V-Flyer

Well it’s that time of year again, so off we go on our annual jaunt across the pond.

Having checked in online bang on 24 hours, managed SEQ 4, 5 and 6 so not too bad.

We were ready and waiting at 8am when our chauffeur driven Jag arrived to whisk us off down the rain, busy M62 to Manchester T2.

We arrived around 9:30am and dropped our bags off, then straight through security to airside only pausing to answer my mobile. It was Virgin Travel Insurance wanting to know if I would be renewing my annual policy this year. Now that’s worrying since I had already renewed it with them two weeks prior to travelling so that when it ran out in the middle of my holiday I would be still covered! Departments not talking to one another

Anyway off to Frankie and Benny’s for a spot of breakfast then a wander around duty free for a spot of retail therapy.

Boarding for us was called and English Rose (the old crate) was to be our mode of transport across the pond. We battled to our seats through the many clambering folk messing about as usual and settled into 51 HJK Extra Legroom Seats (well worth the extra paid, loads and loads of room to stretch) only down side a bit too near the galley so very narrow walkway.

Pushed back at 2:00pm, taking off at 2:20.

Now it has been mentioned before on here about the cheery Captain with his jokey banter and we were indeed treated to the very same. He informed us of the highly trained staff employed by VS, but unfortunately they had all be seconded to help G4S out so we were stuck with staff highly efficient in pouring cups of coffee all over us but never mind. You should have seen the face of one of the cabin crew, not impressed. I think perhaps the flight deck have a new script to read out making them seem a bit more human, indeed our friends who followed us out a few days later reported similar fun and joviality from the flight deck.

We embarked on watching a dodgy showing of the safety video as our screens kept on dipping in and out of picture but we still had the sound. Hopefully when the refits are done these kinds of difficulties will be rectified.

After take off, on went the cabin crew aprons EC menus were given out which offered

Fruit Juice (with or without Vodka)
A selection of Beer Wines and Spirits
Soft Drinks

Starter
Tomato, Cucumber and Red Onion Salad with mixed leaves

Main
Bangers and Mash, Gravy and Carrots
Diced Chicken with Cheese and Leek Sauce with Garlic and Thyme Potatoes and Creamed Spinach
Penne Pasta with White Sauce Roasted Vegetables and Italian Hard Cheese

The starter and main meal arrived together and were perfectly acceptable, although t’other half somehow got salad vegetables with no leaves as a starter.

After some very considerable time this was cleared away, the tea/coffee and dessert run began. Talk about a long drawn out process. Anyway Mango and Passion fruit cheesecake Gu was dished out and the tea/coffee in grotty paper cups with a wooden stick stirrer.

Films began soon after and unfortunately Lacey Jnr’s screen was defunked. We requested a DVD and after a second request some 2 hours into the flight one was duly delivered to her so she was a happy bunny then.

One hour sixteen minutes to destination and ‘High Tea’ was served, dished out in a plain brown cardboard box (how classy). This comprised of two white bread, cheese spread and onion sandwiches with the crusts cut off (just like when I was a kid) and a sickly sweet butter cream swirled cup cake. Not a great offering really. Drinks followed, tea, coffe juice and water.

Now although I was unimpressed with the nutritional offerings and the manky old ‘plane, I must say that all the crew were lovely, they were helpful, cheerful and all seemed to be getting along famously. They were a mix of male and female and a good combination of age ranges too, this group of individuals appeared to work well together.

A very smooth landing around 5:40 in the afternoon to a beautiful sunny Florida.

We had quite a wait until our turn to leave the metal tube of flatulence and horror of horrors, three flights had come in together, MAN, GAT and an Air France flight too. The immigration hall was rammed and not all the desks were open. Queuing ran in and out of the winding roped area and back up the ramp.

After a wait of 1 hour 20 minutes we finally got to the front of the queues to be greeted by a lovely friendly elderly immigration officer who was cracking jokes right from the start. I think he could appreciate how frustrating it was for all of us after a long flight, indeed I think it must have been frustrating for them too having to process all of us as quickly as possible.

Obviously everyone’s luggage was going round and round on the carousel by this time so no waiting, and off we went to check into the Hyatt Regency MCO for our first night. No way would we be queuing up again with that lot to get a car before trying to brave the busy roads after a long flight.

Usually we go to McCoys for a proper meal before bedtime (I know many of you on here swear by McCoys, so do we, 16 years we have been visiting there) sadly the bar and restaurant is now closed for refurbishment but the Hemisphere is open until 1am and is sporting the McCoys menu so that was good although somehow just not the same, a different atmosphere, and no baseball and news to watch on the screens.

So that’s us, off to bed to wake refreshed and ready to face Florida for just over three weeks.

See you all later for our return PE travel report. Bye for now

Thanks for the TR. I see that you're rightly unimpressed by the economy meal experience.

Thanks for such a brilliant TR

Getting a call just before boarding to query your travel insurance, must have been a bit of a worry

As to on board, VS are relying on god crews to cover over the cracks of the planes that are in need of sprucing up. A jovial captain and crew who care help, but this has to be balanced with a meal product that passengers feel that they have had their money's worth

Those queues at MCO show no sign of going away - it was like it at Christmas and in March, so I suspect it is a staffing issue


As for McCoy's it seems like it was only a couple of years back that it was refurbished - but must have been longer

Th aka once again

buns

We'll be on VS73 in another 8 weeks and we'll also be hoping to bag good seats at OLCI. The wait at Immigration seems to have got a bit longer since last year. We went through Sanford in April (with another airline) and were through in about 45 minutes which seemed a long time for Sanford but there were three aircraft landing then too.

Katie

thelaceys wrote:Main
Bangers and Mash, Gravy and Carrots
Diced Chicken with Cheese and Leek Sauce with Garlic and Thyme Potatoes and Creamed Spinach
Penne Pasta with White Sauce Roasted Vegetables and Italian Hard Cheese

Wot, no mushrooms

Thanks for the TR. I think your experiences with the food are similar to ours. There's a lot of faff for not very much in my opinion.

Nice TR, although once the refits are done, things should be much much better.

What a heat in the sunshine state today (although a little cloudy at the moment)

My new party trick is taking pictures of the outside temp gauge in the car and texting it back to friends in the UK

Enjoy

David

Just shows that everyone's tastes are different as I personally love those cheese and onion sandwiches and that cupcake is great.

Nice informative TR.

Glad you got a friendly crew, makes such a difference.

Immigration sounds awful these days, back in March we was sipping wine around the Hyatt pool well within the hour of landing .. So lucky.

Can't beat crashing out at the Hyatt on that first night. Shame about McCoys but the other restaurant has a super view of the airport though.

Hope you picked up your car ok an are now starting a wonderful holiday. Fingers crossed that the weather stays dry - it is beautiful now in the uk

Perhaps you might get a refit plane for your return trip