shuttle down from Edinburgh (which seems to be an ever changing airport) and a quiet night in the Hilton brought me to checkin to find out if the VS049 was still taking pssengers across the pond or would be transferred to the VS015 - the VS027 of course with no upper being on an A330.

I was expecting the airport to be chocka being a bank holiday but it didnt seem any busier / quieter than normal.

Checkin advised that the VS049 was indeed going to be my chariot and that at the moment I was the only one in Upper along with another 30 passengers enjoying the vast space of a Boeing 747. The girls did volunteer to accompany me and help with the consumption of champagne at the bar but decided, eventually, that they couldn't escape checkin as they might be missed !

Fasttrack was very fast with only 1 person in front of me and so after a quick look round duty free, it was upwards towards the Clubhouse.

Quickly greeted and advised of an earlier take off (only by half an hour) as well as a small delay for the VS015. The clubhouse was quiet and was soon sitting with breakfast, a cappucino and just to be friendly, a glass of champagne.

Breakfast was good followed by another glass or two which was being kept full by the lovely R.

The time passed relatively quickly and it was soon time to wander to the gate (in the satellite) for boarding.

There must have been a few opt-ups as the Upper cabin had 5in total. Drinks were offered and the menu was handed out. - Cant say I was overly impressed especially with the small amount of people being in the cabin. I had the prawn risotto thingy which had 3 prawns and a mouth full of rice, the chicken coated in herbs, which must have had a quarter inch of herbs on it and passed on desert as nothing appealed.

Ice cream was soon served along with more coffee (if nothing else, the planes that were originally destined for Alitalia but went straing to VS have great coffee makers on them )

The FSM never approached anyone in Upper, which was surely a missed opportunity to do some company PR with so little people elsewhere on the plane but the rest of the staff were there when needed and didnt hide away for a sleep.

The IFE was not following the book in the seat pocket but I ended up watching Senna which was very good and Arthur which was pretty bad.

Seat was showing a bit wear with the armrest very wobbly and the usual chips and marks everywhere - roll on the refits!

We touched down around 4.50, was through immigration after about a minute to find case coming off and onward to Dollar Express to pick up the car.

Checked into the Hilton GV on IDrive, showered and was in Publix for a few bits of shopping by 6pm which was brilliant.

Now only a few days of peace before the rest of the tribe arrive and we move to Disneys Saratoga Springs for the last week.

Overall a 6.5 out of 10 for the VS experience - not bad but not great.

Thanks for reading

David

Thanks for the TR David, sounds like the experience either side of the flight was excellent, bit of a let down that the FSM did not pay a visit to the UC passengers, there really couldn't of been an excuse.

Great result on arrival with immigration etc!

David wrote:
Ice cream was soon served along with more coffee (if nothing else, the planes that were originally destined for Alitalia but went straing to VS have great coffee makers on them )

Sorry but the boilers/coffee makers are the same on all the 747/340 aircraft.

30 people !

Mind you, bet it was chocka on the return.

Poor show on the FSM not to come and say hello. You could understand it on a chokka flight but not with 5 in UC.

Tinkerbelle wrote:the boilers/coffee makers are the same on all the 747/340 aircraft.

Good to know, thanks Tink

David

slinky09 wrote:30 people !

Mind you, bet it was chocka on the return.

Yup, all 5 coming back (3 into lgw and 2 into man) looked like they were full to bursting - end of the English school hols.

And just when the weathers getting nice

David

David

Thanks for the TR

Good to know that the Gatwick Clubhouse can still provide the levels of service Mrs Buns & I have come to know (particularly with "R"), but as others have already said, shame that the FSM missed an opportunity

buns

Thanks for your TR we have booked into hilton gv idrive hope its ok?
LGW flights even in uc all seem to be just barely acceptable i think there is a mind set amongst cc that it can not compare to lhr therefore they wont bother to try that little bit harder.

cheers

alex

Alex V wrote:Thanks for your TR we have booked into hilton gv idrive hope its ok?

cheers

alex

Hi Alex

You should love the Hilton. I think for the price which is sometimes reduced to unbelievable levels, there is probably no better located hotel in Orlando.

You are right next door (and I mean right next door) to premium outlets. Your key activates a gate which takes you into the car park. There is a public across the round with an Outback Steakhouse next door to that (and a McDonalds if your into that)
It's about 3 mins from Downtown Disney, about 5 mins from Seaworld and maybe 10-15 mins from Universal Studios. Added to the fact that it's only 10 mins from the Airport makes it's location great !

The rooms (we always go for a one or two bedroom villa) are very clean and have everything from a full kitchen to a jacuzzi bath.

The staff are very friendly and will NEVER pass you without a friendly wave or "good morning"

We have recommended this place to so many people and I think there are also a few fans on here so if you need any further info give me a PM.

On your other point about cabin crew, I would disagree on that one. we have been flying out of LGW/MAN/GLA about 3 or 4 times a year for the past 5 years mainly in Upper (before that economy then premium). In the main, the crew have been excellent and deserve their 5 stars. You do get the odd one that really just wants to get landed and finished, but I suppose thats the same with some LHR flights.

I think with the small Upper cabin in the lgw fleet, there is sometimes a missed opportunity for more interaction by the FSM with his/her premium fliers, after all, how long does it take to have a chat to 14 people. You would soon find out the ones that have some useful input and some that just want to sleep

regards

David

David wrote:

Alex V wrote:Thanks for your TR we have booked into hilton gv idrive hope its ok?

cheers

alex

Hi Alex

You should love the Hilton. I think for the price which is sometimes reduced to unbelievable levels, there is probably no better located hotel in Orlando.

You are right next door (and I mean right next door) to premium outlets. Your key activates a gate which takes you into the car park. There is a public across the round with an Outback Steakhouse next door to that (and a McDonalds if your into that)
It's about 3 mins from Downtown Disney, about 5 mins from Seaworld and maybe 10-15 mins from Universal Studios. Added to the fact that it's only 10 mins from the Airport makes it's location great !

The rooms (we always go for a one or two bedroom villa) are very clean and have everything from a full kitchen to a jacuzzi bath.

The staff are very friendly and will NEVER pass you without a friendly wave or "good morning"

We have recommended this place to so many people and I think there are also a few fans on here so if you need any further info give me a PM.


regards

David

Another Vote for the Hilton GV on International Drive

Agree 100% with what David has said

buns

Thanks david for your input on the hilton i got a good deal to good to miss, whats more they are doing triple hilton honors points on the booking that i chose, really looking forward to it thanks.

pleased you had a great time

cheers

alex

Thank you for the TR.

Thank you for the TR. I always enjoy reading other people's experiences particularly on routes I know well- and extra particularly when my own flight is on the horizon !
I envy you with only 5 in UC. Golly how special that must make one feel .... Ever since I stopped having to travel during school holidays I am always hopeful that the airport or the flight will be fairly empty. It hasn't happened yet !

hiljil wrote:Thank you for the TR. I always enjoy reading other people's experiences particularly on routes I know well- and extra particularly when my own flight is on the horizon !
I envy you with only 5 in UC. Golly how special that must make one feel .... Ever since I stopped having to travel during school holidays I am always hopeful that the airport or the flight will be fairly empty. It hasn't happened yet !

I do recall one v-flyer being the only pax in UC on the MAN-MCO route.