V-Flyer

what started as a complete nightmare turned out to be one of the best ever flights,thanks to a very different source...

Attempting OLCI I got the 'go to airport' message . A lenghty phone call to Swansea resulted in me being advised i couldnt check in 'probably for a random security reason' . some excellent help from Howard on the FB page confirmed that in fact i was checked in with seat 71k, established it was a pre refit 747. Have to say Howard was great and he alone earns the 5 stars for Ground staff. Checking again online confirmed the seat but for some strange reason I couldnt print my BP and Howard advised using the self service kiosks. which on arriving at gatwick I attempted to do only to be told go to a desk. There when I explained the problem 3 people stared at the monitor..and stared..and stared....'does it say watch this one' I joked the reply being 3 weird looks and a 'oh no sir' without any real conviction

anyway BP in hand I reached security only to be pulled aside for a thorough passport check weird never had that before. so onwards and upwards I head to the gate and 'beep beep' whoo hoo an upgrade !! ...nope, 'you have been selected for a random security search sir'

now this was the most thorough check i have ever seen. while my bag was totally emptied another guy took away my passport and then came back asking lots of questions -where did I live, where had i been ,where was I going -all the time making notes !!!!! By now even Im starting to think Im a terrorist, so I enquired if anything was wrong to have my head bitten off with ' no this is a RANDOM check, I told you that...dont you belive me ??' jeepers dude gimme a break

eventually I am cleared by the gestapo and literally run onto the plane.....and this is where the trip get better.

My companion turned out to be alovely lady in her 70s travelling to Disney with her son DIl and grandchildren. we started chatting away before take off and stopped as we landed. she truly was the most delightful company, sadly she had lost her husband to cancer very suddenly in January and was off having a well deserved break. she got tucked into a couple of bottles of wine (me being the gentleman keeping her company) although her DIL had packed her some sandwiches as she wasnt an airline food lover.....however when she saw my tray she fell in love with W&O and good for her a quick request to our superb CC and my neighbour got her own free set

flight time was nigh on 9 hours with a full house of PAX. service was superb numerous drinks runs,ice creams,Baileys all with a smile and a joke. we landed at MCO 25 minutes late and with a farewell to the best neighbour I have ever had on a flight...........the hell that is immigration when you walk in behind the BA and MAN flights
oh and only 5 of the 25 desks were open. it took over 90 minutes to clear and I must have been in the first 50 from our flight so how much longer it took the tail end I have no idea.

finally home around 8pm after a long day BUT the weather here right now is beautiful, mid 80s no humidity and blue skies -heaven

It's always nice when you have a great conversation with your neighbour when you actually want to.

It's nice that you had bright spots in what seemed like a nightmare situation.

Start sounds a complete nightmare but pleased it go better once you boarded. The time goes so quickly on a flight when you meet someone as entertaining as your lovely lady.

Flabound

It does seem as though your card has been marked

Good to hear the flight experience and the assistance from Howard at VS compensated for the security focus on you

As for the Immigration Queue ............... Not looking forward to my trip early next month

Thanks

buns

Thanks for the TR, I take it the date is a mistake though?

Sounds like a nightmare Was there any issues with immigration in Orlando ?

If your next trip is the same, it would definitely be worth making further enquiries.

You might want to edit the date of your recent trips, or you will have to experience all the highs and lows again in the near future

David

Random check... ha ha yeh right. Not when it selects your boarding pass like that.

I assume you did not check in with any white powder still evident under your nose or with an old school alarm clock ticking away in your hand luggage

The way that you booked your ticket/paid for it/prior travel history/current place of residence/areas you have been seen/people you call friends etc... evidently ticked some boxes on someones checklist - this sounds like a 'hold for search' request from an agency somewhere

Glad the flight and seat row chum made up for it though..

Cheers for posting

duh yea got my month a bit wrong there ! I may be paranoid but after travelling to the US for over 20 years -probably 50 trips thats a first for me......what really peed me off was the bloke questioning me spoke really bad English and got really shirty when I politely enquired if there was a problem. the guy doing the bag was fine it was the passport taliban who was the a'hole as we here in the good ole yew ess of aa like to say. I mean cmon I had left the AK47 at home !

Doens't sound like it started well! Glad things improved and that you had a great trip

-

Mmmm I'm surprised that you didn't get the obligatory "well we've all got a job to do" that is usual from the security people I've come across!

Glad your flight improved with great company and service. Just looking out my window at 10C, low cloud and drizzle

Sometimes the checks are random... though clearly I am on some list somewhere as every time I go to the USA I am selected for "random" bag checks, regardless of airline! Still, nothing to hide here. Apparently it's the American Authorities that select who is randomly checked from each flight. Although yes, often the security staff this side of the pond could do with some lessons in politeness but to be fair there have been a number of very polite and pleasant staff too.

flabound

Great TR -- thanks.

I very much sympathise with how you feel about the extra screening. Not so long ago I was despatched (for no apparent reason) to secondary checks on entering the USA and the whole process left me quite shaken.