V-Flyer

Hi again, thought I would post a trip report concerning our return journey home from Orlando into LGW.

This is the first time for years we've come home from MCO, normally we return from Tampa or Fort Myers. These two airports are soooooo much quieter than Orlando.

I had checked in on-line and secured my pre-requested seats of 78 A & C in the bubble We had dropped the luggage off at the downtown Disney check-in, and personally I felt it was worth $10pp thus avoiding carting cases around later.

Arrived at MCO and followed signs to Terminal A which always surprises me because there is only one terminal but it has two sides! Following Term. A sign meant dropping the car off at a different 'car return' entrance and that caused a stress moment as we passed the one we used to use, which was now on the other side of the carriageway heading to Term B sign

With the car gone, we then went into the terminal and decided to go straight through which was a good decision as the security was an absolute nightmare. They've got one of those scanner things (don't know if it’s new) but boy did it take an age to get through with hundreds of folk in front of us. The process was very tedious, much worse than at JFK or SFO on my recent trips. The security agents were really being strict and somewhat officious, even with little kids.

Once through security we then had a very nice meal at the Outback Steak house, as we planned to board and not eat.

A full plane meant utter chaos around the boarding area, with economy passengers standing directly in front of the ‘priority boarding lanes’. Our seats were announced and once we'd managed to push through the masses of people, we boarded and went upstairs to our seats. Two drink rounds given because somehow two passengers’ luggage had been put onto the LGW plane when it should have been on the Manchester flight.

I had much admiration for the way the CC handled an extremely obnoxious and egotistic passenger, who really loved the sound of her own complaining and whining voice.

With the PE cabin having several spare seats she refused point blank to allow a young man to sit next to her in his allocated window seat, saying he could take one of the spare seats in front. Her moans and groans were endless but the CC were very professional and treated her with respect (which she certainly did not deserve).

Because she was in a single seat, they asked her and another passenger if they would mind sitting in the exit row just for taken off and landing. Her response was “no I do not care to do that”. My travel partner volunteered instead.

When coming into land at LGW, this woman decided to get up and use the bathroom soon after the seat belt sign went on and simply marched off down the aisle leaving a very frustrated crew member in total disbelief. Finally she grizzled once too often for my liking. Whilst standing in the stair well waiting to exit, she was looking around for someone to listen to her whingeing about the time if was taking to allow us off and I made eye contact and said “why don’t you just shut up”

Back to the journey, once the plane had taken off, we settled down to sleep – we didn’t actually recline our seats until we was aware the meal process was over.

It was a good flight and I managed at least 5 hours sleep.
The breakfast was not quite as good as I hoped, perhaps the full breakie was not good choice.

Our lady pilot had been extremely jovial and comical whenever she came on-air, and the FSM acknowledged and praised our smooth landing

In conclusion we had two very pleasant VS flights and look forward to our next experience.

Thanks for the TR and good on you for letting Ms Obnoxious how it is not all about her

we had the same crew coming out the day before and found the Captain to be most entertaining whereas the FSM could have learnt a thing or two

Mrs Buns and I will be exactly following your steps in a couple of days time and I hope that the Downtown Check In and Outback do the trick for us too - we certainly won't be leaving it to the last minute to go through security

buns

Thank you for the TR.

Hev - nice TR, and good on you for letting that lady know your displeasure!

Will also be following in your footstpes in 2 weeks tiem - Outback and VS16 - hope I get as good a trip as you had, and even the chance for the put-down line!

Thank you for the TR. How I wish I was guaranteed someone thoughtful like you in front of me .... someone who doesn't recline their seat during the meal service !
Would love to have seen the "lady's " face .....
hiljil

superb, well done

Hi, glad you thought my TR was ok.

Yes this woman's face was a picture and I was still smiling as we cleared our customs, only to see her standing in the 'other' queque because she had not completed the immigration forms correctly and she was now argueing with the border agent

Buns, we certainly seem to be on the same wave length - what with you doing the Hyatt MCO also. On arrival, when I saw the security line as we went up in the hotel's elevator I thought yeap must go thru early on our return and do the Outback Steak House to avoid stress. Concorde RIP - good choice too as it is such a relaxing way to finish a holiday.

Also for interest to anyone.. .. if you do the Disney Downtown drop off and you're not in any particular hurry, we got there at 12.45(it closes at 1pm) and there was not a soul in sight